2026 NFL Season Preview

The NFC West routinely provides some of the best teams in the NFC and with the defending Super Bowl champion and the favourite to win it all in 2026, it once again shapes as the best division in football.

Division Winner

Seattle Seahawks

NFC West Winner

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$2.75

The NFC West is arguably the most compelling in football with Seattle looking to run it back after winning the Super Bowl last season and the LA Rams heading into 2026 as the favourites to win it all.

The Seahawks and Rams met in the NFC Championship game last season and it would not shock if they did so again.

It is perhaps a touch surprising though that the Rams are favoured. Of course, the Rams have gone all-in with their defence, signing Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett while former Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald has come out of retirement. The +11 in turnover differential and Matt Stafford turning 38 are the worries, along with the potential suspension of star wideout Puka Nacua.

It does feel somewhat disrespectful to what Mike MacDonald has built in Seattle for the Seahawks to be on the second line in betting for the division. Seattle were legitimate last year. They are bringing back the core of last season’s title winning team. The change in OC presents some concerns but MacDonald has built a great culture and they are value to win the West.

San Francisco finished last season with a 12-5 record and a playoff win last season – and now have a playoff win in five of the last seven seasons – and they did so as one of the most injured teams. They did overshoot their true win number by 1.8 wins and went 5-1 in one-score games though and it is hard to know what kind of impact the coverup over Kyle Shanahan’s car accident and owner Jed York’s prostitution scandal has is unknown but is not likely to be a positive. The Niners are a wildcard team but likely behind the Seahawks and Rams.

Arizona are not nearly as bad as advertised but in the hottest division in football they are just not going to finish anywhere near the other three powerhouses.

Season Wins Over/Under

Arizona Cardinals Over 3.5

Season Wins

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$1.70

The Cardinals face the toughest schedule in 2026 and are about to undertake a full rebuild under rookie head coach Mike LaFleur after moving on from Kyler Murray. This team is not nearly as bad as advertised though. Last season can be completely forgotten – the Cardinals ranked 31st in defensive health and 32nd in offensive health. Their true win number was actually 5.2 and they went 2-8 in one-score games. Shooting over the very low 3.5 win total is one of the best bets of the preseason.

Player Prop

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Most Regular Season Receiving Yards

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$7.50

The NFC West has two of the most dynamic receivers in the NFL Puka Nacua, who led the NFL in receptions last year, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the NFL in yards. Nacua is facing a potential suspension for an off-field incident last December while the Seahawks are likely to lean even more into their star wideout with the loss of Kenneth Walker III. With his yards per target rising from 8.2 to 11.0 last season, he is now a high-volume receiver used across the field.

Editor in Chief

Frankie McDonald

Frankie has spent more than two decades working in the Australian wagering industry and is widely regarded for his expertise in AFL, NRL and horse racing tips.