Which NFC teams are separating themselves in the division race heading into Week 9?
As the NFL season hits its midpoint, which NFC team has the edge in its division? USA TODAY Sports' Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca break it all down.
Video Transcript
Let's start with the NFC North.
What's your read on the NFC North as we enter week nine?
Yeah, Jordan Love looked awesome on Sunday Night Football.
I thought he really resembled the 2023 second-half form that helped the Packers get to that 7 seed and then knock off the Cowboys in the playoffs.
So, uh, I still have the Lions winning that division, though.
I think they're a game behind or a half game behind, and I, I like the Lions over the Packers in the NFC North.
That's my second read there.
All right, but let's head to the NFC South.
Lots of injuries all over the place.
The Buccaneers have been the talk of the division all year with the way that Baker Mayfield's played like an MVP and the way that he's been able to, to lead them, lead them to wins all through the season.
What's your take on the NFC South?
The Panthers are showing some signs of life in recent weeks.
Should the Bucks be concerned?
Only if Bryce Young gets healthy quickly and then is able to take his game to the next level from even what we saw at the start of this year, I think that the Bucks are kind of in control.
Even with the litany of injuries that they're dealing with, that offense has really struggled the last couple of weeks.
I still think that they're safe in a pretty weak division.
The Falcons have two of the most inexplicable losses of the season, and the Saints are the Saints.
Let's head down to the NFC West now.
The Niners, you know, the Niners are the Niners.
Kyle Shanahan, we know that he has a tendency of pulling rabbits out of his hat, right?
He's dealt with lots of injuries in his career.
Rams look pretty good too.
What's your take on the NFC West?
Well, usually when the Niners have injuries, their seasons go completely, uh, Dunzo, so it's impressive that they are out in first place right now, in my opinion, but I think that that injury bug is just gonna catch up to them in the end, kind of unlike the Buccaneers who have a weak division, but the Niners are obviously in a much stronger division with the Seahawks and Rams there.
I like the Rams and the NFC West.
Yeah, I mean, all of how many times you have to feel like we talked about it a lot, right?
But Matthew Stafford has been excellent this season.
Even without Puka Nacua, he seems to be finding a little something with Devante Adams.
He's still a good player.
I think some people were quick to write him off after last season, finishing out his season with the Jets there, but he still looks good, and fitting in that offense is fine.
So yeah, I can see the Rams, no, no, no debate here, especially with the injuries the Niners have dealt with.
And last but not least, the NFC East.
I mean, this is your second read, boom?
It's got to be the Eagles to lose, right?
Totally, 100%.
It's the NFC least, not the NFC beast this year.
So Eagles all the way, same as it ever was.
