With seven weeks behind us on the 2018 NFL schedule, we are starting to learn which teams across the NFC are capable of contending and which are afterthoughts. For now, the conference has exactly six teams that are over .500, making it easy to set up the playoff picture as it would stand today. However, all but three teams in the NFC are still in serious contention, with 13 teams within a game of .500 and in striking distance of the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay currently sits in the sixth spot after week seven’s results, which saw the lead flip in the NFC North thanks to a Bears loss and a Vikings victory. Here is how things currently sit.
Division Leaders
- Los Angeles Rams, 7-0 (NFC West)
- New Orleans Saints, 5-1 (NFC South)
- Washington, 4-2 (NFC East)
- Minnesota Vikings, 4-2-1 (NFC North)
The Packers get the unfortunate draw of facing the unbeaten Rams this week. Los Angeles continued their trampling of their opponents thus far in week seven with a 39-10 victory over the hapless 49ers, who had pushed the Packers to the brink of defeat at Lambeau Field a week earlier. The rest of the divisional leaders also won on Sunday, with the Saints escaping overtime thanks to a missed PAT by Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker.
Wild Cards
5. Carolina Panthers, 4-2
6. Green Bay Packers, 3-2-1
If the Packers had beaten the Vikings instead of tying them, Green Bay would have the division lead at 4-2 and would sit in the fourth spot thanks to a head-to-head loss to Washington. Minnesota would then be in the sixth position at 4-3.
Just Outside
Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks — all 3-3
Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons — all 3-4
Atlanta’s win over the Giants on Monday night got them back in a position where they might be able to contend for a playoff spot, sitting just one game back of even and matching the Packers in the win column. A whopping eight teams in the conference — fully half — have three wins at present.
Out of Contention
New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals — all 1-6
Bad. These teams are just bad and won’t be in the running this season. It’s a race for the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft at this point.