Ranking the Current NFC Division Leaders
If you would have told someone three years ago that the Lions, Commanders, Falcons, and Cardinals would be leading their respective divisions, they would’ve said that you were insane. All of these franchises have had tremendous turnarounds over the past few years. These revivals have been sparked by amazing young talent entering these franchises primarily through the draft. Unlike the AFC’s division leaders, most of these teams aren’t just dependent on one star quarterback but instead rely on a complete team. So, what are the strongest division leaders in the NFC currently
1. Detroit Lions - NFC North
The Detroit Lions are slowly becoming America’s team as they embrace several likable qualities. Jared Goff is redeeming his career with the Lions after getting dumped by the Rams a few years ago. This season he has thrown for an impressive 14 touchdowns to only four interceptions while leading the most explosive offense in the league. The Lions have a ton of explosive young weapons like Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Sam LaPorta, just to name a few. On top of all of this, they are led by one of the most passionate and risk-taking coaches with Dan Campbell. This team is rolling, and they should be considered the favorite to win the Super Bowl at this rate.
2. Washington Commanders - NFC East
The Commanders have completely turned around their entire franchise by finally landing the right quarterback in this most recent draft. Jayden Daniels has been efficient as a passer and electric as a playmaker as he now has the Commanders in firm control over the NFC East. Despite the roster lacking talent at certain positions, they have managed to play really well when it matters most in order to win games. The defense will need to improve if they want to continue their winning ways come the playoffs, but currently, this young team is progressing well and Jayden Daniels is on track to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
3. Atlanta Falcons - NFC South
The Falcons have been drafting and developing new talent for years, especially on the offensive side of the ball. However, players like Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London have been held back because of poor quarterback play. With the addition of Kirk Cousins, this team is now looking a lot more formidable offensively. In a division that is rather weak, the Falcons have had the opportunity to beat up on weaker opponents for most of the season so far. As they continue forward for the rest of the year, they will need to start blowing out bad opponents and truly flexing their firepower if they are looking to make a serious run in the playoffs.
4. Arizona Cardinals - NFC West
This is the team that literally no one expected to be leading this division. Even though they added Marvin Harrison Jr. to the team through this most recent draft, the Cardinals should not be leading this division. The Cardinals are way too inconsistent on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball to be considered a real contender. The NFC West is currently completely wide open. The Seahawks have lost five straight games, the 49ers are realizing Brock Purdy isn’t a superstar quarterback, and the Rams are just now recovering from a multitude of injuries. I could see any of these teams winning this division. Whichever team goes on a run in the back half of the season will likely come out on top.
