The NFC is shaping up through three weeks of the 2026 NFL Season, and in Week 4, the month of October begins for all 32 teams. This is the time of the year when teams really need to figure out who and what they are.
This also should be a time where the best and worst teams sort themselves out. In the NFC, the conference is clearly deep, featuring a lot of competent teams. While there might not be a truly great team in the NFC right now, that should change here over the next few weeks.
Let's dive into the NFC hierarchy as Week 4 approaches, ranking the conference here based on how they have played in 2026 up to this point.
Updated NFC rankings as Week 4 approaches
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 0-3
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only winless team in the NFC through three weeks, and now they'll be without quarterback Baker Mayfield for about that time with a dislocated thumb. It's not wild to think that Tampa falls to 0-6 and just does not have a first win in sight, as they've simply been a bad team this year across the board.
We could see some major changes taking place for this franchise, especially now with Mayfield out. The Bucs don't have much of an identity at all and are likely going to finish this year with a losing record.
15. Atlanta Falcons, 1-2
Good for the Atlanta Falcons for getting that first win in Week 3, and doing so in blowout fashion. The Falcons need to hope that Michael Penix Jr. stays on the field the rest of the season and actually shows something, as that potential scenario playing out could change the course of the franchise.
The Falcons have enough talent on both sides of the ball to rebound this year and get into the NFC South race, but most, if not all of what happens in 2026 is going to hinge on Penix's performance.
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