The Jacksonville Jaguars still sit on top of the AFC South, but the bigger AFC race has tightened around them. Jacksonville remains in first place in its division, yet several teams above and behind the Jaguars in the conference picture changed the shape of the playoff board in Week 8.
Buffalo kept rolling and moved to 6-1, while Denver and Pittsburgh also picked up wins to reach 6-2. That leaves all three sitting ahead of Jacksonville in the AFC standings.
The wild-card chase shifted too. Cincinnati and New England both came away with wins, Kansas City dropped a game and slipped out of its division lead, and Cleveland lost enough ground to fall out of a playoff spot.
Here’s how the AFC playoff standings look after Week 8:
- Buffalo Bills (6-1)
- Denver Broncos (6-2, 3-1 AFC)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2, 3-2 AFC)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2)
- Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, 5-1 AFC)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-2, 4-2 AFC)
- New England Patriots (5-3, 5-1 AFC)
- Cleveland Browns (5-3, 3-3 AFC)
- Las Vegas Raiders (4-4, 3-3 AFC)
- Baltimore Ravens (4-4, 2-3 AFC)
- Houston Texans (2-5)
- New York Jets (2-6, 2-3 AFC)
- Indianapolis Colts (2-6, 1-5 AFC)
- Miami Dolphins (1-6)
- Tennessee Titans (1-7)
- Los Angeles Chargers (0-7)
In the AFC South, Jacksonville’s lead held steady after a Week 8 that worked in its favor. The Jaguars improved to 5-2, the Texans were on the bye, and both Indianapolis and Tennessee took losses. That leaves the division standings unchanged:
- Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2)
- Houston Texans (2-5)
- Indianapolis Colts (2-6)
- Tennessee Titans (1-7)
In Other News...
Jaguars Trade Buzz Just Raised A Bigger Brian Thomas Jr Question
With the trade deadline approaching, the Jaguars are being mentioned in the same breath as several teams trying to sort out what they need most and what they might be willing to move. Jacksonville is still looking for help on the defensive line, but the latest buzz has also put wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. into the conversation, which is a notable twist for a team that would normally be expected to build around a young pass catcher like him.
The report does not point to any deal being close, and it is based on insider conversations rather than finalized movement, but it does raise a bigger question about how aggressive Jacksonville wants to be. If the Jaguars are listening on a player with Thomas' profile while also shopping for defensive line help, it suggests the front office may be weighing more than one path as the deadline nears, even as other AFC South teams like the Colts and Titans sort through their own trade calculus. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Get A Huge Thursday Night Twist From Baltimores QB Mess
The quarterback picture in Baltimore has turned into a major storyline for the Jaguars upcoming matchup, with Tyler Huntley done for the season after a turf toe injury and Lamar Jackson now sidelined on injured reserve following thumb surgery. What had already been a complicated week for the Ravens got even more unsettled when the team had to reshuffle its depth chart and keep building out emergency options behind center.
For Jacksonville, the immediate takeaway is simple: the opponent the Jaguars prepare for now looks very different from the one they expected. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano has been named the starter for Thursday night, while Baltimore also added Kedon Slovis as the backup and Austin Reed to the practice squad, leaving the Ravens with a quarterback room that suddenly looks thin and unfamiliar heading into a short-week game. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Suddenly Have A Shot At A Defensive Star Arizona Hates To Lose
The trade deadline chatter around Budda Baker has put a familiar name back into the league-wide conversation, and it is the kind of development that always gets attention from teams looking for help in the middle of a season. According to ESPNs Jeremy Fowler, the Cardinals safety is viewed as a potential trade candidate, with clubs such as the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars among the teams that could be interested if Arizona decides to listen.
For Jacksonville, it is another reminder that the deadline can still bring an unexpected opportunity if the right player becomes available. Arizona is also being linked to other possible trade considerations, including Josh Sweat and Jacoby Brissett, as the organization sorts through contract situations and a changing roster picture, but nothing has been finalized and these remain only reports for now. [Read more 🡒]