NFL 2026 Season Preview: All 32 Teams

By Claude AI, Assistant Publisher

The Seattle Seahawks enter 2026 as Super Bowl champions, having dispatched the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX behind AP Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a defense that allowed the fewest points in the entire NFL. The Patriots themselves made the single most dramatic turnaround in league history under first-year coach Mike Vrabel, going from 4-13 to 14-3 and reaching the Super Bowl behind second-year quarterback Drake Maye. The Kansas City Chiefs, meanwhile, endured their worst season since 2012 at 6-11, raising real questions about whether the dynasty is genuinely over. Ten franchises enter 2026 with new head coaches, the most sweeping coaching turnover the league has seen in years.

In the chart below, we have the teams in each division lined up according to their final regular season records for the 2025-26 season.

NFC 2025 Season Review & 2026 Preview NFC East Team Logo 2025 Coach Off Rank Def Rank Notable Changes 2026 Proj / Comment Philadelphia Eagles * 11-6 Nick Sirianni 20th 5th Added WR Davante Adams; extended QB Jalen Hurts; lost DT Milton Williams Projected finish: 11-6; Will win division again if only because the other teams have more issues. Dallas Cowboys 7-9-1 Brian Schottenheimer 7th 30th New HC; Dak Prescott returning; added CB Darius Slay; worst defense in NFC Projected finish: 9-8; The Cowboys will feature the usual assortment of high-end offense, but the defense still needs work and it won't be enough to get to the playoffs. Washington Commanders 5-12 Dan Quinn 24th 25th Jayden Daniels Year 3; added OT Andrew Wylie; defense remains concern Projected finish: 7-10; Can Jayden Daniels repeat what he did in his rookie year or will he suffer injuries from taking too many hits, like last season? The Commanders aren't sneaking up on anybody this time around. New York Giants 4-13 John Harbaugh 22nd 22nd John Harbaugh, released by the Ravens, won't have to do a full rebuild; Jaxxon Dart brings quality and experience. A healthy Cam Skattebo will provide offensive balance Projected finish: 10-7; The Giants should make the playoffs as their 2026 schedule is pretty light after a 4-13 season. They could be 5-2 entering their bye week and have second half momentum. NFC North Team Logo 2025 Coach Off Rank Def Rank Notable Changes 2026 Proj / Comment Chicago Bears * 11-6 Ben Johnson 9th 17th Caleb Williams Year 3; traded DJ Moore to BUF; added Keenan Allen Projected finish: 12-5; The Bears stunned their NFC North rivals, winning close games while Williams lived up to the hype. Any improvement on defense will make them very hard to handle. Green Bay Packers + 9-7-1 Matt LaFleur 21st 14th Jordan Love extended; Jaire Alexander back from injury; Rashan Gary extended Projected finish: 10-7; Time is running out on these guys and their division is fairly tough. Missing the playoffs might cost LaFleur his job, but they'll squeak into the post-season. Minnesota Vikings 9-8 Kevin O'Connell 28th 13th QB competition; Hockenson back from injury; Justin Jefferson extended Projected finish: 4-13; Neither Kyler Murray nor JJ McCarthy will be able to feed Jefferson enough catchable balls and that's a huge problem. Carson Wentz may end up the starting QB. Detroit Lions 9-8 Dan Campbell 6th 19th Goff extended; added CB Carlton Davis III; Montgomery gone; Gibbs lead back, unsigned Projected finish: 8-9; Oops, most NFL teams have figured out the Lions' offense by now and their defense was never very good. NFC South Team Logo 2025 Coach Off Rank Def Rank Notable Changes 2026 Proj / Comment Carolina Panthers * 8-9 Dave Canales 30th 16th Bryce Young has matured; signed DE Phillips & Lloyd ($162M); OL overhaul Projected finish: 10-7; Panthers should win the weakest division in the NFL and make noise in the post-season. The offense needs improvement, but the defense will win games. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-9 Todd Bowles 19th 21st Mike Evans gone after 12 seasons; Mayfield returning unsigned; added Stefon Diggs Projected finish: 9-8; Loss of Evans too much to overcome; Baker Mayfield will make his usual late-game mistakes that will cost the Bucs dearly. Atlanta Falcons 8-9 Raheem Morris 25th 20th Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa named starter?; Kyle Pitts in contract year Projected finish: 6-11; Not a competitive-looking team. New Orleans Saints 6-11 Kellen Moore 31st 15th Carr retired; Rattler named starter; added DE Chase Young; youth rebuild Projected finish: 5-12; Spencer Rattler isn't the answer the Saints are looking for. Better luck in 2027. NFC West Team Logo 2025 Coach Off Rank Def Rank Notable Changes 2026 Proj / Comment Seattle Seahawks * 🏆 14-3 Mike Macdonald 5th 1st SB LX champs; lost RB Walker III; drafted RB Price #32; Smith-Njigba AP Off. POY Projected finish: 12-5; Repaters for Super Bowl? Toughest division in NFL may send three to playoffs. Sam Darnold redeemed. Los Angeles Rams + 12-5 Sean McVay 1st 9th Stafford AP MVP; Puka Nacua extended; Kupp released; lost OG Dotson Projected finish: 13-4; The Rams are as good as it gets, have Seahawks in their sights. San Francisco 49ers + 12-5 Kyle Shanahan 11th 11th Purdy extended; McCaffrey returns; lost DE Chase Young Projected finish: 11-6; It's a long season, and, while the 'Niners are high quality, they're a bit behind the Seahawks and Rams. Arizona Cardinals 3-14 Mike La Fleur 26th 29th Fired Gannon; Sweat trade candidate; full rebuild Projected finish: 4-13; This team is a disaster with Jacoby Brissett at QB and a very shaky defense. 4-13 might be a generous call. * Div. winner  + Wild card  🏆 SB champ  Off/Def rank by pts scored/allowed

AFC 2025 Season Review & 2026 Preview AFC East Team Logo 2025 Coach Off Rank Def Rank Notable Changes 2026 Proj / Comment New England Patriots * 14-3 Mike Vrabel 3rd 7th SB LX runners-up; Drake Maye All-Pro; WR McMillan Off. ROY; OC McDaniels returns Projected finish: 12-5; The Pats had an awesome season under Mike Vrable and will return to the playoffs, though as a wild card because this year's opponents will be much tougher. Buffalo Bills + 12-5 Joe Brady 4th 12th New HC Brady; added WR DJ Moore (CHI); signed DE Bradley Chubb; new DC Leonard Projected finish: 13-4; Buffalo is the class of the division and possibly the conference. Josh Allen is hungry for a Super Bowl as are the long-suffering fans of Western New York. Miami Dolphins 7-10 Jeff Hafley 15th 27th New HC; Tua released; Hill released; Waddle traded to DEN; 7 top-100 picks; full reset Projected finish: 8-9; They can't be much worse than the 2025 team and might be a little better with Tua gone. New York Jets 3-14 Aaron Glenn 29th 31st HC Glenn has players' ears; looking to improve in tough division; Geno Smith returns. Projected finish: 7-10; Better than last year, but playoffs seem a way off. AFC North Team Logo 2025 Coach Off Rank Def Rank Notable Changes 2026 Proj / Comment Pittsburgh Steelers * 10-7 Mike McCarthy 18th 10th Aaron Rodgers back for another try; reunites with McCarthy Projected finish: 6-11; Hate to say it, but the use by date on Arron Rodgers has expired. Baltimore Ravens 8-9 Jesse Minter 13th 18th New HC Minter; Lamar Jackson in contract year; acquired AP Def. POY Myles Garrett (CLE) Projected finish: 12-5; Big Upgrade on defense with Miles Garrett; Jackson stays healthy, the Ravens take the division handily. Cincinnati Bengals 6-11 Zac Taylor 14th 32nd Burrow Year 6; lost DE Hendrickson; Ja'Marr Chase extended; worst defense in AFC Projected finish: 10-7; Playoffs possible if the defense improves, but Joe B. keeps them in games. Cleveland Browns 5-12 Todd Monken 32nd 8th New HC; Watson projected QB; WR Tate #6 pick; traded Myles Garrett Projected finish: 6-11; The Browns have talent and will surprise some, but too many questions at the QB spot and offensive potential. AFC South Team Logo 2025 Coach Off Rank Def Rank Notable Changes 2026 Proj / Comment Jacksonville Jaguars * 13-4 Liam Coen 8th 6th Lawrence entering prime; Ridley extended; added DE Josh Sweat; strong two-way roster Projected finish: 12-5; Trevor Lawrence proved to be top-notch in 2025 and is ready to advance the Jags to the next level. Jacksonville defense may be the best in the league. Houston Texans + 12-5 DeMeco Ryans 17th 2nd CJ Stroud extended; Collins retained; LB Schwesinger AP Def. ROY; best defense in AFC Projected finish: 11-6; Texans continue to come up a little short. Indianapolis Colts 8-9 Shane Steichen 10th 23rd Daniel Jones returns; Taylor top 3 RB in NFL Projected finish: 12-5; The division may come down to head-to-head contests between the Jags and Colts; Daniel Jones had a rough end to his season and if healthy can bring the Colts some pride. Tennessee Titans 3-14 Robert Saleh 27th 28th New HC Saleh; new OC Daboll; Cam Ward Year 2; signed DT Franklin-Myers; full rebuild Projected finish: 4-13; Might still be the worst team in the league. AFC West Team Logo 2025 Coach Off Rank Def Rank Notable Changes 2026 Proj / Comment Denver Broncos * 14-3 Sean Payton 16th 4th Bo Nix Year 3; acquired WR Waddle (MIA); Surtain II All-Pro; lost AFC title to NE Projected finish: 13-4; Offensive improvement means the Broncos take the division again. Los Angeles Chargers + 11-6 Greg Roman 23rd 3rd Herbert extended; signed SB MVP RB Kenneth Walker III (SEA); lost LB Kendricks Projected finish: 9-8; Outside of the Texas, the Chargers and QB Herbert are probably the most overrated team in the league. They can't beat Denver or KC. Kansas City Chiefs 6-11 Andy Reid 22nd 26th Mahomes healthy; Kelce returning at 37; Chris Jones retired; worst season since 2012 Projected finish: 10-7; If Mahomes is healthy the Chiefs can return to the playoffs, but Denver appears to be the class of the division. Las Vegas Raiders 3-14 Klint Kubiak 33rd 26th Kubiak names Kirk Cousins starting QB over #1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza; full rebuild Projected finish: 6-11; More work needed to advance this team even to .500. Not there yet. * Div. winner  + Wild card  Off/Def rank by pts scored/allowed