We're now finished up with Week 8 here in the 2026 NFL Season, and we have seen the playoff races in both conferences heat up a good bit. The neat thing that sticks out this year is how many very good teams there are, but there does not appear to be a clear-cut team to beat.
Even some of the best teams in the NFL have some concerns, so the league, as we have said, feels wide open this year. Chicago and Seattle closed us out in Week 8, and that result definitely made the playoff race in the NFL that much more interesting.
Let's take a peek at the NFC Playoff Picture with Week 8 in the books.
Updated NFC Playoff Picture shows a tightening race across the board
Wild Card Teams
7. Green Bay Packers (5-3)
The Green Bay Packers are staying alive in the NFC playoff race at the moment. They are last in the NFC North but still have five wins and occupy the No. 7 seed right now. Given how much the Packers have had to go through injury wise this year, and their inability to run the ball, this is probably about as good as the Packers can get in 2026.
6. Detroit Lions (5-2)
The Detroit Lions are showing signs of their 2023 and 2024 selves. Currently 5-2, the Lions are very much in play for the NFC North title but aren't a perfect team. They'll have to continue leaning on their high-powered offense if they hope to win the division, as that is the strength of the team.
5. Chicago Bears (6-2)
Chicago taking down Seattle was really something - the Bears might be the best team in football right now and also might not have a clear roster flaw. Very much alive to win the NFC North for a second-straight season, the Bears will have to gain another game on Minnesota, but the Bears are a much mroe well-rounded team right now.
Add us as a preferred source on Google