September 17, 2026
A frustrating 6-11 campaign in 2025 masked a defense that held opponents to 19.3 points per game (sixth fewest in the league) while the offense mustered only 21.3 points per game (ranked 21st). That gap fueled an 11-6 mark against the spread alongside a 4-13 record toward game-total overs. Warren Sharp’s forecast anticipates a sharp rebound in 2026, projecting 10.5 wins and a first-place finish in the AFC West. Sharp's preseason betting snapshot listed Kansas City as favorites in 11 of 17 contests with a season-average spread of -2.9 points, stretching from -5.6 at home to -0.4 on the road. Navigating that bounce is aided by the league's 10th-easiest schedule on Sharp's scale, where 1 represents the easiest slate and 32 the hardest.
September 16, 2026
The New Orleans Saints enter 2026 after a 6-11 finish that produced 18.0 points per game (28th) and allowed 22.5 (16th). That scoring split showed up in the betting window too: 5-12 against the spread and five overs against 12 unders. Sharp's forecast is 7.5 wins and a second-place NFC South finish, with the league's second-easiest schedule on a scale where 1 is the easiest slate. Sharp's preseason betting snapshot listed New Orleans as a 1.9-point underdog on the season, 0.7-point favorites at home, and 4.7-point underdogs on the road, with five games as a favorite and 12 as an underdog.
September 14, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons enter 2026 coming off 8-9, 20.8 points scored (24th) and 23.6 allowed (19th). Warren Sharp parks them at 7.5 wins and fourth in the NFC South on the league’s sixth-easiest schedule. Sharp’s preseason betting snapshot lists Atlanta as a 3.1-point underdog on average, with only two games as a favorite.
September 10, 2026
Tampa Bay enters 2026 with Warren Sharp’s forecast at 8.5 wins and first place in the NFC South, a bump from last year’s 8-9 finish. The market prices them as virtual pick’ems at a 0.2 average line, 1.5-point home favorites and 2.1-point road underdogs, with nine games as favorite and eight as underdog. Sharp’s strength of schedule sits 18th (1 = easiest). The 2025 club scored 22.4 points per game (18th) and allowed 24.2 (20th), going 9-7-1 against the spread and 8-9 to the over/under.
September 9, 2026
The Carolina Panthers enter the 2026 campaign looking to build on an 8-9 finish from the previous season, though Warren Sharp’s forecast projects a modest 7.5 wins and a third-place division standing. This outlook accounts for a brutal Strength of Schedule ranked 30th on Sharp’s scale, where 1 represents the easiest path and 32 the hardest. The betting market reflects this difficulty, listing Carolina as a 2.5-point underdog on average and a heavier dog on the road (3.2) than at home (1.9). While the offense struggled to score at 18.3 points per game last year, the unit ranks suggest a clear internal disparity heading into the new season.
September 8, 2026
The Minnesota Vikings enter 2026 off a 9-8 season, with Warren Sharp forecasting 8.5 wins and a third-place NFC North finish. Last year’s scoring split tells the story better than the record: 20.2 points per game (26th) on offense and 19.6 allowed (seventh-fewest). They were 9-8 against the spread and 8-9 to the total. Sharp’s betting snapshot lands almost exactly at pick’em overall. Minnesota averages -1.8 at home and +2.1 on the road, with eight games as a favorite and nine as an underdog. Strength of schedule is 21st (1 = easiest).
September 7, 2026
Green Bay enters the 2026 campaign with Warren Sharp’s forecast projecting 10.5 wins and a second-place finish in the division. The Packers are coming off a 9-7-1 record in 2025, a season where they scored 23.0 points per game while allowing 21.2 points per game. Sharp’s outlook highlights a significant contrast in unit strength, ranking the quarterback group tenth while ranking the offensive line 27th. This balance will be tested against a mid-pack schedule, as the Strength of Schedule ranks sixteenth on a scale where one is easiest and thirty-two is hardest. With a season-average spread of -2.8, the team faces a pivotal year defined by replacing key departures while leveraging their returning core.
September 7, 2026
The Detroit Lions enter the 2026 campaign with high expectations after finishing the prior season with a 9-8 record. Warren Sharp’s forecast projects 10.5 wins and a first-place division finish, buoyed by a Strength of Schedule ranked 1 on a scale where 1 represents the easiest slate and 32 the hardest. The team operates as consistent favorites, carrying a season-average spread of -3.5 that reflects home and road averages of -4.9 and -2.0 respectively. Sharp’s 2026 outlook identifies the Receivers and Running Backs as the strongest positional units, both ranking second league-wide. Conversely, the Offensive Line and Secondary are viewed as the weakest links, each sitting at number 14. This combination of elite skill position talent and a favorable schedule sets the stage for another competitive year in Detroit.
September 6, 2026
The Washington Commanders enter the 2026 campaign looking to rebound from a difficult 5-12 season in 2025. Warren Sharp’s forecast projects 7.5 wins for the team, placing them third in their division. The schedule offers a neutral challenge, ranking 15th on Sharp’s Strength of Schedule scale where 1 represents the easiest path and 32 the hardest. Unit evaluations highlight a clear disparity, with the Quarterbacks group rated as the strongest at number 14, while the Running Backs unit sits at the bottom of the league at number 32. Bettors should note that the team is projected as 1.5-point underdogs on average across the season. Addressing these structural imbalances will be essential for Washington to exceed expectations and improve upon their prior-year finish.
September 6, 2026
The New York Giants enter the 2026 campaign looking to rebound from a dismal 4-13 finish in the prior season. Warren Sharp’s forecast projects 7.5 wins for the franchise, which places them fourth in their division. This outlook arrives despite a challenging slate, as the Strength of Schedule ranks 23 on a scale where 1 is easiest and 32 is hardest, marking the tenth-most difficult path in the league. Unit evaluations highlight a disparity between coaching and coverage, with the head coach position ranked fifteenth strongest while the secondary is ranked 28th. The betting market reflects this uncertainty, listing a season-average spread of 2.0 points, indicating the team is expected to be underdogs by that margin on average. Addressing these structural weaknesses will be essential for any realistic push toward respectability.