There is plenty of attention on Michael Penix Jr., who will make his first NFL start since suffering a season ending ACL injury last November. That's certainly a major storyline, but I'm looking at the bigger picture. I'll provide the preview, odds, and the Bystander take and prediction for this week's Thursday Night Football Week 3 matchup between the Atlanta Falcons vs the Green Bay Packers.

NFL Season Week 2 Previews, Odds, and Picks Week 2 of the NFL season is here, and after an exciting opening week. We have another loaded Sunday schedule followed by Monday Night Football. Thursday’s Lions versus Bills game is already final (Bills 41, Lions 31), so this focuses on the remaining slate. Here are my picks for every NFL Week 2 Sunday and Monday game, including the current odds, a quick preview, and the Bystander picks.

NFL Season Week 1 Previews, Odds, and Picks I'm taking a quick look at every matchup for week 1, giving a preview, the current betting odds, what I think will decide each game and most importantly give The Bystander Pick. These aren't just picks based on who is favored. I'm looking at the matchup, how each team can win, where I think one team has an advantage and what could ultimately decide the game.

The NFC South doesn't have a clear-cut powerhouse. There isn't a clear-cut quarterback advantage that makes one team an obvious favorite. Although Baker Mayfield is playing for a new contract that could give the Bucs a little better play. Ultimately, no one in the division had a winning record at the end of the year. Carolina won the division last season with an 8–9 record, nobody should be expecting a runaway winner. Instead, it looks like a division where one team can separ

In my opinion, the NFC North Is a Four-Way Bar Fight. If there is one division in the NFL where I wouldn't be surprised by almost any outcome, it is the NFC North. For the first time in recent memory, all four NFC North teams finished above .500 last season; the only division in football that could say that. Chicago went from worst to first. Detroit and Minnesota, the class of the division the year before, both stumbled to 9-8. And Green Bay was one score away from winning 10

The NFC East has a way of feeling wide open every August and settling into the same old order every January. Heading into 2026, the division is getting more competitive on paper: Dallas retooled its defense, the Giants hired a Super Bowl-winning head coach, and Washington is desperate to get right, but as of now, it all doesn’t matter yet. Philadelphia still looks like the team to beat.

The NFC West enters 2026 season as arguably the best division in football. Three teams from this group made the playoffs a year ago the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers. They all finished with double-digit win totals and every one of them got better this offseason. Only the Cardinals are in full rebuild mode after finishing the season 3-14 last year. Here's how the four teams stack up, and who's most likely to walk away with the division crown.