After a wild Week 6, where does the NFC stand? Some of the best teams in the conference are quite good, but do have some roster concerns. There could be seven or even eight teams that have a solid argument to win the entire thing this year and represent the conference in the Super Bowl.
The AFC, however, is a much different story. Anyway, we've power ranked the NFC as Week 7 approaches. The playoff picture is beginning to take shape, and in the coming weeks, things will get even more interesting.
For our latest power rankings, we are mainly focusing on the total body of work for each team, as we're nearing the halfway point of the season and have to consider everything, but the NFL is also a 'what have you done for me lately' league, so we have to take into consideration Week 6 results as well.
NFC power rankings following a wild Week 6
16. New Orleans Saints (1-5)
The New Orleans Saints have the worst record in the NFC and are no. 16 in our power rankings. However, second-year QB Spencer Rattler has looked quite solid this year and honestly might be worth building around for the future.
15. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
Now losers of four games in a row, the Arizona Cardinals continue to tumble and are no. 15 in our power rankings. They gave the Colts a run for their money in Week 6, but this team just doesn't have the juice to compete with some of these other teams.
14. Dallas Cowboys (2-3-1)
If it wasn't for arguably the worst defense in the NFL, the Cowboys would have four or five wins. Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP-level right now and is just carving up a ton of defenses, but his defense has been bottom-tier and is the singular reason why this team has just two wins.
13. Minnesota Vikings (3-2)
The 3-2 Minnesota Vikings are a solid team but are also buried in our NFC power rankings. The QB situation is interesting to say the least, and you just do not get the feeling that this team is anything close to being a juggernaut. If they were in the AFC, they'd be ranked a lot higher.
12. Carolina Panthers (3-3)
How about the Carolina Panthers? Now 3-3 on the season, the Panthers have a lot going for them and simply have to keep their foot on the gas. You can definitely see Bryce Young improving, and I would have to think that Young has to put together the best year of his career here in 2025 if he wants to remain their starter in 2026 and beyond.
Dave Canales all of a sudden has this Panthers' team on the cusp of being above .500 approaching the halfway point of the 2025 season.
11. New York Giants (2-4)
With two wins in the first three games of the Jaxson Dart era, the New York Giants are climbing, but slowly. Dart has made just three starts, and it's not been all that pretty, but you can absolutely see the 'it' factor from Dart.
Ideally, he's able to play more in the structure of the offense, and he's now got to do this without Malik Nabers, who tore his ACL a few weeks ago. The Giants feel like a fun, frisky team at the moment. They come in at no. 11 in our power rankings.
10. San Francisco 49ers (4-2)
After a shaky loss, the San Francisco 49ers drop to no. 10 in our power rankings. Fred Warner is now out for the season after a dislocated ankle, and it's yet another brutal injury for this team. The 49ers have somehow managed to win four of their first six games despite the injuries, but you do not get the feeling that this team is going to amount to much.
If nothing else, they have an easier schedule and should be able to rack up a ton more wins, but I don't view this team as a contender, and they do not feel like a super threatening team at the moment.
9. Washington Commanders (3-3)
After a bad loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, the Washington Commanders drop to ninth in our power rankings and simply have to go on a run here. We've seen what this team can do, as they were within one game of the Super Bowl last year, but they don't feel very special at the moment and honestly feel pretty average.
8. Chicago Bears (3-2)
How about the Chicago Bears? This team won in a hostile environment in Week 6 and are now 3-2 on the season. They beat the Washington Commanders after being on their bye in Week 5. Caleb Williams and the offense are coming together, and you really hope that the run defense in Chicago can button up.
Right now, there is a path for this team to make the playoffs in the 2025 NFL Season. Caleb Williams has done well, and they really don't feel like the dysfunctional operation they were for most of the 2024 season. This team feels good.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)
Two-straight losses for the Philadelphia Eagles drops them to seventh in our NFC power rankings. The defense has virtually no pass rush, the offensive coordinator is in way over his head, and the QB, Jalen Hurts, is below-average throwing the football.
All of that is a recipe for disaster. Losing to the Denver Broncos and New York Giants over the last two weeks, the Eagles really have to get something figured out, but this could also be a simple example of a team enduring the Super Bowl hangover.
6. Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
The Atlanta Falcons could be better than we think. After a huge win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 6, the Falcons rise to sixth in our power rankings and honestly have one of the more complete teams in the NFL. We saw how high-flying the offense can be, and this defense has been fantastic.
Michael Penix Jr could continue to come along as the season goes on, and by the time we hit the end of the 2025 campaign, the Falcons could all of a sudden have 10 wins and have clinched a playoff spot. The Falcons rise in our NFC power rankings approaching Week 7.
5. Los Angeles Rams (4-2)
The LA Rams are a very good football team and are capable of making a deep playoff run. I do believe they'll come away with the NFC West title in the 2025 NFL Season, and I would not be shocked to see them make a Super Bowl run. They won it all back in 2021.
4. Green Bay Packers (3-1-1)
One of two one-loss teams in the NFC right now, the Green Bay Packers are fourth in our NFC power rankings, but they have a pretty shaky tie on their record from a few weeks ago against the Dallas Cowboys. Looking back, it's quite ridiculous the Packers did not win that game.
I get the sense that this team is on the doorstep of contention, but aren't quite there yet. Both sides of the ball will simply need to elevate a bit more as the season goes on, as the Packers feel like, comfortably, the second-best team in the NFC North right now.
3. Seattle Seahawks (4-2)
I was definitely wrong about the Seattle Seahawks. Sam Darnold has played his tail off this year, and the defense is obviously in a good spot with Mike Macdonald running the show. Everything is working for this team right now, and I do see a scenario where they win the NFC West this year.
Seattle made a huge gamble in the offseason to trade Geno Smith and sign Darnold, but it's worked out quite well thus far.
2. Detroit Lions (4-2)
Despite the loss against the Kansas City Chiefs in primetime, the Detroit Lions are no. 2 in our NFC rankings and are a juggernaut. Jared Goff has arguably been the best QB in the NFL this year, and Dan Campbell is outstanding at his job as well.
The defense needs to shape-up a bit, but there is no reason to believe that this team can't again find themselves deep in the playoffs this year.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1)
The best record in the NFC, and tied for the best record in the NFL at 5-1, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are top in our NFC power rankings. Baker Mayfield is carrying this team thus far and is just playing a different game out there.
Like the Lions, you'd love to see the defense play a bit better, but you really can't argue with a 5-1 record through six weeks. I do believe Tampa has what it takes to make a deep playoff run this year.