NFL Power Rankings for every division: NFC North isn't the powerhouse we thought

The 2025 NFL season is roughly two-thirds complete, which means the league is splitting into two distinct groups — those teams with their sights set on the postseason, and those happy to fall headlong into 2026 NFL Draft speculation.

Each division has its share of over- and underachievers, but the goal of this article is to lay out the NFL's competitive map to determine which division can claim the best combination of talent and Super Bowl intent. That means we are ranking each division as a holistic entity, from the least compelling to the most stacked. Let's dive in.

8. NFC South

This was, unfortunately, an extremely predictable place for the NFC South to end up. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are no joke, as this offense can still reach exciting heights behind Baker Mayfield. But injuries have taken their toll across the board and Tampa feels more like a first round exit than a meaningful threat to topple NFC division leaders elsewhere.

Credit, where it's due, to the Carolina Panthers for at least giving the NFC South a second "real" team. Carolina's ambitions peak at a wild card berth, if that, but Bryce Young set a franchise record with 488 passing yards in Sunday's comeback win over the Falcons. Dave Canales has figured something out with this offense despite his quarterback's limitations and the Panthers own the 13th-ranked scoring defense. This team can muck it up and win ugly.

There might not be a wider gap between talent and production in the NFL than with the Atlanta Falcons. The offense is littered with first-round picks and dynamic playmakers, but Michael Penix Jr. looks a step behind on half his throws (and I wouldn't expect meaningful improvement under Kirk Cousins). The defense is incredible, and yet Atlanta still has a maddening habit of letting its foot off the gas pedal late in games.

The New Orleans Saints are looking for that No. 1 pick. Godspeed.

7. AFC North

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense came back to life in a resounding win over the shorthanded Cincinnati Bengals — noteworthy, as Mason Rudolph took over mid-game following an Aaron Rodgers wrist injury. But then again, it's the Bengals defense, so there's only so much we can take away. The Steelers' defense, meanwhile, has dramatically fallen short of expectations and this offense is beginning to crack as Rodgers' odometer ticks up.

If there's any real hope for the NFC North this season, it's the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson is healthy and Baltimore squeaked out its fourth straight win on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, despite the offensive line struggling to contain Cleveland's elite pass rush. Jackson has not looked fully himself amid injuries in 2025, but that roster is stacked top to bottom. As Jackson rounds into form, Baltimore could easily cruise past Pittsburgh down the stretch, not unlike last season.

The Bengals can still put up points when Joe Flacco is on, but their defense is dead last in yards and points allowed. There's zero hope without Joe Burrow doing superhuman things at QB.

As for the Browns, it's the opposite problem. Cleveland ranks among the best defensive units in the NFL, led by DPOY favorite Myles Garrett. The offense is a complete letdown, however, as neither Dillon Gabriel nor Shedeur Sanders look NFL-ready.

6. NFC East

The Philadelphia Eagles have wins over Detroit, Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and the Rams. It's fair to be more than a little skeptical of the offense, especially with AJ Brown in active rebellion, but the Eagles keep finding ways to beat quality opponents. Saquon Barkley's regression is unfortunate but predictable. This Eagles team has the personnel, especially on defense, to soar anyways.

'Fire Country' Season 4 Episode 6 Recap: We're Not Ready for Sharon and Bode to Both Go Off the Rails

t seems like only yesterday that I was saying Bode (

Max Thieriot) is currently the most rational of his generation of firefighters on Fire Country. Okay, it was last week, but the point is that I already have regrets. It took him a quarter of an episode to have me sighing in exasperation, and it wasn’t long before Bode gets up to his old ways, putting both his and Manny’s (

Kevin Alejandro) careers in jeopardy again. At some point, maybe we’ll accept that Bode is never going to learn his lesson, but that day is not today. Fire Country’

s latest episode begins with the exposition that Bode is on his final day of parole before being a fully free man. The problem? Station 42 has also been assigned to help the ATF with the Zabel Ridge investigation, and Manny can see that his protégé is itching to be triggered.

While Manny has his hands full trying to keep Bode from getting himself thrown back in prison at the last minute, Eve (Jules Latimer) is thinking about what “the next big step” really looks like with her girlfriend Fran (

Katie Findlay) and what it’ll mean for the future she envisions for herself. Across town, Sharon (Diane Farr) is facing down demons from her past and is shocked to find them showing up on her front doorstep.

Bode Wants a Fight in the Zabel Ridge Investigation

via CBS

Bode tells Sharon that he wants Station 42 to help with the Zabel Ridge investigation. He wants to help find whoever started the fire that killed Vince (

Billy Burke) in the right way, so Sharon obliges and gets 42 assigned to cleanup duty with a promise that everyone on the crew will behave. Bode is on the scene for a couple of hours before he uncovers evidence of a potential fire accelerant. The lead agent blocks off the scene to properly tag the new evidence, and Bode oversteps the barrier to see that it’s an old Smokey’s lighter. He’s already out of line by crossing the boundary, but 

he insists that the ATF let him help with the investigation since his parents own Smokeys. That offer is declined, and Manny is warned he needs to get Bode in line because the feds aren’t interested in giving either of them second chances (or third, in Manny’s case) after their prison sentences. Yikes

Bode missed the kindergarten lesson on what “no” means, though, and starts his own investigation. He compiles a list of every person who has been working at Smokey’s since those lighters were in commission and narrows in on a former barback who quit a few days after the Zabel Ridge fire. It turns out the same guy recently got in trouble for some illegal fireworks. That information emboldens Bode to accost Agent Ruffin (

Luvia Peterson), the lead ATF investigator on the case, during her lunch break to push her to look into this lead he just found. She encourages him to give the information to the tip line, which Bode finds insulting. He demands that she gets justice for his dad or he’ll do it himself! Telling a federal agent that you plan to derail her investigation unless she follows your orders sounds like an incredibly rational and level-headed thing to do with 10 hours left on your parole. 

What is it going to take for us to get two consecutive episodes of Bode using common sense? He is the most infuriating main character on network TV.

 

Ruffin doesn’t finish her lunch at Smokeys, but she does find time to call Manny and tell him to get his dude in line, which he does promptly. Bode is supposed to have the day off, but Manny pulls rank and drags Bode out on the incident that day so he can’t get into trouble. However, this is Bode we are talking about, so he’ll find a way regardless. He 

steals one of the Station 42 vehicles and goes to his suspect’s house. He’s like that Peter Griffin with the shotgun meme from Family Guy, “I just want to talk to him.” Absolutely no one believes that, Bode! Thank God Manny is still on top of things. He realizes the truck is missing and what Bode must be up to. He calls his probie and tells him to stand down. There’s like two hours left on his parole now! We are in the home stretch! For the love of God, Bode, do not get thrown back in prison weeks just after your father died and put Sharon through even more stress!

 

A miracle occurs, and Bode listens to Manny, but it’s a close call. He put his hoodie on and looked ready to go full vigilante mode, but he stops himself at the last minute, giving Manny time to arrive on the scene and ensure Bode fully steps away from the edge. 

It’s a good thing, too, because Agent Ruffin arrives with her team shortly afterward. If Bode had broken in, he would have been caught trespassing and potentially assaulting a person of interest in an important investigation, and he definitely would have ended up back in handcuffs.

Do you think that this close call was enough to make Bode reconsider his choices and recommit to the straight and narrow? So sorry, this is Fire Country, and he will continue this reckless behavior. Bode’s suspect has an alibi for the Zabel Ridge fire, so the actual arsonist is still out there. Manny says that Bode won’t go looking for this new person, but you can tell by the look on Bode’s face that he isn’t keeping that promise. The wheels are already turning, and he's going to do something so incredibly stupid before this investigation is over. I will be here to bemoan whatever it is when it happens.

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