Open Thread Question of the Day: Who are you predicting to be your 7 NFC Playoff Teams?

With preseason getting underway, who are your early NFC playoff predictions?

The 2025 NFL preseason is underway as we enter the month of August. There are three weeks of preseason and 18 weeks of the regular season to go, but with rosters basically finalized, it’s time to start having some fun with predictions.

Question of the Day: Who are you predicting to be your 7 NFC Playoff Teams?

Let’s have some fun with this one. Who do you think will be playing additional games in January? The NFC is very interesting this year because the conference, overall, has improved. There still aren’t many top-heavy teams that can battle with the AFC elite, but there are plenty of teams that can battle for a playoff spot. The middle of the pack might even be stronger than what’s in the middle of the AFC.

My answer: Let’s do this with a process of elimination. To me, three teams have zero chance to make the playoffs out of the 16 in the NFC. Those teams are the New York Giants, the Carolina Panthers, and the New Orleans Saints.

That leaves us 13 teams with a shot at making the playoffs. Out of those 13, the first I’m going to eliminate is the Seattle Seahawks. I’ve never been a believer in Sam Darnold. I think the team has gotten worse since last year. I think they are below .500 this year.

I also don’t trust the Arizona Cardinals. I don’t think Kyler Murray has it. I do think this team has some talent, and the defense could bust some heads, but until I see the Cardinals do it, I will assume they are going to come up short.

I’m also not interested in the Atlanta Falcons. I know they have some talented pieces and maybe Michael Penix is a legitimate NFL quarterback, but the offensive line is a little worse this year, Kyle Pitts is never turning the corner, and while I love their receivers, I just don’t trust this team enough. They might get close thanks to four games with the Panthers and the Saints, but they just aren’t one of the top seven teams.

We have 10 teams left to look at. We have 3 more teams to eliminate.

Let’s look at the Minnesota Vikings. I love the roster. I think they have so many great pieces, and they have a really good coaching staff. But they have JJ McCarthy. I think McCarthy is going to struggle some this year. I think they get off to a slow start, and maybe they improve in the second half of the season as McCarthy gets comfortable, but I think the questions at quarterback discourage me enough about them. I think they’ll be right there at the end, but they come up short.

I also have no interest in the Dallas Cowboys. I think Brian Schottenheimer is just a pretty good coordinator and has no business being a head coach. I think the roster...