It’s the penultimate week of the 2025-26 NFL regular season, and the playoff picture is almost set.
As far as playoff implications go, the two games to watch are the Carolina Panthers against the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers facing the Miami Dolphins. If the Panthers win and the Buccaneers lose, the Panthers will be crowned NFC South champions.
Additionally, the fight for the No. 1 seed in both conferences rages on.
Right now, the No. 5 seed in the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams, have the best Super Bowl odds at +450, but the incumbent No. 1 seed, the Seahawks, are +600.
With all that being said, check out my predictions for each game below.
Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys
It’s looking like the Commanders will be without Marcus Mariota for this game, leaving it up to veteran journeyman Josh Johnson.
That said, the team hasn’t announced whether it’ll be him or Jeff Driskel, so this will be something to watch for.
Either way, I don’t think the Commanders will be able to keep pace with the Cowboys’ offence, which is averaging 28.3 points per game (fifth).
PREDICTION: Cowboys -7 (-110)
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
While the Lions have little chance at making the playoffs, it starts with winning this game.
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy suffered a hand injury in Week 16, so Max Brosmer will suit up.
No, the Lions’ defence isn’t good enough to pick him off four times like the Seahawks did in Week 13, but I worry about the Vikings moving the ball offensively.
PREDICTION: Lions -6 (-110)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
The Chiefs have now lost two quarterbacks to torn ACLs, Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew, meaning it’ll be second-year undrafted free agent Chris Oladokun up against one of the best defences in the NFL.
The Broncos have held teams to 291.6 total yards (fourth) and 19.7 points (fifth) per game.
A shutout is possible.
PREDICTION: Broncos -13 (-110)
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans
Chargers QB Justin Herbert was excellent against the Cowboys in Week 16, but the Texans’ defence is about as opposite of Dallas as it gets.
The Texans are tied for sixth in pressures (228), while the Chargers have allowed the third most (247). Additionally, the Texans are giving up 96.2 rushing yards (fourth) and 178.1 passing yards (fifth) per game.
The Chargers have a good defence of their own, but the Texans’ pass rush against the L.A. offensive line will be the difference.
PREDICTION: Texans +2 (-110)
Green Bay Packers vs. Baltimore Ravens
We may see a Malik Willis (Packers) vs. Tyler Huntley (Ravens) showdown.
If that’s the case, I trust the Willis-led Packers more. In relief of Jordan Love last week against the Chicago Bears, Willis completed 9 of 11 passes for 121 yards (11 yards per attempt) and a touchdown.
He wasn’t afraid to push the ball downfield, which may work well against a Ravens defence that’s allowed 12 passing touchdowns on throws with air yards of 10 yards or longer.
PREDICTION: Packers -2.5 (-115)
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Bengals were excellent on the road in Miami in Week 16. At the same time, at home against the Atlanta Falcons, the Cardinals stumbled.
Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. both dropped potential touchdowns last week, but against a Bengals defence that’s allowing 402.8 yards per game, which is the worst in the league, this is a perfect game to get back on track.
This is a great bounce-back spot for the Cardinals.
PREDICTION: Cardinals +7 (-105)
Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Browns lost running back Quinshon Judkins for the rest of the season with an ankle/leg injury, limiting their running game and scoring potential.
They face a Steelers team that’s been playing excellent offence lately, scoring 27 points or more in each of their last three games.
A big part of that has been their running game with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, who will face a Browns defence that’s allowed 163.3 rushing yards per game over their last three.
Steelers get the win.
PREDICTION: Steelers -3.5 (-110)
Tennessee Titans vs. New Orleans Saints
The Titans are at home, and they’ve put up 24 points or more in two of their last three home games.
Also, they’re averaging 27 points per game over their last three, putting up 31 on the Browns, 24 on the San Francisco 49ers, and 26 on the Chiefs.
We’ll get a fun rookie QB matchup, and I’ll take the points for the Titans at home.
PREDICTION: Titans +2.5 (-105)
Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Colts’ playoff chances are virtually zero after their loss to the 49ers. Their defence was atrocious, and now they’re playing a Jaguars team led by QB Trevor Lawrence, who hasn’t thrown an interception in his last four games and has 12 touchdown passes over that stretch.
Also, we’ll likely see Riley Leonard under centre for the Colts, which I don’t have much hope for.
PREDICTION: Jaguars -6.5 (-115)
Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers need a win here to keep their playoff hopes alive, but this is going to be a more challenging game than expected.
Last week was the first game of the Quinn Ewers experience, and while he threw two interceptions, 13.2 per cent of his attempts were 20-plus yards downfield and 26.3 per cent were between 10 and 19 yards.
Couple his willingness to throw downfield with Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield averaging fewer than 200 passing yards, 1.3 passing touchdowns, and close to an interception per game over their last four, and the Dolphins could squeak out a win or a cover.
PREDICTION: Dolphins +5.5 (-110)
New York Jets vs. New England Patriots
The Patriots saw several players wind up on the injury report against the Ravens, including RB TreVeyon Henderson, WRs Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas, and two defensive tackles, Joshua Farmer and Khyiris Tonga.
Against the Jets with Brady Cook under centre, I don’t think the Patriots will rush them back for this game.
The Patriots will win, but I expect a backdoor cover from the Jets.
PREDICTION: Jets +13.5 (-110)
Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Panthers are 5-1 against the spread when they’re underdogs at home.
While the Seahawks do have a phenomenal defence, their offence has been too up-and-down for me. Yes, they put up 38 points last week, but QB Sam Darnold completed 64.7 per cent of his passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in overtime.
Meanwhile, Panthers QB Bryce Young has played well, throwing six passing touchdowns and zero interceptions over his last three games.
Seahawks win, but Panthers cover.
PREDICTION: Panthers +7 (-105)
Las Vegas Raiders vs. New York Giants
Both losers of nine in a row, this game could determine the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Of course, Raiders players and head coach Pete Carroll are playing to keep their jobs going into next season, while the Giants’ current coaching staff will hope to show something to hopefully stay on in some capacity for whoever the next head coach is.
Generally speaking, I don’t trust Raiders QB Geno Smith. I believe his time with them as the starting quarterback is coming to an end, and with a loss, the Raiders could be in line to select Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall.
PREDICTION: Giants +1.5 (-110)
Buffalo Bills vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Both teams have less-than-stellar run defences, with the Bills surrendering 144.3 rushing yards (30th) and the Eagles giving up 123.5 (21st) per game.
Bills RB James Cook has five touchdowns over his last two games. It’ll be hard for the Eagles to slow him down.
Additionally, the Bills have the better pass defence, allowing 167.1 passing yards per game (second).
It’ll be a close game, but the Bills edge this one out at home by a field goal.
PREDICTION: Bills -1.5 (-110)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears
With a total of 51 points, I’m expecting this to be a bit of a shootout.
The Bears may not have WR Rome Odunze back, but I do expect Luther Burden III to suit up, which will help their passing game tremendously.
The 49ers could potentially be without TE George Kittle, who suffered an ankle injury in their win over the Colts.
The Bears will cover.
PREDICTION: Bears +3 (-115)
Atlanta Falcons vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are third in pressures with 241, but the Falcons’ offensive line has played well this season, allowing 182 (27th).
Not only that, but Falcons QB Kirk Cousins gets the ball out quickly with an average time to throw of 2.57 seconds.
Against QBs who have a time to throw of 2.57 seconds or faster, the Rams are allowing a 69.7 per cent completion percentage for 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Additionally, when kept clean in the pocket, Cousins has completed 108 of 150 passes (72 per cent).
Between the Falcons’ offensive line and the Rams needing to worry about RB Bijan Robinson, the Falcons will keep it competitive enough to cover.
PREDICTION: Falcons +8 (-110)
