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Ranking the NFL’s 15 Most-Likely Playoff Teams Right Now: Going Into Week 10

Grant White

Host · Writer

15. Seattle Seahawks
It's only Week 10, but the Seattle Seahawks are fighting for their playoff lives.

Seattle sits one game above .500 and trails the Packers for the final playoff berth. With their next two coming on the road, this could be an inflection point for the Seahawks.
1. Buffalo Bills
The air of uncertainty surrounding the Buffalo Bills has vanished. The Bills labored through a challenging part of their schedule, only to emerge almost fully unscathed.

With two more guaranteed wins on the horizon, Buffalo can virtually guarantee itself the AFC East crown by the start of December.
2. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers maintained control of the NFC with another assertive win in Week 9.

More importantly, they play two of their next three games at home, with both against playoff contenders.

The NFC is the Niners' conference, and everyone else is just playing in it.
3. Denver Broncos
Winners of five straight, the Denver Broncos have vaulted to the top of the AFC West standings and to third in our playoff rankings.

Denver is on a bye in Week 10, coming out with very winnable games in four of their next five. At this point, a playoff berth isn't in doubt.
4. Chicago Bears
Inarguably, the NFC North is the most competitive division in football. The Chicago Bears stand atop the heap, showing no signs of slowing down.

While it got a little dicey in the second half, the Bears secured another win over the Bucs in Week 9. They come out of their Week 10 bye with two of three at home, but their long-term fate could be determined by how they fare in a pivotal Week 12 matchup versus Detroit.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't the fifth-best team in the NFL. Still, with little to no resistance from within the AFC South, the Jags are comfortably in a playoff spot.

As it stands, Jacksonville has twice as many wins as the next-closest team. Further, two of their next three come against the lowly Tennessee Titans.

More succinctly, the Jaguars could secure a playoff spot with a few more wins.
6. Kansas City Chiefs
Back-to-back losses cast the Kansas City Chiefs from the AFC West lead, but they were never at risk of missing the playoffs.

Kansas City bounced back with a dominant effort against the Jets in Week 9. That moves the perennial contenders to 6-2 and puts them in the top wild-card spot as we move past the halfway point of the season.
7. New York Giants
What a difference a coach makes. Heading into Week 10, the New York Giants have nearly matched their combined win total from the last two seasons.

Without pressure from anyone else in the NFC East, the Giants control their own destiny the rest of the way.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the advantage in the AFC North; however, their positions could be reversed after Week 10.

Pittsburgh travels to Cincinnati on Sunday for a crucial battle versus the 6-2 Bengals. Whichever team emerges victorious claims dominion over the division.

It's a tenuous grip. For now, the Steelers hold the advantage.
9. Detroit Lions
Week 9's win over the Dolphins was academic. Now, the Detroit Lions are looking to make the final jump and overtake the Bears for the top spot in the NFC North.

The Lions are about to play three straight at home, though only one of those is against a division foe. Still, this is their opportunity to get to nine wins and lock in a playoff berth.
10. Cincinnati Bengals
Formerly an afterthought, the Cincinnati Bengals have rattled off four straight wins. With a winnable home game over the Steelers on the horizon, the Bengals' meteoric rise could continue.
11. Minnesota Vikings
Clearly, Carson Wentz is not it. The Minnesota Vikings traded for Kirk Cousins, a reunion that should bolster their playoff outlook.

Of course, Cousins is just keeping the seat warm for Kyler Murray. But with Call of Duty recently released and GTA 6 on the horizon, who knows if Murray has any interest in returning.

Time will tell if Cousins can lead the Vikings to glory.
12. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers posted one of the most decisive wins in Week 9. Still, we're not convinced this team is as good as the rest of the NFC North competitors.

A home game against Minnesota lies on the immediate horizon, but the Packers also have to contend with the Rams, Bills, and Bears before the end of December. Depending on how those shake out, we could see Green Bay cede ground in the playoff race.
13. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots seemingly don't have it this season. After another disastrous loss, the Pats are barely clinging to the final playoff berth.

New England was humbled by Green Bay in Week 9. Moreover, four of their next five come against playoff teams. Don't be surprised if the Patriots disappear from our rankings in the near future.
14. Carolina Panthers
It's hard to envision seven wins being enough to win a division, but that's the sad state of the NFC South.

Heading into Week 10, the Carolina Panthers currently hold the tiebreaker. Still, all four teams currently sit with only three wins.

We'll see how the division schedule plays out, but this spot could belong to any of the four teams.
15. Seattle Seahawks
It's only Week 10, but the Seattle Seahawks are fighting for their playoff lives.

Seattle sits one game above .500 and trails the Packers for the final playoff berth. With their next two coming on the road, this could be an inflection point for the Seahawks.
1. Buffalo Bills
The air of uncertainty surrounding the Buffalo Bills has vanished. The Bills labored through a challenging part of their schedule, only to emerge almost fully unscathed.

With two more guaranteed wins on the horizon, Buffalo can virtually guarantee itself the AFC East crown by the start of December.

Ranking the NFL’s 15 Most-Likely Playoff Teams Right Now: Going Into Week 10

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