Bold Predictions For The 2026 NFL Season

The Giants started the offseason with a bang, hiring former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. This team is loaded with talent, but couldn’t get out of its own way in 2025.

New York drafted quarterback Jaxson Dart 25th overall last year, and he’s quickly become everything fans hoped for. He’s explosive, mobile, and has a winning mentality. He’s a huge reason Harbaugh wanted the job, and he’ll only get better in 2026.

Star wide receiver Malik Nabers will be back from an ACL tear. He hasn’t played a full game with Dart yet, but their chemistry showed in that short span. They’re joined by a group that includes Cam Skattebo, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Andrew Thomas.

Some of the most important positions on the Giants are filled, and they’ll most likely draft Ohio State’s standout safety Caleb Downs fifth overall. Harbaugh is a former Super Bowl champion who knows how to build a winning team. New York will turn heads in 2026 and win more than half of its games.

The Chicago Bears Will Repeat As Kings In The North

The Bears took the league by storm in 2025. They hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach. They won 11 games, took over the NFC North, and won a playoff game for the first time since 2011.

Caleb Williams isn’t a perfect quarterback, as his accuracy is still questionable. He does, however, have the ability to make huge plays when the game is on the line. He earned the nickname “Iceman” for a reason. He could find himself in elite conversations in his second year with Johnson.

Chicago’s offense is loaded with weapons. Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, and D’Andre Swift were all key players in 2025. As the chemistry grows, so will the team’s win column.

The Bears will likely address defense in the offseason. Their pass-rush leaves much to be desired, and they’ll be looking to strengthen the secondary. They’ll be the most complete team in the NFC North next season and will repeat as a division winner.

The Entire NFC South Will Elevate

The NFC South has been a laughingstock for several years. The division may not be shaking up the league like the NFC West, but all four teams are becoming competitive. The Buccaneers have ruled the South four out of the last five years, but injuries tore them apart in 2025.

The Carolina Panthers narrowly won the division, thanks to the slow development of QB Bryce Young. The addition of 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Tetairoa McMillan, has been huge for the team. They’re inconsistent, but a good offseason now could see them win double-digit games in 2026.

The New Orleans Saints were expected to land a top-five draft pick ahead of the season. They took a chance on second-round rookie QB Tyler Shough and ultimately ended the year 6-11. There’s plenty of work to be done, but they might have finally found Drew Brees’ successor. They have a real shot at winning the division.

The Atlanta Falcons have had high expectations for the last couple of seasons, but continue to fall short. They’ve hired two-time coach of the year Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach in 2026. It’s unclear if Michael Penix Jr. is their QB of the future, but they still have Kirk Cousins under contract. At worst, they shouldn’t fall any further than their 8-9 record from 2025.

The AFC Will Be A Two Team Race

The Buffalo Bills regressed slightly in 2025 following Josh Allen’s MVP season. They lost games they shouldn’t have, and they let the AFC East slip into the New England Patriots’ hands.

Buffalo fired head coach Sean McDermott and promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady. They’ll be looking to finally get Allen some offensive help. One team will stand in their way.

The Patriots were the biggest surprise of the 2025 season. They went 4-13 in 2024 and bounced back all the way to a Super Bowl appearance. Drake Maye came within one vote of NFL MVP in his first year under Mike Vrabel and his second year overall.

Similar to the Bears, the Pats will only get better as time goes on. The Bills desperately need to get over the hump, and could find themselves facing their division rival in the AFC Championship.

End Of My NFL Rant

With over six months until the NFL’s next season, the entire league will see major changes. Free agency and the draft will shake everything up. We’ll see bad teams become contenders, and good teams fall apart. If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that the league is unpredictable, and that’s a great thing.