2026 NFL Season Predictions

NFL training camps are beginning to open this weekend, and a lot can happen between now and the start of the 2026 regular season. Still, the editors of Athlon Sports’ 2026 NFL Preview magazine have already made their predictions for who will be in the playoffs and who takes home individual player awards.

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The following picks are from the magazine, which is on sale now. Order your issue online today, or grab a copy at newsstands and retail racks nationwide.

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills
2. New England Patriots
3. New York Jets
4. Miami Dolphins

AFC North

1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Cleveland Browns

AFC South

1. Houston Texans
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Tennessee Titans

AFC West

1. Denver Broncos
2. Los Angeles Chargers
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Las Vegas Raiders

AFC Superlatives

Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Allen, QB, Bills

Defensive Player of the Year: Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Texans

Comeback Player of the Year: Nnamdi Madubuike, DE, Ravens

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Carnell Tate, WR, Titans

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Mansoor Delane, CB, Chiefs

Coach of the Year: Joe Brady, Bills

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NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. Washington Commanders
4. New York Giants

NFC North

1. Chicago Bears
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Detroit Lions
4. Minnesota Vikings

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Atlanta Falcons
4. New Orleans Saints

NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Arizona Cardinals

NFC Superlatives

Offensive Player of the Year: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions

Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Parsons, OLB, Packers

Comeback Player of the Year: Malik Nabers, WR, Giants

Offensive Rookie of the Year:Jeremiyah Love, RB, Cardinals

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Rueben Bain Jr., OLB, Buccaneers

Coach of the Year: Ben Johnson, Bears

Wild Card Weekend

Broncos over Ravens

Texans over Chargers

Patriots over Bengals

Eagles over Packers

Bears over 49ers

Rams over Buccaneers

Divisional Round

Bills over Patriots

Broncos over Texans

Seahawks over Rams

Eagles over Bears

Championship Games

Bills over Broncos

Seahawks over Eagles

Super Bowl LXI

Bills over Seahawks

NFL 2026 team previews

AFC East:Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots

AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers

AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans

AFC West:Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders

NFC East: Commanders| Cowboys | Eagles | Giants

NFC North:Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings

NFC South:Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints

NFC West:49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks

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Related: Athlon Sports 2026 NFL Preview Magazine Now Available

Related: 2026 NFL Preview: All in the Family

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This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 4:30 AM.