2026 NFL Predictions: Patriots, Eagles Miss Playoffs — SkimNews
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- The columnist's division winners include the Bills (11-6) in the AFC East, Ravens (12-5) in the AFC North, Texans (11-6) in the AFC South, Broncos (12-5) in the AFC West, and Cowboys (10-7) in the NFC East, with the Dolphins (2-15) projected as the worst team in football.
- The AFC East bold prediction has the Patriots missing the playoffs despite a 10-win season last year, citing the loss of sack leader Harold Landry for at least four games and the toughest first-four-week schedule in 40 years (.721 combined strength of schedule).
- The AFC North bold prediction pegs Bengals second-round pick Cashius Howell to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, reasoning that Dexter Lawrence will draw double teams and free Howell to rack up sacks against sack-prone opponents like Aaron Rodgers and the Browns.
- The AFC South bold prediction has Trevor Lawrence leading the NFL in interceptions, driven by a brutal opening stretch (Browns, Broncos, Patriots, Bengals, Eagles) and the departure of Travis Etienne from Jacksonville's backfield.
- The AFC West bold prediction has the Broncos repeating as division champs despite carrying only the third-best DraftKings odds (+210), behind the Chiefs (+170) and Chargers (+190), with Denver now adding Jaylen Waddle as a home-run threat.
- The NFC East bold prediction has the Eagles missing the playoffs for the first time in Nick Sirianni's five-year tenure, citing a fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons and the offseason departure of A.J. Brown.
- The author was second-most accurate in preseason predictions last season per Stadium Rant, hitting 13 team records exactly or within one game, though he notably whiffed on the Seahawks, who went on to win the Super Bowl.
Why it matters: The author has a documented track record as the second-most accurate NFL predictor tracked by Stadium Rant, making his bold calls carry weight: two of them (Patriots, Eagles missing playoffs) directly contradict recent playoff results, and a third (Broncos repeating) runs counter to public betting markets that list Denver as the third favorite in its own division at +210 odds.
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