The NFC season has come to an end, and with it, the regular season's top teams are now nothing but memories. The Seattle Seahawks, led by their fearsome defense, have emerged as the division champions, earning them a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, not so lucky are the Carolina Panthers, who secured their spot at 7-9. While they never truly made any waves during the regular season, they did manage to win some games and occasionally give teams a run for their money. This is no different from previous years when other squads with losing records have fared similarly.
The Green Bay Packers, also finishing 9-7-1, are the team that has been favored to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl at the start of the season. They still find themselves as sixth seed despite resting their starters on Sunday and closing out the year on a four-game losing streak. Teams who lose how they close can sometimes forget how to win.
The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, finished strong with 12 wins and a division title under coach Kyle Shanahan's guidance. However, despite having more talent than most teams, their poor performance in the playoffs raises questions about whether or not they have what it takes to truly compete at this level. This is something that fans and analysts will be debating throughout the offseason.
The Philadelphia Eagles, finishing with an impressive 11-6 record, won both division titles in 2024 and 2025. Despite winning their division titles, however, they never could seem to replicate consistent success over the years, making parity a significant aspect of this season's story.
As for the Chicago Bears, securing an 11-6 record is truly a major win. After all the instability that plagued the team in decades past, getting a legitimate head coach and quarterback makes their current season a remarkable one.
Lastly, the Los Angeles Rams finished with 12 wins and earned themselves a 2-seed after beating their divisional rivals. They will be facing tough tests ahead as they make their way through the playoffs.
Meanwhile, not so lucky are the Carolina Panthers, who secured their spot at 7-9. While they never truly made any waves during the regular season, they did manage to win some games and occasionally give teams a run for their money. This is no different from previous years when other squads with losing records have fared similarly.
The Green Bay Packers, also finishing 9-7-1, are the team that has been favored to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl at the start of the season. They still find themselves as sixth seed despite resting their starters on Sunday and closing out the year on a four-game losing streak. Teams who lose how they close can sometimes forget how to win.
The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, finished strong with 12 wins and a division title under coach Kyle Shanahan's guidance. However, despite having more talent than most teams, their poor performance in the playoffs raises questions about whether or not they have what it takes to truly compete at this level. This is something that fans and analysts will be debating throughout the offseason.
The Philadelphia Eagles, finishing with an impressive 11-6 record, won both division titles in 2024 and 2025. Despite winning their division titles, however, they never could seem to replicate consistent success over the years, making parity a significant aspect of this season's story.
As for the Chicago Bears, securing an 11-6 record is truly a major win. After all the instability that plagued the team in decades past, getting a legitimate head coach and quarterback makes their current season a remarkable one.
Lastly, the Los Angeles Rams finished with 12 wins and earned themselves a 2-seed after beating their divisional rivals. They will be facing tough tests ahead as they make their way through the playoffs.