AFC

East

1- Buffalo Bills

I think the coaching change is enough to push Buffalo over the top.

2- New England Patriots

Last year wasn’t exactly a fluke, but I expect New England to take a big step back.

3- New York Jets

Jets can’t be the dumpster fire they were last year, but they’re not contenders.

4- Miami Dolphins

Miami is the early favorite to land the number one pick in the 2027 draft.

North

1- Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore is still the most talented team in this division.

2- Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow just needs to stay healthy and I think Cincinnati can make a run.

3- Pittsburgh Steelers

I don’t see Pittsburgh making a playoff run in Aaron Rodgers last season.

4- Cleveland Browns

Cleveland is still a quarterback away from being a serious playoff contender.

South

1- Houston Texans

Houston has the best defense in the NFL, if CJ Stroud can get back to his rookie form, they are legit Super Bowl contenders.

2- Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville won’t sneak up on anyone this year, but they might not need to.

3- Tennessee Titans

Tennessee will be better, but I’m not sure they’re serious contenders, yet.

4- Indianapolis Colts

I think Indianapolis implodes in year two of the Daniel Jones experiment. Heads will roll after the season.

West

1- Los Angeles Chargers

Call it a hunch, but I like the Chargers to overtake Denver and win this division.

2- Denver Broncos

Denver was on the cusp of a Super Bowl last season and they might have gotten better offensively.

3- Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City still has holes in the roster, and we don’t know when Mahomes will be Mahomes again.

4- Las Vegas Raiders

I think Las Vegas will be much improved, but not enough to get out of the basement.

Playoffs

1- Buffalo Bills

3- Houston Texans

2- Los Angeles Chargers

4- Baltimore Ravens

5- Denver Broncos

6- Jacksonville Jaguars

7- Cincinnati Bengals

AFC CHAMPIONS

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo finally gets over the hump in the AFC, surviving stout challenges from Houston & Los Angeles.

NFC

East

1- Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia is still the best team in the division, by a wide margin.

2- New York Giants

Giants have a lot of young talent and may finally have the coach in John Harbaugh to maximize it.

3- Dallas Cowboys

I never buy the hype about Dallas, and I have serious doubts they can contend.

4- Washington Commanders

Washington went all in last season and fell flat, I think the rebuild will be hard.

North

1- Chicago Bears

Year two of the Ben Johnson era will see the offense become elite. If the defense improves a little, Chicago is a legit contender.

2- Detroit Lions

Detroit should return to the postseason with a new, competent offensive play caller.

3- Green Bay Packers

Green Bay has squeaked into the playoffs the last few years, but I think they’ll fall short this year.

4- Minnesota Vikings

Kyler Murray will be an improvement at quarterback, but he’s not enough to push Minnesota up the ladder.

South

1- Carolina Panthers

The division will be tougher this year, but I think Carolina can manage to repeat.

2- New Orleans Saints

I was real close to picking New Orleans to win this division, but I’m not quite there yet.

3- Tampa Bay Buccaneers

How Tampa Bay collapsed last year is a foreshadowing of their fall from contention this year.

4- Atlanta Falcons

I like the coaching hire, but I think quarterback will hold Atlanta back.

West

1- Los Angeles Rams

The Rams have gone all in, and on paper they’re the favorites to win it all.

2- Seattle Seahawks

Seattle won’t have an easy time defending their division crown let alone their Super Bowl title.

3- San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco made the playoffs despite a rash of injuries last year, they can’t suffer the same bad luck this year.

4- Arizona Cardinals

Arizona is closer to the number one pick in 2027 than getting out of the basement in the division.

Playoffs

1- Los Angeles Rams

2- Chicago Bears

3- Philadelphia Eagles

4- Carolina Panthers

5- Seattle Seahawks

6- Detroit Lions

7- San Francisco 49ers

NFC CHAMPIONS

Chicago Bears

Yes, this is a homer pick, but I legit believe Chicago can ascend to the top of the NFC, though the NFC West duo of Seattle & Los Angeles are formidable obstacles.

Super Bowl LXI

Chicago Bears over Buffalo Bills

I can’t pick the Bears to make the Super Bowl and not pick them to win it.

AWARDS

MVP- Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

First 4,000 yard passing season in Bears history will also see Williams become the first Chicago MVP since 1977.

Offensive Player of the Year- Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Robinson will have a monster season in Stefanski’s offense.

Defensive Player of the Year- Will Anderson, Houston Texans

Anderson is the best player on the best defense in the NFL.

Offensive Rookie of the Year- Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks

Price will get a jump start being the main ball carrier for the defending champions until Zach Charbonnet returns.

Defensive Rookie of the Year- Jacob Rodriguez, Miami Dolphins

Rodriguez will make Dolphins fans remember Zach Thomas.

Protector of the Year- Pennei Sewell, Detroit Lions

Picked him last year, I’ll pick him again as Detroit returns to the postseason.

Comeback Player of the Year- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Seriously, is there any other way this award could go?

Coach of the Year- Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears

Johnson could’ve gotten this last year, repeating as NFC North champs could get him the award this year.