After a long offseason that included a spring draft in Pittsburgh, summer training camps and preseason games, the 2026 NFL season kicks off this weekend.
The league’s 107th season will open the same way it ended last February with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks facing the New England Patriots, a team that has added star wide receiver A.J. Brown to its roster.
Seattle enters its rematch with the Patriots without Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, who left for greener (as in cash) pastures in Kansas City.
Another interesting match-up in Week 1 is the first-ever NFL game to be played in Australia between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers.
The Rams boast the scariest pass rush duo in the league with newly acquired Myles Garrett teaming up with Aaron Donald, who decided to end his retirement and return to Los Angeles.
This pair will face a dangerous 49ers offense led by quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey. The game will be played in Melbourne.
Week 1 closes on Monday night when Kansas City faces Denver. The Broncos ended the Chiefs’ nine-year run as AFC champions last fall.
When the confetti falls at Super Bowl LXI in February, I predict that the Rams will hoist the Lombardi Trophy at Sofi Stadium. I predict that Donald, Garrett and Co. will defeat the Baltimore Ravens in the big game.
The greatest challenge for the Rams in the NFC will be the Seattle Seahawks, as both teams enter the 2026 season with stifling defenses.
In the AFC, I have the Ravens defeating the Bills in the conference title game. I predict that Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen will both get another shot to go to the Super Bowl and, once again, they will be in each other’s way.
When it comes to division champs in the AFC, I think it is straightforward. I have the Bills, Ravens, Jaguars and Chiefs winning their divisions and the Chargers, Steelers and Texans on the bubble as wildcard playoff teams.
The NFC, on the other hand, is a dogfight from almost top to bottom, making it very difficult to predict.
I have the Bears, Panthers, Eagles and Rams winning their divisions, with the Seahawks, Packers and Cowboys as wildcards.
My predictions:
AFC East: Buffalo Bills
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens
AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Wildcards: Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans
AFC Championship: Ravens over Bills
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North: Chicago Bears
NFC South: Carolina Panthers
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
NFC Wildcards: Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys
NFC Championship: Rams over Seahawks
Super Bowl LXI: Rams over Ravens
