NFL Predictions for the 2026 NFL Regular Season
The NFL season is vastly approaching with teams being ready to finalize and complete their 52-man roster. This has brought some interesting roster decisions and some underwhelming results for the future of this season.
Today, we will be taking a closer look at some predicitons for each division coming into the 2026 season based on what has been seen early in camp and what team are coming in with from free agency and the draft.
For these predictions, It will be based on what is known up until August 10th, 2026.
AFC East
Mick's Prediction
1) Buffalo Bills - 14-3
2) New England Patriots - 11-6
3) Miami Dolphins - 4-13
4) New York Jets - 3-14
The first division on our agenda is the AFC East. This division sees two of the absolute worst teams and two of the best teams in the league.
The Bills seemingly have the more experience and complete team to take this division over the Patriots. Despite making the superbowl, they looked bad and it exposed alot of issues with this team that they needed to access.
The addition of AJ Brown allows for the Patriots to still be relevant to keep their record up but I don't think its enough to truly beat out this Josh Allen lead Bills squad.
The Tank Battle at the bottom is won by the Dolphins as the team itself has a high ceiling than the Jets but a much lower floor. Geno Smith at the helm is just a recipe for disaster compared to Malik Willis who can potentially generate some offense for this Miami Dolphins roster.
I do think the trap game with for the Dolphins is versus the Buffalo Bills. The Bills sometimes get into these situations where Josh Allen plays like a chicken without a head and makes crucial mistakes. I think it happens during one of the divisional games vs Miami and we see Achane take over.
Either way, the division is one of the easiest to predict as the Bills and Patriots are just miles better than the other two.
AFC North
Mick's Prediction
1) Baltimore Ravens - 11-6
2) Cincinnati Bengals - 10-7
3) Pittsburgh Steelers - 9-8
4) Cleveland Browns - 4-13
In another interesting division, I think Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers take another step forward in their connection and end up taking the division.
Zay Flowers had a touchdown problem, and this year I think they fix it, which brings this offence to a whole new level. Andrews and Henry are old, but they probably have a handful of good years left in them. This Ravens defence is no slouch either, as they have a top-10 defence headlined by Roquon Smith.
Joe Burrow comes back this season, and in reality I feel like he will bring some life back into this team where they become a pretty serviceable bunch. They don't become worldbreakers but they 100% get the job done with at least 10 wins.
And we're the Cleveland Browns.
AFC South
Mick's Prediction
1) Tennessee Titans - 9-8
2) Jacksonville Jaguars - 7-10
3) Houston Texans - 6-11
4) Indianapolis Colts - 6-11
The division of the mid is up next, and I think the Titans surprisingly come out on top here. I think Cam Ward takes a huge leap this year, with the new draftee Carnell Tate and new signee Wan'Dale Robinson assisting his offence. The defence is serviceable, and I can see some real damage done here
The Jaguars are next up, and I feel like this year will be somewhat of a similar year but I feel like there could be some issues that plague this team like the Travis Hunter experiment. Still, 9-8 is a very good record.
For the Texans, I think they have all the tools and assets to become a real contender in this league. However, I have no faith at all in CJ Stroud. He looks lost out there, and I don't think he can be the catalyst for this team to become a true contender. The team will fall-off and sit around 6 wins.
The Colts have a lot of solid tools again, but I don't think I can put my full confidence into them this season. Daniel Jones was good, but back off another injury; what could you really expect? Will be another interesting year for them.
AFC West
Mick's Prediction
1) Kansas City Chiefs - 13-4
2) Denver Broncos - 8-9
3) Los Angeles Chargers - 8-9
4) Las Vegas Raiders - 7-10
The AFC West will probably be dominated by Patrick Mahomes, believe it or not. The Chiefs have given Patrick Mahomes an elite pass-catching running back, and I truly think that will add another dimension to this offence. The only thing lacking is the defence.
The Broncos have one of the best defences in the league. That will carry them on their own. I have negative faith in Bo Nix, and I feel like he could have a very bad year next season. He gets exposed a lot, and that can damage the entire offence. Still, 9-8 is very good, as I think they just steal games vs weaker offences where they can let the defence run wild.
The Chargers and Justin Herbert are the biggest what-ifs in the entire NFL. They have the tools, and every season it's the same exact thing. I don't think this year will be any different, as Herbert is fooling around with his wife at practice. Skip.
The Raiders' season is gonna be one of mystery as it looks like Kirk Cousins will start out. I think he starts to suck and then Mendoza gets the keys and brings them back to a respectable 7-10. It's another rebuild season but I have some faith that Mendoza can turn them around.
NFC East
Mick's Prediction
1) Philadelphia Eagles - 11-6
2) Dallas Cowboys - 10-7
3) Washington Commanders - 9-8
4) New York Giants - 6-11
The NFC East is a bit of a toss-up, as I think all 4 teams can be first and last. I do, however, think it's a lock that the Eagles take the first spot. Losing AJ Brown sucks, but you replace with a fresh and dynamic player in Makai Lemon is just a recipe for some more success. They will still be the Eagles.
The Cowboys are next and honestly another textbook decent year. Caleb Downs adds some serious talent to that defence, and I think they have a much better year where the Pickens and Lamb duo go off with Dak.
The Commanders are a very silly team. The defence is dynamic and dominant. They added Sonny Styles, who is gonna make them even scarier, but this offence is slow. The WRs are two grandpas with all their kids, and the running back is an overrated fantasy asset. I think they have a pedestrian year and Jayden Daniels keeps them in for as long as he can.
The mismanagement-supreme Giants just can't have a good year. Nabers is out for at least the first 4 games, and the WR core losing Wan'Dale is a bad look. Likely probably helps, but he's too unproven to say he changes everything. I will say the defence has made strides, so thats why I have them stealing 6 games from some teams.
NFC North
Mick's Prediction
1) Detroit Lions- 12-5
2) Green Bay Packers - 10-7
3) Chicago Bears - 8-9
4) Minnesota Vikings - 8-9
This division is stacked.
I think the Lions take this division very uncomfortably. The team has been good for years, and they show no signs of stopping. Losing Terrion Arnold for reasons hurts them a lot defensively, but I think the offence makes up for it as Jameson Williams could take the much-needed jump.
The Packers are next, and I'm a Jordan Love stan. I think he will take this team to levels even Aaron Rodgers never achieved here. Micah Parsons, hopefully healthy too, just brings them up even more. I don't think they are Lions good, but man, they are close.
I'm banking on the Bears figuring it out with Iceman Williams, but I don't think they are worldbreakers just yet. Cobie Bryant out sucks, as he was a massive help defensively, but the rest of the core is nice. Luther Burden could turn on the jets and become a top-20 receiver, and I feel like that is possible. This team's success almost 100 lies in Caleb Williams' hands. I think he does it.
Last in this division with 8-9 is the Vikings, and this is a hot take, but I think Kyler Murray saves them from being bad. 8-9 is still below .500, but the offence probably does enough to be relevant all year. I do think there is a high probability they could be under 5 wins, as they are probably the main team that I would put with a very-low floor and a somewhat mid-ceiling.
NFC South
Mick's Prediction
1) New Orleans Saints - 9-8
2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 8-9
3) Atlanta Falcons - 7-10
4) Carolina Panthers - 6-11
This division is a mess.
The Saints just gave Olave some serious money, but the rest of the team just truthfully isn't anything to write home about. I think they do better than the teams below them, but I don't think adding running backs when you have Kamara moves the needle for me at all. Still, I think they win this divisionw with Tyler Shough hopefully unlocking this offense enough to string some wins together.
The Buccaneers narrowly don't win th division. I think that despite losing elite WR Mike Evans, they were stacked there to begin with, so there's really no hole there. They even drafted Reuben Bains Jr., who was a massive steal on the day. The rest of the team, however is seemingly in shambles as Vita Vea has requested a trade. Still, I think they get second here.
The Falcons have a lot of pieces, but with Tua being the starter for a while and Jalon Walker out for the season, it's a tough look. They have a somewhat hard schedule, and I think 3/4 wins come in the division. I think it's a rough year for Falcons fans.
The Panthers are years behind in this rebuild, and I think they take a noticeable step back. Bryce Young is inconsistent, and I think this year we get a bad look at him and what he's capable of. I really hate this defence too despite having decent guys like Jaycee Horn commanding the defence. I just don't think it's enough.
NFC West
Mick's Prediction
1) LA Rams- 14-3
2) Seattle Seahawks- 13-4
3) San Francisco 49ers - 11-6
4) Arizona Cardinals - 0-17
The NFC West is hell.
The Rams would be 17-0 if Aaron Donald signs. For now, they are still here because what did they even lose? They GAINED MYLES GARRETT. IMAGINE MYLES GARRETT AND AARON DONALD ON THE SAME DEFENSIVE LINE. Pardon my yelling, but yes, this defence is absurd, and Puka does what Puka does best. The best team in the NFL is right here.
The Super Bowl champs probably do what they do best and have another competent season. I do, however, think that its l0wer on the standards than last season, as they lost some key players like Kenneth Walker and Tariq Woollen, but the team is still very solid. I think we get a very good season out of them.
With the 49ers, I think they have a big year with CMC carrying the offence as he does and Mike Evans figuring it out for them. Obviously, Ricky Pearsall being out for the year is a big blow offensively, but they still have playmakers to rely on. Defensively, they have good structure too, so I feel like they still be a 10+ win team. The injuries however will control alot of the narrative this season so only 11 wins from them.
The Arizona Cardinals are bad. They aren't good and won't be good. I don't have more to say. Search up their practice tape.
