There is a clear divide forming in the NFC, but the playoff race in this conference is quite jam-packed at the top. The worst teams in the conference are known at this point, and they are not going to make any sort of run or anything.
At this point in time, what seems to be left to figure out is the playoff seeding, but the playoff teams are relatively easy to see as we make our way into the final month and a half of the 2025 regular season. We could see some intense playoff matchups in the NFC.
Let's dive into our latest NFC Power Rankings as Week 12 approaches.
LA Rams still the top in updated NFC Power Rankings approaching Week 12
16. New Orleans Saints
There isn't much to like about the New Orleans Saints this year, but Tyler Shough has looked relatively good these first couple of outings, so I guess he could play well enough to prevent the Saints from taking a QB in the 2026 NFL Draft, but beyond that, this roster is a disaster.
15. New York Giants
The New York Giants keep losing, and they have already seen QB Jaxson Dart missing time because of concussions, so they not only have to coach him up to play safer, but they have to hire a new coaching staff for 2026 and beyond as well. I am also not sure GM Joe Schoen is safe, either.
14. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are in such a bad spot that it's almost hard to believe - they have a bad coaching staff, no first-round pick, and a QB that just suffered yet another season-ending knee injury. In all seriousness, where do the Falcons go from here? Where is the direction? Where is anything?
13. Minnesota Vikings
JJ McCarthy has been horrendous in the NFL, but he's also made a handful of starts, so you can't bury the guy. He is a young QB in the very early stages of his development, but it's honestly not a guatantee that the Vikings stick with him beyond 2025, as silly as that might sound. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season and is already quite behind in his development.
12. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders lose again and continue to spiral down the drain after an amazing 2024 season. Jayden Daniels has barely played this year, and the rest of the roster is just old and banged-up. GM Adam Peters has to fix this operation in the offseason to ensure they do not waste the rookie contract that Daniels is on, but it would not be smart to put him back out there in a lost season like this.
11. Arizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett just set the single-game record for the most completions in a game, so that's something, but the Arizona Cardinals have spiraled out of control and might be in a position to totally clean house this coming offseason. I am not sure head coach Jonathan Gannon gets the 2026 season. He could be on the hot seat.
The Cardinals are a non-factor in the NFC at this point, and that is putting it lightly.
10. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are 6-5.
The Carolina Panthers are 6-5! They currently have a better record than the Kansas City Chiefs, for what that is worth, and are currently a half-game behind the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I am not sure this team is good enough to get into the playoffs this year, but they are good enough too win six of their first 11 games, which is impressive.
Let's see how they end the season, though, as a lot can change. Carolina is no. 10 in our NFC power rankings.
9. Dallas Cowboys
This was a great win for the Dallas Cowboys for multiple reasons, and the defense did play well, which is a great sign. Dallas might be able to stack some wins here and make a run at a Wild Card spot, but it's going to take a lot to get there.
8. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers beat the snot out of the Arizona Cardinals and are 7-4 on the year, officially crossing their win total from the entire 2024 NFL Season. If the Niners can continue to get healthy, there is a shot that the NFC West title can be won.
Even with the LA Rams looking as good as they do, it really just takes one or two slip-ups, but the 49ers do feel destined for a Wild Card spot this year, and that's a huge testament to the coaching job that Kyle Shanahan has done given the amount of injuries he has had to deal with.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have some concerns on the defensive side of the ball, which is never a good thing. I am not sure Tampa is a slam-dunk to win the NFC South like many of us thought they would be earlier in the season. Baker Mayfield might have to will this team to the division title down the stretch, as the defense is turning into a liability.
Tampa has seemingly gone from contender to pretender in a few short weeks. They are no. 7 in our power rankings.
6. Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have lost twice the amount of games they did in 2024. Now already a four-loss team, Detroit is a full game behind the Chicago Bears in the NFC North and a half game behind the Green Bay Packers. It's clear that losing Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn in the offseason is having an impact as we get later into the season.
5. Green Bay Packers
Are the Green Bay Packers great or not? They are most definitely a good team, if nothing else, but beating the New York Giants by seven points isn't exactly that impressive. The Packers are in a decent spot to win the NFC North this year, but this team just isn't really clear to me - they have just three losses on the year, but can we trust them late in the season to close this thing out and win the division?
4. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are now 7-3 on the season after another last-second win, this time earning a huge divisional win against the Minnesota Vikings. The Bears were 0-2 at one point but have since gone 7-1. Ben Johnson is clearly a very good head coach in this league already, and it's easy-ish to tell if a head coach has 'it' in their first season.
The Bears have a good one in Johnson, and Caleb Williams has taken a step this year and is emerging as a legitimate, franchise quarterback. Chicago is no. 4 in our power rankings.
3. Seattle Seahawks
This was a pretty ugly loss for the Seattle Seahawks. Sam Darnold threw four interceptions and has seven over the past month, which is just not ideal at all. Seattle is still among the best teams in the NFC, as they lost to the LA Rams, who just might be the best team in the NFL, but Seattle losing does make their NFC West chances decrease big-time.
Seattle might be one of the better Wild Card teams we have seen in the seven-team playoff format. They are no. 3 in our NFC power rankings and are still a very good operation.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia wins another ugly, low-scoring game. The offense is definitely still a problem, and it's not going to magically fix itself, as they have some coaching and QB issues, as Jalen Hurts is simply not a prolific passer, but Kevin Patullo isn't helping.
Philly's top defense can lead them to a deep run in the postseason, but you really don't get the feeling that the Eagles are a Super Bowl-caliber team this year. The lack of a consistent offense is going to catch up with them.
1. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are the best team in the NFL and should probably win the Super Bowl this year. There isn't much this team can't do, as QB Matthew Stafford is the MVP of the league right now, the defense is explosive, and it all comes together thanks to Sean McVay. There really isn't another logical team you can put at the no. 1 spot in the NFC right now.