With the calendar turning to December and the Christmas lights donning the NFL graphics, contenders are emerging while other teams are firing up mock draft machines. It was starting to look like last year’s NFC Champions were going to run through anyone and everywhere. Then, they were humbled. There are great odds on the winners of each division via betway where the Eagles, 49ers, Lions, and Falcons are the favorites, which is reflected in our current NFC Division power rankings.
The NFC is just as wide-open as the AFC and the divisions are still up for grabs. As we get closer to the holidays and the chase for the playoffs, the hotly-contested divisions will be must-see TV. Some divisions are better than others, of course. Let’s power rank them through Week 13.
NFC Division Power Rankings Heading Into Week 15
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NFC South
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We are sick of watching NFC South football pic.twitter.com/fU1ft1eeVT
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) December 14, 2023
Quite possibly the weakest division in all of football, not just the NFC, has to be the NFC South. The winner of this division could come out with eight wins. However, it’s among the most competitive with three of four within a game of the division lead.
The Carolina Panthers have been mathematically eliminated, they fired their coach, and are plummeting to the first-overall pick…which they don’t own. Bryce Young looks like a rookie but he hasn’t exactly had much to work with. Unless they manage to draft incredibly well and get more value than expected in free agency, they’ll be back atop the draft board.
Meanwhile, the rest of the division, while potentially playoff-bound, are struggling. Atlanta has fantasy managers ready to march on Arthur Smith William Tecumseh Sherman style with his handling of Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson. Even then, they lead. The Saints are hot and cold and Derek Carr is suddenly injury-prone. The Buccaneers have a first-ballot hall of famer in Mike Evans but they still haven’t caught fire.
This division is going to come down to Week 18 and it’s anybody’s game. Unfortunately, compared to the other three divisions, it’s less a war and more a pillowfight in our NFC Division Power Rankings.
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NFC North
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updated NFC North position tier list only based on that positions performance this season pic.twitter.com/braYHRIT71
— Evil Empire ☔️💫 (@Winnesota18) December 14, 2023
Next up is the division that looks a whole lot different than it has over the last decade plus. Technically, every team is still alive in the race for the NFC North but if we’re being honest, it’s a two-team race with one team having a massive headstart.
The Bears are likely to lock up two top-10 picks thank to the Panthers being terrible. That begets the Justin Fields or Caleb Williams question. While Fields hasn’t been perfect, Jesus himself would struggle under center with Chicago with how poorly they’ve constructed their roster.
Sitting atop the division are the Lions and thus far, they’ve looked the part. Jared Goff is having a resurgence, Amon-Ra St. Brown is a legit WR1, and they’re home to a solid running back duo with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
The Vikings could be good but they have struggled due to injuries. They’ve been carried by a rejuvenated Brian Flores-led defense with Justin Jefferson missing a number of weeks and unable to carry the offense himself. Even with Josh Dobbs at quarterback, the Vikings are in the thick of the Wild Card race.
Finally, the Packers started off incredibly slow. Of late, they’re on fire. After taking down the Chiefs, it’s looking more and more like Jordan Love is the guy in Green Bay. They have the youngest team in the NFL and have plenty of room to grow. If the Packers get hot, they’re going to take advantage of anyone who overlooks them.
The division definitely has more upside, hence takes third spot in our NFC Division power rankings.
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NFC West
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Here’s how the 49ers can lock up their second consecutive NFC West title on Sunday 👀https://t.co/hVDYPPduVZ
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 14, 2023
This is a division that is better on the field than their records tend to show. At the top, the San Francisco 49ers have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. The weak link of this team is Brock Purdy…but that’s not saying much. He’s been playing quite well, managing the game and getting the ball to MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers have the best roster in the NFL and they just got done roundhouse kicking the Eagles out of their own stadium.
The Cardinals are among the league’s worst but Kyler Murray is back and healthy. While they are not playoff-bound, they are going to be in a great spot to play spoiler.
In the middle, the Rams and Seahawks each have playoff run ceilings while also having floors where they don’t win another game. The Geno Smith-to-D.K. Metcalf connection gets better and better each week. Objectively, those throwbacks should be their regular unis. The Rams have two of the best receivers in the game and Matthew Stafford is not looking as hobbled as last year.
These two teams will be well worth a watch as the Wild Card race heats up. The upside of the Cardinals combined with some potential with the Seahawks and Rams are enough to help the Niners grab second spot in our NFC Division power rankings.
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NFC East
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NFC East positional tier list 👨🍳
(based on eye test and injuries are considered) pic.twitter.com/0SwdBv4y8W
— evin (@KayvonOjulari) December 14, 2023
The first division in the NFL with a team to hit 10 wins is the NFC East. The Eagles are among the Super Bowl favorites and for good reason. No matter what situation arises, the Eagles find ways to win (except against the 49ers…that was rough). Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown are crashing the MVP debate and they’ve done something so dominant that the NFL wants to ban it.
Right on their heels are the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys’ defense is ridiculous. Micah Parsons is building a legitimate Defense Player of the Year case. As is DeRon Bland, oddly enough. Bland has five pick-sixes through Week 13. FIVE.
Overall, the NFC East is the strongest giving them top spot in our NFC Division power rankings. It should surprise nobody if the NFC participant in the Super Bowl comes from this division whether it’s the Eagles again or the Cowboys for the first time in decades.
