Pro Football Talk Analysts Release 2026 NFL Season Predictions

Pro Football Talk Predicts Super Bowl LXI Matchups for 2026

Football analysts and writers have published their annual PFT’s 2026 NFL season predictions, forecasting the playoff paths and ultimate champions for the upcoming year. The internal panel offers divergent views on how the AFC and NFC postseason fields will shake out. Welcome to football’s greatest Labor Day tradition: the release of annual predictions after spending three days locked in a windowless room trying to figure out who’s going to win the Super Bowl.

Josh Alper and Charean Williams Project Buffalo Bills to Capture Conference Crown

For the AFC, writers such as Josh Alper and Charean Williams project the Buffalo Bills to capture the conference crown. Meanwhile, Michael David Smith and Myles Simmons tap the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC title, and Mike Florio projects the Cincinnati Bengals to emerge from the conference bracket. Alper’s projected AFC playoff seeding places the Texans first, followed by the Broncos, Bills, Bengals, Chargers, Patriots, and Ravens, with a wild card slate featuring the Broncos over the Ravens, Bills over the Patriots, and Chargers over the Bengals. Smith projects the Chiefs first, followed by the Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Bengals, and Patriots. Simmons lists the Chiefs first, followed by the Patriots, Texans, Ravens, Broncos, Bills, and Jaguars. Williams sets her AFC top seeds with the Bills first, followed by the Broncos, Texans, Ravens, Patriots, Chiefs, and Bengals. Florio places the Texans first, followed by the Bills, Chiefs, Bengals, Broncos, Patriots, and Jaguars.

NFL Offseason Takeaways: What We Learned About All 32 Teams

Detroit Lions Feature Under Alper’s and Williams’s Forecasts

On the NFC side, projected champions feature the Detroit Lions under Alper’s and Williams’s forecasts, the Seattle Seahawks in Smith’s simulation, and the Los Angeles Rams in Simmons’s and Florio’s outlooks. Alper’s NFC bracket features the Lions, Rams, Eagles, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Cowboys, and Bears. Smith slates the Seahawks, Eagles, Lions, Buccaneers, Rams, 49ers, and Packers. Simmons maps out the Rams, Lions, Cowboys, Saints, Seahawks, Packers, and Eagles. Williams projects the Rams, Cowboys, Lions, Saints, Eagles, Bears, and Seahawks. Florio slots the Rams, Vikings, Giants, Saints, Cowboys, Seahawks, and Lions. In the ultimate matchup for Super Bowl LXI, Alper projects the Bills over the Lions, Smith picks the Seahawks over the Chiefs, Simmons picks the Rams to defeat the Chiefs, Williams forecasts the Rams over the Bills, and Florio predicts the Bengals over the Rams.

NFL Power Rankings: Rams and Titans Surge as Bills Slip

CBS Sports Outlines Team-by-Team Records and Bold Divisional Forecasts

CBS Sports Place Additional Emphasis on Individual Team Win-Loss Totals

Parallel projections from CBS Sports place additional emphasis on individual team win-loss totals and statistical awards. According to the outlet’s annual NFL predictions, the projected standings feature the Bills leading the AFC East at 11-6, followed by the New England Patriots at 9-8, the New York Jets at 6-11, and the Miami Dolphins at 2-15.

In the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens are projected to finish at 12-5, with the Cincinnati Bengals close behind at 11-6, the Pittsburgh Steelers at 9-8, and the Cleveland Browns at 5-12. The publication’s bold predictions also look toward rookie impacts, projecting that a Bengals second-round pick wins Defensive Rookie of the Year in the division.

Schedule Stiff Tests and Roster Questions Face AFC Contenders

Joe Flacco went off on Shedeur Sanders for wearing a helmet visor last season: ‘You look like an idiot

Projections for New England Patriots Highlight Significant Early-Season Hurdles

Projections for the New England Patriots highlight significant early-season hurdles, including defensive personnel challenges and a demanding opening schedule. Their sack leader from last year, Harold Landry, is going to miss at least the first four games of the season, creating a pass-rush void for a defense where they do not really have any proven stars behind him.

On offense, questions linger regarding the offensive line. On paper, it is certainly better than it was last year — and Will Campbell will be fully healthy — but I’ll believe they’re better when I actually see it. Watt in Week 2. The Patriots face an absolute gauntlet out of the gate, with their first four opponents combining for a strength-of-schedule of .721, marking the highest opening-four-weeks SOS any team has faced in 40 years. To make things worse, the Patriots will have to play three of their first four games on the road, with predictions noting they might start 1-3.