10. Detroit Lions
I am still believing in the Detroit Lions. The Lions have finished with a winning record in each of the last four seasons, and that included the 2023 and 2024 seasons where the team won the NFC North both years and combined for 27 regular season wins.
This team is going to figure it out, and a lot of that ‘figuring it out’ is going to come down to some of their key players like Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph finding their way back onto the field. Injuries on defense have been a major concern with this team the past two seasons.
There’s no way that can continue for a third year in a row, right? I guess it could, but I’d also add that this team was 7-4 at one point in 2025 and very much in a position to win the division. They also, right now, have the best offense and quarterback in the NFC North, and that does go a long way.
One of the more obvious non-playoff teams that could get back in 2026 is the Lions, and we’re ranking them right at No. 10 in our latest rankings.
9. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are already banged up, and it’s hard to believe, but here we are. The 49ers managed to win 12 games last year despite being injured, and injuries have really been the main factor in the down years of the Kyle Shanahan era.
With that said, the 49ers have made two Super Bowls since 2019 and are consistently among the better teams in the league. They’ve proven to be able to win in the playoffs and really just have to hope these injuries somehow improve during the season.
That continues to be the story for this team. When healthy, everything is in place for a Super Bowl title. San Francisco takes the No. 9 spot in our power rankings, but is also the third-ranked team in the NFC West.
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