BEST OF NFL PREDICTIONS: Bengals, Giants, Chiefs, Bears, Steelers, Patriots

Summary of BEST OF NFL PREDICTIONS: Bengals, Giants, Chiefs, Bears, Steelers, Patriots

by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

46m•May 28, 2026
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Overview of BEST OF NFL PREDICTIONS: Bengals, Giants, Chiefs, Bears, Steelers, Patriots

This episode is a fast-moving NFL win-total and playoff-race preview built around betting angles, roster changes, and coaching upgrades. The hosts weigh which teams are poised to outperform expectations and which ones are set up for regression, with a heavy focus on schedule strength, quarterback development, and whether offseason roster moves actually solved real problems.

Biggest Win Total Takes

Teams they liked to go over

  • Bears (9.5 wins): Strong lean to the over. The argument centers on:
    • A major coaching upgrade with Ben Johnson
    • A potential Year 2 leap from Caleb Williams
    • A loaded young offensive core that could become a top-10 unit
  • Lions (10.5 wins): Another over lean.
    • Best schedule advantage in the league
    • Better offensive coaching setup
    • Offensive line and overall roster continuity still make them one of the NFC’s safest contenders
  • Bengals: One of the strongest “bounce-back” picks.
    • Defensive line has been significantly upgraded
    • Joe Burrow is viewed as an elite force who can carry roster-building pressure
    • Picked as a legit division winner / playoff team

Teams they liked to go under

  • Cowboys (8.5 wins): One of the favorite unders.
    • Brutal schedule
    • Big jump in difficulty compared with last year
    • Even with defensive improvement, the path to nine wins looks difficult
  • Patriots (9.5 wins): Lean under.
    • Belief that the number already bakes in optimism
    • Tougher schedule and less sneaky opponent value this year
    • Could be better in the big picture without necessarily winning more games
  • 49ers (10.5 wins): Lean under.
    • Good coaching, but schedule and year-to-year regression concerns
    • Road environment and division difficulty make 11 wins a stretch
  • Vikings (8.5 wins): Strong under.
    • Expected to finish near the bottom of the NFC North
    • Too much uncertainty and not enough confidence in the roster compared with division rivals
  • Packers (10.5 wins): Lean under.
    • Concerns about roster turnover, defensive consistency, and whether the WR room is truly settled
    • Still viewed as a good organization, but not necessarily an 11-win team

Playoff Contenders and Dark Horses

Teams mentioned as possible new playoff entrants

  • Bengals
  • Giants
  • Cowboys
  • Saints

Teams with upside but uncertainty

  • Giants
    • Seen as a possible year-away team, but with enough talent to surprise
    • The main question is whether the front seven can hold up and whether the quarterback situation is stable enough
  • Saints
    • Considered a sneaky under-the-radar playoff flyer
    • Interest in their offensive line and coaching continuity
  • Colts
    • Mentioned as a team that could jump into the conversation if the quarterback play holds up
  • Jaguars
    • More skepticism here
    • Concerns about offseason direction, Travis Hunter’s role, and whether the roster has enough firepower

AFC West and Chiefs Take

  • Chiefs 10.5 wins: Mixed but generally cautious.
    • One side leaned under, pointing to:
      • A harder division
      • Regression risk
      • Age/health questions on key offensive weapons
    • The counterpoint was classic Andy Reid + Patrick Mahomes confidence:
      • High floor
      • Usually a strong bet to outperform expectations
  • Broader AFC West view:
    • Denver was described as having the best roster in the division
    • Raiders were praised for a strong draft and could become much more competitive
    • Chargers were viewed as improved, especially up front

Draft / QB Takeaways That Stood Out

Drew Allar skepticism

  • The hosts were notably low on Drew Allar as an NFL quarterback.
  • Main critique: big arm, size, and tools are not enough if a QB lacks instinct, feel, and situational command.

Why quarterback matters more than almost anything

  • The conversation repeatedly returned to the same theme:
    • If a team gets even league-average quarterback play from the right young player, the whole franchise trajectory can change.
  • That’s why there was so much interest in young QBs and why teams like the Raiders and Giants were discussed as potentially transformative if their QB plans work.

Main Themes / Takeaways

  • Schedule strength matters a lot in these win-total bets.
  • Coaching upgrades were one of the biggest reasons to like the Bears and Lions.
  • Quarterback development is still the single most important factor for playoff upside.
  • Defensive line and trench improvements were repeatedly cited as the difference between a good team and a contender.
  • The NFL is viewed as having a lot of volatility this year, with several teams capable of becoming surprise playoff entrants.

Bottom Line

The strongest convictions in the episode were:

  • Overs: Bears, Lions, Bengals
  • Unders: Cowboys, Patriots, Vikings, 49ers, Packers
  • Big swing team: Chiefs, with some skepticism but still respect for Reid/Mahomes
  • Sleeper teams: Saints, Giants, Raiders

The overall tone was that this season could produce several new playoff teams, but the safest bets come from teams with clear coaching edges, favorable schedules, and quarterbacks with real upside.