The NFL Season is nearly upon us. The season kicks off on Wednesday, September 9. Between now and then, we’ll be previewing all 32 NFL Teams along with playoff picks. One team will be previewed each day, beginning with the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks and ending with the New York Jets. Check back each day for the next installment!

Now that we’ve talked about all the teams and previewed the action, it’s time to talk about the post-season. To wrap up the preview series, with the regular season set to begin tomorrow, I’m offering my fearless post-season predictions. Be sure to bookmark this and check back in January to see how things turn out.

NFC Playoffs

No. 1: Los Angeles Rams
No. 2: Detroit Lions
No. 3: Dallas Cowboys
No. 4: New Orleans Saints
No. 5: Seattle Seahawks
No. 6: San Francisco 49ers
No. 7: Chicago Bears

About: Each year we get a team that goes from worst to first. This year, I’ve picked a couple teams I think will fit that bill. Both of them are here in the NFC. I also picked three teams that weren’t in the playoffs a year ago to win divisions, with four new division winners overall in the NFC. That might feel radical, but there are a lot of spots that were really close and could see a different outcome. I still think the NFC West is the best, with three teams again making the playoffs. This time I have the Rams edging the Seahawks to be the No. 1 overall seed. They join the Lions and Saints, two worst to first teams, and the Dallas Cowboys as division winners for me. I have the Bears making the playoffs in the last Wild Card spot, while the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers all miss the post-season after making it a year ago. In the case of the Packers, I’ve been down on them for this season. The Eagles I think will just miss out as the Cowboys win the division and the Bears and 49ers get the Wild Card slots.

In the Wild Card round, I have the Lions over the Bears, the Cowboys over the 49ers and the Seahawks over the Saints. That sets up a Divisional Round re-match with the Rams and Seahawks, and I have the Rams advancing. In the other matchup, I have the Dallas Cowboys slipping past the Detroit Lions. In the NFC Championship Game, I have the Rams beating the Cowboys to make it back to the Super Bowl in Los Angeles.

AFC Playoffs

No. 1: Buffalo Bills
No. 2: Denver Broncos
No. 3: Cincinnati Bengals
No. 4: Houston Texans
No. 5: New England Patriots
No. 6: Los Angeles Chargers
No. 7: Kansas City Chiefs

About: Last year, the Patriots topped the Bills in the AFC East. This year, I think the Bills return the favor. But both are strong playoff teams and contenders. I also think the Broncos repeat in the AFC West, albeit with a few less wins, while the Chiefs rebound to make the playoffs. I don’t see a Patrick Mahomes team falling short again. That means I’m not bullish on the Steelers or Ravens making it with new coaches, or the Jaguars having another strong season in 2026. I think all of them will be in the mix, but ultimately just out of the playoffs. I think, again, it will take at least 10 wins to get in for the AFC.

In the Wild Card Round, I have the Broncos over the Chiefs, while the Texans hold off the Patriots and the Chargers upset the Cincinnati Bengals. In the Divisional Round, I have the Bills beating the Chargers while the Broncos hold off the Houston Texans. In the AFC Championship Game, I think the Bills clip the Broncos, who fall just short of the Super Bowl for the second straight season.

In the Super Bowl, I think the Rams win the title in Los Angeles again, clipping the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen in the big game.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.