The 2026 NFL schedule isn’t messing around: It starts with a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday night, and then turns to the remade Los Angeles Rams, who will debut their stacked roster Thursday in a NFC West showdown with the San Francisco 49ers in Australia. By the time Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix return from serious injuries to face off in an AFC West rivalry game Monday night, the NFL conversation will be filled with snap judgments and rash predictions.
NFL MVP
Quarterbacks have claimed this honor 13 straight times, and our panelists all voted for that trend to continue. There was less agreement over whether there would be a repeat winner; 23 voters chose a previous MVP to claim the award, while 17 gave votes to other candidates, with Joe Burrow leading the way in that category.
What they said
While it’s easy to talk yourself into some of the other leading MVP contenders — Lamar Jackson with a new coaching staff in Baltimore, Justin Herbert with Mike McDaniel calling plays in Los Angeles, Burrow (presumably) with an actual defense in Cincinnati and last year’s runner-up, Drake Maye, with a new weapon in New England — it’s too hard, for me at least, not to write down Josh Allen’s name here. No player tilts the axis of a football game more consistently; at this point, his levels of production are being taken for granted. Eight seasons in, Allen has piled up 79 rushing touchdowns and 299 total touchdowns, both records by a quarterback. Those figures are simply ludicrous. He has a new target in veteran wideout D.J. Moore, whom he meshed well with in the preseason. My bet is Allen is on the verge of his second MVP season. — Zak Keefer, senior writer
When Joe Burrow plays a full season, he’s an MVP candidate (or a Super Bowl QB). So this is a bet on him staying healthy and the Bengals winning the AFC North, which I think they do if Burrow is healthy. Austin Mock’s QB Index has Burrow at No. 1 and so does Jon Greenberg’s QB (goes to thesaurus.com) Register. — Jon Greenberg, columnist
Lamar Jackson clearly wasn’t healthy last year — even after his return from injury. The Ravens felt change in the coaching department was necessary, and I believe Jackson and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will make for an explosive match. A healthy Jackson can still keep plays alive that are long dead for most quarterbacks, and the new environment might be what Jackson needs to deliver another MVP-level season. — Zac Jackson, Browns beat writer
The Cowboys’ offense is a fireworks show, and it should be even better statistically than last year, given it will have some actual support from a defense that can’t possibly be so bad. If the defense approaches even average, the Cowboys might win 12 or 13 games, which would put Dak — who was the MVP runner-up when Dallas won 12 games in 2023 — on the short list. — David DeChant, senior editor
Offensive Player of the Year
If MVP is about quarterbacks, this award has become synonymous with the best running back or wide receiver, one of which has claimed it seven straight years. All but one of our votes went to those positions, with Jahmyr Gibbs, the highest-paid running back in NFL history, earning the most support. The man whose contract Gibbs surpassed, Bijan Robinson, received the second-most votes among running backs, while last year’s winner, Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, received only three votes to repeat.
What they said
He’s been paid, so the Lions have no reason not to give Jahmyr Gibbs the Christian McCaffrey treatment. I’ll be bold and say Gibbs touches the ball 400-plus times, and when a back as electric as Gibbs touches the ball that often, awards usually follow. — Jim Ayello, senior editor
Defensive Player of the Year
Texans star Will Anderson Jr. finished second to Myles Garrett for this award last year, and those two pass rushers monopolized the votes this summer. A slim majority of our voters gave the edge to Anderson, who, like Gibbs, recently reset the market at his position.
What they said
Will Anderson Jr. would have won the award in 2025 if not for Myles Garrett, and though Garrett could have more opportunities on a winning team with the Rams in 2026, I think it’s more likely he sacrifices some production to the rest of L.A.’s terrifying front. Anderson also has competition on his own team (Danielle Hunter), but he’s clearly the best player on what should be the NFL’s best or second-best defense. — DeChant
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, former teammates at Notre Dame, were the first two running backs chosen in April’s draft, the first time that’s happened for college teammates since the merger. They were also the most popular picks for this honor, ahead of the Tennessee Titans’ Carnell Tate, the first wide receiver drafted.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Comeback Player of the Year
“The best player in the world is coming off a serious knee injury and appears as healthy as possible for someone who is less than nine months removed from surgery,” as one of our editors put it, which is the argument in favor of Mahomes, the runaway leader here. Many of our voters submitted their ballots before Aaron Donald announced his return; the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year also has an obvious comeback storyline, after two seasons away from the sport. Another intriguing option: Jayden Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year who was limited to seven games because of injuries last season.
First coach fired
Three of the four leading vote getters in last season’s poll wound up losing their jobs before the playoffs began, so this list might not be a comfortable place for the guys in the corner offices. The clear leader this year, Jets coach Aaron Glenn, is only in his second season running the franchise. The second most common pick, Washington’s Dan Quinn, is entering his third season. Todd Monken, who has yet to coach a game for the Browns, received a vote. Tough business.
Biggest surprise
More than a third of the league’s teams received nods here, although only one team, the New Orleans Saints, got more than five votes. The nominees ranged from some of the worst teams in 2025 (the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants) to several playoff teams, including the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers.
What they said
I think the Saints offense can be sneaky good. Tyler Shough is flying under the radar at quarterback and Chris Olave, Travis Etienne Jr., Juwan Johnson and rookie top-10 pick Jordyn Tyson (once he returns from a hamstring injury) make for an intriguing skill position group. The Saints finished strong last season by winning four of five, and the NFC South is up for grabs. — Matt Schneidman, Packers beat writer
Picking the Vikings as a surprise is all about believing in the coaching staff … and thinking a whole lot more is possible if the team gets the type of competent quarterback play that should be expected out of Kyler Murray. Coach Kevin O’Connell’s track record says the Vikings offense should take a huge step with a higher-floor QB, while defensive coordinator Brian Flores — quietly — had the NFL’s third-best defense in 2025 per FTN Fantasy’s all-encompassing DVOA measure. One doesn’t have to squint too hard to see all of that lifting the Vikings back to double-digit wins, which they achieved under O’Connell in 2022 and 2024. — Jesse Newell, Chiefs beat writer
Biggest disappointment
You thought we had a lot of candidates ready to surprise? Fully 18 teams were picked to disappoint, more than half the league. That includes 10 of the 14 teams that qualified for last season’s playoffs. Only two teams got as many as six votes, and they were two of last season’s most pleasant surprises: the Bears and Patriots.
What they said
Chicago’s 11-6 record was propelled by six fourth-quarter comebacks a season ago. Now the Bears enter 2026 with the league’s hardest schedule by last year’s win percentage, so it only makes sense for some similar rallies to be quelled this season. The knee injury that will sideline safety Coby Bryant for months will also have a major impact on the defense’s ability to create turnovers, which saved the Bears at times last year. — Sam Warren, Raiders beat writer
There was a lot to love about Drake Maye’s ascent last season. And Mike Vrabel’s fingerprints were all over an AFC East resurgence for New England. But repeating 14-3 and a trip to the Super Bowl feels highly unlikely with the Patriots having a much tougher schedule and needing to plug holes up front on defense. The Patriots figure to stay in playoff contention. But the momentum of last season will be difficult to replicate. — Dan Wiederer, Bears beat writer
AFC champion
This was a two-team race between two wild-card teams that won their playoff openers last season before bowing out in the divisional round. The Bills, of course, haven’t reached a Super Bowl since 1994, and the Texans have never played in one.
What they said
After years of postseason heartbreak, Josh Allen finally gets his chance to play in February. — Wiederer
The NFL’s youngest franchise has never even reached the AFC Championship Game. But in a conference where every team has question marks, the unit I trust the most is the Texans’ defense, and I think there’s a clear pathway for the offense to take a leap. That’s enough for me. — DeChant
NFC champion
Well. This wasn’t very close.
What they said
I would love to be a contrarian on the Rams, but they still have Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford, and they’ve rebuilt their secondary and added two of the best defensive linemen of this century. Sure, they need a handful of things to go right, but so does everybody else. I could twist myself into knots trying to find another answer, but I’m left with thinking about Garrett and Donald on third down in the playoffs. — Josh Kendall, Falcons beat writer
The Rams were a couple bounces away last season from beating the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. That was back when their defensive line didn’t employ Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. And before they acquired Trent McDuffie to fill a hole at corner. And before they welcomed back Donald, who realized retirement wasn’t allowing him to torture quarterbacks. Los Angeles is loaded. — Nick Kosmider, Broncos beat writer
Super Bowl winner
Which leads us to the most important question: Can the Rams live up to these expectations, which seem to mushroom every day? The answer from our staff: Yeah, probably. Now check back with us after Week 1.
What they said
Think about it this way: The Rams were the only team to really put up a fight against the Seahawks during the playoffs and nearly beat them — and they’ve since added Garrett, Donald, McDuffie and others to their defense. The idea of a “Dream Team” doesn’t often work — but the Rams are uniquely suited to overcome any sort of personality clash, with Sean McVay leading the way. Oh yeah, they also happen to have the reigning MVP at quarterback with Matthew Stafford and an elite group of weapons around him. Anything less than a deep run would be a massive disappointment. — Zack Rosenblatt, Jets beat writer
Last year, I thought the Rams were on par with the Seahawks — or maybe even a little better — and that played out in their three matchups as the home team won a close game each time. The Rams then decided to trade for Garrett and McDuffie, which pulled Donald out of retirement. All while the Seahawks lost some key players and OC Klint Kubiak. The Rams are firmly head and shoulders above the rest of the NFL right now. — Austin Mock, staff writer
I’m a risk-averse person in general, so I’m not going to be the one to pick against the team that has multiple future Hall of Famers and one of the game’s best play callers. It’s the path of least regret, really. — Kevin Fishbain, Bears beat writer
Every team has areas where depth is a concern, but where’s the Rams’ legitimate weakness? They are led by a Super Bowl-winning head coach and quarterback, who are in lock step, and they added a shutdown corner, a first-ballot Hall of Fame defensive tackle and the best defensive player on the planet. They are older in certain spots and that could lead to more injuries, but they have the most talented roster in the league and a head coach and front office that know how to get a team to the finish line. — Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens beat writer
Yes, preseason favorites rarely win the Super Bowl; Mike Sando found that none of the past 10 teams with preseason odds similar to those of the Rams, +550 or better, won it all. But all 10 made the postseason, and five lost in the Super Bowl. This Rams team was talented enough to get there before adding Garrett and Donald. Eventually a preseason favorite of this magnitude will win a Super Bowl. How can you bet against this one? — Jacob Robinson, NFL Newsletter writer
Buffalo has been on a steady path for years, and the firing of Sean McDermott shows the kind of urgency the franchise has. That’s why I believe the Bills will explore being active at the trade deadline to bolster any weak spots and gear up for a playoff run. — Saad Yousuf, staff writer
The Seahawks showed last year that defenses can still win championships and Houston may have the best one in the league. C.J. Stroud wants to get paid, so he has motivation to raise his game. If he can just be good enough, the Texans can follow that Seattle blueprint. — Dave Niinemets, senior editor
The Ravens and not the Rams? What? Well, Stafford’s back flaring up at 38 wouldn’t shock anybody, and anyway, the three NFC West teams will beat each other up, so we look to the AFC. I am not buying the Bills, Patriots or Chiefs. The Ravens will lead the league in yards per carry (5.3) again, and this year they can rush the passer as well. Oh, and Lamar Jackson is still pretty good. — Vic Tafur, 49ers beat writer