There was a lot of parity present in the NFL in the 2025 season, and this could indeed spill into 2026. Not many people saw the Seattle Seahawks winning the Super Bowl, for example. Now that we're getting closer to training camp, there is surely optimistic swirling around most franchises, and I bet a ton of teams across the league think they can win it all.
But in reality, there may only be a few legitimate contenders in the league, and even the best teams struggle from time to time. We recently rolled out a 'best-case scenario' exercise for each team in the AFC, and we now have the NFC ready to roll here.
Let's get into it - predicting the best-case scenario for the 16 NFC squads.
Predicting the best-case scenario for every NFC team in the 2026 NFL Season
NFC North
Chicago Bears - Super Bowl appearance
The Chicago Bears won 11 games in the 2025 NFL Season, shockingly winning the NFC North. The Bears really took strides forward on offense, as we saw that entire unit be elevated by Ben Johnson. The defense was definitely a major issue outside of the turnovers, but we did see General Manager Ryan Poles go out and make some personnel changes this offseason. All in all, the Bears could squeak into the Super Bowl if things come together this year.
Green Bay Packers - NFC Divisional Round appearance
The Green Bay Packers have not been able to get past the Divisional Round of the playoffs in any of the prior three seasons, and I really do not see how that changes in 2026. The Packers have a really solid group of players and a lot going for them, but an overall lack of top-end talent and a quarterback who has missed four regular season games over the last two years is going to prevent them from advancing further.
Minnesota Vikings - NFC Divisional Round appearance
The Minnesota Vikings broke out big-time back in 2024 thanks to an unexpectedly awesome season from Sam Darnold. They did get trounced in the playoffs, though, failing to get past the Wild Card Round. The 2026 season could end up being slightly better, though. Kyler Murray is now in as the quarterback and does have a more complete skill set at the position than Darnold did.
I'd also argue that Murray has been a rock-solid quarterback efficiency-wise throughout his career thus far. With a playoff-caliber roster and a capable quarterback on the field, Minnesota could get somewhat deep in the postseason.
Detroit Lions - Super Bowl appearance
The Detroit Lions won 27 regular season games over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, also winning the NFC North during that time. Back in 2023, the Lions did get to the NFC Championship Game, and if not for mounting injuries on defense in 2024, they could have won it all. Quarterback Jared Goff also hasn't played all that well in the playoffs, as he has a 4-5 career record with a middling 85.1 passer rating.
Detroit has enough sheer talent to make a Super Bowl run, but they'd fall just short.
NFC South
Carolina Panthers - Wild Card Round loss
The Carolina Panthers won eight games last year, but managed to win the NFC South. Tampa Bay and Atlanta also happened to win eight games, so this wasn't a good division and still doesn't appear like it's one heading into 2026. At best, the Panthers can essentially replicate their 2026 season this year.
Bryce Young played the best football of his career in 2025 but was still largely mediocre, and on paper, the Panthers don't have a ton of high-end talent who could be difference-makers weekly. Carolina is a fine team, I guess, but anything more than a Wild Card berth is unrealistic.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - NFC Divisional Round appearance
The Buccaneers have been to the Divisional Round once in the Todd Bowles era, back in the 2023 season. That does seem to be this team's ceiling in this current era of football, so I suppose that should also remain the case in 2026.
Like many teams scattered across the league, the Bucs have some things going for them but also have some obvious limitations as well. Baker Mayfield is a good quarterback, but he's nothing special. The same could be said for the defense, as well. With bits and pieces of optimism, the overall ceiling is limited.
Atlanta Falcons - Wild Card Round loss
The Atlanta Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa this offseason, and I'd be shocked if he didn't win the starting quarterback job. From 2022-2024, Tagovailoa was quite efficient for the Miami Dolphins, and in an ideal world, he somehow morphs back into that Dolphins form in 2026 for the Falcons.
With how solid the personnel situation is on offense, Tagovailoa could enjoy an efficient season, but he was borderline unplayable last year for Miami, and it's why he's now on the Falcons. The truth is probably going to be somewhere in the middle with Tagovailoa, so if that is the case, the Falcons could scrape together a playoff berth.
New Orleans Saints - 9 wins and an almost playoff spot
I really like what the New Orleans Saints have done over the past two offseasons, and while I am quite high on this team, they still might be a year away. Tyler Shough does have enouth weaponry around him to break out, and the defense is solid on paper with a veteran coordinator in Brandon Staley.
Overall, though, the Saints best-case scenario this year would be an almost playoff appearance. Getting above .500 would be a victory for this current regime, perhaps setting the stage for an even better 2027.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles - NFC Divisional Round appearance
I have serious questions about the Philadelphia Eagles this year. This is the first time in Jalen Hurts 'full form' as a quarterback that he doesn't have AJ Brown. The Eagles also had to hire a new offensive coordinator, bringing in Sean Mannion to run the show. Other key offensive players like Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert are also getting up there in age, and Hurts has never been a threatening passer.
The Eagles do not have a Super Bowl group right now. The offense is flawed, and even the defense could use a little more push up front. Overall, Philly is talented enough to get into the playoffs, but they'll fall short from the goal.
Dallas Cowboys - NFC Championship Game appearance
I really like what the Dallas Cowboys did this offseason. Hiring Christian Parker to run the show on defense was a great move, and revamping the unit with new additions including Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, and Caleb Downs were massive steps in the right direction.
The offense was already great, as the core of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Javonte Williams helped this team become a top-7 scoring unit in 2026. It's all shaping up to be a rather complete roster, pushing the Cowboys to a ceiling of a title game appearance.
Washington Commanders - NFC Divisional Round appearance
Washington added a ton of talent this offseason, but that magical 2024 season doesn't seem to be in the cards for 2026. After winning 12 games in 2024, they won just five in 2025. With the Commanders, many of their free agency moves were steps in the right direction, but all of this new talent could take some time to gel.
It's clear that Washington can get into the playoffs, but in this revamped era, it could take a year to fully get off the ground.
New York Giants - 9 wins and missing the playoffs
Hiring John Harbaugh was one of the best moves that any team made this offseason. The New York Giants needed some stability at head coach, and they appeared to have gotten it. The roster still needs some work, and there isn't a guarantee that Jaxson Dart takes a year two leap, but if Harbaugh does have some gas left in the tank, he can get this operation sorted out and at least trending in the right direction for the long-term.
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks - Super Bowl champions
The Seattle Seahawks won 14 games in the 2025 NFL Season, making it to the Super Bowl and winning it all just one year after missing the playoffs entirely. It's clear that this operation is a well-oiled machine and capable of doing it again.
With how deep and explosive the defense is, and how solid of a head coach Mike Macdonald is, the Seahawks could be one of those teams that goes back-to-back. The Super Bowl hangover is real, and it's something that has impacted many teams, but remember, we're doing best-case scenarios here.
I am not sure many of us would be shocked if Seattle won two in a row.
Los Angeles Rams - Super Bowl champions
Another unsurprising best-case scenario would be the Los Angeles Rams winning the Super Bowl. Los Angeles did feel like the best team in football in 2025, but some poor defensive showings and an inability to stop the Seahawks in the NFC title game ended their season.
The Rams added Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson on defense, shoring up the secondary and pulling off an all-time trade for Garrett. As we get closer to the start of the season, I would be shocked if the Rams weren't almost unanimously looked at as being the Super Bowl favorite this year.
That does only amp up the pressure more, but the players and coaches also hear the chatter and know what is at stake.
San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl berth
The San Francisco 49ers have made the Super Bowl two times in the Kyle Shanahan era, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 and 2023. The 49ers are good enough to make it back to the big game, as Shanahan's squads really seem to play better when the playoffs roll around.
But if history tells us one thing, it's that Shanahan and the 49ers just fall short sometimes. Could that be the case in 2026? History would say it's possible.
Arizona Cardinals - 5 wins
At best, the lowly Arizona Cardinals can win a handful of games and perhaps not look totally dysfunctional. I would not be surprised if Arizona flirted with being the first winless team in the 17-game era, as the roster and quarterback situation are both bottom-3 in the league, and the team does have a new coaching staff.
Getting to five wins would honestly feel like a miracle.