On paper, the NFC contains three of the best teams in the NFL: the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, and reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. NFL Playoff Projections unsurprisingly contain these teams, but four other teams will join them to compete for a Super Bowl appearance. Each division looks set to be competitive next season, and division champions and playoff seeding likely won’t be decided until late in the year. The level of talent in the conference ensures that a good team will miss the playoffs, meaning every game will be crucial for each NFC squad.
NFC North: Chicago Bears
Top to bottom, the North may be the most talented division in football, as each team finished above .500 last season. The Bears will look to repeat as champions, building on quarterback Caleb Williams’ breakout to establish themselves as a Super Bowl contender. Chicago took the Los Angeles Rams to overtime in the Divisional Round last season, but came up just short of a championship game appearance. Heading into his second year, coach Ben Johnson should get another shot to bring his team a title.
Another team looking to avenge recent playoff failures, the Detroit Lions missed the playoffs following their NFC Championship loss in 2024. Injuries at safety and the recent release of corner Terrion Arnold have the Lions’ secondary looking thin, but Detroit’s explosive offense has the potential to keep them in any game.
The Green Bay Packers snuck into the playoffs last season at 9-7-1, ultimately losing to the Bears in the Wild Card round. Returning to the postseason will likely require winning more than nine games, which could be tough for Green Bay given their lack of a number one receiver and potential legal issues for running back Josh Jacobs. Quarterback Jordan Love has shown flashes throughout his career, but may need to truly break out for the Packers to be contenders.
Despite numerous issues at the quarterback position, the Minnesota Vikings still finished third last season at 9-8. Former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy struggled to stay healthy and play well last season, and former first-overall pick Kyler Murray was brought in to compete for the starting job. The Vikings have a talented defense and arguably the best receiver in the league in Justin Jefferson. If they can find even average quarterback play, they can make noise in the NFC.
NFC South: New Orleans Saints
This division is by far the hardest to predict, given how similarly talented each team is. Three teams, including the champion Carolina Panthers, finished 8-9 last season. Each team got better in the offseason, but no one established themselves as a clear favorite. Each team could finish somewhere between seven and 10 wins, and whoever wins the most rivalry games likely wins the division.
The Saints finished last a year ago at 6-11, but historically the NFL almost always sees a last-place team win their division the following season. After an impressive rookie season, quarterback Tyler Shough will get another year of development as a starter, and the Saints could be poised to close the gap with their rivals.
The Panthers are strong contenders to repeat but may regress offensively. Injuries to starting tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton, as well as the offseason departure of running back Rico Dowdle, could cost them crucial games.
The Atlanta Falcons have a talented defense, but their quarterback situation is among the worst in the NFL. Former top-10 pick Michael Penix has not lived up to his draft stock, and the team brought in a former top-five pick in Tua Tagovailoa to compete for the starting job. Tagovailoa was released by the Miami Dolphins due to injury struggles as well as poor on-field performances.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started last season 6-2 but collapsed following their bye week and finished 8-9. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is arguably the best in this division, but his struggles played a role in Tampa’s collapse. Both Mayfield and star defensive tackle Vita Vea are looking for new contracts, with the latter requesting a trade. The loss of Vea would severely hurt the Buccaneers’ run defense and their chances of competing next season.
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
Trading star receiver A.J. Brown creates more questions for an already beleaguered Philadelphia passing offense. A new playcaller and the selection of Makai Lemon in the draft should help, but reestablishing the running game should be the Eagles’ focus. This roster is loaded with talent, and returning to the Super Bowl should be the expectation next season.
Being active in the trade market didn’t help the Dallas Cowboys make the playoffs last season, but it may have laid the foundation for this season. The defense still has notable holes, but Dallas will likely have one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. It’s historically difficult to consistently win shootouts, but the Cowboys may be equipped to do so, and may have to if they want to get back to winning the division.
A healthy Jayden Daniels will be the most important thing for the Washington Commanders, as the young quarterback makes them a significantly better team. Daniels’ mobility is one of his biggest assets as a player, but keeping himself on the field may be more important to Washington’s success. The defense was bolstered in free agency and the draft, and they just need an offense to match.
The New York Giants have fully entered a new era, bringing in John Harbaugh as head coach. Last season’s Giants were significantly better than their 4-13 record would indicate, as blown fourth-quarter leads cost them numerous wins. Trading superstar defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence made an already weak run defense even weaker, which could cripple their season. If New York can figure out how to finish games, however, they have a chance to win the division.
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
Last year’s Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, will have to contend with next season’s likely favorite being a division rival. The Rams went all in this offseason, trading for star corner Trent McDuffie and future Hall of Fame edge Myles Garrett to bolster their defense. With the reigning MVP at quarterback, anything less than a title would be a disappointment for Los Angeles.
The Seahawks are not too far behind, however, boasting one of the league’s best defenses and the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The free agency departure of Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker is concerning, but first-round pick Jadarian Price has the talent to mitigate the loss. Repeating as champion is hard enough, but the Seahawks will have to contend with one of the toughest divisions in the NFL just to have a shot at the playoffs.
Injuries took a heavy toll on the San Francisco 49ers last season, but the team was able to fight into the playoffs anyway. When healthy, they are capable of beating anyone, but may need to do so without superstar tight end George Kittle, as he rehabs a torn Achilles suffered in January. Kittle is a crucial piece of San Francisco’s offense, and given the injury concerns with receiver Ricky Pearsall, they can’t afford to lose any more pass catchers.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Arizona Cardinals, who are more likely to be contending for the number one pick in the draft rather than a playoff spot. Starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett has agreed to a reworked contract and ended his holdout, but this roster has noticeably less talent than their division counterparts. The Cardinals are expected to be looking for their future quarterback, and losing games this season will help them do just that.
NFL Playoff Projections:
- Los Angeles Rams 14-3
- Chicago Bears 13-4
- Philadelphia Eagles 11-6
- New Orleans Saints 9-8
- Seattle Seahawks 13-4
- San Francisco 49ers 11-6
- Detroit Lions 11-6
