Throughout the NFL season, I’ll be bringing you the NFC Survival Watch every week. What exactly is that? Think of it like power rankings, but with a tiered twist. Instead of just ranking teams, we’re breaking them down into survival categories:

•       Dead Man Walking: The season is practically over, even if the math says otherwise.
•       On Life Support: These teams are hanging on by a thread.
•       Fighting for Survival: Bubble teams still battling to keep their playoff hopes alive.
•       In the Hunt: Teams with a solid chance but still need to grind.
•       Top of the Pack: The NFC’s elite, comfortably in control of their playoff destiny.

Now that you know the tiers, let’s dive into where each NFC team stands after this week’s action. From teams dominating the competition to those barely clinging to life, here’s your NFC Survival Watch for the week.

On Life Support

Carolina Panthers (0-1): This team is probably one loss away from being the first to enter “Dead Man Walking.” There’s really nothing positive to say about the Panthers right now. Bryce Young’s first pass of the season was a pick, and many fans hoped this would be the year he’d take a huge step forward, but it’s not looking good so far. They were down 30-3 at halftime against a Saints team that isn’t exactly world-beaters either. Yikes.

New York Giants (0-1): As long as Daniel Jones is their QB, this might be their ceiling. This team is bad, and to be honest, Malik Nabers is the only bright spot. On a more serious note, I understand how passionate fans can be about their teams, and I get the frustration. But these players are human, and they deserve respect. The viral video of a Giants fan berating Jones is just wrong. Be kind.

Fighting for Survival

Green Bay Packers (0-1): The Packers did lose to the Eagles, but that’s not why they’re in “Fighting for Survival.” Jordan Love sprained his MCL on Friday night, and now Malik Willis has to step in. So far in his career, Willis has completed just 35 of 67 passes for 350 yards, 0 TDs, and 3 INTs. If the Packers can survive without Love and win a game or two, they should be fine. But if Love misses 4-5 games and they can’t secure a win, it’s going to be a tough road ahead.

Washington Commanders (0-1): Jayden Daniels looked good in his debut, but the rest of the team? That’s still to be determined. My biggest concern is Daniels needs to protect himself better. He took way too many unnecessary hits. I like Daniels and want to see him stay healthy, but he has to be smarter about taking care of his body. Fortunately for them, they have the Giants next week.

Arizona Cardinals (0-1): One of the more surprising teams from Week 1, the Cardinals put up a heck of a fight against the Bills. Kyler Murray is now fully healthy and looks like he could push for a wildcard spot this year. Marvin Harrison Jr. didn’t have the game he likely wanted, with only 1 catch for 4 yards, but once he and Trey McBride get going, this team could be sneaky dangerous. Add in a healthy James Conner, and they have potential.

Atlanta Falcons (0-1): Kirk Cousins’ debut in Atlanta was rocky. A major concern is his mechanics—he’s losing velocity on his throws because he’s not driving the ball with his back foot, the same one he tore his Achilles on. Rookie Michael Penix might start sooner than expected. Cousins will need to improve, especially with a tough matchup against the Eagles on Monday night.

In the Hunt

Los Angeles Rams (0-1): The Rams are the only team “In the Hunt” that lost, mainly because they lost to one of the better NFC teams in the Lions. Despite losing several key players to injury, including star WR Puka Nacua, the Rams still looked solid. But the road doesn’t get any easier, as they face a tough divisional matchup against the Cardinals.

Seattle Seahawks (1-0): I’m not entirely sure if the Seahawks belong here. They won, so I couldn’t justify dropping them lower, but the game against the Broncos was a snooze fest. I don’t expect them to stay in this tier for long.

New Orleans Saints (1-0): The Saints had about as good of a start to the season as anyone could hope for, absolutely dominating the Panthers in every facet. I’m not sure how sustainable their success will be, but for now, they looked like a powerhouse. Granted, it was the Panthers—but this is the NFL, and any given Sunday… except this one felt like an NFL team playing a JV squad.

Chicago Bears (1-0): Not sure how you win a game without scoring an offensive touchdown, but here we are. #1 pick Caleb Williams didn’t have the start he wanted, but I can only assume that was the floor for this Bears offense. Williams has his flaws and isn’t perfect, but he’ll be one of the most exciting players in the league. He reminds me of Carson Wentz in 2017/2018, which should be something for Bears fans to look forward to.

Minnesota Vikings (1-0): They beat the Giants, and Sam Darnold looked like an MVP candidate—for about a quarter. Let’s see how long this lasts.

Top of the Pack

San Francisco 49ers (1-0): Thanks to the 49ers, my fantasy football matchup was a bust. I was waiting for CMC to lead my team’s comeback, only to find out he was inactive. Still, the 49ers handled the Jets with ease. Jordan Mason looked good, and he might need to carry the load with CMC expected to miss a significant amount of time.

Philadelphia Eagles (1-0): The Eagles faced two opponents on Friday—the Packers and the field. The field took no prisoners, but the Eagles managed to beat the Packers. It was encouraging to see the Eagles win a game filled with adversity after last year’s collapse. The offense flashed its potential, and the defense looks improved. As a fan, I’m excited.

Detroit Lions (1-0): The Lions took down Matthew Stafford and the Rams, who gave it their all but came up short. This Lions team is no joke, and I still don’t understand how they’re making it work with Jared Goff at QB. Gibbs and Montgomery look like the best 1-2 punch in football, and the emergence of Jameson Williams should take pressure off Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Dallas Cowboys (1-0): The Cowboys’ defense absolutely destroyed Deshaun Watson and the Browns, recording 6 sacks, 17 QB hits, 2 interceptions, and a forced fumble. I’m not sure if they’ll replicate this performance all season, but if they come close, this defense will be a nightmare for opponents.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0): Baker Mayfield looked sharp, and the Bucs’ offense as a whole was impressive. Mike Evans continues to be the NFL’s most consistent receiver, and the supporting cast of Chris Godwin, Rachaad White, and Bucky Irving looks strong. This Bucs team could be a dangerous playoff contender.