Not so fast, you Patriots. The Ravens managed to tighten the AFC playoff race Sunday night, handing the Patriots their first loss of the season and, at the very least, guaranteeing us a layer of genuine playoff intrigue during the second half of the season. The Ravens, Texans and Chiefs are all within striking distance for the AFC's top seed should the Patriots falter.
Let's take a closer look at the playoff race through nine weeks of the 2019 NFL season.
AFC
The gap has closed, albeit relatively slightly, on the Patriots in both the AFC East and the AFC overall.