Midseason Check-In Via Team Anthem – NFC

Atlanta Falcons – “Change It” by Dolly Parton

“Somethin’ got you down got you chained and bound
Well break it. (Face it)
If you’ve built a wall and know it needs to fall
Then shake it. (Replace it)
Somethin’ that you know is dammin’ up the flow
Tear the damn dam down.
Let me explain it.
If you don’t take the reigns it’s going to stay the sameNothin’s gonna change if you don’t change it.”

The Falcons head into week 11 with four consecutive losses. They have to dig deep if they have any hope for an extended season. Atlanta played hard against Indy in Berlin, but they could not close the game out-something they must figure out fast.

Carolina Panthers – “Step by Step” by New Kids on the Block

“Step by step, ooh, baby

Gonna get to you girl”

The Panthers are an extremely confusing team. It seemed like Bryce Young was making small progress as a respectable quarterback, and the team was looking quite competent. They’re also in a meh NFC South conference. They beat Green Bay and then follow it up with a home loss to the Saints. Whether they take steps in the right direction is what fans are wondering.

Chicago Bears – “When Did You Get Hot?” by Sabrina Carpenter

It seems like the Bears are finally stringing together a respectable season. Is this the Ben Johnson effect? No more coulda, woulda, shoulda. It’s like it happened overnight, so it has us asking…

“When did you get hot?”

Dallas Cowboys – “Stuck in the Middle With You” – by Stealers Wheel

“Yes, I’m stuck in the middle with you

And I’m wondering what it is I should do

It’s so hard to keep this smile from my face

Losing control, yeah, I’m all over the place”

Is Dak having a hell of a season? Yes. Is this team still middle-of-the-road in the NFC East? Also yes. There are some good things happening in Dallas, but will it be enough for a postseason push? In a league full of parity, they just may squeak in. For now, they’re just hanging out in the gray area.

Detroit Lions – “The Boys are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy

“The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town Spread the word around

Guess who’s back in town?

You spread the word around”

Green Bay Packers – “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.

“Well, everybody hurts sometimes

Everybody cries

Everybody hurts, sometimes”

After a dominant first two games of the season, the Packers are putting on a master class of falling apart. Everything seems to be a mess from coaching to injuries to execution – mostly on offense. A postseason trip is looking less likely each week.

Los Angeles Rams – “Mr. Boombastic” by Shaggy

“She call me Mr. Boombastic”

I’m not even 100% sure what this song is about, but if you call someone Mr. Boombastic, I associate that with them being badass. And that describes Matthew Stafford, in year 17, and in peak form for this Rams team.

Minnesota Vikings – “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s

“Hey there Delilah, what’s it like in New York City (er,Seattle)?

I’m a thousand miles away, but girl, tonight you look so pretty

Yes, you do”

Kevin O’Connell sings this nightly out his window and toward the west, where Sam Darnold is thriving.

New Orleans Saints – “Down in a Hole” by Alice in Chains

“Down in a hole and I don’t know if I can be saved”

The song lyrics paint a pretty accurate picture of the New Orleans team. They are down in a hole for sure. At least they will get an early draft pick? Silver lining.

New York Giants – “The Promise of a New Day” by Paula Abdul

“See the wisdom from mistakes in our past

Hear the younger generation ask

‘Why do I feel this way?’

The promise of a new day”

The mistakes in their past are clearly Brian Daboll’s. He was finally set free, and the team can look ahead to brighter pastures. GM Joe Schoen should look for a quarterback-focused coach to come in and smooth out this offense with Dart at the helm.

Philadelphia Eagles – “Working My Way Back” by the Spinners

“I’ll keep working by way back to you, babe

With a burning love inside”

They – mostly meaning GM Howie Roseman – are doing everything in their control to get this team back to the Super Bowl. As always, they were making moves before the trade deadline. They picked up some defensive pieces mainly: corners Jaire Alexander and Michael Carter II, as well as edge rusher Jaelen Phillips.

San Francisco 49ers – “Return of the Mac(k)” by Mark Morrison

“Baby, now I got the flow

Cause I knew it from the start…

Return of the Mac(k)”

Mac Jones is back, baby! A sentence I did not expect to utter in 2025 – or ever. In place of the injured Purdy, he has a record of 5-3 this season and is keeping San Francisco in contention. It’s quite impressive work.

Seattle Seahawks – “Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)” by Limp Bizkit

“Hands up, now hands down

Tell me what youre gonna do now

Keep rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ (What?)”

Mike Macdonald, in his second year of leading this team, and his quarterback, Sam Darnold, are putting on a clinic week to week. They play through key injuries, run the ball effectively, and protect Darnold. This has been unexpected, but fun to witness in real time throughout the season thus far.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas

“Man, it’s a hot one
Like seven inches from the midday sun
Well, I hear you whisper and the words melt everyone
But you stay so cool”

Baker and the Bucs are looking good in the NFC South. They are a game ahead of the Panthers (what?!) and would be remiss not to take this division for a fifth straight year.

Washington Commanders – “The Kids Aren’t Alright” by the Offspring

“When we were young, the future was so bright

Woah-oh

The old neighborhood was so alive”

After a smashing success in 2024 under Jayden Daniels, including an appearance in the NFC Championship game, it appears it may have been beginner’s luck. This sophomore season has been marked mostly by losses, with a side of injury reports.