Sep 9, 2026 · 1h 21m
NFL contenders face crowded 2026 playoff races
Predictions and award picks for the 2026 NFL season
The panel’s predictions reveal which teams and players they trust when award narratives, roster strength, coaching impact, and narrow conference margins collide.
- 1Jahmyr Gibbs emerges as the panel’s consensus Offensive Player of the Year pick amid strong long-shot competition.
- 2The Ravens’ potential turnaround makes Jesse Minter a leading Coach of the Year candidate.
- 3The Rams, Ravens, Bills, Texans, Cowboys, and Lions anchor varied conference-title and Super Bowl projections.
Don't miss
The panel’s Super Bowl split crystallizes its forecasting philosophy: two hosts choose the Rams over the Ravens, while another backs the Lions over the Broncos.
The brief
Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, and Dave Helman open with a prediction exercise spanning individual awards, division winners, playoff fields, conference finalists, and the Super Bowl.
The award debates repeatedly favor opportunity and context: Jahmyr Gibbs leads the Offensive Player of the Year discussion, while Jesse Minter’s possible Ravens turnaround drives the Coach of the Year case.
Quarterback MVP arguments weigh rushing value, team records, supporting casts, narrative hurdles, and the premium placed on earning a top seed.
The playoff forecasts expose the central tension: both conferences contain enough credible contenders that leaving teams such as the Vikings, Packers, Chiefs, Chargers, or Jaguars out feels consequential.
Two hosts pick the Rams over the Ravens in the Super Bowl, while another chooses the Lions over the Broncos, separating the likeliest outcome from the boldest call.