The number of competent teams in the NFL right now is absurd. There obviously aren't a ton of legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but a ton of franchises are trending in the right direction and aren't in a downright terrible spot.
In fact, there might only be a very small handful of teams that are truly hopeless for the 2026 NFL Season. This could lead to an insane amount of competition, and we did see this happen in 2025. Virtually no one predicted that the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks would play in the Super Bowl, for example.
If the 2025 season told us anything, 2026 could be special. We've released a ton of various power rankings, predictions, and other aerial-view articles. Let's do another one here and predict every single double-digit-winning team for the upcoming year, starting with the AFC.
Predicting teams that finish with double-digit wins for the 2026 NFL Season
AFC
Baltimore Ravens: 11-6
The Baltimore Ravens started out 1-5 on the 2025 season, primarily due to a ton of injuries. Some better injury luck, which isn't a crazy ask, coupled with a defensive mastermind as the new head coach, could be enough to get this team back on the right track.
The Ravens are typically among the best teams in the NFL, and I believe what we saw last year was a legitimate outlier. I am not sure the Ravens are going to be a legitimate juggernaut in 2025, but a modest return to the top of the AFC North with a solid season in the right direction could be on the table.
Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7
With all of the defensive additions that the Cincinnati Bengals made this offseason, it'd be hard for this team not to finish with at least 10 wins, right? The Bengals have not made the playoffs since the 2022 season, and given how aggressive the front office got this offseason, you get the sense that they felt the pressure.
The offense is elite when Joe Burrow is healthy, and the defense truly just has to be average. We'll predict a more modest 10-7 record for the Bengals, but it would be good enough to get into the AFC playoffs.
Houston Texans: 12-5
The Houston Texans, despite beginning the season 0-3, finished 12-5. I am not sure it's possible for as team as good as Houston on paper to begin the 2026 seasin 0-3. While we are predicting the same regular season record as last year, it'll be a much more consistent, even 12-win season. On paper, this could be a top-3 team in football.
The big question mark is CJ Stroud, though, as he's been rather average these past two seasons. He enjoyed one of the best rookie seasons in the history of the NFL, but hasn't been able to find that spark. If nothing else, the floor is very high for this franchise.
Jacksonville Jaguars: 10-7
The Jacksonville Jaguars lost Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd in free agency this offseason, so that is a big blow to the talent level. There's also an entire year's worth of film out on both sides of the ball after the year one coaching staff took the league by storm in 2025.
The Jaguars are still going to be a good team, but this could end up being one of those regression years. Despite our more modest prediction, Jacksonville is going to be in good hands for a long time with Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence.
Buffalo Bills: 12-5
The Buffalo Bills made a major change this offseason, firing Sean McDermott and promoting Joe Brady. While they have failed to get over the hump in the playoffs, Buffalo has won double-digit games each year since 2019. Josh Allen has averaged a 12-5 record as a starter in the NFL, so we'll roll with that for 2026. The Bills are a good team, know how to win games, and should be able to retake the AFC East title, as the New England Patriots schedule gets a lot tougher.
Denver Broncos: 12-5
The Denver Broncos won 14 games during the 2025 season. Winning 11 games in a row at one point, the Broncos became late-game experts, winning a ton of last-second contests. On paper, this could be the most talented team in the AFC, especially after the major trade for Jaylen Waddle.
It's reasonable to expect a slight regression, simply because a 14-3 record leaves so little margin for error, and winning 11 in a row is simply not something that teams do that much. Still, though, a 12-5 record, in our predictions, would be good enough for another AFC West title.
Los Angeles Chargers: 10-7
The Los Angeles Chargers made a lot of good moves this offseason, but greatness has evaded this franchise for years now. Going 11-6 and losing in the Wild Card Round in each year of the Jim Harbaugh era thus far, what, exactly, did the Chargers do this offseason that would make you think things would change?
They did not add as much talent as the Broncos did, and I could even argue that the Kansas City Chiefs adding Kenneth Walker III into the backfield gets them that much closer to LA. The Chargers are a rock-solid football team, but there isn't anything that this team will do notably well.
Remember, their former defensive coordinator is now the head coach of the Ravens.
NFC
Detroit Lions: 13-4
Let's kick it off with the Detroit Lions in the NFC, finishing with 13 wins in our predictions. Another hyper-talented team, Detroit, despite dealing with poor defense and a ton of injuries, won nine games in 2025, and also won 27 regular season games combined across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. That 2023 season included a trip to the NFC Championship Game.
The Lions are going to get back on track in a big way and will also enjoy better injury luck as well.
Green Bay Packers: 11-6
The Green Bay Packers have not won more than 11 games in a season since the final years of the Aaron Rodgers era, and it really make you wonder if those last few seasons with Rodgers at the helm is what was carrying this team.
In a similiar boat to the Chargers, the Packers are good, not great. Sure, the Packers have some great players like Micah Parsons and Tucker Kraft, but this franchise has kind of been treading in these waters for years now.
In fact, quarterback Jordan Love has won exactly nine starts in each year of his starting career. The Packers are consistently, but consistently good, not great.
Chicago Bears: 10-7
The Chicago Bears were one of the more fun teams in the NFL this year, winning 11 games. However, that defense was a major issue. Outside of a ton of turnovers, the Bears weren't particularly great at stopping the run or defending the pass. The Bears allowed just under 2,300 yards on the ground last year.
The defense did see a bunch of change, but there's no guarantee it'll all come together. A slight regression in the win column will hit the Bears in 2026. While things are trending in the right direction, defensive uncertainty is center stage.
I'd even also add in Caleb Williams' completion percentage, which concerningly dipped below 60 percent in 2025.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-7
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to be the best team in the NFL at achieving nine or 10 wins. After a messier year in 2025, the Bucs will get back on track and enjoy a more consistent campaign from Baker Mayfield, while also returning to the top of the NFC South in the process.
Since the Bucs had typically done that prior to 2025, there's reason to believe that this franchise will figure it out and course correct after a year in which they only won eight games.
Dallas Cowboys: 10-7
This group of teams is going to be a bit funny, as you'll see we're predicting all of Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington to win 10 games in the 2026 season. The Cowboys fielded one of the best offenses in the NFL in 2025, but also fielded one of the worst defenses. The offense is back and ready for another strong year, and the defense did see a ton of change.
While the change could blossom in 2026, the Cowboys do have a new, year one defensive coordinator and a lot of new faces. Things could simply take some time to get going, but at the same time, an average defense is all this team would need to win 10 games.
Philadelphia Eagles: 10-7
The Eagles now have a major hole on offense at wide receiver, as AJ Brown was traded to the Patriots. There's another new change at offensive coordinator, too, and as we all know, Jalen Hurts is limited as a passer.
Despite the Eagles having gone through some dysfunction in recent years, this team has still been good enough to win double-digit games, and I do not anticipate that not being the case in 2026. The defense is going to be top-tier, and the offense still sports enough talent to help this team to another strong year.
Washington Commanders: 10-7
Washington added a ton of talent this offseason in free agency, reshaping the defense overall. After a 12-5 season in 2024, the Commanders did a total 180, finishing 5-12 in 2025.
I am not sure this team is quite good enough to win 12 games, especially given Jayden Daniels and his injury concerns, but this operation appeared to be elevated this offseason with all the added talent, so we'll slot them at 10-7 in our predictions for 2026.
Los Angeles Rams: 14-3
We've adjusted the Los Angeles Rams win total, now predicting them to win 14 games. The Rams added Myles Garrett in a mega trade recently, while also adding Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson earlier in the offseason.
On paper, this comfortably feels like the best roster in the NFL, featuring an insanely talented defense, a great offensive line, stellar weapons, and the reigning MVP in Matthew Stafford. It may end up being a shock if the Rams do not win it all this year.
A year after winning 12 games, the Rams increase their win total by two in our predictions.
Seattle Seahawks: 12-5
Seattle will win two fewer games this year in our predictions. Despite winning it all in 2025, the Seahawks being able to sustain that high level of success might be a bit unlikely. the Super Bowl hangover is a real thing, and the Seahawks did lose their starting running back, and cornerback Riq Woolen in free agency.
This team is well-coached enough to be among the best in the league, but we'll see a slight drop off in 2026. With how deep the defense is and how strong head coach Mike Macdonald is, this team is still going to be quite good.
San Francisco 49ers: 11-6
The San Francisco 49ers might end up being the best third-place team in NFL history in 2026. This team does appear to have what it takes to win it all. Going 12-5 in 2025, the 49ers were in third in the division, but still managed to win 12 games despite a ton of injuries.
They'll go 11-6 and be our last team in our predictions to finish with double-digit wins in 2026. We've seen this team not fully been able to shake the injury bug in the Kyle Shanahan era, and that's been an unfortunate trend during his head coaching tenure.
Given how tough the NFC West is, and the Niners having some injury concerns seemingly every year, an 11-6 record could be a realistic prediction.