Our great Aaron Sauter recently wrote an article about which AFC teams will make the playoffs. So why not do the same for the NFC? Predicting who will have meaningful games in January is always difficult in the NFC, as all four divisions are unpredictable.
The NFC North had two 14+ win teams last season; the last time a team won back-to-back in the NFC East (2003-2004), I was three years old; the NFC West is always a crazy battle; and the NFC South could have two teams trying to rival the Buccaneers.
My crystal ball gets foggy enough when trying to see who will win their divisions, but it gets worse for wild-card teams. With 7 spots in the playoffs, the Eagles, Commanders, Cowboys, Rams, 49ers, Lions, Vikings, Packers, and Buccaneers, arguably the best teams in the conference, are already over the limit. Add a team that over-improves, and it could be a ten-team race for a playoff spot.
It’s still a very fun thing to do, so let’s get into it.
#7 Seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers can be one of the scariest teams in the league. Baker Mayfield apparently found his mojo back in Tampa, but how the offense performs under first-year play-caller Josh Grizzard is a mystery. But with Baker playing like a former #1 overall pick, an outstanding offensive line and run game, and great weapons in the passing game, it’s hard to believe they won’t be good. They would be higher on the list, but their pass-rush outside of Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey isn’t very good, Lavonte David is one year older, and the secondary doesn’t have that many playmakers. The offense should still make them competitive, but they also have a risk of turning every game into a shootout.
#6 Seed: Washington Commanders
The Commanders shocked the NFL last season, going from the second pick in the Draft to the Conference Championship Game in less than a year. Jaden Daniels is already considered one of the best QBs in the league after what he did as a rookie. And the team led by Dan Quinn did that by taking risks. With a historical 4th down conversion rate, the Commanders managed to steal possessions and wins. With what should be an improved offensive line, this is an offense that could be even better. They lost man-power in the pass rushing unit, so they will need Daniels to take a step further in his development – but don’t doubt them.
#5 Seed: San Francisco 49ers
A healthy 49ers’ team is still one of the best teams in the NFC, and arguably in the league. They got decimated by injuries in 2024, but this is something that usually returns to the norm. They spent a lot of draft capital on defense, picking 5 defenders with their 5 selections, and four of them play in the trenches. This is an attempt to help a run defense that went from one of the best in 2023 to a middling one in 2024. And it also shows the front office’s trust in Kyle Shanahan’s ability to keep the offense productive. If the 49ers finally stay healthy, they could be one of the best teams in the NFC, even if they are a Wild Card one.
#4 Seed: Atlanta Falcons
One of the biggest surprises here (the Lions not making the playoffs would be the biggest), the Falcons could be the aforementioned team that overly improves. They have an offense with young and explosive players in Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and now Michael Penix Jr. as the new quarterback. They hope that rookies Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr., and Xavier Watts can contribute immediately and help turn around a bottom-10 defense in 2024.
#3 Seed: Minnesota Vikings
A team many believe will regress, I personally think they got better. They invested heavily in the interior of the offensive line, bringing in three new starters. The defensive trenches also got better with the additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. The only question marks are cornerback, a position that will benefit from an even better pass rush, and quarterback, as J.J. McCarthy will start for the first time. Kevin O’Connell managed to get the very best from every QB he had in Minnesota, so why doubt the one he handpicked?
#2 Seed: Los Angeles Rams
The NFC West should be this year’s version of the 2024 NFC North. Although the AFC South improved, it’s still arguably the worst division in the NFL. This means that the Rams, a 10-7 team in 2024, could finish the year 12-5 or even 13-4. Their defensive line is young and menacing, while their offense is very experienced – the recipe for a scary team in January. They were also the only team to manage a competitive game against the Eagles in the playoffs.
#1 Seed: Philadelphia Eagles
Some may say that the reigning Super Bowl champions got a little worse. I don’t buy that at all. Their offense is returning everyone but RG Mekhi Becton, and I trust OL coach Jeff Stoutland more than almost any coach. Their defense lost some important players, but they were either backups (Milton Williams) or older players (Darius Slay Jr.). In either case, they had replacements in the roster or drafted one.
There’s almost no reason to believe the Eagles won’t be the team to beat in the NFC again. Already boosting a stout defense, they added rookie LB Jihaad Campbell and DB Andrew Mukuba to give Vic Fangio two young playmakers to play with. The offense will continue to beat opponents in multiple ways with Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Hurts, and one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
