The NFC East has become a battleground of mediocrity, as all four teams entered Week 5 winless, culminating in a chaotic series of games. Notably, the Dallas Cowboys fell to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Philadelphia Eagles allowed a last-minute comeback against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Washington Commanders and New York Giants played to a surprising tie.

With the division in disarray, analytics expert Stephen Oh simulated the remainder of the 2026 NFL season, predicting the playoff landscape.

Projected AFC Playoff Field:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) – AFC West champion
2. Buffalo Bills (4-1) – AFC East champion
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) – AFC South champion
4. Baltimore Ravens (4-1) – AFC North champion
5. Denver Broncos (3-2)
6. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
7. New England Patriots (3-2)

The wild card race features a tight competition among the Broncos, Bengals, and Patriots, with both the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers missing the playoffs.

Projected NFC Playoff Field:

1. San Francisco 49ers (5-0) – NFC West champion
2. Minnesota Vikings (5-0) – NFC North champion
3. Carolina Panthers (2-2) – NFC South champion
4. Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) – NFC East champion
5. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
6. Detroit Lions (3-2)
7. Los Angeles Rams (2-3)

The 49ers are projected to dominate the NFC, with the computer predicting a losing record for the division-winning Eagles.

Super Bowl LXI Projections:

• AFC Championship: Chiefs defeat Bills 26-23
• NFC Championship: 49ers defeat Vikings 27-20
• Super Bowl LXI: 49ers edge Chiefs 25-24, marking their first win since 1994.

The 49ers are on a path to maintain their dominance, facing only one team with a winning record in the next five weeks, setting the stage for a potential undefeated run before a pivotal matchup against the Vikings.