We've hit the halfway point of the NFL season, so naturally it's time for some way, way, way too early playoff scenarios.
Entering Week 10, all four NFC South teams are well inside playoff contention -- with three qualifying for the postseason if the season ended as things stand currently.
The Tampa Bay Bucs (6-2) currently own the top spot, with the Saints a step behind (5-3). That'd currently hand them the No. 6 seed. The Atlanta Falcons, on the strength of four road wins, have themselves a thin grasp on the final playoff spot, with the Panthers just outside of the field but without much momentum to speak of.
Saints fans have become very familiar with drawn-out tiebreaker scenarios in recent years, but they sit one the right end of the most simple version: head-to-head. That's by virtue of wins over the Packers and Bucs. But they're not quite as well situated in the conference record tiebreaker that would separate teams that haven't played in the regular season. There are more convoluted tiebreaker scenarios that will inevitably creep in, but it's too early to go down that road just yet.
With all that said, here's where things stand in both the AFC and NFC playoff races after Week 9, with some teams having played more or fewer games than others due to the bye week schedule.
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NFC | THE DIVISION LEADERS
1. ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-1, 1st NFC West)
- DIVISION RECORD: 3-0
- NFC RECORD: 4-1
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Rams, vs 49ers, at 49ers,
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Packers
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Seahawks, at Bears, vs Rams, at Lions, at Cowboys, vs Seahawks
- NOTES: With the best record in the NFC, there's nothing stopping the Cardinals from controlling their own destiny the rest of the way. With a strong grip on the NFC West due to a head-to-head win over the Rams already -- the biggest question is whether they can consolidate the top record into a bye week. The lone loss for Arizona could be a costly one, with Green Bay holding the head-to-head tiebreaker should both teams finish tied.
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2. GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-2, 1st NFC North)
- DIVISION RECORD: 2-0
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 5-1
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Lions, at 49ers, at Bears, at Cardinals
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Saints
- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Seahawks, at Vikings, vs Rams, vs Bears, vs Vikings, at Lions
- NOTES: Another year, another season with the Saints looking up at the Green Bay Packers holding one the league's top records. The good news this time: The Saints hold the head-to-head tiebreaker should the teams finish tied. That game remains the lone in-conference loss for the Packers, who appear to have firm control on the NFC North.
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3. TAMPA BAY BUCS (6-2, 1st NFC South)
- DIVISION RECORD: 1-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 4-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Cowboys, vs Falcons, at Eagles, vs Bears
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Saints, at Rams
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Washington, vs Giants, at Falcons, vs Saints, at Panthers, vs Panthers
- NOTES: The Bucs are sitting pretty atop the NFC South, but despite the cushion -- they've lost the first half of what could be a key tiebreaker due to dropping the game in Week 8 at the Caesars Superdome. Still, the Bucs appear safely in the playoff field barring calamity. They slot just ahead of the Dallas Cowboys due to a head-to-head win in Week 1.
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4. DALLAS COWBOYS (6-2, 1st NFC East)
- DIVISION RECORD: 2-0
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 4-1
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Eagles, vs Panthers, vs Giants, at Vikings
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Bucs
- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Falcons, at Saints, at Washington, at Giants, vs Washington, vs Cardinals, at Eagles
- NOTES: The Cowboys are yet another NFC division leader with little pressure behind them, multiple games clear of the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.
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IN THE HUNT
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5. L.A. RAMS (7-2, 2nd NFC West)
- DIVISION RECORD: 1-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 5-1
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Bears, vs Bucs, at Seahawks, at Giants, vs Lions
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Cardinals
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at 49ers, at Packers, at Cardinals, vs Seahawks, at Vikings, vs 49ers
- NOTES: The Rams are only a game behind the Cardinals, but that game is a big one. The Rams' lone NFC loss is to Arizona and could loom large down the stretch. Either way, L.A. is well position in the wild card chase with a 5-1 conference record.
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6. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-3, 2nd NFC South)
- DIVISION RECORD: 1-2
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 4-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Packers, at Washington, at Seahawks, vs Bucs
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Panthers, vs Giants, vs Falcons
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Eagles, vs Cowboys, at Bucs, vs Panthers, at Falcons
- NOTES: The Saints hold a pair of big tiebreaker results with wins over the Packers and Bucs, but their three NFC losses could sting down the stretch in other potential tiebreakers.
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7. ATLANTA FALCONS (4-4, 3rd NFC South)
- DIVISION RECORD: 1-2
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 2-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Giants, at Saints
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Eagles, at Bucs, vs Washington, vs Panthers
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Cowboys, vs Bucs, at Panthers, at 49ers, vs Lions, vs Saints
- NOTES: The Falcons are one of the teams that could end up getting the better of the Saints in tiebreakers down the road due to a victory in Week 9, but they're poorly positioned otherwise with four NFC losses through the first half of the season. Oddly, all of Atlanta's wins have come on the road.
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CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-5, 4th NFC South)
- DIVISION RECORD: 2-0
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 2-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Saints, at Falcons
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Cowboys, vs Vikings, vs Giants
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Cardinals, vs Washington, vs Falcons, vs Bucs, at Saints, at Bucs
- NOTES: The Panthers have one of the stranger record quirks at the halfway mark. They're the lone team in the NFC South that hasn't lost a game to a division opponent, but sit at the bottom of the division standings at the halfway mark.
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MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-5, 2nd NFC North)
- DIVISION RECORD: 1-0
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 3-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Seahawks, vs Lions, at Panthers
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Cardinals, vs Cowboys
- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Packers, at 49ers, at Lions, at Bears, vs Rams, at Packers, vs Bears
- NOTES: The Vikings have a steep hill ahead of them, but have only played one game against divisional opponents to this point. With a 3-2 record in the NFC and a pair of games against the Packers left on the schedule, the runway to make up that ground is ahead of them.
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SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-5, 3rd NFC West)
- DIVISION RECORD: 1-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 1-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at 49ers
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Vikings, vs Rams, vs Saints
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Packers, vs Cardinals, at Washington, vs 49ers, at Rams, vs Bears, vs Lions, at Cardinals
- NOTES: The Seahawks have treaded water waiting for Russell Wilson to return, and they'll need a strong charge after dropping three of their first four matchups against NFC opponents. But like the Vikings, they own a pair of games left against the Arizona Cardinals and a chance to make up significant ground.
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-5, 4th NFC West)
- DIVISION RECORD: 0-3
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 3-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Lions, at Eagles, at Bears
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Packers, vs Seahawks, at Cardinals, vs Cardinals
- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Rams, vs Vikings, at Seahawks, vs Falcons, at Rams
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PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-6, 2nd NFC East)
- DIVISION RECORD: 0-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 3-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Falcons, at Panthers, at Lions
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs 49ers, at Cowboys, vs Bucs
- KEY GAMES LEFT: vs Saints, at Giants, vs Washington, vs Giants, at Washington, vs Cowboys
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NEW YORK GIANTS (3-6, 3rd NFC East)
- DIVISION RECORD: 0-2
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 2-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Saints, vs Panthers
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Washington, vs Falcons, at Cowboys, vs Rams
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Bucs, vs Eagles, vs Cowboys, at Eagles, at Bears, vs Washington
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CHICAGO BEARS (3-6, 3rd NFC North)
- DIVISION RECORD: 1-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 1-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Lions
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Rams, vs Packers, at Bucs, vs 49ers
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Lions, vs Cardinals, at Packers, vs Vikings, at Seahawks, vs Giants, at Vikings
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LONGSHOTS
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WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (2-6, 4th NFC East)
DETROIT LIONS (0-8, 4th NFC North)
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AFC | THE DIVISION LEADERS
1. TENNESSEE TITANS (7-2, 1st AFC South)
- DIVISION RECORD: 3-0
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 5-1
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Colts, at Jaguars, vs Bills, vs Chiefs, at Colts
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Jets
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Texans, at Patriots, vs Jaguars, at Steelers, vs Dolphins, at Texans
- NOTES: No Derrick Henry? No problem. The Titans keep winning. The only blemish on their tiebreaker resume is a bizarre loss to the hapless Jets. But with a 3-0 start in the division that includes a pair of victories over the Colts, Tennessee will be tough to catch in the division race.
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2. BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-2, 1st AFC North)
- DIVISION RECORD: 0-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 4-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Chiefs, at Broncos, vs Colts, vs Chargers
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Raiders, vs Bengals
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Dolphins, vs Browns, at Steelers, at Browns, at Bengals, vs Steelers
- NOTES: The tightest divisional race in the NFL, oddly, has a team that's winless in the division sitting atop the AFC South at the halfway mark. But with a loss to to the Bengals already and a lot of key matchups ahead, this race could see many changes before all is said and done.
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3. L.A. CHARGERS (5-3, 1st AFC West)
- DIVISION RECORD: 2-0
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 3-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Chiefs, vs Raiders, vs Browns
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Ravens, vs Patriots
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Steelers, at Broncos, at Bengals, vs Chiefs, vs Texans, vs Broncos, at Raiders
- NOTES: The Chargers have a strong divisional record that's put them atop the AFC West, but the rest of their conference slate has been less kind. Still, wins over the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns could loom large down the stretch.
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4. BUFFALO BILLS (5-3, 1st AFC East)
- DIVISION RECORD: 2-0
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 4-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Dolphins, vs Texans, at Chiefs, vs Dolphins
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Steelers, at Titans, at Jaguars
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Jets, vs Colts, vs Patriots, vs Jets
- NOTES: Another team that's performed well in division games and leads the pack despite middling results in-conference.
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IN THE HUNT
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5. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-3, 2nd AFC West)
- DIVISION RECORD: 1-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 4-1
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Ravens, at Steelers, vs Dolphins, at Broncos
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Chargers
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Chiefs, at Bengals, at Chiefs, at Browns, vs Broncos, at Colts, vs Chargers
- NOTES: The Raiders switched coaches mid-season but haven't missed much of their rhythm. They've lost just one conference game, but it was a big result that leaves them looking up at the Chargers at the halfway mark.
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6. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-3, 2nd AFC NORTH)
- DIVISION RECORD: 1-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 3-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Bills, vs Broncos, at Browns
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Raiders, vs Bengals
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Chargers, at Bengals, vs Titans, at Chiefs, vs Browns, at Ravens
- NOTES: Do you know what this Steelers team is? Because it doesn't appear they do either. Still, with key victories over the Bills and Browns already, the Steelers are well positioned for a playoff run.
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7. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (5-4, 2nd AFC East)
- DIVISION RECORD: 2-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 4-1
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Jets, at Texans, vs Jets, at Chargers
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Dolphins
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Browns, vs Titans, at Bills, at Colts, vs Bills, vs Jaguars, at Dolphins
- NOTES: The AFC East appeared to be the Bills' division to lose, but some uneven play has opened the door for New England. The pair of matchups between those two teams in the second half could hold the key to the division title.
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-4, 3rd AFC West)
- DIVISION RECORD: 0-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 2-4- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Browns
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Ravens, vs Chargers, vs Bills, at Titans
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Raiders, vs Broncos, vs Raiders, at Chargers, vs Steelers, at Bengals, at Broncos
- NOTES: Pat Mahomes will figure it out eventually, right? Well, they'll have to do it soon. A 1-4 start in the NFC makes their climb even steeper.
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CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-4, 3rd AFC North)
- DIVISION RECORD: 1-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 3-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Texans, vs Broncos, at Bengals
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Chiefs, at Chargers, vs Steelers
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Patriots, at Ravens, vs Ravens, vs Raiders, at Steelers, vs Bengals
- NOTES: Odell Beckham Jr. is out of town, but will the Browns be able to sustain their play down the stretch? There are a lot of potential losses on the schedule ... and a 3-3 start in conference play could loom large.
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CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-4, 4th, AFC North)
- DIVISION RECORD: 2-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 3-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Steelers, vs Jaguars, at Ravens
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Jets, vs Browns
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Raiders, vs Steelers, vs Chargers, at Broncos, vs Ravens, vs Chiefs, at Browns
- NOTES: The fighting Joe Burrows are in a similar position to Cleveland, with the key difference being a head-to-head loss to the Browns. That second matchup could be critical for either of these teams fighting into a wild card spot.
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DENVER BRONCOS (5-4, 4th AFC West)
- DIVISION RECORD: 0-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 2-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Jaguars, vs Jets
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Ravens, at Steelers, vs Raiders, at Browns
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Chargers, at Chiefs, vs Bengals, at Raiders, at Chargers, vs Chiefs
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INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-5, 2nd AFC South)
- DIVISION RECORD: 0-1
- CONFERENCE RECORD: 2-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Dolphins, vs Texans, vs Jets
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Titans, at Ravens, vs Titans
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Jaguars, at Bills, at Texans, vs Patriots, at Cardinals, vs Raiders, at Jaguars
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LONGSHOTS (very long)
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N.Y. JETS (2-6, 3rd AFC East)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-6, 3rd AFC South)
MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-7, 4th AFC East)
HOUSTON TEXANS (1-8, 4th AFC South)