The 2023 NFL season has been a wild ride through five weeks. We have surprise contenders (hello there, Detroit Lions!) and even more shocking Caleb Williams hunters (somebody please wake up the Minnesota Vikings!).
Some teams who were pitched as ascendent or bounce-back candidates have been anything but. Thought Sean Payton would save the Denver Broncos? You were wrong? Thought Justin Fields was the next big thing in Chicago? Well, maybe, but probably not.
The NFL standings are the letter of the law when it comes to the playoffs. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how you win or lose. It only matters if you win or lose. A close loss counts the same as a blowout. Still, there's value in surveying which teams are getting blown out of the water — or, conversely, which teams are orchestrating the blowouts — and which teams are locked in tight battles week-to-week.
Here are the NFL standings by point differential as of Thursday, Oct. 12 (before the Chiefs-Broncos game).
AFC East
The Bills are way better than that 3-2 record suggests. Blame London.
The Dolphins are dangerous, too.
The Jets don't completely suck. Zach Wilson is getting better!
The Patriots need to burn the house down.
AFC North
Matt Canada, what dark magick doth thou partake in?
These standings are all jumbled together, but it's safe to say the Ravens are overwhelming favorites in the AFC North — especially if Lamar Jackson's receivers can improve in the catching department.
AFC South
Now this is a tight race.
The Texans are the real deal, folks. DeMeco Ryans has his defense operating at a high level and C.J. Stroud is the best rookie QB in a minute.
Indianapolis and Jacksonville are clumped together atop the division, but we should probably grade the Jags on a curve after two handpicked victories in London.
AFC South
The Chiefs are the Chiefs.
The Chargers cannot defend a cardboard cutout, but damn is that offense electric.
Godspeed, Broncos fans.
NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys' ability to look great on paper and somehow still lose big games is unrivaled. Legendary stuff. We'll never see their like again.
The Eagles are kings of close games right now. As the defense rounds into shape and Jalen Hurts gets back up to speed, expect that point differential to creep higher.
The Commanders are pretty bad. The Giants, however... wowza.
NFC North
The Detroit Lions have this division in the bag.
That said, it has been a while since a 1-4 team has been as good as the Minnesota Vikings. Injuries are starting to pile up and the Kirk Cousins trade noise is about to break the sound barrier, but that team has been in every game, with every loss coming to a quality opponent.
NFC South
The NFC South is once again completely average (with the exception of the lowly Panthers). The Buccaneers can't keep this pace with Baker Mayfield, can they? Well, probably. The Saints are probably favorites by default since Derek Carr is the best QB of the bunch.
A shout to the Falcons for winning ugly, though. A win's a win.
NFC West
Will Brock Purdy ever lose a football game? How many licks does it take to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop? The world may never know...
NFL standings by point differential (NFC)
NFL standings by point differential (AFC)
