How each NFC division race has shaken out so far

We are reaching that point of the season where the contenders are attempting to separate from the pack, the worst teams are planning for the offseason and teams are trying to get out of the glut in the middle of the standings.

Each division this year has a unique look to it this year. Some are enjoying banner seasons while others have tripped up a bit. Let's look at each division to see how they got to where they are. Today we will look at the NFC. Teams with asterisks are currently holding on to playoff spots:

NFC East
Cowboys (8-1)*
Giants (6-3)*
Redskins (5-3-1)*
Eagles (5-4)

How about the NFC East? Last year, the Redskins needed to win their final four regular season games to become the only NFC East team to finish the season with a winning record. Heading into Week 11 this year, all four NFC East teams have winning marks with the Cowboys holding the best record in the NFL? How did that happen?

Well, new blood has helped out a lot. Dallas, as you may have heard, start a rookie quarterback and a rookie running back who are both having MVP-type seasons. Ezekiel Elliott has been everything as advertised for Dallas and Dak Prescott has been a blessing. The Jason Garrett-era Cowboys have been their best when they run the football to set up their passing game and it has been working this year. The Eagles also have a rookie quarterback that has played very well this season. Carson Wentz hasn't wowed like Prescott, but he's playing better than a rookie should and is relying on their tough defense to win games. The Giants have a rookie head coach that may have put some life back in the team, even though they are doing so with no running game and no real pass rush -- ya know, G-men staples.

Then you have that old, cagey, defending division champion Redskins team. When Kirk Cousins calms down with his turnovers, Washington has been tough to beat. The defense keeps getting better and they just stay in games long enough to find a way to win. The only game they looked beaten in was their Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh.

The NFC East has been down of late as they haven't had two teams make the playoffs since 2009. Right now, they'd have three in the postseason. This proud division hosts four of the seven most valuable NFL franchises and all four ownerships have historically been dedicated to winning. It seems to be paying off this season.

NFC South
Falcons (6-4)*
Buccaneers (4-5)
Saints (4-5)
Panthers (3-6)

The NFC South had never had a repeat champion until the Panthers won three in a row from 2013-2015. Well, Carolina needs to get it together if they are to make it happen again. They lost a lot of talent from their Super Bowl team and didn't really replace any of it. The swagger is gone, Cam is moping and they've struggled to close out games. Sadly, they are just two losses back of the division lead.

Atlanta has taken over the mantle as the top team in the division, but they are there due to Matt Ryan or their running backs going off. The defense isn't very good but when Ryan (a legit MVP candidate) is good, he is really, really good.

The Saints are an aging team holding on while the Buccaneers are a young team trying to find their way. New Orleans has been riding out the end of Drew Brees career and are still kicking. Imagine if that PAT wasn't blocked by Denver? These Saints would be just a game out of first place. Tampa Bay is building something with Jameis Winston and Mike Evans. It takes time but it is clear that the Bucs are the one team in the division heading in the right direction.

NFC North
Lions (5-4)*
Vikings (5-4)
Packers (4-5)
Bears (2-7)

Times are tough in the NFC North. The Detroit Lions lose Megatron yet find themselves in first place? A team that has allowed more points than they've scored? A team that has trailed in the 4th quarter in all nine games of the season? Yes, those Detroit Lions are sitting in first place due to the Vikings falling apart and the Packers all over the place.

Minnesota started the season 5-0 and were one of the most pleasant stories of the season. However, injuries, no running game and a weak offensive line has this team spiraling out of control ... and contention. Once Adrian Peterson was injured and out for an extended period of time, the Vikings have become one-dimensional and with the offensive line unable to protect QB Sam Bradford, the offense has stalled into a short passing gameplan that can't create big plays.

Green Bay is in a tailspin. Aaron Rodgers hasn't looked like the perennial MVP candidate he usually is. There's grumbling around the organization that A-Rodg and head coach Mike McCarthy aren't seeing eye-to-eye anymore and what was once one of the most feared offenses in football just isn't hitting on all cylinders anymore.

The Bears are a mess and should be looking at a major overhaul this offseason.

NFC West
Seahawks (6-2-1)*
Cardinals (4-4-1)
Rams (4-5)
49ers (1-8)

Seattle has quietly taken their usual perch at the top of the NFC West despite Russell Wilson limping around for much of the first half of the season and no Marhawn Lynch to carry the offensive weight anymore. The defense isn't as dominant but it certainly does the job. But is this team more lucky than anything? They've had two late no-calls of possible pass interference penalties that help close out wins over Atlanta and New England and they've had some really sad offensive showings this year. Last season, they were scorching hit in the finals two months so it will be interesting to see if they can duplicate that in 2016.

Arizona is sticking around despite Carson Palmer looking nothing like the MVP guy of 2015. The defense has held this season together for an offense that needs to get it going very quickly.

The Rams should be commended for having a decent season despite moving out to Los Angeles and having Case Keenum as their stsrting quarterback all this time. The defense is still legit to cover up the lack of an offensive outburst. Still, this looks like another 7-9 season for Jeff Fisher.

The 49ers have been a mess with just their season opening win over the Rams to allow them to feel the good feels. If not for Colin Kaepernick in the news cycle, many wouldn’t even be aware San Francisco was even playing football this year. Chip Kelly may say he's all in for the Niners but he has to have an eye out to see if any of those cushy college football openings (even back at Oregon) will be the right fit to jump off this sinking ship.  Please tell me how Jim Harbaugh was the problem again?