The Super Bowl losers curse has been tried and true for years, so will it claim a Patriots team seemingly on the rise that is healthier and better than its previous edition?
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
With a new coach at the helm in Joe Brady, will this finally be the year that the Bills break through and make it to the Super Bowl? That’s still a big ask for Josh Allen and Co., but by adding D.J. Moore, he has a true WR1 that the team has lacked since Stefon Diggs left town.
Prediction: 12-5
New England Patriots
You simply can’t ignore the addition of not just A.J. Brown, but also Romeo Doubs. The defence should continue to be solid and Mike Vrabel seemingly has put the Dianna Russini scandal in the rearview mirror. With an MVP QB in Drake Maye and another mediocre schedule, the Pats should shake off that curse.
Prediction: 11-6
New York Jets
Geno Smith’s return is highly unlikely to be the answer for the Jets, but it’s better than what they had last year. The big question is how big of a celebration will it be when the team gets its first interception of the season after being shut out in 2025.
Prediction: 5-12
Miami Dolphins
There’s rebuilding and there’s what the Dolphins are doing this season, which is the extreme edition. This roster is the least-talented roster in the NFL and is destined to compete for a Top 3 pick in the draft. The only bright spot could be a dynamic running game featuring Malik Willis and De’Von Achane, but that’s about it.
Prediction: 4-11
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are ripe for a new coach boost after sacking John Harbaugh for young gun Jesse Minter. Lamar Jackson has proven he can play at an MVP level when he’s healthy and the defence should be solid. An easy schedule doesn’t hurt, either.
Prediction: 12-5
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincy is another team that’s sure to benefit from an easy schedule and adding an anchor like Dexter Lawrence to the middle of its defensive line should help boost hopes. The star-studded offence just needs to stay on the field for this team to rack up points and return to the playoffs.
Prediction: 11-6
Pittsburgh Steelers
As a Cowboys fan, it’s hard to be enthused about Mike McCarthy coming on board. Can Aaron Rodgers actually lead this team to more than mediocrity on his last hurrah? There are some decent pieces, especially on defence, but for now we’re probably looking at another season around .500.
Prediction: 9-8
Cleveland Browns
With either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders under centre, this team is setup to fail. The defence will be much worse without Myles Garrett. This season should be the start of a much-needed rebuild and they can’t mess up a shot at some of the top QBs.
Prediction: 4-13
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud’s playoff performance undoubtedly left a bad taste in anyone’s mouth, but the reality is that this team should at least be as good as last year, if not better. David Montgomery should bring some stability in the running game and the defence remains one of the league’s best.
Prediction: 12-5
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence seriously put things together late in the season as the Jags reeled off eight wins in a row down the stretch. In this weak division, we can see them rack up another season with double-digit wins, but should fall back from the 13 they had last year.
Prediction: 10-7
Indianapolis Colts
After their hot start last year, the Colts tailed off hard after Daniel Jones got banged up. Now he’s trying to come back from a torn Achilles in near-record time. How effective will this offence be if he can’t scramble like he did before? That’s the question we can’t shake.
Prediction: 6-11
Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward is coming off a rough rookie season that saw his coach fired midway through it. A new boss and some stability could help him live up to No. 1 pick billing, but there’s still not enough real talent for this team to be considered a potential playoff contender.
Prediction: 6-11
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
If not for a freak injury to Bo Nix, the Broncos might’ve been in the Super Bowl and potentially put up a much better fight than the Pats did. The defence remains an elite unit and the addition of Jaylen Waddle provides a potential elite weapon for this offence to count on en route to another division title.
Prediction: 12-5
Los Angeles Chargers
Can Justin Herbert and this offence finally cook like fans have wanted to see for so long? With Mike McDaniel calling plays, there’s a real chance. As long as the offensive line and key defenders stay on the field, the playoffs are almost a certainty.
Prediction: 11-6*
Kansas City Chiefs
Even if Patrick Mahomes is back from his torn ACL suffered late last season, how effective will he be? This is an aging team that lost some key pieces on defence and the offensive line is fairly average. Let’s not forget that this team was under .500 in the 14 games that Mahomes started last year, either.
Prediction: 9-8
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are going to (rightfully) take the patient approach with top pick Fernando Mendoza, which should mean a long season of struggles while Kirk Cousins holds the fort. We wouldn’t be surprised either if Maxx Crosby is dealt by the deadline and this defence really goes in the tank.
Prediction: 4-13
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
NFC division winners: Eagles, Lions, Buccaneers, Rams
NFC wild cards: Seahawks, Cowboys, Bears
NFC championship: Rams over Lions
AFC division winners: Bills, Ravens, Texans, Broncos
AFC wild cards: Chargers, Bengals, Patriots
AFC championship: Ravens over Bills
Super Bowl: Rams over Ravens
MVP: Lamar Jackson, BAL
Offensive POY: Ja’Marr Chase, CIN
Defensive POY: Aidan Hutchinson, DET