Going into the 2025 season, it looked like the AFC was going to be head and shoulders above the NFC as far as the total number of true quality, contending teams. Halfway through the season, the NFC has flipped that narrative on its head.
Obviously, injuries play a factor here, but the NFC is much better than almost anyone expected this season, especially with teams like Seattle playing as well as some of the best teams in the league, and the Lions maintaining a dominant level of play after losing multiple coordinators.
Our latest NFL Power Rankings ahead of Week 9 are taking a look at every team in the NFC and how they stack up against each other. Obviously, these rankings will factor in each team's record, some head-to-head matchups, their future outlook for the season, as well as how well they're all passing my personal "eye test" so far.
NFL Power Rankings: Teams fighting with Packers for top spot entering Week 9
16. New Orleans Saints
After a couple of glimpses of brilliance, the luster around Spencer Rattler disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Not everybody agreed with this decision, but at the midway point of the season, the Saints had seen enough of Rattler that they decided to bench him in favor of second-round pick Tyler Shough, who will presumably be the starter for the remainder of the year.
The Saints are expected to be a major seller at the NFL trade deadline, which would make sense with just six draft picks currently in 2026, but time will tell.
15. Arizona Cardinals
The expectation in the second half of the season is going to be that the Arizona Cardinals figure out a way to finish games, but the injury bug has bit this team hard. The interesting thing is going to be what the Cardinals decide to do when Kyler Murray is fully healthy, because Jacoby Brissett had the offense playing a bit better, if you're asking me.
The losses this team has had to deal with in the injury department might be too much to overcome over the long haul of the season, but Arizona has been competitive. Still, the expectation wasn't just to look good relative to injuries, the expectation was to win games and get to the postseason.
14. New York Giants
The New York Giants undoubtedly had a stretch of excitement when Jaxson Dart initially took over as the starting quarterback, but that excitement has faded a bit due to the injuries to both Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo. This team simply cannot have nice things, or at least, that's how it feels.
The Giants still might have their future franchise QB, and they are deep on the defensive front. Hopefully, ownership in New York sees the vision and allows Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll to build around their guy in 2026.
13. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are currently hanging on by a thread. Carson Wentz is now out after trying to keep the ship afloat for a few weeks, but the NFC North is just too competitive.
The Vikings are going to be welcoming JJ McCarthy back to the fold, and honestly, what are we even supposed to expect there? McCarthy was good for about a quarter so far this season, and injuries have unfortunately defined his career so far. It will at least be exciting to (hopefully) see him play extensive snaps. At 3-4, the Vikings are by no means out of it yet.
12. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are another NFC team dealing with injuries to its second-year quarterback. And without Jayden Daniels, this Commanders team just doesn't feel like the same type of threat. Heck, even with Daniels at times this season, the Commanders haven't been nearly the same type of threat that we saw last season.
This team is in a similar boat as the Minnesota Vikings right now. They are fading rapidly, but there's still time to stop the bleeding. They need their QB1 back in the mix and making the same type of impact we saw from him as a rookie.
11. Atlanta Falcons
Based on what we've seen from the Falcons when they are at full strength and playing complementary football, they should be one of the top seven teams in the NFC. Based on what we've seen from the Falcons when they are beaten up and not playing complementary football, they could rival the Saints for the last spot on this list.
The truth, as always, is somewhere in between. I'm not fully out on the Falcons at this point, but they are a tough team to figure out. Still, with the playmakers they have, and the ceiling they've shown, they can be a factor all throughout the season, regardless of their record.
10. Dallas Cowboys
When the Dallas Cowboys are at home this season, they've averaged over 41 points per game. When they're on the road, they are averaging 23 points per game. You would think either number would be enough to keep the Cowboys above .500 at this point, but that's just how bad their defense is.
The Cowboys need to trade for someone to help their defensive front. If only there was a player out there like Micah Parsons who could help them off the edge. The Cowboys are too good offensively to not make the postseason. Jerry Jones must atone for his Parsons sins.
9. Chicago Bears
On a given week, I'm not sure the Bears are all that much better than teams like the Falcons or even Vikings. We've seen this Bears team get absolutely shredded by the Detroit Lions, and then we've seen them play elite defense against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Bears are one of a wide variety of NFC teams right now that you just can't put your finger on. They have been good, they have been bad, and they look like they could somehow put things together. I am still super skeptical of the way Caleb Williams is developing in Ben Johnson's offense, but he deserves time.
8. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers represent an interesting cutoff point in the NFC. They are at the threshold of all the teams that have put together some really impressive wins this year, and some really ugly losses. When Bryce Young has played for this team, they've shown some really impressive fight and even some dynamic offensive output. Rico Dowdle has been huge for them, and the young pass catchers are stepping up.
But so help me if Dave Canales tries to throw Andy Dalton out there for another start...
7. San Francisco 49ers
It's still hard to believe the 49ers have been as solid as we've seen them be this season with the number of injuries they've had to deal with. This has been Mac Jones's team for the majority of the season at this point, and he's played extremely well. With that said, the 49ers are already scrambling to add talent off the edge before the NFL trade deadline to make up for the Nick Bosa loss.
This 49ers team might not be poised to go deep in the postseason, but with Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh caling the shots, they'll be competitive in just about every game.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I would say the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are falling slightly the past couple of weeks, and it has less to do with them and everything to do with the teams jumping ahead of them.
The Bucs have been one of my favorite teams to watch all season, but how soon will injuries take their toll? The "Cardiac Bucs' have one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the NFL, and it looks like they're going to be able to coast to a division title this season.
5. Seattle Seahawks
It almost feels disrespectful to put the Seahawks 5th with how well they've played this season, but we talked about it at the beginning -- the NFC is loaded right now.
The Seahawks have been one of the most consistent teams in the league on both sides of the ball this season, a dynamic outfit offensively, and an extremely underrated defense. I could see this team being dangerous in the playoffs.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
The reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles lost two straight games, but have bounced back in a big way since then. Jalen Hurts was getting scathing reviews from pretty much every direction before the last two games, where he's only completed 34 passes but has a whopping seven touchdowns.
The Eagles should be buyers at the NFL trade deadline, as you would expect from Howie Roseman. This is a team that clearly needs another piece on the defensive front, and I'm not sure bringing Brandon Graham out of retirement will be enough.
3. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams already looked like one of the best all-around teams in the NFL, and now they've made a trade with the Titans to add Roger McCreary to the secondary. Not to make a mountain out of a molehill, but that could end up being one of the shrewdest trade deadline moves of the entire season.
The Rams are getting Puka Nacua back in Week 9 after their bye week. They are fresh off their biggest win of the season, and they've got a chance to get another one just like it facing the Saints. This team should continue to roll.
2. Detroit Lions
When we've seen the Detroit Lions at their best this season, I struggle to think of many teams that could really hang with them. Realistically, if the Lions are on top of their game, I don't know that anyone can. This is their shot to win a Super Bowl in 2025, and Dan Campbell has to have his guys ready for a fight in the second half of the season.
As good as the Lions are, they've got a powerhouse in their own division and they'll have a target on their backs all season.
1. Green Bay Packers
We talked about it earlier in the season, but the Green Bay Packers really look like they might be the best and deepest roster in the NFL right now. This team has star power, Jordan Love is taking the next step in his game, and they just have too many weapons for teams to handle.
The Packers have weaknesses (the secondary, for one), but this is a team that is just stacked on both sides of the ball and ready for a deep playoff run.