Now that I have thoroughly analyzed the upcoming college football season, it is time for me to publish my seventh annual NFL preseason football guide. Much like my college preview, I have gone through and analyzed every NFL team’s regular season and postseason, as well as selected my disappointment and surprise teams, upsets to watch out for, and over/under win totals to bet.

The records below include all regular season games but do not include playoff games, which will be analyzed in a later entry. The teams marked in bold font are the ones predicted to make the 2026 NFL playoffs. Without further ado, here are my NFC regular season predictions, with analysis, for this year’s NFL preview guide.

NFC East

1	Philadelphia (10-7)- division winner

Last Year’s Record: 11-6 (My 2025 prediction: 11-6)- I not only correctly predicted each east division champion in both conferences last season, but I also correctly predicted both of their exact records!

Positional Strength: Running Back

Positional Weakness: Linebacker

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Seattle (December 19)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Tennessee (September 20)

Bottom Line: After back-to-back division titles and a 2025 Super Bowl championship, it is hard to pick anyone else to win the NFC East in 2026, especially when most all of the key personnel from those squads return. Nevertheless, this team is getting older as key veterans Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert, and Lane Johnson enter the twilights of their respective careers. Expect the Eagles to once again win the NFC East and be a major contender in the conference title race, but I am calling Philly to fall short of their annual Super Bowl expectations.

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2	NY Giants (9-8)

Last Year’s Record: 4-13 (My 2025 prediction: 3-14)

Positional Strength: Linebacker

Positional Weakness: Defensive Backfield

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. San Francisco (December 6)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Indianapolis (November 29)

Bottom Line: The Giants enter 2026, as the “wise guy” surprise pick of the season, as many people are calling them to be this year’s New England Patriots who go from worst to first in their respective division. I do think this team has a lot of positive momentum with new coach John Harbaugh and a promising young quarterback Jaxon Dart, and and as a result, they should take a major step forward this season. However, I also believe this squad has significantly more issues defensively than the Pats ever had last year. All in all, expect the Giants to flirt with a rare playoff berth in 2026 but ultimately fall just short of that goal.

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3	Dallas (8-9)

Last Year’s Record: 7-9-1 (My 2025 prediction: 6-11)

Positional Strength: Quarterback

Positional Weakness: Linebacker

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Philadelphia (November 26)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at NY Giants (September 13)

Bottom Line: The Cowboys have become the biggest tease in NFL over the past decade as they consistently underperform relative to expectations every season. In fact, this squad has only won two playoff games in the past decade and have still yet to play in a conference championship game since the mid-1990’s. Dallas does still possess an extremely explosive offense with Prescott, Javonte Williams, George Pickens, and Cee Dee Lamb, but there remains a ton of question marks regarding their extremely porous defense (# 30 in total defense last season), especially following the departures of Jadeveon Clowney and several other key defenders (DE Dante Fowler, S Kenneth Murray, DT Solomon Thomas, etc.). Until, I see tangible improvement from this squad’s defense, I am going to continue to call for Jerry Jones’ squad to languish in mediocrity.

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4	Washington (5-12)

Last Year’s Record: 5-12 (My 2025 prediction: 11-6)

Positional Strength: Quarterback

Positional Weakness: Running Back

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Philadelphia (November 1)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Arizona (November 29)

Bottom Line: I incorrectly predicted the Commanders to build upon their 2024 run to the conference championship and return to the playoffs in 2025, but Washington fell well short of those lofty expectations last season. I am not making the same mistake in 2026, as I am calling for the Commanders to finish last in this division. This team actually has one of the biggest variance on outcomes in the league this season, as I could realistically see them finishing anywhere between 4-13 and 13-4 depending on the health of Jayden Daniels, the impact of new coordinators David Blough (offense) and Daronte Jones (defense), as well as the development of newcomers at tight end (Chig Okonkwo and John Bates), receiver (Antonio Williams and Stephon Diggs), running back (Racaad White, Jerome Ford, and Kaytron Allen), and across the defense (Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Leo Chenal, and Nick Cross). Still, I am tempering my expectations for the Commanders this season with so many question marks at so many key positions

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NFC North

1	Detroit (12-5)- division winner

Last Year’s Record: 9-8 (My 2025 prediction: 10-7)

Positional Strength: Running Back

Positional Weakness: Defensive Backfield

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. New England (November 15)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Arizona (October 11)

Bottom Line: The Lions are the opposite of the Patriots in terms of their scheduling position, as they faced the toughest schedule in their division and one of the most difficult in the entire league last season and now have the easiest 2026 schedule in the NFC North by virtue of their disappointing 4th place finish last year. In fact, this season the Lions only play two teams outside of their division who finished 2025 with a winning record (Buffalo and New England). As a result, expect the Lions to return to their winning ways in 2026 and once again be in the mix for their first Super Bowl berth in franchise history.

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2	Green Bay (10-7)– wildcard team

Last Year’s Record: 9-7-1 (My 2025 prediction: 11-6)

Positional Strength: Linebacker

Positional Weakness: Offensive Line

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Detroit (January 9 or 10)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at New Orleans (December 6)

Bottom Line: It is hard to find a team that has made the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons that seems to be overlooked as much as this year’s Packers. All of the offseason talk in this division has been about Kyler Murray’s potential resurgence in Minnesota, Detroit’s potential rebound season, and Caleb Williams’ continued coronation in Chicago. Yet, here are the Packers, who return almost all of their key starters from a squad that came within a few plays of beating the Bears on the road in last year’s playoffs. There are some major concerns here regarding the rushing attack with the potential domestic violence suspension of starting running back Josh Jacobs, but this squad still has enough talent to return to the playoffs again in 2026.

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3	Chicago (7-10)

Last Year’s Record: 11-6 (My 2025 prediction: 5-12)

Positional Strength: Running Back

Positional Weakness: Defensive Line

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. New England (October 22)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Atlanta (October 18)

Bottom Line: I was two years too early in my prediction of when the Bears were going to come out of hibernation. They were # 1 surprise team in 2023 but they did not have their breakthrough season until last year’s 2025 campaign. However, I am calling for Chicago to be this year’s version of the Commanders, who follow up a breakthrough playoff season with a major step back towards mediocrity. The main reason why is that Chicago was arguably the luckiest team in the league last year with an incredible +22 turnover margin and a remarkable 8-4 record in one score games. Both of those figures should regress towards the mean this season which indicates that a lot of close games that the Bears won in 2025 will inevitably become losses in 2026. There is also way too much hype around this squad in the offseason given that they featured one of the worst defenses in the league last year (# 29 in total D) and offensively, they lost their best receiver in D.J. Moore. The Bears won’t go back to being the doormat of the NFC anytime soon but expect an inevitable step back in the Windy City this season.

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4	Minnesota (7-10)

Last Year’s Record: 9-8 (My 2025 prediction: 7-10)

Positional Strength: Wide Receiver

Positional Weakness: Defensive Line

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. San Francisco (November 22)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: vs. Miami (October 4)

Bottom Line: I am calling for a relatively catastrophic fall in Minneapolis, as the Golden Gophers are my # 1 disappointment team in college football and the Vikings are my predicted basement dwellers in the NFC North. Kyler Murray should be an upgrade over both McCarthy and Wentz at quarterback, but he has had a difficult time staying healthy in recent seasons and I don’t expect that to be cured now that he is playing behind one of the worst offensive line units in the league. Also, the secondary, which was the strength of last year’s defense (the Vikings were # 2 in passing defense vs. # 21 in rushing defense) will be taking a step back following the departure of its best player, safety Harrison Smith. All in all, expect this squad to fall somewhere between mediocre and bad during year’s NFL season.

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NFC South

1	Atlanta (8-9)– division winner

Last Year’s Record: 8-9 (My 2025 prediction: 11-6)

Positional Strength: Running Back

Positional Weakness: Linebacker

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Cincinnati (November 8)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Washington (December 20)

Bottom Line: Somebody’s gotta win this division, right? Last year, there was a three-way time atop this division between the Buccaneers, Panthers, and Falcons, and I believe we can expect a similar finish in this year’s race to win what is currently the worst division in pro football . I know I am becoming “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” regarding the Falcons as I picked them to reach the playoffs in each of the past two seasons and both years they fell short. However, this season, they get a potential upgrade at quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa (if he can stay healthy) and should continue to field a strong rushing attack with one of the league’s top backs in Bijan Robinson. This division could be won by any of its four teams this season, so why not pick the squad who is well past due to win the AFC South (have not win the division in ten years) that also ended last season on an impressive four game winning streak that included a stunning upset over the Rams.

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2	Tampa Bay (8-9)

Last Year’s Record: 8-9 (My 2025 prediction: 9-8)

Positional Strength: Offensive Line

Positional Weakness: Defensive Backfield

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: at Chicago (November 8)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at New Orleans (January 9 or 10)

Bottom Line: This team’s win total has stayed between 8 and 10 in each of the past four seasons, so it is a safe bet that they will once again be hovering around .500 in 2026. The Bucs did lose two of the most iconic players in the history of the franchise in the offseason with the departures of receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David but they at least brought in Alex Anazlone from the Lions to help mitigate the loss of David. Overall, expect Tampa to end up near the top of this abhorrent division.

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3	New Orleans (8-9)

Last Year’s Record: 6-11 (My 2025 prediction: 6-11)- I absolutely nailed my Saints prediction from 2025, as I correctly pegged them to finish closer to. 500 than most everyone else.

Positional Strength: Offensive Line

Positional Weakness: Defensive Line

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: at Detroit (September 13)- I am predicting we’ll see a major week 1 stunner in the Motor City!

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: vs. Atlanta (October 5)

Bottom Line: Last year, I felt like people were significantly underestimating the Saints as some people were calling for them to potentially go winless despite having a stud wide receiver in Chris Olave and a defense that was well above average in the league. This year, I think we may be seeing the reverse phenomenon, as people seem too high on the Saints with many calling for them to win this division, following their surprising end of season surge where they won 4 of their last 5 games in 2025. Unfortunately, all four of those wins came against teams who had losing records last year (Tampa Bay, Carolina, NY Jets, and Tennessee) so I am not sure how much stock we should put in those victories. Don’t get me wrong, I think Shough has a lot of potential at quarterback and Kellen Moore is a great young coach, but I just can’t pick this team to make the playoffs in 2026 when they failed to beat a single team that finished with a winning record last season.

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4	Carolina (6-11)

Last Year’s Record: 8-9 (My 2025 prediction: 7-10)

Positional Strength: Defensive Backfield

Positional Weakness: Running Back

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Baltimore (November 22)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Atlanta (September 20)

Bottom Line: The Panthers were a fun story last year, as they snuck into the playoffs with a losing record and then gave the Rams all they could handle in their Wild Card game. Nevertheless, the price of winning one’s division is always to play the best teams in five other divisions the following year, which is what the Panthers face in games against the Eagles, Broncos, Steelers, Seahawks, and Bears. Expect a slight step back for the Panthers in 2026 thanks to a tougher schedule and concenrs at the running back position following the departure of late season superstar Rico Dowdle.

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NFC West

1	LA Rams (12-5)- division winner

Last Year’s Record: 12-5 (My 2025 prediction: 11-6)

Positional Strength: Quarterback

Positional Weakness: Linebacker

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: at Philadelphia (October 4)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: vs. Kansas City (December 3)

Bottom Line: The Rams window to win a second championship with Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford seems to be closing as Stafford enters his 17th NFL season this fall. This squad certainly has the talent to make another Super Bowl run, especially following the acquisitions of Pro Bowl defenders Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. Nevertheless, there is too much parity in this league for me to copy everyone else and pick the Rams to take home another Super Bowl title. Expect the Rams to win the NFC West this season ,but you’ll see in my future articles that I don’t have this squad winning it all in 2026.

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2	Seattle (11-6)- wildcard team

Last Year’s Record: 14-3 (My 2025 prediction: 10-7)

Positional Strength: Defensive Backfield

Positional Weakness: Running Back

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. LA Rams (December 25)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Las Vegas (November 15)

Bottom Line: The Seahawks put together an incredible 17 win Super Bowl championship season last year, but I don’t think they have the goods to repeat in 2026. First of all, they lost their star running back Kenneth Walker III this offseason, who is being replaced by a rookie (Jadarian Price) that served as a backup RB through the entirely of his collegiate career. They also lose their superb offensive coordinator from last season in Clint Klubiak and face a tougher schedule than they encountered in 2025. Don’t get me wrong, Seattle will still be very good in 2026, but a repeat championship isn’t on the horizon for this squad.

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3	San Francisco (10-7)- wildcard team

Last Year’s Record: 12-5 (My 2025 prediction: 9-8)

Positional Strength: Running Back

Positional Weakness: Defensive Line

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. LA Rams (December 13)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Arizona (January 9 or 10)

Bottom Line: It is hard to believe the 49ers still haven’t won a Super Bowl since the mid 1990’s, as this squad always seems to be in the playoffs contending for a championship. San Francisco does feature several aging stars that don’t have many more quality seasons left in the tank (see Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Mike Evans), but there are still enough pieces in place for this squad to make one more run at a title. I am not calling for it to happen in 2026 though, largely because of a tricky schedule that only features seven home games (8 true road games and 2 international games) and an over reliance on players coming back from injuries (Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Keon White, Alfred Collins, and George Kittle are all returning from major injuries in 2025).

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4	Arizona (5-12)

Last Year’s Record: 3-14 (My 2025 prediction: 10-7)- I definitely overestimated this squad’s successes in 2025!

Positional Strength: Wide Receiver

Positional Weakness: Quarterback

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. San Francisco (January 9 or 10)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at New Orleans (December 27)

Bottom Line: The Cardinals are in complete rebuild mode following the departures of head coach Jonathan Gannon, quarterback Kyler Murray, leading rusher Michael Carter, and all-pro linebacker Calais Campbell. Given how stout this division is, it would be a major shock if Arizona finished anywhere but last in the stacked NFC West.

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