Updated NFC playoff picture: The North tightens up in Week 6

A look at the NFC playoff picture, including seeding for the division winners and Wild Card teams.

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What is the story about?

As we alluded to in Tuesday’s Question of the Day (who is the best team in the NFL?), this year’s playoff race could be among the best in the modern era. There appears to be so much parity, because there aren’t any dominant teams, yet there appears to be an abundance of good or improving teams.

Look no further than the NFC North, which features two likely Super Bowl contenders (Packers, Lions), and the other two teams are starting to stack some impressive wins of their own. Let’s take a full scope

of the NFC playoff picture after six weeks of the 2025 NFL season.

NFC North standings:

Packers: 3-1-1
Lions: 4-2
Vikings: 3-2
Bears: 3-2

If you’re wondering why the Packers are ahead of the Lions in the standings despite having fewer wins, it’s because a tie counts as a half-win and a half-loss. So 3.5 wins in five games (.700) is a better win percentage than four wins in six games (.666).

But with all teams sporting a winning record, it’s anyone’s division. The Bears still have the toughest climb, considering they are currently 0-2 in division games, but Monday’s road win over the Commanders shows they are an improving team that shouldn’t be considered too lightly.

NFC playoff standings through Week 6

Division leaders:

Buccaners: 5-1
Packers: 3-1-1
49ers: 4-2
Eagles: 4-2

Wild card race (top three advance):

5. Seahawks: 4-2
6. Lions: 4-2
7. Rams: 4-2
8. Falcons: 3-2
9. Vikings: 3-2
10. Bears: 3-2
11. Panthers: 3-3
12. Commanders: 3-3

The Lions currently hold the six seed. The fifth-seeded Seahawks are essentially tied with the Lions, because both teams have identical conference winning percentages (2-2 for Seahawks, 1-1 for Lions). Seattle, though, currently has a better strength of victory due to wins over the Jaguars and Steelers. The Rams hold the final spot in the playoffs, below both the Seahawks and Lions because they are currently winless against NFC teams (0-2).

If the playoffs were to start today, the Lions would head to San Francisco for a playoff rematch against the 49ers. But with so many teams extremely close to each other right now, expect this playoff picture to swing wildly week-to-week. What’s particularly remarkable is how close each division is. Only the NFC South has a clear leader of the pack (Buccaneers). Check out the standings of the other two divisions:

NFC West: