The 2026 NFL regular season is one week away, and the predictions are already drawing attention from bettors and fans alike.
CBS Sports reported that SportsLine analyst Eric Cohen has simulated all 272 regular season games plus 13 postseason contests, projecting final records and identifying win total best bets. Cohen went 180-91-1, a 66 percent success rate, on straight-up picks during the 2025 regular season. In 2024, he hit three of four win total best bets and correctly predicted the Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC at +600.
One team Cohen likes is the New Orleans Saints, who he projects will exceed their win total of 7.5. The Saints closed last season on a 4-1 run that coincided with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough taking over under center after Spencer Rattler went 1-13 over two years as a starter. Over that five-game stretch, Shough ranked second in completion percentage, fourth in passer rating, and sixth in passing yards among qualifying quarterbacks. He also rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns during that span.
Heading into 2026, Shough has Travis Etienne joining him in the backfield. The Saints defense ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed last season. New Orleans also has the second-weakest schedule in the league this year. Cohen projects the Saints to win nine games.
On the other side of his projections, Cohen is fading the Green Bay Packers, who carry a win total of 10.5. He predicts Green Bay will drop from a playoff team in 2025 to last place in the NFC North at 8-9 in 2026. The division presents a significant challenge, as every team in the NFC North finished over .500 last season. Only two teams in the entire league face a harder strength of schedule than the Packers. Green Bay also lost its final five games of last season, including blowing a late lead in at least one of those contests.
Win totals across the league range from 4.5 for teams such as the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals to 10.5 for the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks. Eleven teams exceeded 10.5 wins last regular season, which Cohen notes could create value in betting the over for multiple teams this year.
Cohen's full game-by-game predictions for all 285 games, including playoff projections and Super Bowl LXI futures, are available exclusively at SportsLine.
