There are still about six months until the start of the 2026 regular season, but that won't stop us from trying to predict all eight division winners. In 2025, we did see some shocking finishes in certain divisions. Not many people had the Carolina Panthers winning the NFC South, for example.
And the Denver Broncos winning the AFC West was a massive surprise to some. The 2025 season did show us just how much parity is present in the NFL today, and that parity could spill into 2026 in a major way.
Ahead of free agency in about two weeks, we've predicted all eight division winners for the 2026 NFL Season. Let's dive into those predictions here.
Way too early picks for every division winner in the 2026 NFL Season
AFC North - Baltimore Ravens
Jesse Minter, a defensive guru, is back with the Baltimore Ravens, but this time is back as the head coach. Defense was the team's main issue in 2025, but the injuries really piled up on both sides of the ball. The Ravens did previously have a young, up and coming defensive mind in Mike Macdonald, and all he did was win the Super Bowl this year. Hiring Minter feels like a solid course correction, so the Ravens are primed to have a strong 2026 campaign.
AFC South - Houston Texans
It's hard for me to imagine the Jacksonville Jaguars repeating as division champs. Houston has the better roster, and the Jags could lose a good bit in free agency. The Texans defense is again going to be among the best in the NFL, as another 12-win season is in reach in 2026, but 12 wins might just be enough for the AFC South title.
AFC East - Buffalo Bills
Given how historically easy the New England Patriots schedule was in 2025, it would be a shock if they were able to win 14 regular season games again. Buffalo does have a ton of key free agents, but they're more of a known commodity right now and will be able to snatch the AFC East title back in 2026.
AFC West - Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have such a clear and obvious roster advantage over the rest of the AFC West, and Bo Nix appears to be a lot better than many expected. Denver should have no problem repeating as champions in 2026 given the growth we saw from 2024 into 2025.
NFC North - Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions, for the second year in a row, struggled with injuries on the defensive side of the ball. On paper, this is absolutely one of the most talented teams in the NFL, and I just have a hard time believing the Lions are only going to win nine games again. The front office is strong, and Dan Campbell's leadership is off the charts.
If there was any team primed to bounce back in 2026, it's the Lions. Expect a few more wins from 2025 into 2026 and a return to the top of the NFC North.
NFC South - New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints finished the 2025 season on a strong 4-1 pace, and Tyler Shough truly played well. The year two jump could be coming for Shough, and if the Saints can add another weapon or two, that offense would be rather complete.
But the bigger story might be the sneaky-good defense and their chances at a breakout under Brandon Staley, who did one heck of a job in 2025 as the defensive coordinator.
NFC East - Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have already made key changes on the defensive side of the ball, notably bringing in Christian Parker as the new defensive coordinator. Parker was with Vic Fangio and the Philadelphia Eagles the past two seasons and is going to bring a lot of that into Dallas.
With the Cowboys already sporting an elite offense, this team might truly only be a handful of additions on defense away from winning double-digit games. With the best quarterback in the division as well, it'd be a bad idea to sleep on the Cowboys.
NFC West - Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams were in the driver's seat to win the NFC West in 2025 until they weren't. Los Angeles has the cap space and NFL Draft picks to aggressively fill roster holes in the offseason, and with Matthew Stafford clearly having a lot left in the tank, the Rams are going to surpass the Seattle Seahawks and regain control of the NFC West.