NFL standings 2023: Jaguars’ AFC South lead keeps growing

The Jacksonville Jaguars are off to one of their best starts ever and the rest of the AFC South is falling way behind.

With a fifth straight win, the Jaguars will enter their bye week at 6-2. The only other team in the division to win Sunday was the Tennessee Titans, who entered Week 8 in last place.

Jacksonville hasn’t won the AFC South in back-to-back years in the division’s creation two decades ago. But the team is starting to run away with the division with the midway point of the season not far away.

Here’s what the standings look like in the AFC South as well as the rest of the conference with only a Monday night game left to play in Week 8:

AFC South

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1. Jacksonville Jaguars: 6-2
2. Houston Texans: 3-4
3. Tennessee Titans: 3-4
4. Indianapolis Colts: 3-5

The Jaguars still have a road game against the Texans and two games against the Titans left on the schedule. But with the rest of the division holding losing records, a 6-2 start is looking awfully comfortable.

AFC East

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1. Miami Dolphins: 6-2
2. Buffalo Bills: 5-3
3. New York Jets: 4-3
4. New England Patriots: 2-6

The Dolphins stayed on top with a win, but the Bills and the Aaron Rodgers-less Jets are keeping it close.

AFC North

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1. Baltimore Ravens: 6-2
2. Cleveland Browns: 4-3
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-3
4. Cincinnati Bengals: 4-3

With the Bengals’ win, the entire AFC North is above .500. But with Browns and Steelers losses Sunday, the Ravens are now 1.5 games up on the whole group.

AFC West

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1. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-2
2. Los Angeles Chargers: 3-4
3. Las Vegas Raiders: 3-4
4. Denver Broncos: 3-5

The Chiefs gave up ground with a surprising loss to the Broncos, but until another AFC West team is above .500, Kansas City doesn’t look to be in much jeopardy.

If the playoffs started today...

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1. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-2
2. Miami Dolphins: 6-2
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: 6-2
4. Baltimore Ravens: 6-2
5. Buffalo Bills: 5-3
6. Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-3
7. Cleveland Browns: 4-3

All four division leaders in the AFC have matching 6-2 records after eight weeks. As of right now, the Chiefs and Dolphins are on top with 4-1 AFC records while the Jaguars and Ravens have 4-2 conference marks. The Kansas City and Jacksonville win the respective ties via the strength of victory tiebreaker.