2026 NFL standings as predicted by oddsmakers

The 2026 NFL season is around the corner.

This is the time of year when hope springs eternal for all 32 NFL franchises. A fresh slate to improve upon last year and a renewed chance of reaching football’s tallest mountain. For a brief moment, every team is on equal footing.

But what are the oddsmakers saying about the upcoming season?

According to Betway, the Los Angeles Rams enter the season as favourites to win Super Bowl LXI, which is set to be held on home turf at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14. They’re followed by the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles.

Week 1 gets underway on Sept. 9 with a Super Bowl rematch between the defending champion Seahawks and the New England Patriots.

NFL standings predictions

Using over/under lines from Betway, we have constructed a prediction of the NFL standings for 2026.

Note: all ties are broken by alphabetical order, rather than the NFL’s actual tie-breaking rules or any judgments of the teams.

AFC playoff picture

1. Baltimore Ravens: 11.5*
2. Buffalo Bills: 10.5*
3. Cincinnati Bengals: 10.5
4. Kansas City Chiefs: 10.5*
5. New England Patriots: 10.5
6. Denver Broncos: 9.5
7. Houston Texans: 9.5*

* – division winner

Just missed: Los Angeles Chargers (9.5), Jacksonville Jaguars (8.5), Pittsburgh Steelers (8.5)

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills: 10.5
2. New England Patriots: 10.5
3. New York Jets: 5.5
4. Miami Dolphins: 4.5

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens: 11.5
2. Cincinnati Bengals: 10.5
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8.5
4. Cleveland Browns: 5.5

AFC South

1. Houston Texans: 9.5
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8.5
3. Indianapolis Colts: 7.5
4. Tennessee Titans: 6.5

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs: 10.5
2. Denver Broncos: 9.5
3. Los Angeles Chargers: 9.5
4. Las Vegas Raiders: 5.5

NFC playoff picture

1. Los Angeles Rams: 11.5*
2. Detroit Lions: 10.5*
3. Philadelphia Eagles: 10.5*
4. Seattle Seahawks: 10.5
5. Chicago Bears: 9.5
6. Dallas Cowboys: 9.5
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8.5*

* – division winner

Just missed: Green Bay Packers (9.5), San Francisco 49ers (9.5)

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles: 10.5
2. Dallas Cowboys: 9.5
3. New York Giants: 7.5
4. Washington Commanders: 7.5

NFC North

1. Detroit Lions: 10.5
2. Chicago Bears: 9.5
3. Green Bay Packers: 9.5
4. Minnesota Vikings: 8.5

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8.5
2. Atlanta Falcons: 7.5
3. Carolina Panthers: 7.5
4. New Orleans Saints: 7.5

NFC West

1. Los Angeles Rams: 11.5
2. Seattle Seahawks: 10.5
3. San Francisco 49ers: 9.5
4. Arizona Cardinals: 4.5