The NFL is finally almost back.
After months of free-agent signings, trades, draft speculation, training-camp battles and endless preseason overreactions, the 2026 regular season is ready to begin. Every team enters the year with a clean record, but obviously not every team enters with the same expectations.
Some teams are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Some are hoping to make the playoffs. Some are trying to develop young quarterbacks and build for the future. And a handful are probably going to spend most of the season thinking about the 2027 NFL Draft.
That’s what makes predicting an entire NFL season so much fun.
There is no shortage of talented teams in 2026. The NFC is particularly difficult to figure out, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers all having legitimate postseason ambitions. The AFC isn’t any easier, with Baltimore, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kansas City, New England, Houston, Jacksonville and the Los Angeles Chargers all capable of making a run.
The biggest question is whether Seattle can repeat.
The Seahawks went through the 2025 season with an impressive 14-3 record before winning the Super Bowl. Now they have to deal with the pressure that comes with being the defending champion. Every opponent will bring its best effort, and the NFC West is loaded with difficult teams.
The Rams may be the biggest threat to Seattle in the division. Los Angeles has an experienced quarterback, an excellent coaching staff and a defense that could become one of the league’s most frightening units.
In the AFC, Baltimore is my favorite to make the Super Bowl. The Ravens have the quarterback, physical running game, defense and coaching to survive a brutal conference.
But this is the NFL. Nothing is guaranteed.
Here are my predictions for all 32 teams, listed alphabetically.
Arizona Cardinals — 5-12
Arizona enters the season with plenty of talent but also plenty of questions.
The Cardinals are not a completely hopeless team. There are enough pieces on the roster to make them competitive, and I expect them to have several games where they look considerably better than their final record.
The problem is the division.
The NFC West might be the toughest division in football. Arizona has to play Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco twice each, and all three teams should be playoff contenders.
That leaves very little margin for error.
The Cardinals need consistent quarterback play, a healthy roster and improvement from a defense that has struggled to consistently shut down good offenses. They should be able to beat some of the weaker teams on their schedule, but I don’t see enough victories against the NFC’s elite.
There will be weeks when Arizona looks like a team on the verge of breaking through. Unfortunately, there will probably be just as many weeks when the Cardinals look like a team that still has another year or two of rebuilding ahead of it.
Five wins feels about right.
Prediction: 5-12
Atlanta Falcons — 7-10
Atlanta is one of those teams that could easily finish with a better record than I’m predicting.
The Falcons have talent. The problem has been turning that talent into consistent football.
Atlanta needs its offense to become more reliable, particularly in close games. The Falcons have had too many stretches where they move the ball well one week and then struggle to generate anything the next.
The NFC South should provide opportunities.
There isn’t a dominant team in the division, which means Atlanta can stay competitive throughout the year without having to become an elite team.
I expect the Falcons to win several division games and probably knock off a couple of teams that look better on paper.
The problem is that I don’t see them consistently beating the NFC’s better teams.
Atlanta should remain in the playoff conversation for much of the season, but I expect the team to fade late.
Seven wins isn’t a disaster. It simply means the Falcons aren’t ready to make the jump into the upper tier of the NFC.
Prediction: 7-10
Baltimore Ravens — 12-5
Baltimore is my pick to win the AFC.
The Ravens have everything I want to see in a Super Bowl contender.
They have an elite quarterback in Lamar Jackson, a physical running game, a defense capable of controlling games and an organization that knows how to compete in January.
The biggest question isn’t whether Baltimore can win 10 or 11 games.
They can.
The question is whether the Ravens can finally put together the kind of postseason run their talent suggests they are capable of producing.
Lamar Jackson remains one of the most difficult players in football to defend. His ability to create plays with his legs changes the math for every defense Baltimore faces. Defenders can’t simply focus on the running backs, because Jackson can keep the ball. They can’t sell out against the run, because Baltimore can throw over the top.
That versatility gives the Ravens an extremely high ceiling.
The AFC North will be difficult. Cincinnati should be dangerous, and Pittsburgh is never an easy opponent.
Still, I expect Baltimore to win the division.
A 12-5 record gives the Ravens one of the best records in the conference and, more importantly, home-field advantage for at least part of the postseason.
I think Baltimore finally gets back to the Super Bowl.
Prediction: 12-5
Buffalo Bills — 11-6
As long as Josh Allen is healthy, Buffalo is going to be a contender.
Allen gives the Bills something very few teams possess: the ability to completely change a game almost by himself.
He can make throws other quarterbacks can’t make, extend plays with his legs and turn broken plays into touchdowns.
The Bills should once again have one of the AFC’s better records.
The problem is the competition.
Buffalo is no longer operating in a conference dominated by one or two teams. Baltimore is dangerous. Cincinnati is dangerous. Kansas City remains dangerous. New England is coming off an enormous season. Houston and Jacksonville are improving.
There are no easy weeks.
I think Buffalo wins the AFC East, but it won’t be a runaway.
The Bills will probably have one of those stretches where people start questioning whether this is finally the year they take a step backward.
Then Allen will remind everyone why Buffalo remains one of the league’s most dangerous teams.
The Bills will make the playoffs and have a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl.
I’m just giving Baltimore the edge.
Prediction: 11-6
Carolina Panthers — 8-9
Carolina is one of my favorite sleeper teams.
I’m not predicting the Panthers to make the playoffs, but I think they will be much more competitive than people expect.
The NFC South is wide open enough that a team doesn’t need to be great to win the division.
It just needs to be consistent.
Carolina should have enough talent to compete with Atlanta, New Orleans and Tampa Bay, and I expect the Panthers to steal a few games outside the division.
The biggest issue will be offensive consistency.
If the quarterback play improves and Carolina can avoid turnovers, eight wins is entirely realistic.
I could see this team sitting around .500 deep into the season before eventually falling short of the postseason.
The Panthers are still building, but this could be the season where the organization starts to look like it’s moving in the right direction.
Eight wins would be a significant improvement and give Carolina plenty of optimism heading into 2027.
Prediction: 8-9
Chicago Bears — 10-7
Chicago is my favorite NFC breakout team.
The Bears have the talent to make a major jump, and I expect the offense to take a significant step forward.
The NFC North is difficult, however.
Detroit and Green Bay are both legitimate contenders, while Minnesota is capable of beating almost anyone on a good day.
That means Chicago won’t have an easy path to the playoffs.
I expect the Bears to win around 10 games because they should be able to beat the weaker teams on their schedule while stealing a few games from better opponents.
The most important thing will be consistency.
Young teams tend to go through stretches where they look unstoppable followed by stretches where they look completely lost.
Chicago will probably experience both.
But I like the overall direction.
The Bears could be one of those teams that nobody wants to face in the playoffs because they are improving rapidly and have enough talent to create matchup problems.
I don’t think they win the division.
I do think they make the playoffs.
Prediction: 10-7
Cincinnati Bengals — 10-7
Cincinnati is one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL.
Joe Burrow gives the Bengals a chance against anyone.
If he’s healthy, Cincinnati can score against virtually any defense, and the Bengals have enough offensive weapons to turn games into shootouts.
The problem remains the defense and the brutal AFC North.
Baltimore is my division favorite, and Cincinnati will have to beat one of the best teams in football twice if it wants to take the division.
That’s a difficult task.
The Bengals will have some spectacular victories. They’ll also probably lose a couple of games that leave fans wondering how a team with this much offensive talent managed to lose.
The key is whether Cincinnati can win when the offense isn’t perfect.
If the defense can create turnovers and the running game can control the clock, the Bengals could win 11 or 12 games.
I’m not going that far.
Ten wins gets Cincinnati into the playoffs, and once they’re there, they’re capable of beating anybody.
Prediction: 10-7
Cleveland Browns — 4-13
Cleveland is in rebuilding mode.
The Browns have some talented players, particularly on defense, but the offense has too many questions for me to expect a playoff push.
The AFC North doesn’t make things any easier.
Baltimore and Cincinnati are two of the best teams in the conference, while Pittsburgh should remain competitive.
That means Cleveland has to win games outside the division.
I expect the Browns to have a few surprisingly good performances, particularly at home, but I don’t see enough consistency to produce a winning record.
The defense should keep them competitive in plenty of games.
Unfortunately, keeping games close isn’t enough if the offense can’t finish them.
Four wins feels reasonable.
The Browns are likely looking toward the future rather than expecting to contend immediately.
Prediction: 4-13
Dallas Cowboys — 9-8
The Cowboys are almost impossible to predict because they have enough talent to win 11 games and enough inconsistency to finish 7-10.
I’m settling in the middle.
Dallas should have an explosive offense and enough star power to beat almost anybody when things are clicking.
The problem is that the NFC East isn’t going to make life easy.
Philadelphia remains the team to beat in the division, while Washington should be competitive and the Giants are improving.
Dallas will probably have a few weeks where it looks like a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Then there will be a couple of losses that make absolutely no sense.
That’s the Cowboys.
I expect Dallas to remain in the playoff race until the final few weeks but ultimately finish just outside the field.
Nine wins would be disappointing for a team with this much talent, but it also wouldn’t be surprising.
Prediction: 9-8
Denver Broncos — 10-7
Denver is one of my favorite wild-card candidates.
The Broncos have a defense that can keep them competitive and an offense that doesn’t necessarily need to score 35 points every week.
That’s an important combination.
The AFC West will be extremely difficult.
Kansas City remains dangerous. The Chargers have serious talent. Las Vegas should be more competitive.
Denver will have to win games against good teams if it wants to reach the playoffs.
I think they can.
The Broncos should be one of the more balanced teams in the conference, and that gives them a good chance of winning close games.
Ten wins gets them into the playoffs.
I don’t necessarily see Denver winning multiple postseason games, but I wouldn’t want to face them either.
They’re the type of team that can turn a playoff game into a low-scoring fight and force an opponent to win in the final five minutes.
Prediction: 10-7
Detroit Lions — 11-6
Detroit remains one of the NFC’s best teams.
The Lions have developed a clear identity built around physical football, strong offensive line play and an offense capable of producing big plays.
They also have enough defensive talent to compete with the best teams.
The biggest concern is health.
Detroit has dealt with significant injuries in recent seasons, and staying healthy will be critical.
If the Lions keep their core players on the field, I think they’re a double-digit-win team.
The NFC North is going to be extremely competitive, though.
Green Bay is right there. Chicago is improving. Minnesota should be competitive.
I expect Detroit to win the division, but it could come down to the final week.
The Lions are also one of the teams I wouldn’t want to face in the playoffs.
They can win shootouts, but they can also win physical, low-scoring games.
That’s exactly what you want from a postseason team.
Prediction: 11-6
Green Bay Packers — 11-6
Green Bay should once again be one of the NFC’s most complete teams.
The Packers have enough offensive talent to put up points without becoming completely dependent on one player.
Defensively, they should be able to keep themselves in games.
That’s a good formula for a long season.
The problem is the division.
Detroit is excellent. Chicago is improving. Minnesota is capable of causing problems.
Green Bay could easily finish with 12 wins, but I think they’ll lose a few close games.
Eleven wins still puts them firmly in the playoff picture.
The Packers are also the kind of team that could get hot at exactly the right time.
If the offense becomes more consistent against elite defenses, Green Bay could make a deep postseason run.
I’m giving Detroit the division by a narrow margin, but Green Bay gets a wild card.
Prediction: 11-6
Houston Texans — 10-7
Houston is one of the most interesting teams in the AFC.
There is enough talent here to become a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but I still want to see more consistency before putting them in the top tier.
The Texans should be able to score points, and the defense has the potential to keep them in games.
The biggest challenge is the AFC South.
Jacksonville is improving. Indianapolis is competitive. Tennessee is rebuilding but will still cause problems.
Houston could easily win the division.
I’m predicting that Jacksonville gets there instead.
That doesn’t mean I think Houston is worse than Jacksonville.
It simply means I think the two teams will finish extremely close.
Houston makes the playoffs as a wild card.
If everything comes together, this could be the team that makes my entire prediction look conservative.
Prediction: 10-7
Indianapolis Colts — 7-10
Indianapolis is another team that could surprise me.
The Colts have enough talent to compete, but I haven’t seen enough consistency to predict a playoff season.
They should be able to beat Tennessee and compete with Jacksonville and Houston.
The problem is winning outside the division.
Indianapolis needs to steal games against better teams, and I don’t think that will happen often enough.
The defense will keep them competitive.
The offense will have some excellent games.
But there will also be too many stretches where the Colts struggle to score.
Seven wins feels like the right prediction.
If they get eight or nine, I won’t be surprised.
If they win 10, I’ll be extremely impressed.
Prediction: 7-10
Jacksonville Jaguars — 10-7
Jacksonville is my pick to win the AFC South.
This is one of my bolder predictions.
The Jaguars have enough offensive talent to put pressure on defenses, and I think they’re entering a period where the roster is finally becoming mature enough to compete consistently.
The AFC South is also one of the few divisions where there isn’t an overwhelming favorite.
That gives Jacksonville an opportunity.
The Jaguars don’t need to beat Buffalo, Baltimore and Kansas City every year.
They need to beat Houston, Indianapolis and Tennessee consistently and steal a few victories outside the division.
I think they can.
Ten wins should be enough to win the South, although Houston will be right behind them.
Jacksonville may not be ready to make a deep playoff run, but winning the division would be a major step forward.
Prediction: 10-7
Kansas City Chiefs — 10-7
This might be the most controversial record on my list.
Ten wins for Kansas City?
Yes.
But that doesn’t mean I think the Chiefs are finished.
Patrick Mahomes remains one of the best quarterbacks in football, and that makes Kansas City dangerous regardless of what happens during the regular season.
I simply don’t think the Chiefs are going to dominate the regular season the way they’ve done during some of their best years.
The AFC West is difficult.
Denver is good.
The Chargers are good.
Las Vegas should be more competitive.
Kansas City could easily finish 11-6 or 12-5.
I’m predicting 10-7 because I expect the Chiefs to have a few frustrating losses.
Then January arrives.
That’s when I would become nervous about facing them.
Kansas City could go 6-4, finish 10-7 and then suddenly look like the best team in football once the playoffs begin.
Never underestimate Mahomes.
Prediction: 10-7
Las Vegas Raiders — 6-11
Las Vegas is intriguing but still feels like a team in transition.
There is enough young talent to make the Raiders competitive, but I don’t think they’re ready to challenge the top teams in the AFC.
The AFC West is particularly unforgiving.
Kansas City, Denver and the Chargers are all better on paper.
That means the Raiders will have to win games outside the division to have a shot at the playoffs.
I don’t see enough of those victories.
The good news is that Las Vegas should be entertaining.
I expect several close games, a couple of major upsets and plenty of signs that the organization is heading in a better direction.
But six wins is my prediction.
Prediction: 6-11
Los Angeles Chargers — 10-7
The Chargers could easily be the best 10-win team in football.
There is a lot to like.
The roster is talented. The offense has considerable potential. The defense should be capable of creating problems.
The question is consistency.
The Chargers have spent too much time being a team that looks better on paper than it does on the field.
This season feels like an opportunity to change that.
The AFC West will be extremely competitive, and I think Los Angeles will be right in the middle of it all season.
I don’t think they win the division.
But I do think they make the playoffs.
A 10-7 record gets them a wild card and gives them a chance to prove that they’re finally ready to become a serious postseason team.
If they stay healthy, the Chargers could be one of the AFC’s most dangerous teams.
Prediction: 10-7
Los Angeles Rams — 12-5
The Rams are my NFC favorite.
There are very few teams that I think are as well equipped to make a Super Bowl run.
The biggest advantage is experience.
Matthew Stafford has already won a Super Bowl and understands what it takes to survive January.
The Rams also have an excellent coaching staff and a roster that has been built to compete immediately.
Then there is the defensive front.
Adding Myles Garrett gives Los Angeles an absolutely terrifying pass rush and makes an already dangerous defense even more difficult to deal with.
The Rams will have to survive the NFC West, which is no small task.
Seattle is the defending champion.
San Francisco remains dangerous.
Even Arizona can cause problems.
But over 17 games, I expect Los Angeles to separate itself.
Twelve wins gets the Rams the NFC West and puts them in excellent position for the playoffs.
And once January arrives, I trust Stafford’s experience and the Rams’ defense.
Los Angeles is my pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Prediction: 12-5
Miami Dolphins — 4-13
Miami is my biggest disappointment prediction.
The Dolphins have enough talent to make this prediction look ridiculous if everything clicks.
But there are too many questions.
The AFC East is also a terrible division for a team trying to find itself.
Buffalo is a contender.
New England is coming off an enormous season.
The Jets are rebuilding but can still be competitive.
Miami will have some explosive offensive performances.
The problem will be consistency.
There will be games where the Dolphins look like a playoff team and others where they look completely overwhelmed.
I think this becomes a transition year.
Four wins is a harsh prediction, but I don’t see enough evidence to believe Miami is ready to challenge Buffalo or New England.
Prediction: 4-13
Minnesota Vikings — 9-8
Minnesota is a fascinating team.
The Vikings have enough talent to win 10 or 11 games, but the NFC North is brutal.
Detroit and Green Bay are both teams I expect to make the playoffs.
Chicago is improving quickly.
That leaves Minnesota with very little margin for error.
I think the Vikings win nine games and remain in the playoff race until late in the season.
They’ll have some impressive victories.
They’ll also lose some games they should have won.
That inconsistency keeps them out of the postseason.
But this is not a team I would write off.
If Minnesota gets hot late in the year, nine wins could easily become 10.
Prediction: 9-8
New England Patriots — 11-6
New England may be the most difficult team in football to predict.
The Patriots went from 4-13 to 14-3 in one season and made the Super Bowl.
Now they have to prove that wasn’t a one-year miracle.
That’s difficult.
Last year, New England could surprise teams.
This year, nobody is going to overlook them.
Every opponent knows what the Patriots can do.
The pressure will be much greater.
I still expect New England to be very good.
The roster has improved, and the offense has another major weapon with the addition of A.J. Brown.
But repeating a 14-3 regular season is asking a lot.
I’m predicting 11-6.
That should be enough to make the playoffs.
And once they get there, I wouldn’t want to face them.
New England has already demonstrated that it can play under pressure.
The Patriots could easily make another deep postseason run.
Prediction: 11-6
New Orleans Saints — 6-11
New Orleans is another team that feels like it’s caught between the present and the future.
The Saints aren’t devoid of talent.
They should be competitive against the weaker teams on their schedule and could easily steal a few victories from better opponents.
But I don’t see enough overall strength to challenge for the division.
The NFC South is open enough that New Orleans could stay in the playoff race longer than expected.
Ultimately, though, I think the lack of consistency catches up with them.
Six wins.
Prediction: 6-11
New York Giants — 7-10
The Giants are one of my favorite teams to watch develop this season.
I’m not predicting a playoff berth, but I think they are closer to becoming competitive than many people realize.
The NFC East is difficult, but divisional games can also create opportunities.
New York should be capable of beating Dallas, Washington or Philadelphia at least once.
The problem is winning consistently outside the division.
The Giants will probably have a few exciting games where the offense looks ready to take a major step forward.
Then they’ll have games where the mistakes pile up.
Seven wins feels right.
It’s not a playoff season, but it could be a promising building block.
Prediction: 7-10
New York Jets — 5-12
The Jets are still rebuilding.
That doesn’t mean they will be terrible every week.
It means I don’t expect them to have the consistency necessary to win a lot of games.
The AFC East is especially difficult.
Buffalo and New England should be among the conference’s better teams, while Miami still has enough talent to be dangerous.
The Jets will probably steal a few games.
I expect them to be competitive in others.
But five wins feels about right.
The most important thing for New York is development.
If the young players show enough progress, the season could feel successful even with a losing record.
Prediction: 5-12
Philadelphia Eagles — 11-6
Philadelphia remains one of the NFC’s best teams.
The Eagles have enough talent on both sides of the ball to challenge for the conference championship.
The offense should be explosive, while the defense has enough talent to create problems for opposing quarterbacks.
The biggest challenge will be the NFC East.
Philadelphia will have to deal with Dallas, Washington and New York twice each, and divisional games are always unpredictable.
I expect the Eagles to win the division anyway.
Eleven wins should be enough.
Philadelphia is also one of the teams I trust most in January because of its physical style.
They can win a high-scoring game.
They can win a defensive battle.
They can run the football.
They can pressure quarterbacks.
That’s exactly what you want in the playoffs.
I think Philadelphia makes the NFC Championship Game.
Prediction: 11-6
Pittsburgh Steelers — 8-9
Pittsburgh is one of the hardest teams to predict.
The Steelers are almost always competitive because their defense keeps them in games.
But the offense needs to prove it can consistently produce.
The AFC North makes that even more difficult.
Baltimore and Cincinnati are both better on paper, and Cleveland is capable of making divisional games ugly.
Pittsburgh will probably win several close games.
The problem is that I don’t think they’ll win enough of them.
Eight wins feels like the middle ground.
If the offense takes a major step forward, Pittsburgh could absolutely finish above .500.
But until I see it consistently, I’m predicting a losing record.
Prediction: 8-9
San Francisco 49ers — 10-7
The 49ers are the team I hate leaving out of the NFC’s top tier.
San Francisco has enough talent to win the Super Bowl.
The problem is the division.
The Rams are my favorite.
Seattle is the defending champion.
That leaves San Francisco fighting for the wild card.
I expect the 49ers to win 10 games and make the playoffs.
The defense should keep them competitive, while the offense has enough talent to produce explosive performances.
The 49ers could easily beat a higher-seeded team in the playoffs.
They’re experienced, physical and extremely dangerous when healthy.
But I don’t think they win the NFC West.
Ten wins and a wild-card berth.
Prediction: 10-7
Seattle Seahawks — 11-6
The defending champions deserve plenty of respect.
Seattle went 14-3 last season and won the Super Bowl.
Now comes the difficult part: doing it again.
I don’t think the Seahawks will repeat their 14-win regular season.
That’s not because I think they’re suddenly bad.
It’s because the NFC West is ridiculously difficult.
The Rams have improved.
San Francisco remains dangerous.
Seattle will have to play six games against those three division opponents.
That’s a brutal schedule.
I still expect the Seahawks to win 11 games and make the playoffs.
The defending champions will be extremely dangerous once they get there.
They know how to win postseason games.
They have already done it.
But I think the Rams are just a little better this year.
Prediction: 11-6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 9-8
Tampa Bay is my pick to win the NFC South.
That says more about the division than it does about the Buccaneers.
I don’t think Tampa is one of the NFC’s elite teams.
I do think they’re the most consistent team in their division.
The Buccaneers should be able to win enough games against Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans to stay near the top.
The key will be what happens outside the division.
If Tampa wins a couple of difficult games, 10 wins is possible.
I’m predicting nine.
That might be enough for the division title.
I don’t expect a long playoff run, but getting into the postseason would represent a successful season for Tampa Bay.
Prediction: 9-8
Tennessee Titans — 4-13
Tennessee is another team focused more on development than immediate contention.
The Titans have young talent and an opportunity to build something, but I don’t think they’re ready to compete with Houston and Jacksonville.
The AFC South should be competitive.
Indianapolis is also capable of beating Tennessee.
That makes the road to seven or eight wins difficult.
I expect the Titans to win a few games and play spoiler against teams that underestimate them.
But overall, the roster still needs time.
Four wins feels realistic.
The important thing is seeing whether the young players develop enough to give Tennessee a reason for optimism heading into next season.
Prediction: 4-13
Washington Commanders — 8-9
Washington is my biggest NFC disappointment.
That doesn’t mean I think the Commanders are bad.
I simply don’t think they’re ready to jump into the NFC’s upper tier.
Philadelphia is still my favorite in the division.
Dallas has enough talent to compete.
The Giants are improving.
Washington will probably win eight games and remain in the playoff race for much of the season.
There will be some impressive victories.
The problem will be consistency.
If the offense takes a massive leap forward, Washington could absolutely finish with 10 wins.
But I’m not ready to make that prediction.
Eight wins feels more realistic.
Prediction: 8-9
The Playoff Picture
After going through all 32 teams, these are my predicted playoff teams.
AFC
Baltimore Ravens — 12-5
Buffalo Bills — 11-6
Jacksonville Jaguars — 10-7
Kansas City Chiefs — 10-7
New England Patriots — 11-6
Cincinnati Bengals — 10-7
Los Angeles Chargers — 10-7
Denver is the unlucky team left outside.
The AFC is loaded enough that a 10-7 team could miss the playoffs entirely depending on tiebreakers.
Baltimore gets the No. 1 seed because I think the Ravens are the most complete team in the conference.
Buffalo wins the AFC East.
Jacksonville wins the AFC South.
Kansas City gets another playoff appearance.
New England returns to the postseason.
Cincinnati and Los Angeles grab the wild cards.
NFC
Los Angeles Rams — 12-5
Philadelphia Eagles — 11-6
Detroit Lions — 11-6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 9-8
Seattle Seahawks — 11-6
Green Bay Packers — 11-6
Chicago Bears — 10-7
San Francisco is the major team left out.
That’s how difficult the NFC is.
A 10-7 San Francisco team could easily be better than several teams that make the playoffs.
But somebody has to lose the tiebreakers.
The Rams get the No. 1 seed.
Philadelphia wins the NFC East.
Detroit wins the NFC North.
Tampa Bay takes the South.
Seattle, Green Bay and Chicago earn wild-card spots.
Wild Card Round
Los Angeles Chargers over Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville has a successful season by winning the AFC South, but the Chargers have too much offensive talent.
The Jaguars keep it close, but Los Angeles pulls away late.
Chargers advance.
Cincinnati Bengals over Kansas City Chiefs
This is my first big upset.
Cincinnati has the quarterback I trust to win a shootout.
Joe Burrow makes enough big plays to knock Kansas City out of the playoffs.
Bengals advance.
Buffalo Bills over New England Patriots
This could be one of the best games of the entire postseason.
New England has enough talent to win it, but I’m going with Josh Allen at home.
Buffalo wins a close fourth-quarter game.
Bills advance.
Philadelphia Eagles over Chicago Bears
Chicago’s breakout season continues into the playoffs, but Philadelphia’s experience proves too much.
The Eagles control the line of scrimmage and eventually pull away.
Eagles advance.
Detroit Lions over Green Bay Packers
This could be a classic NFC North playoff game.
Detroit gets the home-field advantage and wins a physical game.
The Lions advance.
Lions advance.
Seattle Seahawks over Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The defending champions aren’t ready to go home yet.
Seattle’s defense controls the game, and the Seahawks survive.
Seahawks advance.
Divisional Round
Baltimore Ravens over Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have enough offense to make this interesting.
But Baltimore’s physical style eventually takes over.
Lamar Jackson makes several enormous plays in the second half, and the Ravens control the final possession.
Baltimore advances to the AFC Championship Game.
Buffalo Bills over Cincinnati Bengals
Another fantastic quarterback matchup.
Burrow keeps Cincinnati alive deep into the fourth quarter.
But Buffalo’s defense comes up with one critical turnover.
Josh Allen finishes the game with a clutch drive.
Buffalo advances to the AFC Championship Game.
Los Angeles Rams over Seattle Seahawks
The NFC West rivalry moves to the playoffs.
Seattle has already proven it can win the biggest games.
But Los Angeles has the better overall roster.
The Rams’ defensive line creates problems all afternoon, and Stafford makes the throws he needs to make.
The defending champions are eliminated.
Los Angeles advances.
Philadelphia Eagles over Detroit Lions
This is a heavyweight NFC matchup.
Detroit keeps it close for three quarters.
Philadelphia’s depth eventually becomes the difference.
The Eagles make enough plays in the fourth quarter to advance.
Philadelphia advances.
AFC Championship Game
Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills
This is my favorite AFC matchup.
Lamar Jackson against Josh Allen.
Two quarterbacks capable of completely taking over a game.
Two physical teams.
Two organizations that believe they can win the Super Bowl.
I expect this to be a close game from beginning to end.
Buffalo will make several explosive plays.
Baltimore will run the ball effectively.
The difference will come down to the final few possessions.
Baltimore’s rushing attack allows the Ravens to control the clock late, and Lamar makes enough plays to put Baltimore ahead.
Buffalo gets one final opportunity, but the Ravens’ defense holds.
Baltimore Ravens 27, Buffalo Bills 23
Baltimore is going to the Super Bowl.
NFC Championship Game
Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles
This is a fantastic matchup.
Philadelphia has the depth and physicality to give Los Angeles serious problems.
The Eagles should be able to run the football effectively, and I expect their defense to create pressure.
But the Rams have Matthew Stafford.
That’s a huge advantage in a game like this.
Stafford has played in enormous games before. He knows how to handle pressure, and he has the experience necessary to stay calm when the game gets tight.
I expect Philadelphia to have a lead at some point.
Los Angeles will slowly chip away.
Then Stafford makes two enormous throws in the fourth quarter.
The Rams’ pass rush creates the decisive defensive play.
Los Angeles survives.
Los Angeles Rams 30, Philadelphia Eagles 27
The Rams are going to the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl LXI
Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens
This is the matchup I’m predicting before the season even begins.
The Rams versus the Ravens.
It has everything you want from a Super Bowl.
A veteran quarterback against one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in football.
An elite defensive front against one of the NFL’s most dangerous rushing attacks.
Two excellent coaching staffs.
Two teams with legitimate championship aspirations.
Baltimore will have success.
Lamar Jackson will make spectacular plays.
The Ravens will probably control stretches of the game with their running attack.
But I keep coming back to Los Angeles.
The Rams have too many ways to win.
They can throw the football.
They can run it.
They can pressure the quarterback.
They can win a shootout.
They can win a defensive game.
And if the game comes down to a final possession, Stafford has already proven that he can handle the moment.
I expect Baltimore to have a fourth-quarter lead.
The Rams then put together one final drive.
Stafford moves the ball into scoring range.
Los Angeles ties the game.
The defense gets the ball back.
And Stafford gets one more chance.
The Rams drive into field-goal range and finish the season with a championship.
Los Angeles Rams 27, Baltimore Ravens 24
My 2026 NFL Predictions
Super Bowl: Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens
AFC Champion: Baltimore Ravens
NFC Champion: Los Angeles Rams
Super Bowl Champion: Los Angeles Rams
Super Bowl MVP: Matthew Stafford
Regular-Season MVP: Lamar Jackson
Offensive Player of the Year: Ja’Marr Chase
Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett
Coach of the Year: Sean McVay
Breakout Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Biggest Surprise: Chicago Bears
Biggest Disappointment: Miami Dolphins
Team Most Likely to Make Me Look Stupid: Cincinnati Bengals
The 2026 season should be one of the most competitive NFL seasons in years.
There are legitimate Super Bowl contenders all over the league, and the gap between the top teams and the next tier is extremely small. One injury, one breakout player or one unexpected coaching decision could completely change the playoff picture.
The defending champion Seahawks have a realistic chance to repeat.
The Eagles, Lions and Packers could all represent the NFC.
San Francisco could easily make a deep run despite my prediction that they’ll finish outside the top four.
In the AFC, Baltimore, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kansas City and New England all have enough talent to win the conference.
That’s why preseason predictions are so difficult.
But if I have to pick one team today, I’m going with the Rams.
Los Angeles has the veteran quarterback, the coaching, the offensive talent and a defense that could be absolutely dominant.
Baltimore gets to the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles finishes the job.
Final prediction: Los Angeles Rams defeat the Baltimore Ravens 27-24 to win Super Bowl LXI.