NFL Season Predictions 2025-26 (NFC)

NFC East - Class Rivalry: Battle for 1st; Battle for 3rd

1. Philadelphia Eagles: (12-5) and #1 Seed

The reigning champs? Championship hangover? They have a brutal schedule, and yes all eyes are on them now, but the Eagles asserted themselves as the best coached team in all of football by smacking the Chiefs 40-6 (I don’t count garbage time points) in the Big Game. Their roster was not the most talented in the league, but HC Nick Siranni and DC Vic Fangio brought out the best in their players. QB Jalen Hurts is not the best QB in the league either, some may argue he’s not even in the Top 5, but he wins games. Sure, the Eagles’ crutch is the Tush Push, but it’s unstoppable. A 1-yard play is all they need to extend the drive and exhaust the enemy defense. It’s genius. We would be sorely mistaken to think that the Eagles would only get 1 championship out of this window. They’ve already appeared in two of them since 2023. Fly Eagles Fly for another year!

2. Washington Commanders: (11-6) and #5 Seed

QB Jayden Daniels was a rookie sensation last year. He put the team on his back and led them to their first NFC Championship game since 1992. There, they got slaughtered by the Eagles (55-23), but it was an impressive season nonetheless. This offseason they beefed up both the O-Line and D-Line, two very instrumental parts of all of HC Dan Quinn’s successful teams. Their LB core of Bobby Wagner, who is 35 but still leads the league in tackles somehow, and Frankie Luvu can hang with anybody. Their secondary is quietly one of the best in the league, but I think it’s because of Quinn’s development. He knows how to speak wisdom and talent into his corners and safeties. On offense, the run game is still heavily reliant on Jayden Daniels’s dual-threat ability and read option plays. Their receiving core is getting up there in age, and I don’t trust WR Deebo Samuel to catch the ball anymore. Needless to say, the Commanders are finally to be respected.

3. Dallas Cowboys: (7-10)

Better than the worst, but worse than the best. That is the story of the Dallas Cowboys in the past few decades. While the Eagles and Commanders fight for 1st, Dallas will be playing keep away from the Giants for 3rd. I think they’re due for a better season after all the injuries they had last year, but this team still has glaring holes. Jerry had a good draft, I’ll give him that. But, this defense is very prone to giving up big plays over the middle and has a hard time stopping the run. They also have a hard time starting the run on offense, but maybe the addition of some new guards and RB Javonte Williams will open things up. As overpaid as Dak is, he’s still a good QB. He just needs to limit the turnovers and be smarter with the football. His biggest con is that he is no longer a mobile QB with his age and injury history. The Cowboys are typically very reliant on the passing game, and they quickly become one-dimensional. That won’t cut it in this loaded NFC.

4. New York Giants: (2-15)

What do we want? To win games! When do we want it? Now! Well, I hate to break it to you, but the Giants won’t be winning many games. One of the league’s worst teams was dealt the hardest schedule in all of football. They play 9 teams that made the playoffs last year. Ouch. They’re riding with QBs Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston while they give 1st round pick Jaxson Dart time to develop. They don’t have an O-line, their RB room is scarily thin, and their lone bright spot at receiver is Malik Nabers. The D-Line got some nice additions in the draft (Abdul Carter, Darius Alexander), but the secondary has been largely ignored for years. I know I said they’re going to be battling for 3rd, but think of it more as figurative speech. It’s what they’re trying to do, but they just don’t have the talent to achieve it. I think they’re trending in the right direction. The G-Men would be smart to throw this season away entirely for the #1 overall pick and trade it for king-sized haul. At least the Knicks are fielding a competitive team for New York fans.

NFC North - As voted by their peers: Least predictable division

1. Green Bay Packers: (11-6) and #4 Seed

The team that, in my eyes, has the potential to be giant slayers. But like I said in my Playoff Predictions from last season, I have yet to see them slay any giants. They were 0-5 against the league’s upper crust, and they consistently run into their kryptonite (49ers) in the postseason. In my opinion, Green Bay has the least variables out of the 4 teams in this division. They still have their coordinators, the same system, a maturing QB, and the shiny new addition of LB Micah Parsons. The Packers patched their biggest hole at WR by drafting Matthew Golden out of Texas. He’s a superstar. They anchored their offensive line by extending Zach Tom to a massive $88 million deal, and they finally got rid of CB Jaire Alexander. The secondary is always unreliable for this team, but their Front 7 is one of the league’s most expensive and most talented. Green Bay will rely heavily on their expert ground & pound football this season, and the winner of the North could be decided by a coin flip. Will they slay any giants? I think so. This team is finally coming together.

2. Detroit Lions: (10-7) and #7 Seed

The Lions are still one of the favorites to win it all despite losing both coordinators under HC Dan Campbell and dealing with a ton of injuries on defense. DE Aidan Hutchinson suffered a gruesome leg injury last year against the Cowboys, and his start to the season is still uncertain. QB Jared Goff showed how high (or low) his ceiling really is by throwing 3 INTs against the Commanders in the Divisional Round. They lost that game 45-31 in a surprising upset. Detroit plays a very smashmouth brand of football, and their offense revolves around RB duo Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The tandem is nicknamed “Sonic and Knuckles,” which I think is pretty fitting. However, many speculate that former OC Ben Johnson was the true engine of this offense. His crafty playcalling opened up the field, something Dan Campbell can’t seem to do on his own. Dan also refuses to kick field goals in crunch time. They go for it on 4th down more than any other NFL team. I think the Lions feel the effects of these losses early, but they will crawl to the finish line and make the playoffs despite a brutal, almost unfair schedule.

3. Chicago Bears: (8-9)

Something is brewing in Chicago. They poached Lions OC Ben Johnson and made him their new head coach, a position the Bears have recently had a terrible run of, and he looks to already be the leader they’ve long needed. Unfortunately, his QB is a total diva. While Caleb Williams is a very talented player, I’m not so sure of his leadership qualities to will this team to the playoffs. His off the field choices are a bit… unorthodox, to say it politely. No judgment here, I’m just speaking from a team perspective. The Bears were very aggressive in their offseason moves: trading for several O-line men, drafting top-tier WRs and TEs in this year’s class, and doing their best to shore up the defense. But here’s where I step back. I’ve said it before, but the biggest test is if Ben Johnson can put all of these pieces together. He likes to run the football, but the Bears don’t have any experts in that. His QB has good receivers in place, and might actually have an O-Line to finally protect him, but I’m just not sure. I think next year will be when they really break out.

4. Minnesota Vikings: (6-11)

My hot take of the year: No team is more primed for a fall off than the Vikings. They had five draft picks, and they didn’t draft very well with them. QB Sam Darnold was seeing ghosts in their playoff defeat at the hands of the mighty Rams, and the O-Line only got thinner after that. Both lines did actually. The D-Line is not as powerful as it used to be. The trenches win football games, and you can’t neglect these positions. Did I mention that Darnold left to go play for the Seahawks immediately after they got eliminated? Yeah, now they’re rocking with rookie QB J.J. McCarthy who missed all of last season with a torn meniscus. The media is really high on this guy, already calling him a Top 10 QB, but he hasn’t played a single snap in the NFL! At Michigan his main duty was handing the ball off, but Minnesota looks to put the ball back in his hands. Their RBs are getting older and slower as the weeks go on, and their lights out WR core is spearheaded by Justin Jefferson and the suspended Jordan Addison. It’ll be a true test for their rookie QB and supposed mastermind Kevin O’Connell at head coach. I don’t like it one bit.

NFC South - Popularity contest: Is there a new kid in town?

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (11-6) and #3 Seed

Ah yes, the Bengals of the NFC. By no means will this division be a runaway. It will be close, but I think Tampa pulls away with their high-octane offense that was Top 5 in every category last season. What’s interesting about this statistic is that HC Todd Bowles was originally hired to be a defensive-minded head coach, but for years he has gone all in on offense. Give QB Baker Mayfield his flowers for a remarkable career revival too. After being stabbed in the back by Cleveland and bouncing around from team to team, he finally found a home with the Bucs. He and WR Mike Evans clearly have some chemistry together, and the addition of Emeka Egbuka will only open up this offense even more. Their O-Line is the best in this division, and RB Bucky Irving keeps the defense honest in these long drives. There is no doubt about the Bucs offense (much like the Bengals), but the defense has many holes. Their pass rush is their best attribute, but coverage over the middle will be a problem. Keep in mind that the Bucs are aging and slowing down in a young and upcoming NFC South division for the years ahead.

2. Atlanta Falcons: (10-7) and #6 Seed

Go ahead, boo me all you want! We’ll see who’s booing who by the time January rolls around. Atlanta is a playoff team. Not enough is being said about the Falcons and their young QB Michael Penix Jr. Last year was a weird one for this team, and Penix had to step in midseason to relieve the failed Kirk Cousins experiment. His offense has a versatile RB duo, a talented WR room, and experience at TE. The O-Line depth is thin, but their starting five is one of the league’s best. But, what sells me most about this year’s team is the defense. Every good Falcons team that has ever been (and there haven’t been many) was propped up by a great defense. Atlanta went all in on the pass rush this offseason, forfeiting next year’s 1st rounder to get James Pearce Jr. The secondary is quietly one of the deepest and most talented in the NFC. The biggest seller, #1 X-factor, and my favorite player in the draft: LB Jalon Walker. As much as I’m rooting for Atlanta to win the South, I can’t ignore how prolific Tampa’s offense is. Rise up you dirty birds.

3. Carolina Panthers: (6-11)

A one game improvement from last season feels like a victory parade for this franchise. They struggle, real bad. Their defense was the worst in the league last season, allowing 31.4 points per game, which equates to allowing about 4 touchdowns, 4 extra points, and 1 field goal every game. That’s insane. How they won even 5 games last season with that average is mindblowing. They spent a lot of money trying to improve their defense this offseason, and they have an owner that seems willing to try anything at this point. I did like LB/DE Nic Scourton who they drafted out of Texas A&M and is much better than his former teammate, Shemar Stewart. Scourton is only 20 years old with plenty of time to develop into an elite edge rusher. The Panthers have one of the youngest rosters in the league, which is an encouraging sign. If you’re rebuilding like they are, you should have a young team. Their future will be dictated by former #1 overall pick, QB Bryce Young. He needs to prove himself as an NFL-caliber QB here pretty soon.

4. New Orleans Saints: (1-16)

The Aints were quite possibly the worst football team I’ve ever seen last year. There was no communication, no chemistry, no direction. Now the direction is finally clear: down. Wayyyy down. They had over $50 million in negative cap space, but they finally tidied some of their accounting errors up by dumping massive contracts and good players onto other teams. RB Alvin Kamara is the ticket seller for this team, and the Saints have refused to trade him even with sky-high value. Their young WR Chris Olave is an impact player, but unfortunately, he has no one throwing to him. The 3-way battle for the starting QB job was between three guys who probably wouldn’t have a spot on any other team. It’s Pick City in New Orleans with their QBs throwing more INTs than TDs and completion percentages under 60%, and Spencer Rattler takes the reins for at least the first few weeks. The defense has a few good pieces in place, but without a reliable supporting cast, offenses can easily gameplan around your stars. “Just avoid the one guy who can tackle, got it?” HC Kellen Moore’s first year will be a brutal one.

NFC West - Most likely to: Produce a surprise Super Bowl contender

1. Los Angeles Rams: (12-5) and #2 Seed

The Rams were by far the toughest opponent the Eagles faced in the playoffs last season. Realistically, the West is theirs to win by 3+ games if the rest don’t play up to their potential. Many experts have their win total closer to 10, but I disagree. This team is much better than people think, and QB Matthew Stafford is still playing at an elite level at 37 years old. With already one ring under his belt, HC Sean McVay is one of the best coaches in the league. His DC Chris Shula (grandson of Don Shula) can bring pressure and blitzes from all angles. The LB core is one of the youngest and deepest in the league, and their secondary isn’t half bad. Not being half bad is actually pretty good in the NFL! Their offense is supercharged by RB Kyren Williams, WR Puka Nacua, and the brand new addition of WR Davantae Adams. The only pitfalls of this team are the limited amounts of depth along the O-Line and in the secondary. If they can’t protect their aging legend at QB and break up big plays downfield, then this season is certainly in jeopardy.

2. San Francisco 49ers: (9-8)

Am I whiffing on this pick? For 22 years straight, the 49ers have either made it to the NFC Championship game or missed the playoffs. The vibes tell me to make it 23 years in a row with a 9-8 record and missing the playoffs, but they have the easiest schedule in the league by far. Last season was marred by injuries and locker room infighting, but this front office doesn’t tolerate that. They cleaned house, brought back DC Robert Saleh, and nailed their draft picks (as always). The Niners are due for a bounce back. Two of their top three WRs are on the limp to start the season, but as long as RBs Christian McCaffrey and new addition Brian Robinson Jr. are healthy, then that’s all that matters to HC Kyle Shanahan. Brock Purdy is a smart QB that only makes mistakes when he panics, yet it’ll be up to his makeshift O-Line to buy him time in the pocket. What Kyle is hoping to do is to take pressure off the line by running the ball instead. The West Coast Power Run offensive scheme is all the Niners know how to do. They’re quite good at it, but other teams have started to figure them out. I would be wary of picking this team to go far.

3. Arizona Cardinals: (8-9)

Here’s a surprise contender for you: the Arizona Cardinals. Well come to think of it, anytime they have a chance at contending is a surprise. This is arguably the worst franchise in NFL history, and perhaps in all of professional sports. That’s because they’ve been around for over 100 years and only made it to one lousy Super Bowl. They also boast one of the worst all-time win percentages as a franchise. Despite this, I have them finishing 8-9 with room for more because of the amazing draft they had. They really beefed up the D-Line and LB positions, adding some much needed size and run stopping ability. The two best additions were DT Walter Nolen III and LB Cody Simon. Their secondary is patchwork, but again, whose isn’t in the modern NFL? They have some flourishing young stars at TE (Trey McBride), WR (Marvin Harrison Jr.), and OT (Paris Johnson Jr.). Obviously, the biggest question mark is still QB Kyler Murray, who is hardly the superstar they imagined he would be. Can he finally play up to his potential? The Cardinals won’t be an easy 2 wins for their divisional opponents this time around.

4. Seattle Seahawks: (7-10)

The Hawks will be the best 7-10 team in the league. They have a brand new QB in Sam Darnold, who I think is a huge risk given the size of his contract, and his task is to keep this team afloat. Seattle is loaded with rookies once again, and they’re hoping at least 2 or 3 of their 11 draft picks are viable pieces going forward. That’s just how the draft goes. They have one of the most capable RB duos in the league with “K9” and Zach Charbonnet, but neither of them have been consistently productive. They have flashes of greatness, but they usually end up running into the teeth of the defense because of an abysmal O-Line. That same line looks to be only minimally approved. They have some talent in guys like WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Jake Bobo, and Cooper Kupp, but will Sam Darnold be able to face constant pressure and still complete passes to them? The Rams will eat their lunch money by rushing four guys and dropping everyone else into coverage. The Niners will probably do the same, but the competitiveness of the 7-10 Seahawks just goes to show how deep and unpredictable the NFC is this year.

Playoff Picture

#1 Philadelphia Eagles -> BYE

#7 Detroit Lions @ #2 Los Angeles Rams

#6 Atlanta Falcons @ #3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

#5 Washington Commanders @ #4 Green Bay Packers

In The Hunt

San Francisco 49ers (9-8)

Arizona Cardinals (8-9)

Chicago Bears (8-9)

Wild Card Round

#7 Detroit Lions @ #2 Los Angeles Rams -> Rams

#6 Atlanta Falcons @ #3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers -> Buccaneers

#5 Washington Commanders @ #4 Green Bay Packers -> Commanders

Divisional Round

#5 Washington Commanders @ #1 Philadelphia Eagles -> Eagles

#3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ #2 Los Angeles Rams -> Rams

NFC Championship

#2 Los Angeles Rams @ #1 Philadelphia Eagles -> Eagles

Super Bowl

#1 Baltimore Ravens vs. #1 Philadelphia Eagles

The stage is set for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara. As much as I would love for the 49ers to right all the wrongs and win the Super Bowl in our home stadium, I just don’t see it this time around. These other teams are far deeper and more complete than we are. The two that get there, and not easily by any stretch of imagination, are the Eagles and Ravens. The Bird Bowl. This game won’t be a blowout like last time. I can’t explain my pick to win it all other than that it’s just time. Sometimes teams are due for a win. Through disappointments, upsets, beating yourself or just straight up getting beat, there comes a day when your name is called. I watched this team rip apart my 49ers on Christmas Day. It ruined my Christmas, for real. That team is the Baltimore Ravens. Again, I can’t really describe how they will win this Super Bowl other than that it’s just time that they do. Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and DeAndre Hopkins will all finally get their ring. This is the year to do it, and they will. Congrats Baltimore. You earned it.

Extra Stuff - Awards

I’m either prophetic or a fool. Only time will tell. Maybe this is more wishful thinking.

MVP: QB Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

OPOY: WR Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals)

DPOY: DE Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders)

OROY: QB Cam Ward (Tennessee Titans)

DROY: LB Jihaad Campbell (Philadelphia Eagles)

Coach of the Year: HC Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders)