Hello all, my name is Jake and as a massive sports nerd, I am thrilled to join this site to share some thoughts on the Wide World of Sports. Throughout the upcoming NFL season, I will be sharing my weekly picks, player props for those who like to throw a few bucks on the game, and Fantasy Football assistance for those who participate. I am grateful for the opportunity to write each week. Without further ado…
FOOTBALL SEASON IS (almost) BACK!!
For the past seven months since the Philadelphia Eagles lifted the Lombardi Trophy, football fans have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the 2025-2026 NFL Season. The offseason has been filled with important news and notes; here are some of the most notable transactions and events from the spring and summer months:
- Several veteran quarterbacks have moved teams, including Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers, Geno Smith to the Raiders, Sam Darnold to the Seahawks, and Russell Wilson to the Giants.
- Cam Ward was drafted No. 1 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft, but has somehow flown under the radar leading up to the season compared to past QBs drafted 1st overall in past years. Other notable draft picks include Travis Hunter No. 2 to the Jaguars, Ashton Jeanty No. 6 to the Raiders, and Shedeur Sanders falling to the 5th round before being drafted by the Browns.
- Superstar linebacker was traded to the Green Bay Packers on a 4-yr, $188-million contract in a shocking move by the Cowboys, after Parsons expressed his frustration with contract negotiations involving owner Jerry Jones.
Now to the fun segment. It’s never easy to predict certain aspects of the upcoming season, especially player awards, division winners, and the Super Bowl matchup. However, I thought I’d give it a shot and see how we fare in February 2026.
PREDICTIONS:
- MVP: Joe Burrow (+650)
- Burrow had MVP numbers last season, but was unable to overcome the Bengals’ slow start and the heroics of 2025 MVP Josh Allen. If the Burrow and the superstar Ja’Marr Chase can stay healthy, and the defense can be even slightly better than last season, I think Burrow has an amazing shot at his first MVP award.
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: Emeka Egbuka (+1800)
- Kind of a long-shot here, but the buzz around Egbuka cannot be ignored. Especially with Baker Mayfield as his QB, I believe Egbuka shows why he was widely considered one of the best players in the Draft.
- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Abdul Carter (+225)
- I mean, the odds speak for themselves right? Carter was undoubtedly the best defensive player in the draft, and his preseason tape has shown undeniable talent and power against opposing offenses. Carter joins possibly the best defensive front in the NFL on the Giants, and I believe he will have numerous opportunities to wreak havoc with the help of the other defensive linemen drawing attention from opposing offenses.
- Offensive Player of the Year: Ja’Marr Chase (+850)
- Chase is widely considered the best receiver in the NFL, and I anticipate the Burrow/Chase connection to be as strong as ever this season. Side note – with the Bengals’ defense expected to be awful again this season, the Bengals will have no choice but the pass the ball often.
- Defensive Player of the Year: TJ Watt (+950)
- After signing a massive extension with the Steelers this summer, I expect Watt to live up to this contract and have one of his better seasons in the past several years. Don’t count him out for leading the league in sacks this season on a stellar Steelers’ defense.
- Coach of the Year: Ben Johnson (+700)
- Ben Johnson was the most sought after coach after his success as the Offensive Coordinator for the Lions. He had his choice to coach for several teams needing a head coach, and he chose the division rival Chicago Bears. The Bears have a stacked offensive roster and brilliant offensive mind in Johnson, and I expect them to significantly improve upon their 5-12 record last season.
- Division Winners
- AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs (-115) – Yes, the Broncos and Chargers have improved their rosters this offseason, but until the Chiefs prove otherwise, I have to pick Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
- AFC North: Baltimore Ravens (-170) – The Ravens have debatably the best roster in the NFL. While this division is always a dogfight, I believe Baltimore comes out on top, yet again.
- AFC South: Houston Texans (+100) – The Texans have bolstered their defensive talent over the past few seasons, and I expect it to pay off as they win the AFC South for another season.
- AFC East: Buffalo Bills (-330) – To be honest, I don’t expect this division to be that competitive. We’ll see you in January, Josh Allen.
- NFC West: San Francisco 49ers (+155) – After an injury-plagued 2024-25 season, the 49ers look to bounce back with another trip to the playoffs. While this will be another dogfight of a division, I see the Niners coming out on top.
- NFC North: Green Bay Packers (+240) – The NFC North is probably the most stacked division, with high expectations for each team. Honestly this division is the biggest toss-up of them all, but I’ll take the Packers, especially after the blockbuster trade for Micah Parsons.
- NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-115) – Baker Mayfield arrives to the 2025-26 season after a career year, passing for 41 touchdowns and 4500 yards. I expect Emeka Egbuka to be a large part of this offense as a rookie, and Head Coach Todd Bowles to do his thing defensively.
- NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles (-140) – Gotta go with Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and the defending champs here.
- Super Bowl Matchup: Buffalo Bills vs. Philadelphia Eagles – It might be lame to pick the AFC and NFC teams with the best odds to make the Super Bowl, but I believe the entire 2025-26 season will show why these are the two best teams in football. If I’m correct and they do indeed meet on February 8th in Santa Clara, sign me up for a matchup between two iconic fanbases.
Thanks for reading, I will be back with another post soon, prior to the start of the season!
(image via usatoday.com)
_____
In case anyone is wondering what sports analysis is doing on SD Rostra, read our introduction here!