Only Buffalo and Tampa Bay Hold On as 2026 NFL Division Favorites: Odds for Which Teams Lead After Week 9
AFC East and North
Buffalo leads the AFC East at 7-1 in Joe Brady’s first season as head coach, ahead of New England at 5-4. The Bills remain division favorites, although their only loss came at home against the Patriots, who are 3-0 in division games.
In the AFC North, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are both 6-2 and have each won four straight. Pittsburgh has already beaten Cincinnati, with their next meeting scheduled for Week 10; Baltimore, which opened as the favorite, is now last on the board as Lamar Jackson deals with another injury.
AFC South and West
Jacksonville sits atop the AFC South at 6-2 after winning the division in 2025 under first-year coach Liam Coen. Houston is 3-5 following an 0-4 start, but has won three of its last four.
Denver is favored to repeat as AFC West champion after reaching 7-2 and winning five consecutive games. The Broncos and Chiefs have split their season series, while Kansas City has lost two of its last three after opening 5-0.
NFC East and North
The Giants have moved to the top of the NFC East favorites board, despite starting quarterback Jaxson Dart being out for the season with a knee injury. New York is 5-2-1, the division’s only team with a winning record; Dallas is 4-5, while Philadelphia has lost seven straight after a 2-0 start.
Chicago is favored in the NFC North, where all four teams are above .500 after nine weeks. The 6-3 Packers are in last place, and Chicago is the only team in the division without a division win, at 0-2.
NFC South and West
Tampa Bay remains the NFC South favorite, despite a 3-6 record and an 0-4 start. The Buccaneers have won two of their last three and are one loss behind Carolina and New Orleans; every team in the division is at least two games below .500.
San Francisco is the heavy favorite in the NFC West at 7-1, with wins over all three division opponents. The Rams, Seahawks and 49ers each reached 12 wins in 2025, and the Rams and Seahawks met in the NFC Championship Game.
Key points
- Buffalo and Tampa Bay are the only teams still favored after opening the season as division favorites.
- The Giants lead the NFC East favorites board, though Jaxson Dart is out for the season.
- All four NFC North teams are above .500, with Chicago favored despite an 0-2 division record.
- San Francisco leads the NFC West favorites after beating each of its division rivals.