Consequently, starters can be rested by Sean McVay ahead of Wild Card Weekend. I believe this team poses a challenge for anyone — including the formidable Eagles, when it is at full capacity. However, I would be astonished if this team didn’t face its share of growing pains while transitioning into a new chapter of Saints football. Nonetheless — I wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of a well-rested Saints team making a bold statement at home against a rival they despise. I wavered back and forth on this matchup before ultimately choosing Atlanta. With two consecutive victories (devoted fans in NOLA can enjoy a celebration), and rookie Tyler Shough finds a brief respite in an otherwise tough first season.

• While Tampa might exceed my initial predictions early in the season, my confidence in the timing of their eventual adjustments will increase once their skilled left tackle and reliable WR2 return to the field.
• Which explosive playmaker will decide the NFC title game?
• Are we about to witness the highest-scoring game in the history of the NFL playoffs?
• What are some other factors to consider such as the last game of a long MLB or NBA road trip or arriving in town late and playing an early game?

High point: Weeks 1-5.

Our analysts provide bold predictions for Championship Sunday. The defeat not only delivers a massive blow to San Francisco’s division title hopes — it extends the Niners’ head-to-head losing streak to five games. Even though the bottom falls out after Thanksgiving, I suspect many of those December games — like at Houston and against Atlanta — will end up being close. I think the Cardinals’ offense will be more consistent this season (so I was surprised when I ultimately had them losing five of their final seven games), just as they did last year. Tampa could certainly outperform my projection early on, but I’ll be more confident in the timing of the team’s eventual course correction once its talented left tackle and sure-handed WR2 return to the starting lineup.

NFL Playoff Probabilities: Employing odds to foresee the playoff landscape for the NFL in 2026-27.

The Eagles are set to return to the betting picks and analysis playoffs, and possibly make a deep run all the way to the Super Bowl. Acquiring Azeez Ojulari was a solid strategy, and I appreciate how this team has continued to add talented players through the draft. Is it possible for Jaxson Dart to surpass Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, leading the Giants to the playoffs this year and disproving both of our predictions? At Commanders, at Cowboys, vs. Chiefs is a tough way to start things off. Nevertheless, under Schottenheimer—a former prodigy who gained ample experience before his first head coaching role—this team might get hot.

High point: Weeks 4 and 5.

• In the end — Rodgers’ former squad stays on an early roll while taking some of the starch out of Pittsburgh’s own encouraging start, dropping the Steelers to 4-3.
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• The baseline for him is considerably high — so it wouldn’t surprise me if he and his team prove my analysis wrong by making a playoff run akin to what Bo Nix and the Broncos achieved last year.
• It’ll be fun to see what the discussion is around these two teams (and this game), a few months from now.
• Will Christian McCaffrey set a record in his inaugural game against his former team?

I like the Cowboys to be very good in divisional play, and I’d be higher on them if the Parsons saga hadn’t stained their preseason. In my scenario (the bad vibes spill over into a rough start that reaches its nadir in this loss to the Panthers), which drops the ‘Boys to 1-5. This stretch could make or break a return to the playoffs if things go a little better than either of us is forecasting during Brian Schottenheimer’s first season.

Toughest game to call: Week 11 vs. Packers.

What are some other factors to consider such as the last game of a long MLB or NBA road trip or arriving in town late and playing an early game? Finding a solid bet is very similar to developing a game plan for the individual sport – and this takes time. Our team scours through game, team, and player props to try and find opportunity and value. Betting on the NFL moneyline means picking which team will win a game outright.

In the end (Rodgers’ former squad stays on an early roll while taking some of the starch out of Pittsburgh’s own encouraging start), dropping the Steelers to 4-3. This road battle against Aaron Rodgers will be amazing — amazingly hyped up, that is. Plenty of eyes will be on the Lions following the offseason defections of key members of the coaching staff (and I have them responding well), racing out to a strong start … Williams threw for 3,500 yards and 20 touchdowns amid total chaos as a rookie in 2024. The NFC North faces the AFC North this season — and the Bears will take on the Ravens and Bengals in back-to-back road contests, which will be a nice test.

Which explosive playmaker will decide the NFC title game? The win pushes Seattle above .500 for the first and last time in 2025. But four road trips over the first six weeks and the Bucs’ high-octane offense combine to take their toll on Kyle Shanahan’s crew. A win at Tampa is certainly possible; San Francisco will be coming off a post-TNF mini-bye and hasn’t lost to the Bucs since 2018 (including a narrow victory on the road last year after the bye). But (honestly), hearing “JA-RED GOFF” chants after a Detroit win at SoFi is a totally plausible outcome.