It's officially that time of year when there won't be a week without NFL football until February.
As an added bonus, the 2026 season kicks off a day earlier than usual, with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots on Wednesday night.
As many believed the case was last season, there is a real chance the two best teams in the league both reside in the NFC. The Seahawks bring back most of their core pieces from their Super Bowl LX title, while the Los Angeles Rams added a frightening amount of talent to what was already one of the top rosters in the NFL.
But this is the NFL, where parity reigns, and there are plenty of other contenders ready to challenge the two powerhouse NFC West squads for the conference crown.
So, to get you set for another NFL season, here's one big question each NFC team is facing heading into the season.
North
Chicago Bears
2025 record: 11-6, lost in divisional round vs. Rams
One big question: Can defence support offence just enough?
The Bears were one of the best stories of the 2025 season under Ben Johnson, and now the second-year head coach has gone on record saying he wants to run the highest-scoring offence in league history.
But the defence still has major question marks. Last season, the Bears D was able to mask some of its deficiencies by creating a league-high 33 turnovers. But history would suggest that turnover luck will regress this season.
If the Bears can throw out even a league-average defence, they could very well build on their success last season. Otherwise, it could be a humbling year for Johnson and Co.
Green Bay Packers
2025 record: 9-7-1, lost in wild-card round vs. Bears
One big question: Can they hold serve without Micah Parsons?
There may be no team facing more early-season pressure than the Packers.
How they fare without Micah Parsons, who will miss at least the first four games of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL, could make or break their year.
Because while a team can't win the Super Bowl in the first month, if the Packers start slow in what is expected to be an ultra-competitive NFC North, they could put themselves into a hole even their star pass rusher won't be able to dig them out of.
Minnesota Vikings
2025 record: 9-8, missed playoffs
One big question: What does Kyler Murray have left in the tank?
Another year, another new starting QB in Minnesota.
In comes Kyler Murray, who is hoping to revive his career.
Everything is in place for Murray to succeed in his new digs, as the Vikings have a great defence, a dominant wide-receiver duo and a head coach in Kevin O'Connell who is known to make life easy on his QBs.
If O'Connell can unlock the best from Murray, the Vikings have a real chance to make some noise.
Detroit Lions
2025 record: 9-8, missed playoffs
One big question: Can they take advantage of their easy schedule?
The only good thing about the Lions' disappointing 2025 season? They get to play a last-place schedule in 2026.
Detroit heads into the season with the sixth-easiest strength of schedule, even despite playing in a difficult NFC North.
For a team whose main hiccup over the last two seasons has been injuries, and one that also sports what should be one of the best offences, that should be a scary thought for the rest of the league.
East
Philadelphia Eagles
2025 record: 11-6, lost in wild-card round vs. 49ers
One big question: Can Sean Mannion revive the offence?
There may be no co-ordinator facing more pressure this season than new Eagles OC Sean Mannion.
The Eagles offence took a major step back last season, looking like a shell of the unit that helped the team win a Super Bowl in 2024.
In comes Mannion, who will step into his first role as a playcaller for a team where the expectations are always sky-high.
He will also have to make things work without star WR A.J. Brown, as the two sides finally decided to part ways after a tumultuous end to their relationship last season.
The pieces are still there to make this thing work. But if there's one thing we know about Philly fans, it's that patience isn't usually their strong suit.
Dallas Cowboys
2025 record: 7-9-1, missed playoffs
One big question: Can new-look defence step up?
The Cowboys are going to put up points this season, there is no question about that. The real question: can they stop other teams from scoring?
Much like Mannion, new Cowboys DC Christian Parker has the task of turning around a unit which struggled last season.
Maybe no player will be more important to the defence's success than rookie safety Caleb Downs, whom Parker has been moving around all over the place throughout training camp.
If the Cowboys can even maintain a league-average level on D, the offence should be able to handle the rest.
Washington Commanders
2025 record: 5–12, missed playoffs
One big question: Does the team have enough around Jayden Daniels?
From 12-5 in 2024 to 5-12 in 2025, the Commanders experienced a big reality check last season.
Part of the issue was the health of quarterback Jayden Daniels, but even if he stays upright this season, there are holes all over this roster.
Outside of WR Terry McLaurin, the offensive weapons leave a lot to be desired. The offensive line is already in shambles, with starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil expected to miss a huge chunk of the regular season. The defence lacks any sort of star power outside of rookie linebacker Sonny Styles, and he's still a big if.
You get the picture?
Daniels is great, but with his rookie-contract window closing, the Commanders might need to think about a major overhaul if this season also goes poorly.
New York Giants
2025 record: 4-13, missed playoffs
One big question: How quickly can John Harbaugh change the culture?
The Giants probably won't win the Super Bowl this season, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be a lot of excitement in New York.
John Harbaugh's track record in Baltimore speaks for itself, and now he takes over a team that is budding with young, promising players like Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers, Abdul Carter and Arvell Reese.
Harbaugh should have a full runway to turn this team around, and it wouldn't be shocking to see the Giants take a big step forward in Year 1 under their new head coach.
South
Carolina Panthers
2025 record: 8-9, lost in wild-card round vs. Rams
One big question: What is their ceiling with Bryce Young?
Despite winning their first division title in 10 years last season, let's remember the Panthers still finished with a below .500 record to win a pillow fight in the NFC South.
Third-year QB Bryce Young had the best season of his career, but was still inconsistent at times.
If Young can take another step forward this season, these Panthers might truly be a threat, especially with big-time additions in edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd on defence.
However, if Young regresses, it won't take long for the questions about Carolina's future at QB to pop up again.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2025 record: 8-9, missed playoffs
One big question: How will Bowles, Mayfield fare under pressure?
After the Buccaneers lost seven of their last nine games to miss the playoffs, many believed Todd Bowles' time in Tampa was up.
But the head coach remains on for another season, though there is no question his seat is piping hot.
Bowles' quarterback, Baker Mayfield, also comes to this season with something to prove after he made noise this off-season by saying he felt "disrespected" by his contract talks with the Buccaneers.
Bowles coaching for his job and Mayfield playing for his new contract could be the motivation this team needs to right the ship after last season. It also could create major off-field drama and see this whole thing go up in flames.
Atlanta Falcons
2025 record: 8–9, missed playoffs
One big question: Is their QB of the future on the roster?
New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski's job this season is simple: find out if he has any quarterbacks worth their salt.
Unfortunately for Stefanski, the crop he currently has to work with leaves a lot to be desired.
The early signs for Tua Tagovailoa, who will start Week 1, have not been encouraging. Michael Penix Jr.'s durability is a huge question mark, and even when he's managed to be on the field, it's been a mixed bag.
Stefanski will have a chance to give both QBs an opportunity to secure the long-term job this season, and if it doesn't look promising, Falcons fans might be watching a lot of college football this fall and dreaming about the next era under centre.
New Orleans Saints
2025 record: 6-11, missed playoffs
One big question: Can Tyler Shough do it for a full season?
After a dreadful start to the 2025 season, rookie QB Tyler Shough came in over the last nine games and gave Saints fans a ton of reason for optimism.
The 26-year-old pivot led the Saints to a 5-4 record and looked to get progressively more comfortable week after week.
But the book is out on Shough now, with NFL teams having a full off-season to look at his tape.
The signs were all there; now, it's up to the 2025 second-round pick to show it over a full season.
West
Seattle Seahawks
2025 record: 14-3, won Super Bowl LX vs. Patriots
One big question: How much will losing Klint Kubiak hurt the offence?
As always in the NFL, the price of winning a Super Bowl is that other teams want to steal a part of that success.
The Seahawks felt that firsthand when they had offensive co-ordinator Klink Kubiak poached by the Raiders for their head-coaching gig.
So in comes new OC Brian Fleury, who worked under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco.
While most of the pieces on the Seattle offence remain the same, Fleury will have to adapt to the loss of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker.
What Fleury does have working for him, however, is the fact that Mike Macdonald's defence should be one of the top units in football this year once again. While the first-year OC doesn't have to work magic for the Seahawks to contend again, he just can't let things go completely off the rails.
Los Angeles Rams
2025 record: 12-5, lost in NFC Championship vs. Seahawks
One big question: Can they live up to the hype?
Only a couple of plays away from a Super Bowl appearance last season, the Rams went out before this summer's draft and addressed their biggest weakness by trading for corner Trent McDuffie.
Then, they made the biggest move of the off-season by trading for reigning DPOY Myles Garrett.
All of this managed to lure one of the greatest defensive linemen of all time off his couch, as Aaron Donald ended his two-year retirement to rejoin his old team.
It's led to the Rams being labelled a so-called "super team" heading into this season.
Which also means anything other than a Super Bowl title in L.A. will be seen as a disappointment.
San Francisco 49ers
2025 record:12-5, lost in divisional round vs. Seahawks
One big question: Can they stay healthy?
Yes, yes, get your substation jokes in.
But on paper, the 49ers have a Super Bowl-contending roster.
The biggest problem the last two seasons has been the back-breaking injuries.
If the 49ers can stay healthy this season, and that's a big if given they have aging stars like Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, George Kittle and Trent Williams, there is no reason they shouldn't be in the discussion come playoff time.
If not, they may be fighting an uphill battle in a stacked division that features the Seahawks and Rams.
Arizona Cardinals
2025 record: 3-14, missed playoffs
One big question: Can HC Mike LaFleur prove he's the guy for their next QB?
Let's face it: in the NFC West, the Cardinals don't have a lot of hope of contending.
Their roster has too many holes, and the other three teams in their division are too good.
So what this season is really going to be about is finding out whether first-year head coach Mike LaFleur is who they want leading them into the future.
There are a lot of solid pieces on offence for LaFleur to work with, but there are also no real secrets that veteran QB Jacoby Brissett isn't the long-term answer at the position.
When the Cardinals do get their quarterback of the future, which very well could be in what is supposed to be a QB-loaded 2027 NFL Draft, it would be nice if they could be confident that LaFleur is the right man for that job.
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