2026 NFL Season Predictions: CBS Sports Experts Pick Super Bowl, Playoff and Division Champions

The NFL is back.

For just the second time, the season begins Wednesday when the defending champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl 60.

The fact that both teams are in this position is something few foresaw before the start of the 2025 season. The Seahawks had a strong showing in 2024 in their first year under Mike McDonald, but they moved on from quarterback Geno Smith and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb for Sam Darnold and Clint Kubiak at their positions and also traded for DK Metcalf. It looked more like a team in semi-transition than a team poised to win a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Patriots finished the season 4-13 and looked like they still had a long way to go.

But the NFL is full of surprises, and 2025 proved it. There will be even more surprises in 2026, making team selection both exciting and challenging. Here’s how the CBS Sports NFL staff – writers, editors, analysts and researchers – imagine this season will play out.

Voted by: Pete Prisco, Leger Dusable, Emory Hunt, Mike Renner, RJ White, Ryan Wilson, Jordan Dajani, Josh Edwards, Brian DeArdo, Tyler Sullivan, Garrett Podell, Jared Dubin, John Breech, Zach Pereles, Doug Clawson.

NFC East

1. Cowboys (8 votes)
2. Eagles (6)
3. Giants (1)

The Eagles became the first team in more than 20 years to repeat as NFC East champions, but our voters are seeing a new face emerging at the top of the division. The Cowboys had a huge offseason, adding talent on defense – both players and coaches – in addition to a top-tier offense.

NFK North

1. Lions (8 votes)
2. Packers, Bears (3 pieces each)
3. Vikings (1)

The NFC North is the only division in which all four teams received at least one vote as division champion, and for good reason: All four teams posted winning records last season. All four teams have significant questions that keep them from being among the upper echelon of Super Bowl favorites, but it will be a fight.

NFC South

1. Buccaneers (8 votes)
2. Saints (6)
3. Falcons (1)

The Buccaneers’ four-year reign at the top of the division ended last season under the leadership of the Panthers, who eight months later became the only team in the division. No to get a vote to win it. The Saints’ successful completion of 2025 helps them gain significant attention from our voters.

NFC West

1. Rams (10 votes)
2. Seahawks (5)

The Rams are the Super Bowl favorites and, in turn, the NFC West favorites. The 10 votes they received ranked second among all projected division winners. Seattle received five division awards, while San Francisco, surprisingly, received zero.

NFC Wild Cards

1. Seahawks (10 votes)
2. Eagles (7)
3. Bears (6)

The others receiving votes were: Rams (5), Cowboys (5), Packers (4), 49ers (4), Vikings (2), Panthers (1), Lions (1).

Total NFC Playoff Votes

1. Rams: 15 (10 NFC West champions, 5 wild cards)
2. Seahawks: 15 (5 NFC West champions, 10 wild cards)
3. Cowboys: 13 (8 NFC East champions, 5 wild cards)
4. Eagles: 13 (6 NFC East champions, 7 wild cards)
5. Leos: 9 (8 NFC North champions, 1 wild card)
6. Bears: 9 (3 NFC North champions, 6 wild cards)
7. Pirates: 8 (8th NFC South Champion)
8. Packers: 7 (3 NFC North champions, 4 wild cards)
9. Saints: 6 (6th NFC South Champion)
10. 49ers: 4 (4 jokers)
11. Vikings: 3 (1 NFC North champion, 2 wild cards)
12. Giants: 1 (1 NFC East champion)
13. Falcons: 1 (1 NFC South Champion)
14. Panthers: 1 (1 wild card)

Cardinals, commanders received 0 votes.

AFK East

1. Bills (8 votes)
2. Patriots (7)

Last year, Buffalo was a unanimous pick in the AFC East, which seemed reasonable considering the Bills had won the division five years in a row and the other three teams had tough seasons. But Drake May’s rise to superstardom has sparked one of the most remarkable changes in recent memory, and now the vote is hotly contested.

AFK North

1. Bengals (10 votes)
2. Crows (5)

The Bengals have missed the playoffs three straight seasons, with injuries to Joe Burrow and poor defense being the two main reasons. While Cincinnati can’t guarantee Burrow’s health, it has made significant investments on defense to complement the offense, not unlike the Cowboys.

AFC South

1. Texans (12 votes)
2. Jaguars (3)

The Texans’ 12 votes for the AFC South championship are the most in any division in this exercise. The defense is excellent, and Houston is hoping an improved offensive line and good running game will help C.J. Stroud get back on track. The Jaguars won’t just go away, however, as they won eight straight games to close out the 2025 regular season and Trevor Lawrence has thrived in Liam Coen’s offense.

AFK West

1. Broncos (10 votes)
2. Chargers (4)
3. Managers (1)

According to our voters, the Broncos ended the Chiefs’ nine-year run at the top of the division and are now poised to capture back-to-back AFC West titles. The Chiefs aren’t even expected to finish second in the division, with the Chargers earning four nominations compared to Kansas City’s one.

AFK wild cards

1. Crows (8 voices)
2. Managers, chargers, bills (7 pieces each)

Others receiving votes: Broncos (4), Bengals (4), Texans (3), Steelers (2), Patriots (2), Jaguars (1).

Total AFC playoff votes

1. Texans: 15 (12 AFC South champions, 3 wild cards)
2. Accounts: 15 (8 AFC East champions, 7 wild cards)
3. Bengals: 14 (10 AFC North champions, 4 wild cards)
4. Broncos 14 (10 AFC West champions, 4 wild cards)
5. Crows: 13 (5 AFC North champions, 8 wild cards)
6. Chargers: 11 (4 AFC West champions, 7 wild cards)
7. Patriots: 9 (7 AFC East champions, 2 wild cards)
8. Managers: 7 (1 AFC West champion, 6 wild cards)
9. Jaguars: 4 (3 AFC South champions, 1 wild card)
10. Steelers: 2 (2 jokers)

Browns, Colts, Dolphins, Jets, Raiders, Titans received 0 votes.

NFC Champion

1. Rams (8)
2. Seahawks (3)
3. Cowboys (2)
4. Giants, Eagles (1 each)

AFC Champion

1. Broncos (5)
2. Bengals, Bills (3)
3. Crows (2)
4. Jaguars, Texans (1 each)

Super Cup LXI Champion

Rams: 7

• Zach Pereles: “The Rams have the best roster, the best coach, two of the best quarterbacks of all time, an MVP-caliber quarterback, a great offensive line and a superstar receiver who can beat even the best defense. I understand there is pressure, but remember the Rams team that lost the 2021 Super Bowl? They won it all. I believe Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford will do it again.”
• Garrett Podell: “Both the Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans have fantastic defensive lines and secondary players, but the gap between the two teams’ offenses is as wide as the Grand Canyon. “Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald ride off into the sunset at Sophie Stadium as two-time Super Bowl champions.”
• Tyler Sullivan: Los Angeles is the betting favorite for a reason. They have unparalleled talent on both sides of the ball and Sean McVay is one of the best coaches we have in the NFL. They’ll prioritize health over the division title in the regular season and then let loose in the playoffs.”
• Jared Dubin: “It’s always dangerous to pick a so-called super team to win the Super Bowl. Often this only leads to disappointment. I just don’t think that’s going to happen with the Rams, who are overloaded with top-division talent.”
• Josh Edwards: The Rams were so close last year and all they did this offseason was add Myles Garrett, Matthew Stafford and Trent McDuffie. Barring multiple injuries, which is possible with an older roster, choosing anyone other than Los Angeles seems like an exercise in trying to be different.”
• John Breech: “The NFL is an unpredictable league where anything can happen, but the Rams seem inevitable, so I’m going with the Rams.”
• R.J. White: “It’s hard to go up against a super team in Los Angeles, even if the odds say something is going to happen that puts them in harm’s way. I wouldn’t bet on them to win because of how skewed the Super Bowl betting market has become, and on that front I like the Broncos as a value play after they got stronger in the offseason with a No. 1 seed last year.”

Broncos: 3

• Mike Renner: “They might have already had Lombardi if Bo Nix hadn’t broken his ankle. The addition of Jaylen Waddle will easily correct their biggest weakness from last season.”
• Leger Dusable: “The Broncos’ defense is leading them to a championship, and Bo Nix is ​​always there when they need him.”
• Brian DeArdo: “Sean Payton leads Denver to fourth Super Bowl title thanks to dominant defense and play of rising star QB Bo Nix.”

Crows: 2

• Emory Hunt: “Lamar Jackson further cemented his first Hall of Fame induction with a Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.”
• Doug Clawson: “The stars are aligned in favor of the Ravens, who are 1-2 years away from football’s MVP behind Lamar Jackson. Derrick Henry will still be a monster, and they will live up to expectations on defense with the rental of Jesse Minter, the arrival of Trey Hendrickson and the return of Nnamdi Madibuike.”

Bengals: 1

• Jordan Dajani: “MVP Joe Burrow’s season ends with the Lombardi Trophy.”

Accounts: 1

• Ryan Wilson: “Josh Allen has the WR1, the defense needs to be more aggressive under Jim Leonhard, and they will finally get over the hump with Joe Brady now the head coach.”

Jaguars: 1

• Pete Prisco: The Jaguars are a better team than they were a year ago. They may not win as many games, but they will be better prepared for the playoffs this time.”