Following the conclusion of Week 10, it is already the 2024-25 NFL midseason. In ten short weeks, there have been a lot of storylines, questions answered and some left guessing. These storylines include: the Lions being 8-1, the Vikings and Commanders being surprise playoff contenders, a very competitive NFC West, the disappointing Giants and Saints, and two mid-season head coaching firings.
Now with only eight weeks to go here are predictions on how the playoff picture will shape out at the end of the regular season. Can the Lions win the NFC? Will there be any late-season collapses? Who is a pretender and contender? Here are the NFC predictions below!
At the time of this writing, the Detroit Lions are the best team in the NFL. While not record-wise, it is hard to deny they are the most complete team with an explosive offense and a sturdy defense. Dan Campbell’s squad can win in many different ways and look battle-ready after heartbreak in last year’s postseason.
The NFC East will be neck-in-neck between Philadelphia and Washington but in the end the Eagles have more experience along with higher expectations to win. While both teams play each other twice still, it will be tough for Washington to stop the electric offense with Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley both playing their best football.
Many analysts questioned how Kirk Cousins would play following his season-ending Achilles injury. The answer: he has been playing elite football and has positioned the Falcons to take the NFC South. Even with a loss to the Saints, the Falcons still have a sweep over Tampa Bay, along with a two-game lead and the tiebreaker over the Buccaneers. They should be able to hold on for the division.
Despite a lot of pressure from the Arizona Cardinals, it is very likely that the 49ers comeback and win the NFC West. It is easy to see that San Francisco has not played its best football this season and it looks grim with six games remaining against teams with winning records. But it is a good bet to trust Kyle Shanahan to fight in every game and win the division in the final game of the season.
Despite falling back to a wildcard spot, Washington has been one of the best teams in the NFL this season. The rookie sensation Jayden Daniels has been remarkable for the Commanders as Dan Quinn’s squad has had a 360 after previously being one of the worst teams in the NFL. Adding Marshon Lattimore improves its secondary and shows that Washington is ready to compete in January.
After starting 5-0, the Vikings have come down to Earth in the last few weeks. Like San Francisco, Minnesota also has six games against teams with a winning record. After early season victories against Green Bay, Houston, and those 49ers, the purple and gold have already proved they can beat anybody. 11-6 seems like a realistic number for the surprising Vikings who struggled in their win over Jacksonville.
The Packers have had a lot of ups and downs this season. The team has looked good for the most part, but the season relies on Jordan Love’s health. The 26-year-old missed two games and has been banged up all season. While the defense has looked the best in years, the Packers need to fix its offensive struggles before the postseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8), Arizona Cardinals (9-8), Chicago Bears (9-8), Los Angeles Rams (9-8), Seattle Seahawks (9-8)
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