NFL playoff picture: Cardinals and Titans make statements

The Cardinals and Titans made big statements in Week 9 of the NFL season.

The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 31- 17 despite missing Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins and several other key players.

The Titans defeated the Rams without Derrick Henry and others, 28- 16.

Arizona vaulted back into the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with their big win.

Tennessee held on to the top spot in the AFC.

The top seed in each conference gets a bye in the playoffs, and the other division winners get the No. 2 through No. 4 seeds.

The No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 seeds go to the non- division winners with the best records.

NFC playoff picture after Week 9:

• No. 1 Cardinals ( 8- 1)

• No. 2 Packers ( 7- 2)

• No. 3 Buccaneers ( 6- 2)

• No. 4 Cowboys ( 6- 2)

• No. 5 Rams ( 7- 2)

• No. 6 Saints ( 5- 3)

• No. 7 Falcons ( 4- 4)

In the hunt:

• Panthers ( 4- 5)

• Vikings ( 3- 5)

• Seattle Seahawks ( 3- 5)

• 49ers ( 3- 5)

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NFC playoff matchups right now:

• No. 2 Packers vs. No. 7 Falcons

• No. 3 Buccaneers vs. No. 6 Saints

• No. 4 Cowboys vs. No. 5 Rams

Notes: The Buccaneers win a tiebreaker over the Cowboys on head- tohead win percentage.

AFC playoff picture after Week 9:

• No. 1 Titans ( 7- 2)

• No. 2 Ravens ( 6- 2)

• No. 3 Chargers ( 5- 3)

• No. 4 Bills ( 5- 3)

• No. 5 Raiders ( 5- 3)

• No. 6 Steelers ( 5- 3)

• No. 7 Patriots ( 5- 4)

In the hunt:

• Chiefs ( 5- 4)

• Browns ( 5- 4)

• Bengals ( 5- 4)

• Broncos ( 5- 4)

• Colts ( 4- 5)

AFC playoff matchups right now:

• No. 2 Ravens vs. No. 7 Patriots

• No. 3 Chargers vs. No. 6 Steelers

• No. 4 Bills vs. No. 5 Raiders

Notes: The Chargers take a tiebreaker over the Bills on best winning percentage in conference games. The Raiders win a tiebreaker over the Steelers on head- to- head winning percentage. The Patriots take a tiebreaker over the Browns and Chiefs on winning percentage in conference games after a division tiebreaker eliminated the Broncos and Bengals.