Football
NFL Magic Numbers 2026
Division magic numbers and every proven clinch or elimination, checked against the official NFL tiebreakers.
Updated OCT 9 · 11:02 PM ET
No clinches or eliminations yet · 32 teams alive
AFC
AFC East
All alive| Rank | Team | W-L | Spacer | Magic / GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Buffalo Bills | 3-1 | ||
| 2 |  | New England Patriots | 2-2 | 1 GB | |
| 3 |  | New York Jets | 1-3 | 2 GB | |
| 4 |  | Miami Dolphins | 0-4 | 3 GB | |
AFC North
All alive| Rank | Team | W-L | Spacer | Magic / GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Baltimore Ravens | 3-1 | ||
| 2 |  | Cleveland Browns | 3-1 | ||
| 3 |  | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-2 | 1 GB | |
| 4 |  | Cincinnati Bengals | 2-2 | 1 GB | |
AFC South
All alive| Rank | Team | W-L | Spacer | Magic / GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Jacksonville Jaguars | 3-1 | ||
| 2 |  | Indianapolis Colts | 2-2 | 1 GB | |
| 3 |  | Tennessee Titans | 0-4 | 3 GB | |
| 4 |  | Houston Texans | 0-4 | 3 GB | |
AFC West
All alive| Rank | Team | W-L | Spacer | Magic / GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Kansas City Chiefs | 4-0 | ||
| 2 |  | Las Vegas Raiders | 3-1 | 1 GB | |
| 3 |  | Denver Broncos | 2-2 | 2 GB | |
| 4 |  | Los Angeles Chargers | 0-4 | 4 GB | |
NFC
NFC East
All alive| Rank | Team | W-L | Spacer | Magic / GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | New York Giants | 3-1 | ||
| 2 |  | Philadelphia Eagles | 2-2 | 1 GB | |
| 3 |  | Dallas Cowboys | 2-3 | 1.5 GB | |
| 4 |  | Washington Commanders | 1-3 | 2 GB | |
NFC North
All alive| Rank | Team | W-L | Spacer | Magic / GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Minnesota Vikings | 4-0 | ||
| 2 |  | Chicago Bears | 3-1 | 1 GB | |
| 3 |  | Detroit Lions | 2-2 | 2 GB | |
| 4 |  | Green Bay Packers | 2-2 | 2 GB | |
NFC South
All alive| Rank | Team | W-L | Spacer | Magic / GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Carolina Panthers | 2-2 | ||
| 2 |  | Atlanta Falcons | 2-2 | ||
| 3 |  | New Orleans Saints | 1-3 | 1 GB | |
| 4 |  | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-4 | 1.5 GB | |
NFC West
All alive| Rank | Team | W-L | Spacer | Magic / GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | San Francisco 49ers | 4-0 | ||
| 2 |  | Seattle Seahawks | 3-1 | 1 GB | |
| 3 |  | Los Angeles Rams | 2-2 | 2 GB | |
| 4 |  | Arizona Cardinals | 1-3 | 3 GB | |
Three different numbers
- Status
- A mathematical guarantee. Clinched or Eliminated only when no remaining result can change it.
- Magic number (outright record)
- Wins plus rival losses needed to finish ahead of every division rival outright. A tie counts as half. Tiebreakers can clinch sooner; only the status shows that.
- Odds
- An estimate from simulating the season. See Playoff Odds.
FAQ
What is a magic number in the NFL?
A division magic number is the combination of the leader's wins and its rivals' losses needed to finish ahead of every division rival outright. A tie counts as half. Tiebreakers can clinch sooner; the clinched status shows that. The lowest right now belongs to the Buffalo Bills at 13.
Has any NFL team clinched a playoff spot?
Not yet. No team has clinched a playoff berth in the 2026 season, and none has been eliminated.
Which NFL team leads each division?
AFC East: Buffalo Bills (3-1); AFC North: Baltimore Ravens (3-1) and Cleveland Browns (3-1) (tied); AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1); AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs (4-0); NFC East: New York Giants (3-1); NFC North: Minnesota Vikings (4-0); NFC South: Carolina Panthers (2-2) and Atlanta Falcons (2-2) (tied); NFC West: San Francisco 49ers (4-0).