A complete guide to the 2026 NFL season: Everything you need to know

[p]From the international schedule, holiday matchups, potential NFL records, strength of schedules, personal milestones, favorites for awards, and so much more, our 2026 NFL guide has it all.[/p][p]As the preseason is officially underway, let's take a look at what lies ahead. [/p][h2]When does the 2026 NFL regular season start?[/h2][image alt="Patriots and Seahawks helmets" id="ca3a5a66-60c4-489d-b99b-3073d806b5ac" credit-line="Dylan Stewart / Newscom" guid="c6c062ce-5a66-45d3-be80-5bb7c890282b" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]The 2026 NFL regular season begins on [b]September 9th at 8:20 p.m. ET [/b]when the reigning champion [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/seattle-seahawks/f5h1oOee/"]Seattle Seahawks[/a] host the [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-england-patriots/G6oNfmi8/"][b]New England Patriots[/b][/a] in a Super Bowl rematch. [/p][p]This marks just the second time in NFL history when a season starts on a Wednesday. The first was in 2012 when the New York Giants hosted the Dallas Cowboys to avoid overlapping with President Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention. [/p][p]Since 2002, the home team in the NFL's regular season opening game has won 18 of the last 24 matchups. The last time they lost was in 2022 when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Detroit Lions. [/p][h2]Super Bowl LXI details[/h2][image alt="Super Bowl LXI logo" id="07c79cb2-1319-4264-8bf6-b5801aaa74e6" credit-line="Sipa USA / Sipa USA" guid="d08e6cc0-512b-4035-8193-5c3d658e1f6e" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Super Bowl LXI (61) is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with ESPN and ABC handling the broadcast.[/p][p]It'll already be the second time the stadium has hosted the Super Bowl since its league debut in 2020, the first being in 2022 when the hometown Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. [/p][p]NFC teams have won the last two Super Bowls, both in NFC stadiums, and are 4-3 this decade. There have only been two Super Bowls in the 2020s that took place in an AFC stadium (Hard Rock in 2020, Allegiant in 2024), both of which the AFC representative, the Kansas City Chiefs, won. [/p][p]Ironically, the Chiefs are not only the only AFC team to win a Super Bowl in an NFC stadium (State Farm Stadium - Cardinals) this decade, but the only AFC team this decade to win a Super Bowl outright.[/p][p]The rest? NFC teams winning Super Bowls in NFC stadiums. [/p][p]The Rams are the favorites to make Super LXI out of the NFC, while the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens are the favorites out of the AFC, depending on what sportsbook you're looking at. [/p][h2]2026 NFL International schedule[/h2][image alt="Melbourne Cricket Ground" id="0908dd73-8785-44df-99f3-d050e422a790" credit-line="Leigh Henningham / Alamy" guid="ff1718cd-d111-4de6-83b2-87074d75bc16" original-width="1400" original-height="787" /][p]This year, the[b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-francisco-49ers/jBnfYoFr/"]San Francisco 49ers[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-rams/z7hZioyR/"]Los Angeles Rams[/a] [/b]will square off in Melbourne, Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on [b]September 10th at 8:35 p.m. ET[/b] for the first international game of the 2026 season and the first NFL game ever in Australia.[/p][p]After a quick Week 2 break, the NFL will have five straight weeks (3-7) with one international game, followed by a break in Week 8, then the final three international games in three straight weeks (9-11).[/p][p]The 2026 season's nine games overseas will be a new record for the league.[/p][p]Here are the rest of the international matchups in order by date:[/p][p][b]Sept. 27th @ 4:25 p.m. ET[/b]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/baltimore-ravens/pUern3T0/"]Baltimore Ravens[/a] vs. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dallas-cowboys/S8sFw8iL/"]Dallas Cowboys[/a] (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Maracana Stadium)[/p][p][b]Oct. 4th @ 9:30 a.m. ET[/b]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/indianapolis-colts/OOp2WPqe/"]Indianapolis Colts[/a] vs. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/washington-commanders/pYobX5Ul/"]Washington Commanders[/a] (London, U.K. - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)[/p][p][b]Oct. 11th @ 9:30 a.m. ET[/b]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-eagles/dGgVhRLK/"]Philadelphia Eagles[/a] vs. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/jacksonville-jaguars/QwhQ85IE/"]Jacksonville Jaguars[/a] (London, U.K. - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)[/p][p][b]Oct. 18th @ 9:30 a.m. ET:[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-texans/SIj9q2Q7/"]Houston Texans[/a] vs. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/jacksonville-jaguars/QwhQ85IE/"]Jacksonville Jaguars[/a] (London, U.K. - Wembley Stadium)[/p][p][b]Oct. 25th @ 9:30 a.m. ET[/b]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pittsburgh-steelers/AXWJxS6R/"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/a] vs. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-orleans-saints/lSi5prB1/"]New Orleans Saints[/a] (Paris, France - Stade de France)[/p][p][b]Nov. 8th @ 9:30 a.m. ET[/b]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cincinnati-bengals/bwahmpRr/"]Cincinnati Bengals[/a] vs. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-falcons/hClIiQIR/"]Atlanta Falcons[/a] (Madrid, Spain - Bernabeu Stadium)[/p][p][b]Nov. 15th @ 9:30 a.m. ET[/b]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-england-patriots/G6oNfmi8/"]New England Patriots[/a] vs. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-lions/boZWV3E7/"]Detroit Lions[/a] (Munich, Germany - FC Bayern Munich Arena)[/p][p][b]Nov. 22nd @ 8:20 p.m. ET: [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-vikings/IsfjpsbD/"]Minnesota Vikings[/a] vs. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-francisco-49ers/jBnfYoFr/"]San Francisco 49ers[/a] (Mexico City, Mexico - Estadio Banorte)[/p][h2]Teams with the toughest & weakest schedules[/h2][image alt="Browns QB Shedeur Sanders during a training camp press conference" id="e3d1452d-fb19-4dab-b830-39d6c3e1c36d" credit-line="Sue Ogrocki / CTK / AP" guid="788a9d68-9362-40a0-8788-8ee575f3698f" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Based on opponent win percentages from last season, the[b] Chicago Bears[/b] roll into the 2026 NFL season with the[b] hardest strength of schedule[/b] (.550 opp. win percentage). [/p][p]The Miami Dolphins (.542), Arizona Cardinals (.538), Green Bay Packers (.538), and Kansas City Chiefs (.536) round out the top-five toughest strength of schedules.[/p][p]As for the [b]easiest strength of schedule[/b], that honor goes to the [b]Cleveland Browns[/b] (.429), followed by the New Orleans Saints (.434), Cincinnati Bengals (.450), Atlanta Falcons (.465), and Indianapolis Colts (.465).[/p][p]Almost all of the AFC North (Browns, Bengals, Ravens) and AFC South (Texans, Colts, Titans) make up six of the 10 easiest schedules, while almost all of the AFC East (Patriots, Dolphins, Bills) and AFC West (Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders) make up [a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48770962/2026-nfl-schedule-release-which-teams-easiest-hardest-lineups" target="_blank"]six of the 10 hardest schedules[/a].[/p][h2]When will the Bills play in their new stadium?[/h2][image alt="Buffalo Bills' new Highmark Stadium" id="7c7e72b7-2eb8-46b5-973d-fcb93d39210b" credit-line="Jeffrey T. Barnes / CTK / AP" guid="6a69726d-01d9-4323-b6f8-7879847baac4" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Technically, they'll play in it during the preseason on August 15th. But officially during the regular season, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/buffalo-bills/t2lcn4tk/"]Buffalo Bills[/a] won't wait long to break in their new Highmark Stadium as they host the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-lions/boZWV3E7/"]Lions[/a] for a Week 2 primetime game on Sunday, September 17th. They are 5-1 this decade in home openers and haven't lost a game to the Lions since 2006. [/p][p][i][b]No team in the NFL has lost their new stadium home opener since the San Francisco 49ers lost 28-20 to the Chicago Bears at Levi Stadium in 2014. [/b][/i][/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-chargers/K0iU7PXK/"]Chargers[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-rams/z7hZioyR/"]Rams[/a] both won in their SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) debuts in 2020; the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/las-vegas-raiders/Ei4Qg76E/"]Raiders[/a] won in their Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas) opener the same year. In 2017, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-vikings/IsfjpsbD/"]Vikings[/a] won in the U.S. Bank Stadium opener. And the year prior, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/miami-dolphins/WQivmqEf/"]Miami[/a] won at Hard Rock Stadium, while the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-falcons/hClIiQIR/"]Falcons[/a] won at Mercedes-Benz in their league debuts. [/p][h2]Which teams will play the most primetime games?[/h2][image alt="Rams QB Matthew Stafford at training camp" id="7a554b52-3595-4290-909c-8ce911ed3a29" credit-line="Wally Skalij / CTK / AP" guid="9739d428-ccd1-469e-9a64-7051742b16f5" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p][b]The Rams[/b] have the most primetime games scheduled for the 2026 NFL season with seven in total, three straight to start the season and four in their first five games. Their seven in total tie the NFL record for most primetime games in a single season.[/p][p]The Bills, Chiefs, Packers, and Seahawks will each have [b]six[/b].[/p][p]49ers, Bears, Cowboys, Eagles, and Patriots will each have[b] five[/b].[/p][p]Giants, Lions, Ravens, Steelers, Texans, and Vikings will each have[b] four.[/b][/p][p]Bengals, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Falcons, and Panthers will each have [b]three[/b].[/p][p]Browns, Colts, and Saints will each have [b]one[/b]. [/p][p]Meanwhile, the Cardinals, Dolphins, Jets, Raiders, and Titans are the only teams who won't play in a single primetime game during the 2026 regular season.[/p][h2]NFL 2026 Thanksgiving schedule[/h2][image alt="NFL Thanksgiving" id="b2b561ea-ded4-4a82-8428-771c4e30c8f1" credit-line="Matt Patterson / CTK / AP" guid="9e2b7b25-4eb3-4517-80e6-94085dd0cc6d" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]For the first time in NFL history, the league will have a [b]Thanksgiving Eve [/b]game on November 25th when the[b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-rams/z7hZioyR/"]Rams[/a] host the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/green-bay-packers/O6ksuA72/"]Packers[/a][/b] [b](8:00 p.m. ET)[/b]. That game will stream on Netflix.[/p][p]The following day on [b]Thanksgiving[/b], the [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-lions/boZWV3E7/"]Lions[/a] will host the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-bears/2clovUM8/"]Bears[/a] for the first game at 1:00 p.m. ET[/b], followed by the[b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-eagles/dGgVhRLK/"]Eagles[/a] @ [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dallas-cowboys/S8sFw8iL/"]Cowboys[/a] at 4:30 p.m. ET[/b], as is the tradition. This will mark the 60th year in which the Cowboys hosted a Thanksgiving game, while it will mark the 87th for the Lions, who started it back in 1934. [/p][p]Then, once everyone is stuffed with turkey, the [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/buffalo-bills/t2lcn4tk/"]Bills[/a] will host the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kansas-city-chiefs/vienoNr7/"]Chiefs[/a][/b] [b]for the primetime game at 8:20 p.m. ET. [/b][/p][p]And for the fourth year in a row, the NFL will also have a game scheduled on [b]Black Friday[/b] (Nov. 27th) when the [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pittsburgh-steelers/AXWJxS6R/"]Steelers[/a] host the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denver-broncos/l22ZmPbl/"]Broncos[/a] at 3:00 p.m. ET.[/b][/p][h2]NFL 2026 Christmas schedule[/h2][image alt="Thursday Night Football on Christmas Eve 2025" id="1a495a63-de4d-4ba0-a5f2-c16d9f57d1cc" credit-line="Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire / Newscom" guid="ad4d7387-be78-49fe-b853-f1dbaf41ca2a" original-width="1400" original-height="934" /][p]The [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-eagles/dGgVhRLK/"]Eagles[/a] will host the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-texans/SIj9q2Q7/"]Texans[/a] on Christmas Eve[/b] [b](Dec. 24th)[/b] for the Thursday night game on Prime Video.[/p][p]On[b] Christmas Day[/b], the[b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-bears/2clovUM8/"]Bears[/a] will host the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/green-bay-packers/O6ksuA72/"]Packers[/a] at 1:00 p.m. ET[/b], followed by the [b]Bills @ [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denver-broncos/l22ZmPbl/"]Broncos[/a] at 4:25 p.m. ET[/b], with both streaming on Netflix. Then for the primetime Christmas game, the [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/seattle-seahawks/f5h1oOee/"]Seahawks[/a] host the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-rams/z7hZioyR/"]Rams[/a] with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. ET.[/b][/p][p]It's also worth noting that the NFL will have two games scheduled for that [b]Saturday (Dec. 26th)[/b], but the matchups won't be determined until the season gets closer to the date. This means that for the week of Christmas, the NFL will have games every day during the week of the 21st to the 27th except on Tuesday (Dec. 22nd).[/p][h2]What NFL records could be broken in 2026?[/h2][image alt="Broncos DT D.J. Jones" id="9bcc0242-0a45-478c-a2ae-20f20d255fed" credit-line="Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire / Newscom" guid="a6e10b09-0cd5-4ded-b818-515e1b8aa9cf" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]The Broncos recorded 68 sacks in 2025, falling just five short of breaking [b]the sack record for a team[/b] set by the iconic 1984 Bears defense, which is hailed as the greatest defense in league history alongside the 2000 Ravens. [/p][p]But Broncos defensive tackle [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jones-d-j/rNwt43zc/"]D.J. Jones[/a] is confident in his squad, [a href="https://x.com/AroundTheNFL/status/2085244480098332841?s=20" target="_blank"]stating[/a], [b]"We can break the record (...) We got what it takes." [/b]No other team in the NFL had more than 60 last season.[/p][p]Another record that could be broken is [b][a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1954338776349815211?s=20" target="_blank"]the longest kick in an NFL game[/a][/b] after Jaguars kicker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/little-cam/zmjOKIj4/"]Cam Little[/a] set the record with a 68-yard field goal he drilled against the Raiders last season. Little actually made a 70-yarder, but it didn't count in the record books since it was during the preseason. [/p][p]So that's another record to look out for this season as Little continues to make a case for the best kicker in the league. The 22-year-old went 30-for-34 in field goals and 50-for-51 in extra points last season. [/p][embed guid="5a927fb9-2ade-43ac-ab44-fc936be8ab57" url="https://x.com/NFL/status/1954338776349815211?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/johnson-calvin/tdfwq2F4/"]Calvin Johnson Jr.'s[/a] [b]single-season receiving record[/b] of 1,964 has almost been broken a few times this decade. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kupp-cooper/OYKcfz7P/"]Cooper Kupp[/a] came the closest in 2021 with 1,947, followed by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jefferson-justin/EsCnPVOn/"]Justin Jefferson[/a] (1,809 in 2022), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hill-tyreek/8nO4YVva/"]Tyreek Hill[/a] (1,799 in 2023), and, just last season, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-njigba-jaxon/txwNaLzE/"]Jaxon Smith-Njigba[/a] recorded 1,793. [/p][p]In a pass-happy league, including the extra regular season game that Johnson wasn't around for, the record always has a chance to be broken. [/p][p]Another is [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garrett-myles/Uotj0KLS/"]Myles Garrett[/a] breaking his own [b]single-season sack record[/b] (23) that he set just last season. On a revamped defense that is set to possibly have future Hall of Famer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/donald-aaron/Sf9IN274/"]Aaron Donald[/a] come back to the Rams, where he spent his entire career, Garrett could raise the bar even higher with a stout defensive line around him. [/p][p]Michael Strahan's sack record stood for 24 years. So it's definitely not the easiest record to break. But if anyone can do it this season, it's Garrett. [/p][p]The last is [b]most fourth-quarter comebacks in NFL history[/b].[/p][p]Rams QB [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stafford-matthew/vo7fkASl/"]Matthew Stafford[/a] is seven short of surpassing the all-time great [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brady-tom/fezaExal/"]Tom Brady[/a] for the most all-time, currently set at 46. On a Rams team not looking to be down much in the fourth quarter this season in the first place, it could take Stafford a couple of seasons to reach it. He only had one in 2025 during the regular season. [/p][p]But never count out how unpredictable the NFL season can be. [/p][h2]Which NFL players will hit career milestones in 2026?[/h2][image alt="Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers throws during training camp" id="a5af4332-22c0-4c07-8a6b-cd36503a44d0" credit-line="Brent Gudenschwager / Zuma Press" guid="5d4410c4-5ea6-4289-ab4e-769d51edd77e" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Both [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodgers-aaron/dvZCmchC/"]Aaron Rodgers[/a] (66,274 yards) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stafford-matthew/vo7fkASl/"]Stafford[/a] (64,516 yards) sit at fifth and sixth on the all-time passers list and will battle all season long for a one-up on the other. Rodgers will look to try and surpass his former teammate Brett Favre (71,838) while Stafford will look to surpass Rodgers by season's end.[/p][p]Sticking with the same two, Rodgers needs just 13 more passing touchdowns to surpass [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/manning-peyton/Mc0huBmJ/"]Peyton Manning[/a] (No. 3) all-time, while Stafford needs four more to surpass Phillip Rivers (No. 6).[/p][p]Chiefs tight end [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kelce-travis/reuqBYTM/"]Travis Kelce[/a] has put up 70+ receptions in each of the past 11 seasons. Should he follow that trend in 2026, he will surpass Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison (1,102) for the fifth-most receptions of all-time. Kelce is currently at 1,080. [/p][p]Once he hits the 1,100 reception mark, Kelce will join Hall of Famers [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/witten-jason/p0kGzizi/"]Jason Witten[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gonzalez-tony/OMhljChR/"]Tony Gonzalez[/a] as the only tight ends to ever reach that mark (no other tight ends even have 1,000). [/p][p]Tight end [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lewis-marcedes/bDfldgE7/"]Marcedes Lewis[/a] needs 10 more game appearances to join the rare 300 club. Only 12 players in NFL history have ever reached the 300-game mark - none are tight ends. Out of the 12 in the club, only Tom Brady (QB), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rice-jerry/jTTVv0FB/"]Jerry Rice[/a] (WR), and Favre (QB) are the only non-kickers. [/p][p]However, the 42-year-old Lewis is currently an unrestricted free agent at the time of this guide being published. He joined the Denver Broncos in 2025, appearing in only five games.[/p][image alt="Marcedes Lewis with the Broncos during the 2025 season" id="cfe28e84-ffd5-46fc-9bf3-ea5880ddc709" credit-line="Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire / Newscom" guid="e6db92ef-99a6-4298-81dd-d0d37e8a18bc" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Other milestones include Ravens QB [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jackson-lamar/niWBe4T5/"]Lamar Jackson[/a] becoming [b]the only QB in NFL history to rush for 7,000 rushing yards[/b], needing just 478 more. His teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/henry-derrick/UimoZ8vF/"]Derrick Henry[/a] also needs two rushing touchdowns to surpass [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/allen-marcus/I1DmcaOl/"]Marcus Allen[/a] for third-most all-time. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/allen-josh/MPG79J5g/"]Josh Allen[/a] leaping to 15th on[b] the all-time rushing touchdown[/b] list could also happen during the 2026 season. He currently sits with 79 and has put up at least 11 in each of the past three seasons. [/p][p]Staying the course means possibly leaping both Hall of Fame running backs Eric Dickerson and Curtis Martin for 14th-most all-time.[/p][p]And after Rams running back Kyren Williams broke Eric Dickerson's record for the most touchdowns in a player's first 17 starts with 22 in total, he now has the opportunity to join Dickerson and Lawrence McCutcheon as the only players in Rams history to record four-straight seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards. [/p][p]Rams wide receiver Devante Adams is 367 receiving yards away from becoming the [b]24th player in NFL history to reach the 13,000-yard career mark[/b]. Meanwhile, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/miller-von/dzgFbYms/"]Von Miller[/a] needs just one more sack to leap [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suggs-terrell/ht3Db21I/"]Terrell Suggs[/a] for the eighth-most all-time and four to leap Strahan (141.5) to move into sixth on the [b]all-time sacks list[/b].[/p][p]Kickers need love, too. Free agent veteran [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/prater-matt/ryDrfA2C/"]Matt Prater[/a] (425) and Falcons' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/folk-nick/6JHwGvmP/"]Nick Folk[/a] (431) both have a chance this season to move into the top-10 all-time for [b]most field goals made in NFL history[/b].[/p][h2]Who are the 2026 NFL Awards favorites?[/h2][image alt="Josh Allen posing with the 2025 AP Most Valuable Player Award" id="7bbbf28a-d688-46a8-bb11-3526d8e1799b" credit-line="Gerald Herbert / CTK / AP" guid="58f22375-f5de-4c45-92d9-dfee255c8fc3" original-width="1400" original-height="936" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/allen-josh/MPG79J5g/"]Allen[/a] is currently the favorite to win [b]MVP[/b] as the league enters the first week of the preseason, being just slightly ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jackson-lamar/niWBe4T5/"]Lamar Jackson[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/burrow-joe/WYSbGOdg/"]Joe Burrow[/a] in most sportsbooks. [/p][p]Should Allen win MVP, he will join a very exclusive club and become the sixth player ever to win back-to-back MVPs, joining Rodgers, Manning, Favre, Joe Montana and Jim Brown. Should Jackson retake the MVP, it'll be the third of his career, also putting him in elite company. [/p][p]Only three other QBs in history have at least three MVPs - Brady, Favre, and Johnny Unitas, who is also Baltimore football royalty. [/p][p]For [b]Offensive Player of the Year[/b], Lions running back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gibbs-jahmyr/QHh4C639/"]Jahmyr Gibbs[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscoreusa.com/news/lions-make-jahmyr-gibbs-highest-paid-running-back-ever-with-75-75-million-extension/dGwjuqLi/" target="_blank"]who just signed the biggest contract in NFL history[/a] for a running back, is the favorite in most sportsbooks, followed by Falcons running back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/robinson-bijan/MDyvHwLH/"]Bijan Robinson[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscoreusa.com/news/falcons-sign-rb-bijan-robinson-to-three-year-75-million-extension/4tsbwNk4/" target="_blank"]who also signed a record contract[/a] a couple of days before Gibbs leapfrogged him for that crown. Robinson led the league in scrimmage yards last season.[/p][p]If Gibbs wins, he'll join the legend Barry Sanders as the only two players in Lions history to win the award. Should Robinson win, he'll become the first running back in Falcons history to win it, and the second player in the franchise's history (QB Matt Ryan - 2016).[/p][p]Others in the crowded field are running backs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barkley-saquon/MLKKxtZd/"]Saquon Barkley[/a] (Eagles), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mccaffrey-christian/UwUYi0lS/"]Christian McCaffrey[/a] (49ers), and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/henry-derrick/UimoZ8vF/"]Derrick Henry[/a] (Ravens), along with wide receivers [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nacua-puka/UFBmFvle/"]Puka Nacua[/a] (Rams), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chase-ja-marr/EqeOmcL7/"]Ja'Marr Chase[/a] (Bengals), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jefferson-justin/EsCnPVOn/"]Justin Jefferson[/a] (Vikings), and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-njigba-jaxon/txwNaLzE/"]Jaxon Smith-Njigba[/a] (Seahawks). [/p][p]As for [b]Defensive Player of the Year[/b], defensive end [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garrett-myles/Uotj0KLS/"]Myles Garrett[/a] (Rams) is the resounding favorite to reclaim his DPOTY crown after breaking the sack record last season. He's followed by linebacker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anderson-jr-will/d6ShMWDl/"]Will Anderson Jr.[/a] (Texans) and defensive ends [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hutchinson-aidan/bFUA3QmE/"]Aidan Hutchinson[/a] (Lions) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/crosby-maxx/ClrRIiOe/"]Maxx Crosby[/a] (Raiders).[/p][image alt="Rams defensive end Myles Garrett during training camp" id="3613bb5d-f8ea-4d08-aabd-fab46330a262" credit-line="Mark J. Terrill / CTK / AP" guid="77ed42ea-3db8-4e4d-bb4d-0ac63fa993ca" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Those who are in the running for [b]Comeback Player of the Year[/b] include quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Kyler Murray (Vikings), and Jayden Daniels (Commanders), along with EDGE Micah Parsons (Packers) and wide receiver Malik Nabers (Giants). And, if he signs with the Rams, which all signs point to, defensive tackle Aaron Donald is also a possibility as he makes his comeback from retirement. [/p][p]Donald has the potential to be the first player in NFL history to win the award after coming out of retirement. [/p][p]In a surprise for [b]Coach of the Year[/b] odds, New York Giants new head coach and longtime Raven, John Harbaugh, is the favorite to win the award. Ironically, he's just ahead of new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter, who is followed by Robert Saleh (Tennessee Titans) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moore-kellen/lpMSc1Uc/"]Kellen Moore[/a] as he enters his second year with the New Orleans Saints. [/p][p]Harbs previously won the 2019 AP Coach of the Year Award, while this will be Minter's first year as a head coach. [/p][embed guid="562ac4c8-e4f8-418f-9a21-8af6ff3d2ffe" url="https://x.com/Ravens/status/2014467995452551188?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]How about the rookies?[/p][p]For [b]Offensive Rookie of the Year, [/b]depending where you look, quarterback [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mendoza-fernando/jmACrEFd/"]Fernando Mendoza[/a] (Raiders), running backs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/love-jeremiyah/d8k21QsJ/"]Jeremiyah Love[/a] (Cardinals) and Jadarion Price (Seahawks), and wide receivers [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tate-carnell/bVUl2fCC/"]Carnell Tate[/a] (Titans) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tyson-jordyn/4C3Kf7R9/"]Jordyn Tyson[/a] (Saints) are the favorites for the award heading into the season.[/p][p]Mendoza would be just the second Raiders player (Marcus Allen - 1982) to win the award. However, there are questions about whether Mendoza will get enough playing time, as he will be sitting behind veteran Kirk Cousins to start the season, something that deterred New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart's chances at the award last season. [/p][p]Tate and Tyson might have the advantage if that's how it plays out, as wide receivers have won the award in three of the past five years, including Carolina's Tetairoa McMillan last season.[/p][embed guid="b1c21ce8-63dc-420d-abd4-e54ccd74a981" url="https://x.com/statmuse/status/2010060847037759596?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]On the flip side for [b]Defensive Rookie of the Year, [/b]defensive ends Rueben Bain Jr. (Buccaneers) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bailey-david/EgvKOKG6/"]David Bailey[/a] (Jets) are the favorites in a group that includes linebackers Arvell Reese (Giants) and Sonny Styles (Commanders), as well as defensive backs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/downs-caleb/Gv3K1gXK/"]Caleb Downs[/a] (Cowboys) and Mansoor Delane (Chiefs). [/p][p]Bain has the potential to become the first Buccaneers player to ever win DROTY, while Bailey can become the second Jets player in the past fives years (Sauce Gardner - 2022). [/p][p]Downs would join Micah Parsons as the only two Cowboys to win it, while Styles would join Chase Young as the only two in Washington's history, and the same for Delane and the Chiefs (Marcus Peters - 2015). [/p][image alt="Buccaneers rookie Rueben Bain Jr." id="871063fa-4ef7-43ae-a732-0322eba31a5f" credit-line="ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock Editorial" guid="04fbd3b6-1314-4543-a2fe-b5029555e043" original-width="1400" original-height="934" /][p]So, who else is ready for another incredible NFL season?[/p][infobox id="20b251ad-200b-415c-a27c-559697b10377" /]