Updated NFL Power Rankings for All NFC Teams (Ep. 2017)

Hosts Joe Piz, Derek Brown, and Andrew Erickson debate updated power rankings for all 16 NFC teams ahead of the 2026 season. They start from the bottom, highlighting QB uncertainties, injury histories, coaching changes, leadership losses, and schedule strength as key factors. Consensus emerges on broad tiers—bottom feeders lack QB stability, mid-pack teams have upside but holes, and top teams rely on elite QB-coach pairings—though individual lists differ.

Bottom Tier: QB and Organizational Questions Dominate

The hosts peg Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons as the NFC's weakest (Joe and Erickson rank Cardinals 16th; Brown ranks Falcons 16th). Cardinals face the NFL's toughest schedule in a stacked NFC West, with a history of poor decisions like late realization on drafting RB Jeremiah Love at No. 3 overall despite a full RB room. QB Jacoby Brissett holds leverage but is mid-tier; strengths like TE Trey McBride can't overcome the uphill divisional battle. Falcons' talent—RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts—is undermined by QB volatility (injury-prone Tua Tagovailoa or unproven Michael Penix Jr.), poor right tackle play (critical for lefty QBs), edge rusher issues (James Pearce Jr.'s arrest), and HC Kevin Stefanski's perceived overrating.