NFC Mid-Season Update
We’re at the halfway mark for the NFL regular season.
With less than a week until the trade deadline, teams will finally have to commit to whether they are buyers or sellers by Tuesday’s deadline.
With a full slate of NFC games still to come (sans the 49ers), teams will have one final game to hit that .500 mark, thinking their season may still have some hope.
See You Next Season
There are 3 teams that should be packing things in and selling off whatever they can to help their future.
- New York Giants (2-6)
- New Orleans Saints (2-6)
- Carolina Panthers (1-7)
It’s crazy to put the Saints in this category after their explosive 2-0 start. However, after losing Derek Carr for a few weeks, losses were inevitable. But 6 straight and a 1-2 division record could seal their season.
I’m not saying four straight is impossible, but that’s just to catch .500, let alone a playoff spot or the NFC South.
For the other 2 teams, whose seasons are already over. There’s not much more to expect. Poor roster construction and, even worse, Quarterback play won’t have your season going swimmingly for 18 weeks. At this rate, the Panthers & Giants are already locked into top 10 picks.
Not Done Yet
There are 2 teams with questionable starts to the season here. Things aren’t over yet. But they could be very soon.
Just a win away from .500 at the halfway mark doesn’t scream PANIC yet. But if these teams can’t figure something, anything out soon. Then, they may be packing their bags for an early end to the season.
The Eagles still have to play three games against these teams in the coming weeks. A victory in either match could be the final nail in their coffin, ending their playoff hopes early.
In The Hunt
Just outside of a wildcard spot is not the end of the world for these teams.
- Chicago Bears (4-3)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)
- Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
All it takes for the NFC West standings to flip completely are a Rams win and a Cardinals loss. Both outcomes aren’t out of the realm of possibility. And if you’re not those two teams. The odds are you’re suffering from a lengthy injury report and missing multiple key players.
For teams like the Buccaneers, Seahawks, and 49ers, perhaps their situations are a sign to take a year off, restock on draft capital, and consider competing in years to come. Besides, the NFL loves seeing new teams in the playoffs.
Wildcard Holders
The 3 teams currently in a wildcard position don’t come to much surprise, and none of them are far from hopping into the Division Leader position either.
- Green Bay Packers (6-2)
- Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
- Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
PHOTO: Cara Owsley/The Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images
The Packers are in a very tricky situation if Jordan Love is out for multiple weeks again. While they managed to go 2-0 (and finish off a third win) with Malik Willis, that level of play from a backup quarterback may not last for the remainder of the season.
As for the Vikings, I’m not sure anybody expected them to start 5-0 after losing JJ McCarthy. But perhaps their two straight losses might foreshadow how the rest of their season unfolds.
The Eagles, coming in as the 7th seed with their own 5-2 record, still have 5 divisional games to play. This is a five-game stretch on its own that could still make our break the final outcome of the season. But with a relatively weaker strength of schedule, excuses are out the window for this Birds team.
Division Contenders
Holding a lead on the division is tough for 18 weeks. But at the halfway point, these teams need to look to remain in the win column to secure home-field advantage for as many playoff games as they can.
- Detroit Lions (6-1)
- Washington Commanders (6-2)
- Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
- Arizona Cardinals (4-4)
At this point in the season, the Lions look like the biggest front-runners to emerge out of the NFC. Scoring 31+ points in their last 4 games, the Lions have had both a running back and a wide receiver already throw for touchdowns. If someone can overthrow this team for the 1st seed in the NFC, I have no clue who it will be.
The Commanders SHOULD have fallen to a 5-3 record against the Bears if not for one of the craziest endings to a game so far this season. Will they be able to keep pulling off miraculous endings? Or will the well run dry, and Washington give up its early lead in the NFC East?
At 4-4, it’s hard to call the Cardinals division leaders. Being tied with two other teams in the division leaves no breathing room regarding this week’s results. If not, we could discuss the Seahawks, Rams, or even the 49ers being in this position next week.
This far into the season, the Falcons remain the healthiest team in the NFC South.
And with Tampa being the only team near .500 in the division, these birds might have a clear landing to the end of the season.
PHOTO: Cara Owsley/The Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images
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