For just the second time ever, the season is starting on a Wednesday, with the reigning-champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl 60. The fact that both teams are in this position is something few saw coming entering the 2025 season. The Seahawks had a nice showing in 2024 in their first year under Mike Macdonald, but they have moved on from quarterback Geno Smith and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb for Sam Darnold and Klint Kubiak at their respective positions and also traded away DK Metcalf.
It looked more like a team in semi-transition than a team ready to win a Super Bowl. The Patriots, meanwhile, were coming off a 4-13 season and looked years away from contending. But the NFL is full of surprises, and 2025 proved it.
There will be more surprises in 2026, making picking teams both exciting and challenging. Here is how the CBS Sports NFL staff -- writers, editors, analysts and researchers -- envision this season playing out. Voters: Pete Prisco, Leger Douzable, Emory Hunt, Mike Renner, R.J.
White, Ryan Wilson, Jordan Dajani, Josh Edwards, Bryan DeArdo, Tyler Sullivan, Garrett Podell, Jared Dubin, John Breech, Zach Pereles, Doug Clawson The Eagles became the first team in over 20 years to repeat as NFC East champions, but our voters see a new face emerging atop the division. The Cowboys had a huge offseason adding defensive talent -- both in terms of players and coaches -- to complement a high-flying offense. The NFC North is the only division that features all four teams getting at least one vote as division champion, and for good reason: All four teams posted winning records last year.
There are significant questions for all four teams that prevent them from joining the upper echelon of Super Bowl favorites, but this will be a dogfight. The Buccaneers' four-year reign atop the division ended last year at the hands of the Panthers, who, eight months later, are the only team in the division not to receive a vote to win it. The Saints' strong finish to 2025 helps them garner significant consideration from our voters.
The Rams are Super Bowl favorites and, in turn, NFC West favorites. The 10 votes they received were tied for second-most among any projected division winner. Seattle received five division nods, while San Francisco somewhat surprisingly gets zero.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
