Just like that, the NFL is down to its’ final 5 weeks of the regular season. For a stacked NFC, the playoff race will come down to the very final games. Let’s predict how the playoffs will look for the NFC this year.
NFC Playoff Prediction
1. Rams (13-4)
For what has looked like the best team in the NFL this year, the Rams stumbled against the Panthers this past weekend. Regardless, expect Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams to continue their run, and the Rams to finish the season atop the NFC, getting the first round bye.
2. Bears (11-6)
The Chicago Bears will split the two games they have against the Packers, and fight them off to stay atop the NFC North. In Ben Johnson’s first year, finishing as the #2 seed will be a huge success, regardless of how the playoffs pan out.
3. Eagles (10-7)
As the defending Super Bowl champs, the Eagles started off the year looking destined to repeat. However, there are serious problems with the offense, and the defense just got gashed on the ground by the Bears. Expect the Eagles to finish at the top of the NFC East, however they are in serious trouble and have a long way to go if they look to repeat.
4. Buccaneers (10-7)
The Buccaneers started off the season looking like one of the favorites to go to the Super Bowl out of the NFC. However, they have fallen off hard, mostly because of injuries, and are now in a race against the Panthers to win the NFC South. Still, I like the Bucs odd against the Panthers down the stretch, and if they continue to get healthy, they can still make a deep playoff run.
5. 49ers (12-5)
The 49ers have faced injury after injury this year, yet the team is still in great shape to finish as the top NFC wildcard team. With a tough few games remaining down the stretch, it’s expected for them to drop at least one. This would put them second in the NFC West, but the top wildcard team, and a sneaky team that can make a run deep in the playoffs.
6. Seahawks (12-5)
For a team that might have the best defense in the NFL, it’s hard to imagine them losing too many more games down the stretch. However, they still have some tough games remaining against the Colts, Rams, and Niners, where they’ll go 1-2 in this stretch. This’ll knock them down to the #6 seed, and is a team that will go as far in the playoffs as Sam Darnold can take them.
7. Packers (10-6-1)
The Packers next 4 games are brutal, facing the Broncos, Ravens, and Bears twice. Coming off a big win against Detroit on Thanksgiving, they gave themselves a little bit of breathing room in the NFC playoff picture. The Pack will enter the playoffs as the #7 seed, and if the offense can figure it out, they will be a tough out in January.
8. Lions (10-7)
After a historic season for the Lions, they will be looking at the playoffs from the outside. Losing both coordinators in the offseason, and not having the same O-Line as they did the last few years, Detroit will be left out of the playoffs, losing two more games down the stretch
9. Cowboys (9-7-1)
The Dallas Cowboys are a team no one will want to face in January. And fortunately, no one will. A slow start to the year will be too much for this team to come back from, and will leave them out of the playoffs this year.
10. Panthers (9-8)
9-8 will be looked at as another improvement for the Panthers from last year. In an up and down year, Bryce Young has shown signs that he can be the franchise guy. However, they won’t be able to overtake the Bucs for the NFC South, and will look to next year to take that big next step.
