playNFL NationCloseNFL NationNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season., Matt BowenCloseMatt BowenESPN WriterMatt Bowen is a fantasy football and NFL writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2015, writes regularly for ESPN+ and spent multiple years on “NFL Matchup.” After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt played safety in the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo over seven seasons., Seth WalderCloseSeth WalderESPN AnalyticsSeth Walder is an analytics writer at ESPN, specializing in quantitative analysis.
He is also a regular on “ESPN Bet Live” and helps cover sports betting. Seth has been at ESPN since 2017. He previously worked at the New York Daily News covering the Jets and Giants. You can follow Seth on X via @SethWalder.Multiple AuthorsSep 6, 2026, 06:00 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsThe 2026 NFL season kicks off Wednesday with a Super Bowl rematch featuring the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots (8:20 p.m.
ET, NBC). Then, on Thursday, the NFL will have its first-ever regular-season game in Australia, where the Super Bowl-favorite Los Angeles Rams will take on the San Francisco 49ers (8:35 p.m. ET, Netflix).To welcome back football, we’re previewing every single team in the league. Our NFL Nation reporters identified strengths and concerns for all 32 rosters, and then they laid out what would make 2026 a successful season.
Analyst Matt Bowen gave a fantasy nugget for each team, analytics writer Seth Walder made 32 bold predictions, and ESPN Research provided QB stats to know.Plus, our Football Power Index predicted chances for every team to win its division, make the playoffs and more. The model even suggested best- and worst-case scenarios for all 32 teams, based on the 90th- and 10th-percentile outcomes across thousands of simulations, respectively.This is everything you need to know for the start of the season, which will conclude Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, for Super Bowl LXI on ESPN.Jump to a team: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEA SF | TB | TEN | WSH1. Los Angeles RamsChances to make the playoffs: 84.9% Chances to win division: 50.4% Projected wins: 11.3 Strength of schedule: Third hardest 2025 record: 12-5Biggest strength: The passing game. There are several options to choose from on this star-studded roster, but it’s hard not to pick the reigning MVP.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is coming off the best season of his career and will again have one of the best receiver pairs in the NFL: Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Last season, Adams led the league with 14 receiving touchdowns, and Nacua led the NFL with 129 catches. — Sarah BarshopBiggest concern: Offensive tackle. The Rams don’t have much depth at tackle, which could matter if left tackle Alaric Jackson is suspended. The NFL is conducting its own investigation into an alleged incident of domestic violence by Jackson, who is not facing criminal prosecution because his case was assigned for diversion.
Third-round pick Keagen Trost, who was expected to back up Jackson and Warren McClendon Jr., left the preseason opener with a hamstring injury. Coach Sean McVay said he’s hopeful Trost will return to start the season. — BarshopQB stat to know: Stafford is coming off a career-high 46 passing touchdowns — his third season with 40 or more passing scores. Those three seasons are tied for the most by any QB in NFL history along with Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. However, Stafford has seen major regression following each season of 40 passing TDs — including going from 41 to 20 in 2012 and going from 41 to 10 in 2022. — ESPN ResearchBest-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 14-3 Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 9-8This season is a success if … the Rams win the Super Bowl.
The Rams took steps to maximize the remaining time that Stafford wants to play, so expectations are sky-high for Los Angeles. — BarshopOne key fantasy nugget: The Rams regularly isolate Adams in scoring position given his ability to win off the release. His 14 touchdown receptions were the second most in a season this century (Randy Moss had 16 in 2007). — BowenBold prediction for 2026: Tight end Terrance Ferguson will catch eight touchdown passes. I’m buying the hype here because it just makes too much sense. The Rams need a third pass catcher behind Nacua and Adams, and with a year of experience in the league after being a 2025 second-round pick, Ferguson could emerge as that guy.
If either of those two receivers misses time, his ceiling could be even higher. — WalderFull schedule | Roster | Depth chart Read more on the Rams2. Buffalo BillsChances to make the playoffs: 84.1% Chances to win division: 67.1% Projected wins: 10.7 Strength of schedule: 14th easiest 2025 record: 12-5Biggest strength: Josh Allen. It’s pretty simple. The Bills have an opportunity to win a Super Bowl once again this year, despite a first-time head coach, and that’s because of who is playing quarterback.
Allen, 30, is going into his ninth NFL season and has a new No. 1 receiver in DJ Moore. Breaking records has become commonplace for the 2024 MVP, and Allen gives the team a chance in every game. — Alaina GetzenbergBiggest concern: It is a transition year for the new defensive scheme. Coordinator Jim Leonhard has been open about the fact this year’s defense will not fully look like his vision for the unit as it transitions from a 4-3 to 3-4 base. There is a mix of new players who fit the scheme specifically and carryovers from the previous regime.
How the group comes together will go a long way in determining the unit’s success. — GetzenbergQB stat to know: Allen’s dual-threat ability is unlike anything the NFL has seen. Allen already has 299 passing and rushing TDs combined in his first eight seasons, 40 more than the next-closest player (Patrick Mahomes, 259). In fact, he already has the most through a player’s first nine seasons (next closest: Peyton Manning, 288). — ESPN ResearchBest-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 13-4 Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9This season is a success if … the Bills reach the Super Bowl. Unfortunately for new coach Joe Brady, that’s the bar.
Maximizing Allen’s tenure is the priority, and anything comparable to or less than what Sean McDermott accomplished won’t make for a fully successful season. — GetzenbergOne key fantasy nugget: Allen gives fantasy managers a major boost when the Bills have the ball on the doorstep of the end zone. He converted 22 of 28 true goal-line carries (78.6%) over the past three seasons. — BowenBold prediction for 2026: Wide receiver Keon Coleman will record 750 or more receiving yards and at least five touchdowns — both career highs. Earlier this offseason I thought there was a decent chance he’d be on a different team by now. But Coleman also hasn’t been that bad in his first two years, posting a 49 overall score in ESPN’s receiver score (just below average) and 1.6 yards per route run.
Even though the Bills added Moore, I could see Coleman having a mini breakout in Year 3. — WalderFull schedule | Roster | Depth chart Read more on the Bills3. Seattle SeahawksChances to make the playoffs: 68.0% Chances to win division: 26.3% Projected wins: 10.2 Strength of schedule: Sixth hardest 2025 record: 14-3Biggest strength: The defense remains the strength even though it lost three players — safety Coby Bryant, cornerback Riq Woolen and outside linebacker Boye Mafe – from the unit that allowed the fewest points in the NFL last season. The Seahawks still have plenty of difference-makers on that side of the ball, and they still have one of the game’s brightest defensive minds, coach Mike Macdonald, calling the
