Look, the NFL regular season is finally in the rearview mirror, and if you haven't been obsessively checking the scores every Sunday, the current picture probably looks like a fever dream. The NFC hierarchy got flipped on its head this year. Honestly, who had the Seattle Seahawks winning 14 games and Sam Darnold looking like a Pro Bowler? It’s wild.
If you're trying to figure out what are the standings in the nfc right now, you aren't just looking at a list of wins and losses anymore. We are officially in the "win or go home" phase. The Wild Card round just wrapped up on January 12, 2026, and it was a total bloodbath for the home teams.
The Final Regular Season NFC Standings
Before we get into the playoff bracket chaos, we should probably look at how these teams actually finished the 17-game grind. It wasn't particularly close at the top, but the middle of the pack was a localized disaster zone.
NFC West: The Powerhouse Division
The Seahawks basically owned the conference this year. They finished 14-3, which gave them the solo #1 seed and that precious first-round bye. But look at the rest of this division. The Rams and the 49ers both finished 12-5. In almost any other year, those are division-winning records. Instead, they had to fight through the Wild Card dirt.
NFC North: The Bears Are Back?
Chicago actually did it. Under Ben Johnson, they went from the basement to winning the North with an 11-6 record. Caleb Williams finally started seeing the field the way the scouts promised he would. Meanwhile, the Packers (9-7-1), Vikings (9-8), and Lions (9-8) all stayed relevant until the very end, though only Green Bay squeezed into the postseason as the #7 seed.
NFC East: The Defending Champs Stumble
The Philadelphia Eagles won the division at 11-6, but they didn't look like the juggernaut that won the Super Bowl last year. They lost the #2 seed to the Bears on a head-to-head tiebreaker, which turned out to be a massive deal. The Cowboys finished a disappointing 7-9-1, missing the dance entirely.
NFC South: The 8-9 Miracle
This division was, frankly, a mess. The Carolina Panthers "won" it with an 8-9 record. They actually tied with the Bucs and Falcons, but tiebreakers are a fickle mistress. It gave them the #4 seed and a home playoff game they probably didn't deserve on paper, and well, we saw how that went.
What are the Standings in the NFC After Wild Card Weekend?
This is where the "real" standings matter now. The Wild Card round was a disaster for the higher seeds. Usually, playing at home is a massive advantage, but the road teams absolutely feasted this past weekend.
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The San Francisco 49ers (#6) went into Philly and knocked off the Eagles 23-19. It was a defensive slugfest. Jalen Hurts looked a little rusty after sitting out Week 18, and the Niners' pass rush just wouldn't let him breathe.
The Los Angeles Rams (#5) traveled to Charlotte and barely escaped with a 34-31 win over the Panthers. Carolina actually led for a good chunk of that game, but Matthew Stafford did Matthew Stafford things in the fourth quarter. It ended the Panthers' "worst-to-first" Cinderella story pretty abruptly.
The Chicago Bears (#2) were the only "high" seed to actually hold serve at home, beating the Packers 31-27. It was a classic rivalry game, but a Cairo Santos field goal and a late D'Andre Swift touchdown run sealed it.
Current Playoff Seeding and Matchups
So, here is how the NFC "standings" look as we head into the Divisional Round on January 17-18, 2026:
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- Seattle Seahawks (14-3) - Still the #1 seed, coming off a bye.
- Chicago Bears (11-6) - The #2 seed, fresh off a win over Green Bay.
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5) - The #5 seed, the highest-ranked Wild Card survivor.
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5) - The #6 seed, the lowest-ranked survivor.
Why the Seeding Matters for Next Week
The NFL doesn't use a fixed bracket. They re-seed. That means the #1 seed (Seattle) always plays the lowest remaining seed. Since the #6 49ers beat the #3 Eagles, San Francisco has to go to Seattle.
That is a nightmare draw for the Niners. They just played Seattle in Week 18 and lost. Now they have to do it again on short rest at Lumen Field. Meanwhile, the Rams have to head to Soldier Field to face the Bears.
Honestly, the Rams might be the favorites there despite being the lower seed. They finished with a better record (12-5 vs 11-6) and only fell to the #5 spot because they couldn't win their own division. That's the quirk of the NFL playoff system that keeps fans arguing every single year.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're following the what are the standings in the nfc saga, you need to prep for the Divisional Round. Here is what you should do:
- Check the Saturday Schedule: The 49ers at Seahawks game is the nightcap on Saturday, January 17. If you're betting, keep an eye on the weather in Seattle; it's looking like a rainy mess which favors the Seahawks' ground game.
- Watch the Rams' Injury Report: Los Angeles is getting Davante Adams and Quentin Lake back at the perfect time. If they're 100%, the Bears' secondary is going to have a long Sunday afternoon.
- Update Your Bracket: If you’re playing in a playoff pool, remember that the winner of SF/SEA will play the winner of LAR/CHI for the NFC Championship on January 25.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting narrow. Seattle looks like the team to beat, but after seeing three road teams win in the Wild Card round, nothing is a safe bet anymore. Keep your eyes on the injury reports and the re-seeding logic as the weekend approaches.