As we expected heading into the 2026 NFL season, the NFC is loaded. Maybe even more than we imagined.
Over the past two weeks, we've actually learned a lot when it comes to some teams in the NFC bouncing back after slow starts, and coming to life just in time.
We're going to attempt to do the impossible: Rank each team in the NFC from worst to best after just four games. With any NFL Power Rankings, there is going to be some volatility week-to-week. A team could rank in the top 5 one week and be outside the top 10 two weeks later. And teams can jump from the bottom, too.
Some teams have done exactly that in our newest NFC Power Rankings heading into Week 5. What have we learned through the first month of the season, and where does every team stand as of right now?
NFL Power Rankings, Week 5: Falcons and Cowboys skyrocketing in NFC rankings
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Heading into this year, it felt like this was going to be a make-or-break season for Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Up to this point, we’re obviously trending more toward the “break” category for this team, sadly.
The Buccaneers find themselves in an 0-4 hole to start this season, and I’m not really sure where they go from here. The one saving grace is that they play in the NFC South, which in recent history, has been one of the most “winnable” divisions, even with some stretches of really bad play.
Even playing in the NFC South, I’m not sure the Buccaneers can climb out of this hole they’ve dug for themselves. Baker Mayfield might have a new head coach next season.
15. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals obviously got the season started off with an upset win that turned a lot of heads, but things have sort of been more “as expected” over the last three weeks.
Still, it would be disingenuous to say that the Cardinals have just been downright bad all year. They played the 49ers tougher than expected, and they were a goal line pick-six away from going on the road and beating the Giants in Week 4.
The Cardinals have shown some fight in Mike LaFleur’s first year at the helm, but this still feels like a team playing more for draft positioning than anything substantial this season. And that’s okay, because they’re in rebuilding mode.
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