NFL playoff bracket scenarios 2024-25, Week 9: Ranking after Steelers win against Giants | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

6. Baltimore Ravens (5-3)

7. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)

8. Indianapolis Colts (4-4)

9.Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)

11. Cleveland Browns (2-6)

12. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)

14. New England Patriots (2-6)

16. Tennessee Titans (1-6)

It's the Chiefs' world and everyone else just lives in it.

Kansas City entered the season hoping to become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls, and with a 7-0 record, they're certainly off to an ideal start. Even though the wins weren't always pretty at times, strong defense and timely plays from Patrick Mahomes were more than enough to overcome the adversity in the game.

It was a similar story on Sunday, as the Chiefs defeated the Las Vegas Raiders by just seven points, thanks largely to Mahomes' two touchdown passes, one of which went to Travis Kelce, giving the tight end his first score of the season.

Even though it's still early in the season, the Chiefs are part of an AFC playoff picture that already appears to be coming together.

Nobody in the AFC West is within three games of them in the loss column. The situation is similar with the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East, who are three games ahead of the Miami Dolphins at 2:5 in the loss list. Additionally, the Houston Texans are two games ahead of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.

And Houston just beat the Colts on Sunday to complete its season sweep, further underscoring its hold on the division.

The AFC North could end up being the only tight division race in the future, as the Steelers have not yet played the Ravens or Bengals and may have to fend off Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow leading the talented offenses.

If so, playoff matchups against the Chiefs, Texans or Bills could wait.