New York Giants guard Jon Runyan Jr. looks on before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia.
It still resonates.
Jon Runyan Jr. has 96 games and 79 starts on his NFL résumé, and after four years with the Packers and the past two with the Giants, he knows his way around primetime action. The 29-year-old left guard is buoyed and not at all blasé about kicking off this season under the lights at MetLife Stadium.
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“Only show on in America at the time, playing against the Cowboys,’’ Runyan told The Post. “I love playing ‘Sunday Night Football’ because I just think back to times, me being in high school, still haven’t done my homework and ‘Sunday Night Football’ comes on, in my room, laying on the floor playing catch with the football and watching.
“I remember those days of watching by myself in high school and watching my dad [former NFL offensive tackle Jon Runyan] playing as well. I love it. There’s nothing better.’’
Runyan started 29 games the past two seasons for the Giants but entered this season with no more guaranteed money on the three-year, $30 million deal he signed in March 2024. That seemingly made him vulnerable to getting cut, but he persevered through a demanding summer under new head coach John Harbaugh and last week was given a two-year, $22 million contract extension — with $21.5 million of it guaranteed.
New York Giants guard Jon Runyan Jr. looks on before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.
This means four of the five starting offensive linemen — Runyan, Andrew Thomas, rookie Sisi Mauigoa and Jermaine Eluemunor — are signed through at least 2028. Center John Michael Schmitz Jr. is in the final year of his rookie contract.
“I feel the way our trajectory has been going since 2024 as an offensive line, we keep these guys together that we have, I feel it’s just going to keep going up and up,’’ Runyan said. “As the offensive line goes, I feel that’s how the team goes and Year 2, Year 3 under Harbaugh, this thing is really going to skyrocket.’’
New York Giants guard Jon Runyan (76) after the Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 on January 4, 2026, in East Rutherford, NJ. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
The Cowboys defense is almost completely overhauled. Only three starters — DT Kenny Clark, S Malik Hooker and CB DaRon Bland — return from a unit that in 2025 allowed more points — 511 — than any other team in the league. The other eight starters are new to the roster.
The newness extends to the coaching staff, as the Cowboys made Christian Parker the youngest defensive coordinator in franchise history.
Parker, 34, was the Eagles pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach before moving from one NFC East team to another.
“One of his really premium goals is to mix it up and be unpredictable,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan earlier this summer. “That really takes a lot of communication. That takes a lot of coordination. Bottom line is, I think he’s got all the ingredients.
“Not only is he a motivator, communicator, but he’s got the ingredients to be a very strategic outstanding coach.”
Harbaugh was 4-1 facing the Cowboys during his time as the Ravens head coach.
“They’re always, I mean, the Cowboys are the Cowboys,’’ Harbaugh said. “They’re talented, they’re tough. They do it their way and they’ve got a bunch of guys, fast football team that flies around. A lot of talent on offense, they’re rebuilding their defense.’’
The Eagles will kick off their 2026 season when they host the Washington Commanders at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday at the Linc.
Here are our predictions:
Reuben Frank (0-0)
Nobody has been better on opening day lately than the Eagles, who are undefeated in Week 1 under Nick Sirianni and an NFL-best 16-3 in openers since 2008. With a win against Washington, Jalen Hurts will become the first Eagles quarterback ever to win six openers. I expect an uneven performance from the offense Sunday with so much newness – new play caller, new scheme, new receivers – but this defense is so darn loaded I can’t picture the Commanders doing a lot of damage, even with a healthy Jayden Daniels. I feel like this game will be played in the high teens to low 20s with the defense dominating in the second half and the Eagles coming out on top for what would be a franchise-record-tying sixth straight opening-day win. Hurts is 8-1 against Washington with five straight wins in meaningful games when he plays the whole game. New offense or not, he’s not losing this one.
Eagles 23, Commanders 17
Dave Zangaro (0-0)
Even though some weird things seem to happen in Week 1, the Eagles are clearly the more talented team on Sunday. So I still think they’re going to win and it starts up front. On defense, the Eagles boast a talented defensive line that looks ready for a big season in 2026. Jalyx Hunt is coming off a tremendous training camp and he’ll be facing a backup left tackle in this game. He should get off to an incredibly quick start to his season. And then on the interior, Jalen Carter is healthy and in shape and is the centerpiece of what could be the best defense in the NFL. Even without Jonathan Greenard, I have faith in the defensive line.
On offense, the Eagles have a brand new scheme and while I generally think it will take some time to get this offense into a rhythm, they should be able to run the ball from the jump. Saquon Barkley has always killed the Commanders and that trend is going to continue on Sunday afternoon. I have him well over 100 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles cruise to a victory to start their 2026 season.
Eagles 27, Commanders 17
Barrett Brooks (0-0)
This offseason felt longer than usual. Let me start off with my prediction for the year: My Eagles will go 12-5 this year. They will win the division, even though they will split with the Cowboys.
Week 1 will be tough for the Birds because this is their first game in the new offense. I have very high expectations for Sean Manion. I really like this scheme for Jalen Hurts. I’m hoping he gets back to the run threat he was, threatening the defense and holding defenders in their gap disciplines. The game changer will be Saquon Barkley. I think he will run all over the Commanders’ defense for over 130 yards. Vic Fangio’s defense will be the other star in this game. Jayden Daniels will be sacked 4+ times and we will finally see the best trio of CBs in the league. The Birds win convincingly.
Eagles 28, Commanders 14
Mike Mulhern (0-0)
Sunday’s matchup is full of unknowns. Two first-time play callers on offense for both teams. Sean Mannion and David Blough are young, up-and-coming former backup quarterbacks-turned offensive coordinators. Washington’s got a new defensive coordinator to boot in Daronte Jones. Figuring out what to expect in an era of no preseason reps and limited practice access is a bit of a fool’s errand. But early returns in Philadelphia are fairly positive for an offense in flux, while the Commanders experiment moving Jayden Daniels under center seems to be hitting even more speed bumps.
The Eagles’ defense is the one unit that hasn’t undergone wholesale changes. Even without Jonathan Greenard, they should have success up front against a depleted Commanders offensive line. Vic Fangio’s group is loaded and will surely have some surprises for Daniels, Blough, and company. Add in a heavy dose of Saquon Barkley and an electric crowd at the Linc and the Eagles once again walk away with a win in the season opener.
Eagles 28, Commanders 16
Ashlyn Sullivan (0-0)
The Eagles’ defensive line should be able to wreak havoc on a Commanders offensive line that was already weak but is now even weaker with the injury to their starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Brandon Coleman will go in for Tunsil at tackle and Eagles edge rusher Jalyx Hunt should have himself a day with this matchup. Week 1 is always a little weird and the Commanders have the element of surprise with a new offensive coordinator David Blough. I do expect the Eagles’ offense to look a bit clunky to start, but it will be enough to win this game against an opponent that has very little expectations in the division this year.
Eagles 24, Commanders 14
Ryan Fowler (0-0)
Sunday is all about the trenches. On offense, while questions remain toward play sequencing from Sean Mannion and what the offense will actually look like in a live game setting, leaning on the front five and getting as many touches for Saquon Barkley should be the focus early against an underwhelming Commanders defensive front — despite the presence of Daron Payne and a faster, more athletic LB group headlined by top 10 pick Sonny Styles. Defensively, expect Washington to test Riq Woolen and Philly’s LBs in coverage with explosive TE Chig Okonkwo, but Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis should more than have their way against center Nick Allegretti and company, ultimately limiting space for Washington to execute. I’m also pumped to see Jalyx Hunt go to work.
Overall, I expect a tight ballgame in Week 1. Washington touts one of football’s most dynamic young QBs in a prove-it year with talent present at the skill positions beyond Terry McLaurin, and a defense that, while underwhelming at corner, will fly around in DC Daronte Jones’ blitz-heavy scheme in an attempt to force turnovers. Washington has enough explosive talent to more than keep it competitive, but Philly’s ability to set the physical tone up front should wear down the Commanders over four quarters.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers throws the ball during the NFL football game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No matter what happens, I’m just hoping that De’Zhaun Stribling is able to come back strong and still go on with his career at a high level after this injury. I don’t even care that he’ll miss time, I just saw such a talented dude that seemed super smart and committed to the game. You always want to see people like that win. He had an interview with his high school paper that I found on the internet one time and even at that age you’re like, how could you not root for the guy? Prayers up man.
That being said…
My favorite part of the game was the feeling of going to war with Brock freaking Purdy. He had this Ben Shelton-like intense look in his eyes in the second half, coming back from the pick, and he just started dealing in the third quarter. I don’t know if it’s the play calling or how well the other players executed, but he just looked so locked in, so dialed, just flow state quarterbacking and did what he wanted. The Rams are a good defense on paper and I’m curious if he keeps it up the next few games and later on against the Broncos. The Broncos will have similarly bad linebackers in the passing game but also some absurd talent elsewhere.
Defense also looked solid. You love to see it. Happy Friday y’all!
….Purdy said, “…I think Kyle was doing a great job with dialing up the right play calls, and obviously not being aware of when we want to take a shot and go deep and stuff, but the [Rams] defense was giving us our ones and twos in the progression. So, just trying to take that….And then, obviously, when it wasn’t there, I think that was the time in the game where I started using my legs a little bit. And then guys did a great job on the scramble drill, obviously hitting Deebo late.”
… Shanahan said,. “The 99-yard drive, there were so many plays there that he had to take off-schedule, where there wasn’t an answer, and he moved the chains with his legs. And I think he found Deebo on one—that was a big off-schedule for the touchdown. So Brock was unbelievable today.”
Hutchinson: The 49ers needed this a lot more than the Rams (paywall) “Los Angeles was able to Duo the hell out of the 49ers. They employed double-team runs through their gut while CJ West frequently flailed around and forgot he is not meant to be used as a bowling ball for the opposing team.
Despite this issue — one I felt would be crucial to defining the 49ers’ success — the secondary was tremendous. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner were omnipresent.
Raheem Morris decided he’d rather trust his four best corners than dare go to big nickel. He used dime more than nickel!
The 49ers got rewarded for it against a team that should have theoretically demolished the 49ers with their love of heavy personnel. But the Rams used 13 personnel as a changeup, not as a primary mode of extracting pain. They overwhelmingly stuck to 11 personnel despite their success (5-for-5, 96 yards, +1.06 EPA per SumerSports) in 13….On the other side, the Rams barely ran any man coverage despite having Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie, who … bodybagged Deebo Samuel and the 49ers in the 2023 Super Bowl with a heavy dose of man.
The 49ers played more man than they did!….They suddenly have a No. 2 back in Kaelon Black who is a human pistol shrimp. He may not have any interest in reading the flow of the offensive line. But he will shoot through a hole and get positive yardage. If you give him an inch, he’ll take a yard.
Shanahan used unique wrinkles from the last few seasons — dash, jet, bump and ghost motions — and bizarre, offset alignments, including a few pre-snap bumps and shuffles to put receivers in the slot, but about 5 yards of depth. He created opportunities for easy throws for Purdy.”
Cornerback Renardo Green came up with a big play in the first half when he intercepted Stafford’s pass intended for Puka Nacua.
But when the 49ers needed a big goal-line stand near the end of the third quarter, it was rookie Gracen Halton and Warner who stopped Stafford for no gain on a push up the middle….And, even more surprising, Aaron Donald had about as much impact on the game as Myles Garrett.
Through three quarters of action, Garrett was completely shut out from the stat sheet. He had no tackles, no sacks, no nothing.
Donald, who recently came out of retirement and stayed back in California for the Week 1 game, had the same stat line.
The 49ers game-planned around Garrett to do their best to make sure he did not wreck the game. Garrett was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year last season while with the Cleveland Browns. The Rams acquired him in an offseason trade following his 23-sack season.”
Cohn: Grading the 49ers After Their 27-7 Win Over the Rams in Australia “First, let’s praise defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. He didn’t sell out to stop the Rams’ running game. He conceded 5.1 yards per carry, which seemed risky, but he was making sure that Stafford wouldn’t beat him. In fact, Morris owned Stafford, just like last season when Morris was the Falcons head coach and they beat the Rams in Week 17. Morris used to be the Rams’ defensive coordinator, so he has faced Stafford countless times in practice and clearly has his number. What a hire for the 49ers.
Next, let’s praise Kyle Shanahan. He made all the right calls on this trip. He was right to bring his players out to Australia more than a week before the game. He was right to stop calling passes for Kittle after giving him a chance to show he was ready. He was right to feature Evans. He was right to split carries between McCaffrey and Black. And he was right to hire Morris. As a result, the 49ers just destroyed the team that lots of people predicted to win the Super Bowl. Of course, this one game doesn’t mean the 49ers will win the Super Bowl. Remember, they beat the Seahawks Week 1 last season, and then the Seahawks went on to win the Super Bowl. But that Week 1 win was fluky and close. This one was decisive and embarrassing for the Rams. They deserved every bit of the humiliation the 49ers gave them. They cheated the process of preparation and disrespected the 49ers and Australia by showing up yesterday. Enjoy that long flight home tonight. The 49ers sure will.”’
The 49ers landed in Melbourne on Sept. 4. They stayed at the Park Hyatt Hotel, where the team arranged for everything from meeting and film rooms, and the 49ers’ chefs prepared meals at the restaurant. The players had access to a nearby spa for various recovery tools such as a cold plunge and red light therapy.
When they weren’t planning for the game, the Niners explored the city, trying the various coffee shops and going to group dinners at local restaurants. Running back Christian McCaffrey even got a haircut and was told that his hair “looks cracker,” which he was then informed means it looks good.
“Melbourne was sick,” tight end George Kittle said. “I had a great time here. I’m real excited, the fact that we came out early and were here for the whole week, immerse ourselves in Melbourne. We were taken great care of, great hotel, the staff was awesome. We had so much fun drinking coffee and just kind of hanging out for the whole week.”
Purdy and Shanahan enjoyed the Australian tradition of fan singalongs during the game.”
Except for the offensive line. For them, it’s dreadful.
Left tackle Trent Williams joked postgame that, throughout San Francisco 49ers’ 15-play, 99-yard drive that was capped by a Deebo Samuel touchdown, he was fighting an episode of cramps.
“I didn’t even know we went 99,” Williams said. “Well, I ain’t gonna say I didn’t know. It didn’t dawn on me because as soon as he scored, I tried to head to the locker room to get an IV.”
The NFL broadcast for Thursday’s Australian game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will undoubtedly feature a ton of Aussie-based music.
We’ll hear songs from Men at Work, INXS, and AC/DC. But how about some Little River Band?
As I roll through my 49ers vs. Rams prop picks, I can’t help but hear LRB’s 1981 hit, “Man on Your Mind".
These men are on my mind when making my NFL picks for Thursday Night Football on Sept. 10.
Best 49ers vs Rams props
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Prop pick #1: Brock Purdy – Yes 15+ rushing yards
Kalshi probability: 58%
Brock Purdy likely slept a bit better after hearing that Los Angeles Rams returning pass rusher Aaron Donald would not make the flight to Australia.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback still has to worry about Myles Garrett and an elite L.A. defense that will have Purdy feeling the heat Thursday.
Purdy is a slippery runner when he has to be. Last season, he rushed for 15+ yards in seven of his 11 starts including gains of 24 and 37 yards on the ground in two playoff outings.
Purdy’s biggest running performances of 2025 came versus defenses that can create pressure with a four-man rush and not rely on the blitz, like Seattle, Philadelphia, and Tennessee. The Rams’ vaunted front fits that mold.
Player projections range from 14 to 20 rushing yards in Week 1, with my number sitting at 18+ versus L.A.
Prop pick #2: Blake Corum – Yes 40+ rushing yards
Kalshi probability: 47%
Blake Corum sits as RB2 on the Rams’ depth chart but his growth as a runner isn’t lost on offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
Corum turned heads with his workouts and efforts this summer and drew a heavier workload at the end of 2025, watching his involvement spike in December and beyond.
Corum carried the ball for 40+ rushing yards in seven of his final nine games, including two of three postseason outings. His projections for Week 1’s trip Down Under sit as high as 51 yards, with my forecast calling for 47+ gains on the ground.
Thursday’s neutral-site showdown has L.A. laying more than a field goal, setting up a run-positive game script in the second half.
The Rams tend to lean into Corum in the final 30 minutes, with the potential for a larger split in carries with RB1 Kyren Williams.
Prop pick #3: Puka Nacua – Yes 1+ touchdown
Kalshi probability: 39%
Los Angeles standout WR Puka Nacua is expected to make the in-and-out trip to Australia in Week 1.
There were rumblings around a possible suspension for Nacua, due to some nasty off-field issues, but it appears as though he’ll be in action versus San Francisco and beyond.
That’s bad news for new 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
San Francisco leaned toward more zone coverage in 2025 and will almost exclusively go zone under Morris.
The 6-foot-2 Nacua rates out as the top WR versus zone at PFF and knocked Morris’ former club, Atlanta, for a touchdown at the end of last season while also scoring in both matchup with the Niners. He collected five of his 10 TDs versus zone coverage in 2025.
The uncertainty around his status and a lingering hip injury has tempered Nacua’s touchdown market, but player models sit as high as a 53% chance of him striking in Melbourne on Thursday night/Friday morning.
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The rare midweek matchup pits the New England Patriots against the defending-champion Seattle Seahawks in a highly-anticipated Super Bowl 60 rematch. A year ago, those two teams meeting for the title might have seemed unfathomable. Neither made the previous playoff field, and each was far off the radar of popular picks to make a deep postseason run.
Does the 2026 campaign have another major surprise in store? With the league's extensive history of worst-to-first turnarounds and other rapid ascents – as well as downfalls – it would be foolish to rule out the possibility of a few unexpected turns. But several powerhouses loom large over the current landscape, and toppling the top contenders in either conference could be exceedingly difficult for even the most promising upstart teams.
Here are my final preseason predictions for the division winners, wild-card berths, conference title games and Super Bowl outcome.
NFC division winner predictions
NFC East – Eagles: A division once known for its year-to-year upheaval now seems to have a rather established pecking order. Perhaps the Cowboys can upend that, or maybe the Commanders or Giants are capable of an odds-defying surge from the bottom of the standings. But Philadelphia's defense looks to be on the verge of rejoining the league's elite, which should afford the new-look offense some much-needed margin for error with its unfamiliar setup.
NFC North – Lions: It should come as no surprise that the league's only foursome of above-.500 teams from 2025 remains its most cutthroat grouping. Though anyone could emerge as the division winner, the Lions should be able to rain down a barrage of points on a soft schedule, facilitating another worst-to-first transformation.
NFC West – Rams: General manager Les Snead wasn't merely pontificating when he posited in February that the Rams needed to "make the most with the team we have" with the reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. With Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson joining an already imposing collection of defensive talent, the Rams seized the offseason spotlight as well as the title of Super Bowl front-runners. There won't be much room to falter with the defending-champion Seahawks and perennial playoff contender 49ers poised to capitalize on any missteps. But even though this race could go down to the wire – Seattle and Los Angeles meet twice in the final three weeks – Sean McVay's crew has more firepower and fewer questions than any other outfit.
NFC South – Saints: Time for a bit of a twist. The Buccaneers have the strongest overall roster in the division, and Baker Mayfield's resurgence from last year's downturn could propel Tampa Bay back to the top of the standings. Still, New Orleans could leverage a highly favorable schedule and a Year 2 breakout for Kellen Moore's offense into the Saints' first NFC South crown since 2020.
NFC wild-card teams
(1) Seahawks: The reigning champions deserve more respect than they've been granted on a national scale. Even with Klint Kubiak and Kenneth Walker III gone, among others, the offense should maintain its big-play DNA. Mike Macdonald's defense, meanwhile, figures to be as vexing as ever for the league's top attacks. But with Brian Fleury figuring things out as a first-time play-caller while rookie Jadarian Price is called on to shoulder a significant workload in the ground game, there's a bit more of a boom-or-bust element in play. Seattle should ultimately find a comfortable settling point, but that might entail sliding to a wild-card slot rather than defending the division crown.
(2) 49ers: Is this the year of the long-awaited reset to return San Francisco to its perennial Super Bowl contender status? Setbacks seem inevitable for a franchise that has been accustomed to forging ahead without several of its star players. Yet few groups have proven themselves more persistent in the face of adversity, with the offense seldom wavering with Kyle Shanahan's steady hand at the wheel. Still, San Francisco can only go so far if its defense doesn't claw closer to its previous sky-high standards after two years of significant slippage.
(3) Cowboys: Omitting a second NFC North team from the postseason field might seem like a stretch given the competitive layout of the division. But that quartet could beat up on one another, whereas the Cowboys could stand to benefit from the NFC East's wider disparity in competitive credentials. If Christian Parker's reconfigured defense approaches a level of mere competence that escaped last year's unit, the Dak Prescott-helmed attack should be more than potent enough to avoid Dallas' first three-year postseason drought since 2010-13.
AFC division winner predictions
AFC East – Bills: Losing its perch atop the division was one of several setbacks last season that clearly didn't sit well with Buffalo brass. In handing Joe Brady the reins as head coach, however, the Bills might be embracing just enough change to reposition an already outstanding core. With DJ Moore added into the receiving corps, Josh Allen might finally have a sufficient level of support in an attack that has too often reverted to having him go into hero mode. The defense might be caught midway through a fairly extensive transition under new coordinator Jim Leonhard, but the change-up could still produce meaningful gains for a group that had been merely hanging on under Sean McDermott.
AFC North – Ravens: Beyond Buffalo, Baltimore stands out as the clear choice for a first-year head coach to flourish. In contrast to the Bills, however, the Ravens are opting for more widespread change, which could take longer to take root. But Jesse Minter's knack of bringing about cohesion on defense might enable the unit to make a rapid turnaround, even if Lamar Jackson and Co. need more time to get settled under first-time play-caller Declan Doyle. There's a distinct sense of uncertainty at play, but few teams in the AFC have a higher ceiling.
AFC West – Broncos: Denver would be well within its rights to feel overlooked, if not downright disrespected. Yes, matching or improving upon their 11-2 mark in one-score games seems exceedingly unlikely, which naturally indicates a regression from last season's 14-3 record. But with enviable consistency almost across the board, the Broncos could be better positioned to break away from opponents rather than depending on a photo finish. Though a trying early slate could put Sean Payton and Co. in another early hole, the Broncos still have enough to stave off the Chargers and Chiefs.
AFC South – Texans: With the league's most dominant defense almost certain to reassert its standing, Houston has a considerably higher baseline than almost all of its competitors. C.J. Stroud might have enhanced support in his pass protection and with the ground game, though neither is likely to break into the league's upper echelon. But even incremental growth in each area should allow the Texans to create some separation in the AFC South for the franchise's third division title in four years.
AFC wild-card seeds
1. Patriots: Don't get caught up in the notion of a Super Bowl hangover for the reigning AFC champions. There's still room for NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye to grow, and the tantalizing new receiver tandem of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs could help the quarterback access those next levels in short order. Still, there's substantial concern about how New England will keep opposing pass rushers at bay as well as whether it can effectively create its own spark off the edge. The Patriots shouldn't fall out of the conference's contending class, but things likely will be markedly more difficult than they were during the franchise's rather fortuitous run to the title game last year.
2. Chargers: Mike McDaniel's arrival brings considerable excitement to an attack that seemed due to be kicked into high gear. Still, the lack of stability on the interior creates a good deal of volatility for the Bolts. Los Angeles should be able to secure a third consecutive wild-card berth if the defense's standard doesn't slip too far from the bar set by Minter, but things could get dicey if the unit takes a significant step back.
3. Bengals: A sizable leap of faith might be required to believe the Bengals' bounce-back campaign will prove more successful than that of the Chiefs. Nevertheless, the path back to the postseason for Cincinnati is straightforward. Between the disruption Dexter Lawrence can create up front and the rest of a young group coming into its own, last year's sieve of a defense figures to be notably more stout. Of course, any further injuries to Joe Burrow would render this prediction moot, but more under-center work and an accompanying recalibration of the offense could help better safeguard the quarterback.
NFC playoff prediction
NFC title game – Rams def. Eagles: In a playoff landscape in which seeding wasn't a consideration, an NFC title game rematch between the Rams and Seahawks would have been the clear choice. Perhaps the two NFC West foes can both find a way back to the stage. But barring a wild-card upset, a tilt in the divisional round seems like the more reasonable outcome. In that scenario, Los Angeles gets the nod as the more complete team, and one that could hit its stride down the final stretch after tripping itself up late last year. Meanwhile, the acclimation to Sean Mannion's offense might be a season-long endeavor for Philadelphia, but a lockdown defense gives the Eagles an edge over the field of potential NFC contenders. Still, unless it loses a key skill-position figure or has its offensive line depth put to the test, Los Angeles looks like the clear class of the conference.
AFC playoff prediction
AFC title game – Bills def. Ravens: In sharp contrast to the NFC, the AFC looks like a potential free-for-all. No fewer than six teams look capable of seizing the conference crown, while nearly twice as many could be in the playoff mix. That might transform the postseason into a war of attrition decided by a few key circumstances, as was the case last year when the Patriots conquered the Bo Nix-less Broncos in a blizzard to conquer the conference. With Allen, an imposing offensive line and steady run game, the Bills are built to persevere, even though they've repeatedly been dealt bad breaks and come up short in the playoffs in recent years. A new mindset and clean bill of health could carry Baltimore a long way, but reaching the Super Bowl summit will make for a steep climb.
Super Bowl 61 prediction
Bills def. Rams: There's no glory in rolling with the overwhelming preseason favorite, so here we go. Four years ago, the Bills opened the NFL regular season by rolling the defending-champion Rams at SoFi Stadium. Now, they could close out a campaign by again spoiling things for Los Angeles in the team's home confines. Between Allen and the robust line, the Bills are one of the few teams capable of not allowing the Rams' defensive front to dictate terms of a game. That could be sufficient to keep things close enough in a Super Bowl clash and give Buffalo its long-awaited title breakthrough.
The New England Patriots and Christian Gonzalez have agreed on a massive contract extension that will keep the star cornerback in Foxboro for the foreseeable future.
It’s a four-year deal worth up to $135 million, with 102 million guaranteed. It’s the largest contract for a cornerback in NFL history.
The Patriots drafted Gonzalez with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he has rapidly become one of the team’s best players.
He was a second team All-Pro selection in 2024 and a Pro Bowler in 2025. He was outstanding for the Patriots last season, especially in the playoffs, where he had a clutch interception in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game and made several excellent plays in Super Bowl 60.
Cornerback is one of the five most important positions in the modern game, so it was pretty important for the Patriots to get Gonzalez signed long term.
He is a top-five cornerback and still has room for improvement at 23 years old.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Josh McDaniels of the New England Patriots runs on the field prior to Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels isn’t running from what went wrong last February, when the Seattle Seahawks dominated his offense in Super Bowl LX.
“I didn’t do a good enough job. Point it at me. They ‘out-everythinged’ us in the game,” McDaniels said on Sunday.
“We have a lot of things we’ve learned. But I think this will be a different game, I think it will be a new game. It’s a new year. We have some different players. They have a few guys that are new. We’ll see how different it is. They certainly found some opportunities last year, and hopefully we’ve done a good job trying to limit those Wednesday night.”
After being one of the best offenses in football during the regular season, the Patriots’ unit struggled down the stretch against some of the league’s best defenses.
That ended with a 29-13 loss in the Super Bowl to the Seahawks, when Drake Maye was sacked six times. New England’s offense was gashed by Seattle’s pressure packages while rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson struggled on the left side of the offensive line.
Ahead of the rematch to open the 2026 NFL season, McDaniels is excited to see the growth from Campbell, Wilson — who is back at his natural center position — and the rest of his second-year players.
Campbell, specifically, struggled in the Super Bowl while playing through a sprained right MCL. Now healthy, McDaniels has enjoyed the approach from his starting left tackle to start the year.
“He’s had a really good mindset all year. Locked in,” McDaniels said of Campbell. “He had a good spring, good [training] camp — trying to work on the things he knows at his position are important and critical to his improvement.”
New England’s new-look offensive line, which also features free agent addition Alijah Vera-Tucker, will be tested again Wednesday night. The Seahawks front returns the majority of its unit, while McDaniels noted the challenges that head coach Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme presents.
Still, the Patriots offensive coordinator feels confident in their offensive game plan and said the players have a good week of preparation. He also has quarterback Drake Maye in a better spot after spending their second full offseason together.
“Drake just knows a lot more than he did last year in general at this time. And he’s learned a lot of valuable lessons I think over time,” McDaniels said. “He’s also had a great mindset and approach this spring and summer about the things that he can do better and he’s worked really hard. Nobody’s worked harder.
“I know he’s eager to get out there and actually play a game and see how far we’ve come.”
Brock Purdy – Yes 15+ rushing yards
Blake Corum – Yes 40+ rushing yards