The NFC is shaping up to bring us a massively entertaining playoffs here in a couple of weeks. Most seeds are still up for grabs, and we could see some surprising teams in great positions. Heck, the Carolina Panthers are in a prime position to win the NFC South this year, for example.
The final two regular season weeks will officially settle the playoff seeding and divisional races. We could be in store for one of the most entertaining playoffs in the history of the NFL. Part of this is evidenced in our updated NFC playoff power rankings.
There are a ton of competent teams in the conference right now. Let's power rank it approaching Week 17.
Power ranking all NFC playoff teams following Week 17 action
7. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have been a very fun story this year, but this team is still a year or two away. Bryce Young has played the best football of his career, but there is still a ton of unknown with this team. The operation is very much a work in progress, and this team would be in second or third place in most other divisions in the NFL.
6. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have now been dealing with a ton of injuries in recent weeks, including losing Micah Parsons to a torn ACL. The Packers might be able to win a playoff game this year, but they're trending in the wrong direction at the wrong time and might not be able to do anything - injuries happen and are a part of the game. The Packers are now also 9-5-1 on the season and may again have to go on the road in the NFL playoffs.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a good team but have seen a regression across the board. As I have said for a while now here, Philly just does not have the bite that they had in 2024. This team used to be able to overwhelm opponents in the trenches and with the run game, but that just has not come together in 2025. Philly might be able to use its playoff experience to win a game, but they'll fall short of the Super Bowl this season.
4. Chicago Bears
You really would not think the Chicago Bears have played 11-4 football, but here we are. Still a little bit rough around the edges, the Bears are loving all of the close finishes and are currently the heavy favorite to win the NFC North this year. The passing attack still needs some work, and the defensive line is nothing special, but 11-4 is 11-4. The Bears might still be a year away from true contention, but it's hard to ignore how good of a story they have been this year.
3. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers can win out and earn the no. 1 overall seed in the NFC. The Niners have been in third place for most of the season due to the great years from the LA Rams and Seattle Seahawks, but San Fran is hanging around. The Niners are getting virtually nothing from their pass rush this year, and the roster itself is just not that special, but the coaching staff has done an exceptional job, and this team simply cannot be ruled out right now. Brock Purdy is also heating up...
2. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams blew a massive fourth quarter lead to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16 and are now no. 2 in our NFC playoff rankings. The Rams likely have the MVP of the league in Matthew Stafford and an incredibly well-rounded and well-coached team. I would still pick the Rams to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this year, but they're now in a tough position to win the NFC West and are obviously not the top team anymore...
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are now in first in our NFC playoff power rankings. We saw this team erase a fourth quarter deficit at home, and they sealed the deal in overtime. The Seahawks are a juggernaut - the defense is explosive, and the passing attack is flat-out lethal. The issue of Sam Darnold playing well in big games still seems to be a bit present, but you can't argue with this body of work in 2025.