Week 1 for the 2026 NFL season is looming. In just over two weeks, on Sept. 9, a Super Bowl rematch between the champion Seattle Seahawks and runner-up New England Patriots kicks things off.Does either team have what it takes to return to the big game at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14?Regular-season team win projections from The Athletic’s Austin Mock say they both have a chance. Mock’s model, which calculates an expected win total for every team, predicts the Seahawks to earn 10.8 wins in 2026 and the Patriots 10.3. Do our NFL beat writers think the projections for those teams are too high, too low or just right?Read below for analysis of all 32 NFL teams and check out Mock’s full NFC and AFC projections as well.Arizona CardinalsProjected wins: 4.4
Verdict: Just rightHere’s the thing: The Cardinals should be more competitive than people expect. This team — with Trey McBride, Jeremiyah Love, Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. — has offensive potential. QB Jacoby Brissett has been solid. First-year coach Mike LaFleur has been impressive. It’s just … everything else. Will the line — which has already lost rookie guard Chase Bisontis with a knee injury — hold up? Can the defense stop anybody? If everything goes right, six wins, even with a difficult schedule, would not be shocking. But that’s probably wishful thinking. — Doug HallerAtlanta FalconsProjected wins: 7.1
