Overview
- Media outlets including CBS and Bleacher Report used DraftKings win totals and betting odds in late May to rank 2025 division winners by repeat probability, with the Philadelphia Eagles highest and the Pittsburgh Steelers lowest.
- Persistent medical questions are pivotal to projections because Denver’s Bo Nix has had follow-up ankle surgery and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes is recovering from an ACL tear, and both teams’ 2026 hopes hinge on clear recovery timelines.
- Organizational change is reshaping outlooks as the Steelers enter 2026 with Aaron Rodgers returning under new coach Mike McCarthy after Mike Tomlin’s resignation, while other teams’ coaching hires and departures have altered expectations.
- The NFL’s 2026 schedule features a record nine international games in cities such as Melbourne, Paris and Munich, which analysts say increases travel loads and could unevenly affect teams’ recovery windows and competitive fairness.
- The backdrop for these assessments is the rare parity shown in 2025—seven of eight new division winners—which is pushing analysts to rely more on betting markets, schedule travel metrics and OTA reports than on past strength-of-schedule numbers.