Predicting what is about to happen in the 2026 NFL season is impossible, the pseudo-experts will tell you. The league is too volatile, injuries happen and sometimes players surprise us by playing well or poorly.
Hogwash.
This is easy. And let me prove it to you:
I predict the Super Bowl favorite Los Angeles Rams, practically every expert’s preseason pick to win the NFC West, are going to struggle early in the season. They definitely aren’t going to dominate the San Francisco 49ers in the opener.
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RAMS’ DISASTER IN AUSTRALIA RAISES THE QUESTION: SHOULD THE TEAM HAVE FOLLOWED THE 49ERS THERE EARLIER?
And, as a team with a lot of new faces, especially on defense, they might even struggle the first month of the season.
Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett teaming up has many believing the Los Angeles Rams will be a force to be reckoned with during the 2026 NFL season. (GETTY IMAGES)
Fine, so I jest.
The Rams have already lost their opener to the Niners.
But seriously, the Rams’ ability to rally after their season-opening loss is far from certain given the myriad questions they face: the possibility of NFL suspensions for a couple of players, how well Aaron Donald eventually plays, how healthy Myles Garrett will be later this season and whether they have enough team speed.
“The only reason people wouldn’t pick them is because the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl traditionally doesn’t win the Super Bowl,” “NFL RedZone” host Scott Hanson told OutKick. “Something happened, injuries, or just we see another team come in or whatever. The NFC West is a gauntlet, including the reigning Super Bowl champs sitting there.”
See? Hanson gets it.
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sept. 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
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Anyway, the regular season’s first Sunday kicks off at 1 p.m. with eight games and that will be followed by four late afternoon games, one Sunday night game and then the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
So who’s going to win? How is your team going to perform this season? All this is easy stuff, folks. We already told you the Rams are probably losing their opener.
Let’s give you what happens the rest of the season:
American Conference
AFC East
- Buffalo Bills: 12-5
- New England Patriots: 10-7
- New York Jets: 6-11
- Miami Dolphins: 2-15
Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow runs out to the field before a game vs. the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium in Ohio. (Katie Stratman-Imagn Images)
AFC North
- Cincinnati Bengals: 12-5
- Baltimore Ravens: 9-8
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-8
- Cleveland Browns: 4-13
AFC South
- Houston Texans: 11-6
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 11-6
- Indianapolis Colts: 9-8
- Tennessee Titans: 4-13
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
AFC West
- Denver Broncos: 13-4
- Kansas City Chiefs: 10-7
- Los Angeles Chargers: 9-8
- Las Vegas Raiders: 5-12
National Conference
NFC East
- Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
- Philadelphia Eagles: 10-7
- Washington Commanders: 6-11
- New York Giants: 6-11
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love throws a pass before a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 28, 2026, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. (Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NFC North
- Minnesota Vikings: 11-6
- Detroit Lions: 9-8
- Chicago Bears: 9-8
- Green Bay Packers: 8-9
NFC South
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-8
- New Orleans Saints: 7-10
- Carolina Panthers: 7-10
- Atlanta Falcons: 5-12
Drake Maye of the New England Patriots looks to pass as Will Campbell blocks against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
NFC West
- Seattle Seahawks: 13-4
- Los Angeles Rams: 11-6
- San Francisco 49ers: 10-7
- Arizona Cardinals: 3-14
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform during the NFC Wild Card game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers on January 14, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Playoff Teams
AFC: Bills, Bengals, Texans, Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars, Chiefs.
NFC: Seahawks, Bucs, Vikings, Cowboys, Eagles, Rams, 49ers.
AFC Championship game: Bengals vs. Bills.
NFC Championship game: Cowboys vs. Rams.
Super Bowl LXI: Bengals over Cowboys.
