J.J. McCarthy Uses ‘Classroom’ Analogy to Describe Relationship With Kyler Murray

The combination of skills and experience Kyler Murray carried with him to the Minnesota Vikings has made him their presumptive starting quarterback this upcoming season, even if the coaching staff declared an open competition for the job with J.J. McCarthy. In his first public comments since Murray was cut by the starting-over Arizona Cardinals and signed with the eager-to-contend Vikings, McCarthy sounded as though he understood the situation but did not necessarily appreciate it. "Look, the organization made a decision that they feel like is going to improve the depth and the quality of the room," McCarthy said Wednesday after the first offseason practice session the team opened to reporters. "All I’m thinking about is continuing the upward trajectory that I set for myself last season — that last quarter of the season — and continuing to be the best version of me every single day." Asked directly if he was disappointed that the Vikings acquired Murray, McCarthy said, "Then I would be disappointed if the rain fell. That’s out of my control. At the end of the day, I’ve just got to focus on what I can do to be the best quarterback for this football team." As for his nascent relationship with Murray, McCarthy said there's no awkwardness between them but, well, sure didn't sound warm about it in his terse response. "It’s just like two guys in a classroom. He sits on one side. I sit on the other side. And it’s the coaches responsibility to teach us and coach us," McCarthy said. Murray, for his part, didn't hesitate to speak highly of the working arrangement, which is undoubtedly easier to do as an eighth-year player in the NFL with multiple standout seasons on his resume. Murray said McCarthy has been "overly" receptive to his input as a veteran with 87 starts. "We’re both competitors. I know we both want what’s best for the team," Murray said. "He’s always communicating, asking questions, stuff like that, so it’s been good." Murray has deftly dodged any discussion of depth chart expectation. Even with all of the assets the Vikings offer — from top-notch facilities to a quarterback-friendly head coach in Kevin O'Connell to star wide receiver Justin Jefferson — he likely wouldn't have picked Minnesota on a one-year minimum-salary contract if he didn't think he'd be the starter. Whether the job was privately promised to him or not hardly matters. "My confidence is unshakeable. That’s how I feel about myself," Murray said. "Regardless of what happens day to day, I know the next day I’m coming out here giving my best effort." McCarthy declined to specify whether he's made any changes to his throwing mechanics, after being dogged by erratic performances during his injury-impacted rocky debut. He has spent plenty of time since the offseason began, however, working on the field with Jefferson. "Just building those on-time and on-rhythm passes for each concept and each route," McCarthy said. "It’s just tremendous to be around that guy every single day." When Vikings players reconvened last month to begin the formal offseason training program, Jefferson spoke candidly to reporters about his excitement over Murray's arrival — and his expectation for McCarthy’s improvement. "It’s good to get some good talent in that room to kind of give a little spark in that room, to see a competitive edge from those guys to lock in and do what we’re expecting them to do, which is to come in and to be that guy," said Jefferson, the two-time All-Pro who has entered his seventh year in the NFL. "We have great talent in that room, especially for J.J. to get that spark in him and for Kyler to come from Arizona and continue that spark." Assuming Murray wins the job this season, his mobility ought to open up more space for Jefferson down the field. "Definitely looking forward to his speed, his quickness, his arm strength that he’s shown countless times over the years," Jefferson said. "For J.J., somebody into that room with that type of ability, that type of talent, he’s got to step it up a little bit. So it’s good for him to feel that type of pressure and to really lock in a little bit and say, ‘It’s either now, or I’m going to take that backseat again.'" Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Why Mark Schlereth Thinks Cowboys Should Be Favored To Win NFC East

The Dallas Cowboys missed the playoffs for a second straight season in 2025, going 7-9-1 in Brian Schottenheimer's first year as head coach. But that isn't stopping FOX Sports NFL analyst Mark Schlereth from being bullish about the Cowboys ahead of the 2026 season. Schlereth not only thinks that Dallas can eclipse its projected win total of 9.5, but he wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys usurped the Philadelphia Eagles and won the NFC East. "I think they have plenty of talent. I think this is a football team that can dominate both lines of scrimmage," Schlereth said on "The Herd." "That, to me, says the Dallas Cowboys are frontrunners to win their division." While the Cowboys invested in a heavy defensive roster, which includes No. 11 overall pick safety Caleb Downs and No. 23 overall pick Malachi Lawrence, Dallas also spent time redesigning its offensive line look. Already, the foundation of the offensive line is set up with Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker and Terrance Steele as the projected starters. However, their depth is what seems to be the game-changer for how they’ll perform this year with fourth-round pick Drew Shelton and T.J. Bass. On the other side of the ball, the front seven emerged as a major storyline for the Cowboys this offseason. After last year's blockbuster trade of edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, Dallas struggled, finishing last in yards allowed per game. Now anchored by edge rushers Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, their offseason additions — edge rushers Rashan Gary from the Packers and Lawrence — make the Cowboys' front seven dangerous going into a difficult 2026 schedule. Schlereth emphasized the importance of being talented at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and said that it will be a massive turning point for the Cowboys' success this season. "You control both lines of scrimmage in the National Football League, you’re going to win a lot of football games. That’s what jumps off the page to me more than CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens," Schlerth said. Wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were two of the NFL’s best at their position in 2025 as they caught passes from quarterback Dak Prescott. Pickens finished third in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,429 and Lamb finished 11th with 1,077 despite his injuries. With the Cowboys revamping their roster in a major way this offseason, their projected win total has climbed at some sports books. FanDuel Sportsbook has Dallas' win total set at 9.5 wins. While that mark is one of the higher projected win totals in the league, Schlereth thinks the Cowboys will easily clear the mark of 9.5 wins. "I’d hammer the over," Schlereth said. "One thing I will say about the Dallas Cowboys is … where they have invested is a young offensive line that can hammer people, they can beat up on people, and now they’ve invested defensively in their front seven."

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Cowherd Reacts to Stafford's Extension: ‘Win A Super Bowl Now And Next Year'

The 2026 NFL MVP hinted at a return in February and put it in writing this week – Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is officially suiting up for the 2026 season. Stafford, who led the NFL in passing yards and touchdown passes last season, inked a one-year extension with the Rams worth up to $55 million. FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd believes the Rams’ recent draft class made it possible to extend Stafford while keeping a talented defense intact. "The Rams can do that and pay that because they’ve drafted so well, but in about two years, they’ve got some really good players and money’s going to be due with a lot of them on defense," Cowherd said on Friday's edition of The Herd. Los Angeles' returning lineup plus Stafford instantly makes them an early favorite to win the Super Bowl next year. Their defense also received an upgrade with their blockbuster trade of veteran cornerback Trent McDuffie. Come the NFL Draft, the Rams used their first-round selection on quarterback Ty Simpson, which became one of the most shocking picks of the draft. Los Angeles had been projected to select a weapon player, like a wide receiver or a tight end with their first round pick. Although Simpson's selection could’ve been questionable for the Rams, FOX Sports' Rob Rang still saw Simpson as a perfect fit. "Prior to the draft, I listed the Rams as one of the cleanest fits for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. His pre-snap recognition and accuracy project quite well to Sean McVay’s offense, and with Matthew Stafford already in place, Simpson will have the opportunity to learn from the sideline, rather than get pushed onto the field prematurely," Rang wrote. Simpson led the Alabama Crimson Tide to their first College Football Playoff appearance with coach Kalen DeBoer at the helm. After a first round win over Oklahoma, the Tide fell in a brutal 38-3 loss at the Rose Bowl to eventual champions Indiana in the quarterfinals. Now, Simpson will prepare to take over the Rams offense when it comes time for Stafford to hang up the cleats. The Rams' returning offense still has wide receivers Puka Nacua and Devonte Adams, tight end Colby Parkinson and running back pair Blake Corum and Kyren Williams. Cowherd also saw the Simpson pick as the right call, especially if Stafford potentially retires following his extension. "This is why I defended the Ty Simpson pick…They're trying to master two timelines. The number one timeline is: Win a Super Bowl now and next year. The 2nd timeline is: To have their QB in place without getting into a bidding war in two years." Last year, the Rams fell short of a title, when they lost to eventual Super Bowl LX champions the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship. It was their first time back in the conference title game since their Super Bowl LVI win in 2022. Now, with Stafford’s official return, the Rams are already positioned to make another deep run this season. The Rams officially open up the 2026 season in Melbourne (the first ever NFL regular season game in Australia) with an NFC West game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10.

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Top 10 QBs Of All-Time: Where Does Aaron Rodgers Rank Ahead Of Final Season?

After years of retirement rumors, Aaron Rodgers made it official on Wednesday. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback announced that the 2026 season will be his last. While the last few seasons haven't been kind to Rodgers, he sealed his place as one of the greatest players in pro football history well before his time with the Green Bay Packers came to an end. He is a lock to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and he may eventually get a street named after him in Green Bay. And Rodgers' name will come up whenever a discussion is held on the greatest quarterbacks of all time. The only debate will be about how high on the list he should rank. So, with Rodgers entering his 22nd and final NFL season, where does he fit on the all-time quarterbacks list? Here are my top 10 quarterbacks to ever play the game. Easily the greatest quarterback to never win a Super Bowl. Dan Marino did lead the Miami Dolphins to one appearance, though, in his spectacular second season. That year, he became the first quarterback to ever top 5,000 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns in a single season and was the NFL’s MVP. Known for his lightning-quick release, he was the most prolific passer of the 1980s and early ‘90s. He still ranks 10th all-time in passing yardage (61,361) and eighth all-time in passing touchdowns (420). Ernie Accorsi, the long-time NFL general manager who worked for the Baltimore Colts during the Unitas era, once told me, "The definition of leadership was watching Johnny Unitas get off the team bus." Unitas had an aura and confidence about him at a time when quarterbacks were just beginning to be superstars in the league. In fact, he helped set up the modern passing era with his golden right arm, leading the Colts to three championships and winning three MVPs. His numbers may pale in comparison to the modern stars, but in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, he dominated the league. Drew Brees might be the most prolific, high-volume passer of all time. He was one of only two quarterbacks ever to top 80,000 career yards (80,358) and he led the NFL in passing seven times in his 20 seasons. He is also second all-time with 571 passing touchdowns. Despite being just 6-feet tall, he had remarkable accuracy, completing 67.7% of his career passes. He led the NFL in that category six times, topped 70% in seven of his seasons and set the all-time record when he completed 74.4% of his passes in 2018. He went to 13 Pro Bowls and was the Super Bowl MVP when the New Orleans Saints won their only championship. John Elway wasn’t as prolific as some of his counterparts in the 1980s and ‘90s, but he did lead the Denver Broncos to five Super Bowls. And when he capped his career with back-to-back Super Bowl championships, his place in the top 10 was secured. Elway won an MVP, too, and he finished with impressive career numbers. His 51,475 passing yards ranked second all-time when he retired and currently sit in 12th, while his 300 passing touchdowns ranked third when he retired and still rank 14th. Those are impressive marks considering the rise of the passing game since Elway retired. More importantly, Elway retired as the winningest quarterback in NFL history with 148 victories — a number that still ranks seventh all-time. Brett Favre was the definition of a "gunslinger. The Green Bay Packers icon was one of the most prolific passers in NFL history … and is still the all-time leader in interceptions (366, including the playoffs). But Favre was a master of the broken play, with the ability to turn scrambles into dazzling, highlight-reel throws. He was an 11-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion. He is also the only player in NFL history to win three straight MVP awards (1995-97), a remarkable feat. Favre's 71,838 passing yards still rank fourth all-time, and his 508 touchdown passes are still the fifth-most. What might have made Favre different, though, was his Iron Man status. He set a position player record with 297 consecutive starts in his career — 321 straight when the playoffs are included. Now entering his final season, Aaron Rodgers is 42 and still putting up respectable numbers at quarterback. But while there’s always a chance for a late-career miracle, his best days are behind him and his legacy is very secure. Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP — one of only two players to ever win that many, and one of just five players to ever win the award in back-to-back seasons. He also took the Packers to a Super Bowl in 2010 in only his third season as a starting quarterback, while making Green Bay a playoff mainstay as he led it to four NFC Championship Games in 11 seasons. Ahead of the 2026 season, Rodgers is fifth all-time in passing yards (66,274), fourth all-time in passing touchdowns (527), with a chance to finish third. But what's made Rodgers elite is his efficiency. He currently has the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history and is also the all-time leader in passer rating (102.2). Sure, Rodgers is also the most-sacked quarterback of all time (600), but you can look past that when he's put up the numbers he's had and the amount he's won. Rodgers is sixth all-time in wins with 163, and is just one last 10-win season away from finishing fourth. The scary part about Patrick Mahomes is that he’s still only 30 years old and has played just nine NFL seasons, including the year he was Alex Smith's backup. But that means his career might only be half over, and look what he’s done already: 35,939 passing yards and 267 passing touchdowns — including two seasons over 5,000 yards and one season with 50 touchdowns. He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion (and Super Bowl MVP), has been to two other Super Bowls, and before he got hurt last season, he had led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game in each of his first seven years as their starter. He’s got a 17-4 record in the playoffs and has thrown 46 postseason touchdown passes. Only Tom Brady has thrown more and won more in the playoffs, and he might have another decade to add to a résumé that almost no one else can match. In many ways, Peyton Manning was the prototype of the modern quarterback, making him easily the most anticipated quarterback prospect ever. And Manning more than lived up to his considerable hype. He's the only five-time MVP in NFL history and led two teams to Super Bowl championships (Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos) and played in four. He might have made a couple more, too, if he hadn’t kept running into Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the playoffs. He’s third all-time in passing yards (71,940) and passing touchdowns (539) and tied for second in wins (186). He also arguably had the best season for a quarterback in NFL history, throwing for a record 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns with Denver in 2013. Before Tom Brady came around, "Joe Cool" was the undisputed king of NFL quarterbacks. Joe Montana set the standard in the 1980s and early ‘90s, running the Bill Walsh West Coast offense to perfection. He was a four-time Super Bowl champion, a three-time Super Bowl MVP, and didn’t throw a single interception in his 122 Super Bowl passes. Montana's Super Bowl passer rating of 127.8 is a record that still stands, and his 45 playoff touchdown passes and 16 playoff wins rank him third all-time. His career numbers aren’t dazzling (40,551 yards and 273 touchdowns), but they were a product of a different era and the fact that he was only a starter for 12 seasons. But he made the most of those dozen years, taking his teams to the playoffs 11 times. There is no debate about who is No. 1, and no one is even close. The 199th pick in the 2000 draft, Tom Brady won seven Super Bowls (more than any single franchise has ever won), five Super Bowl MVPs and three NFL MVPs. A 15-time Pro Bowler, he is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214), passing touchdowns (649) and wins (251). He’s also the all-time playoff leader in those categories (13,400 yards, 88 touchdowns, 35 wins). But Brady was unparalleled as a winner. With him leading the way, the Patriots won 17 division titles, including 11 in a row, and went to 13 AFC Championship Games, including eight in a row. He took the Patriots to nine Super Bowls, winning six, and then won one in his first year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, too. In case you need more, Brady was the oldest NFL MVP (40), the oldest Super Bowl MVP (43) and the oldest quarterback to receive a Pro Bowl nod (44). Brady played an astonishing 23 seasons in the NFL, which was long enough to land him on the all-decade teams for both the 2000s and the 2010s.

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2026 NFL Odds: Back Cowboys to Shine; Fade Cardinals' Win Total

We can't tell the future, but we can darn sure predict it. Now that each NFL schedule has landed, here are the two Over/Under win totals that stand out the most to me right now. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Arizona Cardinals Over/Under 4.5 wins There’s a strong chance the Arizona Cardinals have the worst record in the NFL next season. Not only are they weak at the most important position in the sport, but they have also been dealt an extremely difficult schedule. They have to play six in-division games against the Seahawks, 49ers and Rams, all of which are playoff-caliber squads. Then, the NFC West is paired with the AFC West and NFC East, so that adds the Chiefs, Broncos, Chargers, Eagles and Cowboys to that brutal gauntlet. All five of those teams will push to win their respective divisions. The Commanders should also be better this season and the Giants will be much improved with a new head coach. The Cardinals do get the Raiders, but not until Week 17, when the Las Vegas' rookie quarterback should be playing better football. That Raiders game could be the only matchup all season in which the Cardinals are favored, but as of now, Arizona is still listed as a 1.5-point home underdog in that game. What makes this schedule even more daunting is the Cardinals' quarterback room. Right now, it’s Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and newly drafted Carson Beck. Not ideal. Brissett and Minshew are capable backup quarterbacks, but are losing their effectiveness as the years go by. Additionally, I don’t expect much from rookie Beck if he gets a chance to play this season. In short, Arizona's roster isn’t dynamic enough to overcome poor quarterback play and that schedule. PICK: Arizona Cardinals Under 4.5 wins Dallas Cowboys Over/Under 8.5 wins I think the Cowboys are legit contenders to win the NFC. Let’s go through the checklist of winning teams, starting with the QB. Check. Dak Prescott is an above-average quarterback and I don’t think people want to believe it. He was seventh last season in EPA and just needs to stay healthy. The Cowboys also have an excellent offensive line and skill position players, which makes Prescott even more potent from the pocket. On defense, Dallas has drastically improved its pass rush with the additions of Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark last season, plus Rashan Gary this spring. It also drafted pass rushers Malachi Lawrence and LT Overton, and I love the addition of Caleb Downs at safety in the draft, as well as Cobie Durant during free agency. Additionally, Dallas' coaching staff showed last season it can win games and in Year 2, I’d expect improvement. The Cowboys' schedule is manageable for an Over win projection. Four games against the Giants and Commanders in which they will be the favorite, plus two against the Eagles, which they can split. They get the AFC South, so that includes games against the Colts, Titans, Jaguars and Texans. The Cowboys get the Cardinals, Bucs and Ravens as well. There’s not a game on the schedule Dallas cannot win. PICK: Dallas Cowboys Over 8.5 wins

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2026 NFL Schedule Release: The 5 Teams That Must Get Off To A Good Start

In a 17-game season, starting off slowly can be the difference between reaching the playoffs and making plans for vacations to warmer climates in January. Look no further than the Minnesota Vikings, who dealt with injuries to starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy early and started the year 4-8, but finished on a five-game winning streak and a half-game out of the postseason. The Vikings looked to rectify that issue this offseason by signing former No. 1 overall draft pick Kyler Murray to compete with McCarthy for the No. 1 quarterback job, providing a better opportunity to compete in the NFC North. A slow start could also cost head coaches and general managers their jobs. The Tennessee Titans needed just six games to determine that they saw enough of head coach Brian Callahan last season, while the New York Jets only needed five games to fire Robert Saleh during the 2024 season. So, now that we know what the schedule looks like for the 2026 NFL season, let's take a look at five teams that need a fast start to the upcoming year. After winning four straight NFC South titles, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and head coach Todd Bowles find themselves under pressure entering the 2026 season. The Bucs not only lost seven of their last eight games last season, missing the postseason and finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2019, but they're also replacing a pair of foundational stalwarts. Wide receiver Mike Evans left the team to sign with the San Francisco 49ers, and linebacker Lavonte David announced his retirement. So, Bowles will now enter the season on the hot seat while also having to replace a pair of franchise icons. Bowles has a 35-33 record and has taken the team to the playoffs in three of his first four years of the helm. But can he prove that last season was a blip? Bowles is on the hot seat after last season’s poor finish and needs a strong start to avoid a potential midseason firing. That starts with better play from quarterback Baker Mayfield, who began 2025 strong but scuffled down the stretch, finishing with just one 300-yard passing performance in his last 12 games. Mayfield has some added motivation this season, entering a contract year. A Week 2 matchup with the Cleveland Browns could also spark some extra juice for Mayfield. The Bucs added reinforcements in the draft to a defense that finished No. 27 in pass defense last year, selecting polished Miami (Fla.) pass rusher Rueben Bain in the first round, along with linebacker Josiah Trotter, safety Keionte Scott and defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart. The 49ers somehow managed to deftly navigate a rash of injuries and reach the postseason in the toughest division in football, finishing third in the NFC West. But San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan will have a tough time playing catch-up this season, facing four playoff teams in the final seven games, along with Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs and the John Harbaugh-led New York Giants on the road in the backstretch of the season. That’s why it’s important for the 49ers to start the season strong. They will have some adjustments to make, with Raheem Morris taking over for the departed Robert Saleh as the team’s defensive coordinator. The 49ers added edge rusher Romello Height and interior pass rusher Gracen Holten in the draft to help improve one of the worst pass rushes in the league. San Francisco starts the year with a tough international contest in Australia against the Super Bowl favorites, the Los Angeles Rams, and will log a league-high 38,105 miles during the season. That includes another international contest against the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City in Week 11. However, after the Rams, the 49ers have winnable games at home against the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals, so surviving that initial tough road game against Los Angeles and stacking some wins early will be important for Shanahan’s 49ers if they want to have a chance to push for the postseason late in the year. The second — and final — year of the Aaron Rodgers era is officially underway in Pittsburgh, with the Cal product agreeing to a one-year deal, reuniting with his old head coach, Mike McCarthy. Rodgers helped lead the Steelers to the postseason in 2025, which resulted in another early, opening-round exit for the Steel City. But how long will the Steelers stick with Rodgers if they get off to a slow start this season? Pittsburgh drafted Will Howard in the sixth round last year and Drew Allar in the third round this season as development prospects to groom behind the future Hall of Famer. Scouts I spoke with in the pre-draft process liked Allar’s upside, believing he has all the tools to develop into a starting NFL quarterback. If Rodgers struggles early, it increases the urge for McCarthy to hit the eject button on his 42-year-old quarterback and turn to the development of Allar or Howard, especially with the future Hall of Famer announcing that the 2026 season is it for him. Therefore, it will be important for Rodgers to get some wins early, much like Pittsburgh’s 5-3 start in 2025. And the schedule obliges, with only one game against a playoff team last season (New England Patriots) in Pittsburgh’s first eight contests. The Steelers also face the Cleveland Browns twice, and host the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts at home in the first five games. Speaking of the Colts, general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen are once again on the hot seat, missing the playoffs for a fifth season in a row after starting 8-2 in 2025. Indianapolis faltered after a rejuvenated Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear in December, leaving the desperate Colts turning to 44-year-old Philip Rivers in an attempt to rescue the season late in the year. The return of Rivers was entertaining and gave Indianapolis at least a fighting chance to win at the end of the season. However, a healthy return for Jones is imperative to the success of the Colts in a make-or-break season for Ballard, who's in the final year of his contract. It’s a daunting start for the Colts, who face four playoff teams in the first five games and an international game in Week 4 against the Washington Commanders in London. The expectation is that Jones will be ready for the start of training camp in August. Indianapolis re-signed receiver Alec Pierce and Jones to big money in the offseason, and both need to play to their potential — along with running back Jonathan Taylor — carrying the offense in a difficult first part of the schedule to start the year. New head coach Jesse Minter replaces John Harbaugh after the Ravens’ underwhelming performance last season resulted in Baltimore missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Under the defensive-minded Minter, expectations are high for the upcoming season. Minter is tasked with returning Baltimore’s defense to its tough and stingy ways. The signing of star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson away from the Cincinnati Bengals should help in that effort. The Ravens also added Missouri edge rusher Zion Young in the second round of the draft to help improve an underperforming pass rush. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will look to create an offense that gets the most out of Lamar Jackson, who played in only 13 games for the Ravens last year because of hamstring and back issues. A two-time MVP, Jackson's now on his second head coach, his fourth offensive coordinator and is skipping organized team activities this offseason. With Harbaugh gone, the pressure is on Jackson to lead this franchise. One of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl this season, Baltimore starts with four of its first six games on the road, including a Week 3 international game in Brazil against the Dallas Cowboys. However, the Ravens do not play a team that made the playoffs last season until a Week 8 matchup with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. So, the schedule maps out well for a strong start in Minter’s first season with the Ravens.

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2026 NFL Odds: Ranking All 32 Teams By Games They’re Favored In

One of the most interesting ways to evaluate the NFL landscape is by looking at how many games in which each team is favored. While win totals and Super Bowl odds often dominate the offseason oddsboard, the number of games in which a team is projected to be favored can reveal just as much about their expectations and schedule difficulty. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. By analyzing the lookahead point spreads for all 272 regular-season matchups, we’ve stripped away the public bias to rank every NFL team by a single, definitive metric: the exact number of games they are favored to win. With that in mind, here is a complete power ranking of all 32 NFL teams based on the number of games they are currently favored in entering the 2026 season. Number of Games Favored: 0 What to know: The Arizona Cardinals are the only NFL team not favored in a single game this season. That number aligns with their projected win total of 4.5 wins, which is tied for the lowest mark in the league. Number of Games Favored: 1 What to know: The Dolphins are favored in just one game this season — their Week 12 home matchup against the New York Jets. Number of Games Favored: 2 What to know: The Browns are only favored in their home matchups against the Raiders and Falcons. This number is well below their projected win total of 6.5. Number of Games Favored: 2 What to know: The Titans are only favored in home games against the Jets and Browns. This number is also well below their projected total of 6.5. Number of Games Favored: 2 What to know: This one came as a pretty big surprise. The Falcons are favored in only two games this season — their home divisional matchups against the Panthers and Saints. Number of Games Favored: 3 What to know: The Raiders are slight favorites in home games against the Dolphins and Titans, along with a road matchup against the Cardinals. Number of Games Favored: 3 What to know: This one is also a big surprise. The 2025 NFC South champs are only favored in three games, including on the road against the Browns and at home against the Saints and Falcons. This number does not reflect their win total projection of 7.5. Number of Games Favored: 4 What to know: The Jets are favored in three home games against the Browns, Dolphins and Raiders, along with a road matchup against the Cardinals. Their number of games favored aligns closely with their projected win total of 5.5. Number of Games Favored: 5 What to know: The Saints are the third NFC South team favored in five or fewer games this season. Despite that, there is still some optimism surrounding the team, as their projected win total sits at 7.5. Number of Games Favored: 5 What to know: Heading into John Harbaugh’s first season, the Giants are favored in five home games against the Titans, Cardinals, Saints, Commanders and Browns. They are not favored in a single road game. Number of Games Favored: 5 What to know: While the Commanders are favored in only five games, there are several matchups throughout the season in which they are currently listed as slight 1-3 point underdogs. Number of Games Favored: 6 What to know: Like the Commanders, the Colts are favored in only six games, but they are listed as slight underdogs in several other matchups throughout the 2026 season. Number of Games Favored: 7 What to know: In Mike McCarthy’s first season reunited with Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers are favored in only seven games. Their projected win total also sits at 8.5, signaling what could be the franchise’s first losing season since 2003. Number of Games Favored: 8 What to know: The Vikings are the only NFC North team that is not favored in a double-digit number of games. A major reason for this lower number is the expectation that the division will once again be one of the toughest in football. Number of Games Favored: 8 What to know: The 2025 AFC South champions won 13 games in Liam Coen’s first season, but their number of games favored suggests there could be some regression in Year 2. However, like several of the teams above them, the Jaguars are slight underdogs in many of the games in which they are not favored in 2026. Number of Games Favored: 9 What to know: The last NFC South team is off the board, and we are only at No. 17 on the list. That makes sense considering the NFC South champion has won nine games or fewer in three of the last four seasons. The Buccaneers were the only exception during that span, winning 10 games in 2024. Number of Games Favored: 10 What to know: After winning 14 regular-season games and representing the AFC in the Super Bowl in 2025, the Patriots are favored in 10 games entering 2026. However, in half of those matchups, they are favored by at least 6.5 points, showing that oddsmakers still view them as one of the stronger teams in the NFL. Number of Games Favored: 10 What to know: Like the Patriots, the Broncos, who also won 14 games in 2025, are favored in only 10 games entering the 2026 season. However, in the seven games they are currently underdogs, they are never listed at worse than +2.5. That said, Denver opens as an underdog in five of its first six games, signaling a very challenging schedule to start the season. Number of Games Favored: 11 What to know: After winning just seven games in 2025, the Cowboys are expected to significantly improve in 2026, as they are favored in 11 games entering the season. They are also favored in five of their six divisional matchups. Number of Games Favored: 11 What to know: There is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Chiefs due to Patrick Mahomes’ recovery from a torn ACL. However, Vegas still expects Kansas City to be one of the league’s top teams, as the Chiefs are favored in 11 games entering 2026, including each of their first five matchups. That aligns closely with their projected win total of 10.5. Number of Games Favored: 11 What to know: The Chargers are also favored in 11 games entering next season, and they are not listed as underdogs of more than 3.5 points in any matchup in 2026. Number of Games Favored: 12 What to know: The 49ers are one of three NFC West teams favored in 12 games or more entering 2026. San Francisco won 12 games last season despite missing multiple key players for large portions of the year. Outside their divisional matchups, the 49ers are underdogs in only three games: road contests against the Cowboys, Chargers and Chiefs. Number of Games Favored: 12 What to know: In Ben Johnson's first season, the Bears won double-digit games for the first time since 2018. In Year 2, Chicago faces the toughest schedule in the entire NFL, yet Vegas still favors it in 12 games. Number of Games Favored: 12 What to know: Vegas has the Packers favored in 12 games entering the 2026 season. Outside NFC North play, the only games in which Green Bay is currently an underdog are road matchups against the Patriots and Rams. Number of Games Favored: 13 What to know: After winning their last nine regular-season games last year, the Texans are favored in 13 games in 2026. They are favored in all six AFC South divisional matchups. Number of Games Favored: 13 What to know: The Eagles are favored in 13 games entering the 2026 season, including five of their six NFC East matchups. Their number of games favored is also notably higher than their projected season win total of 10.5. Number of Games Favored: 14 What to know: The Lions are favored in 14 of their first 15 games in 2026. The only matchups in which they are currently underdogs are Week 2 at the Bills, Week 17 at the Bears and Week 18 at the Packers. Number of Games Favored: 14 What to know: Coming off a 12-win regular season in 2025, the Bills are favored in 14 games entering next season. The only matchups in which Buffalo is currently an underdog are road games against the Rams, Patriots and Packers. Number of Games Favored: 14 What to know: The Ravens won only eight games last season, largely because Lamar Jackson battled injuries throughout the year. Vegas expects Baltimore to take a major leap forward in 2026. The only games in which the Ravens are currently underdogs are road matchups against the Bills, Texans and Bengals. Number of Games Favored: 14 What to know: The defending Super Bowl champions come in tied for third on the list. The only games in which they are currently underdogs are road matchups against the 49ers, Eagles and Rams. Number of Games Favored: 15 What to know: No, this is not a typo. A Bengals team that won just six games in 2025 is favored in 15 games entering the 2026 season. With Joe Burrow returning and a very favorable schedule, Cincinnati is currently an underdog in only two games: Week 2 at the Texans and Week 7 at the Ravens. Number of Games Favored: 16 What to know: The Rams are remarkably favored in 16 of their 17 games entering the 2026 season. Their only game as an underdog is a Week 16 Christmas Day road matchup against the Seahawks. Last season, the Rams lost to Seattle on the road in Week 16 and again in the NFC Championship Game. Los Angeles is currently the +800 favorite to win the Super Bowl.

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