The Buccaneers currently own the second spot in the NFC playoff seeding, but there are four teams with 6-2 records and a long list of legitimate contenders as the second half of the season begins

Minnesota’s upcoming schedule ranks easier than the Lions, Bears, and Packers, keeping the door open for a late-season push.

Two turnovers and a likely season-ending injury to tight end Tucker Kraft stunted the Packers to allow the Panthers to sneak out with the win. Despite falling to 5-2-1, the Packers still hold the division lead headed into a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau next Monday night.

The NFL is right in the middle of the 2025 season, with many surprises and disappointments across the competition. Squads like the Indianapolis Colts (7-1) and the New England Patriots (6-2) have surprised fans with their good performances,

The Lions, like the Packers, lost a game they probably should have won, and did so in their own stadium. Detroit was nearly a double-digit favorite against division rival Minnesota on Sunday, but instead allowed the Vikings to grab an early lead and largely control the game from start to finish.

With the 2025 NFL season at the midway point, every game takes on even greater significance as the playoff picture takes shape.

The Packers are on top of the North at 5-2-1, followed closely by the Bears and Lions at 5-3 each and the Vikings at 4-4. It's the only division in the NFL in which every team is .500 or better.

Why, you ask? Well, the Minnesota Vikings are now firmly in the mix. The club went into Ford Field and took down the Detroit Lions, 27-24. On top of simply notching a divisional win, the key development in this game and what makes the victory hold bigger ramifications for the second half was the return of J.J. McCarthy .