Analysis
11/1/23
10 min read
Rest of Season Win-Loss Predictions for Every NFL Team
As we head into Week 9, it’s time to make record predictions for every NFL team. Every team’s talent and reliability drive their future success, but schedule strength is a significant factor, too.
Below, you’ll find record predictions for every team, along with a brief reasoning behind those stances. At the end, we’ll make a few predictions through the rest of the season, including the Super Bowl matchup.
Check out our post–Week 8 Power Rankings.
Midseason Record, Super Bowl Prediction
NFC Win-Loss Predictions
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West |
| PHI 13-4 | DET 12-5 | NO 11-6 | SF 12-5 |
| DAL 12-5 | MIN 6-11 | ATL 9-8 | SEA 11-6 |
| WSH 5-12 | GB 5-12 | TB 6-11 | LAR 7-10 |
| NYG 4-13 | CHI 5-12 | CAR 5-12 | ARZ 4-13 |
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles (7-1)
Midseason Prediction: 13-4
The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the most talented, complete rosters in the league. Their schedule through Week 15 is brutal, but if they just split through that stretch, 13 wins are obtainable.
Dallas Cowboys (5-2)
Midseason Prediction: 12-5
The Dallas Cowboys have a top five roster, and Dak Prescott’s passing game is showing some ceiling. The Cowboys are well-positioned to finish 12-5 for the third consecutive season.
Washington Commanders (3-5)
Midseason Prediction: 5-12
The Washington Commanders’ decision to trade both of their blue-chip edge rushers shows how management views this season. Sam Howell and the offense have been better than expected, but it's hard to find many wins on Washington’s second-half schedule.
New York Giants (2-6)
Midseason Prediction: 4-13
The New York Giants’ defense has been reliable, but their offense has been abysmal. Unfortunately for the Giants, no professional football team is an easy out for them.
NFC North
Detroit Lions (6-2)
Midseason Prediction: 12-5
Through the rest of the season, the Cowboys are the only team left on the Detroit Lions’ schedule with a winning record — the Saints and the Chargers are the next most difficult opponents the Lions face. This division is the Lions to lose.
Minnesota Vikings (4-4)
Midseason Prediction: 6-11
The Minnesota Vikings were a surging team with a dangerous passing attack and an improving defense. Kirk Cousins’ season-ending injury transforms the Vikings’ 2023 campaign. Joshua Dobbs could be enough for Minnesota to steal a few wins, but its playoff prospects are much worse.
Green Bay Packers (2-5)
Midseason Prediction: 5-12
Jordan Love’s offense is among the least reliable units in the entire league. Unless that changes, the Green Bay Packers aren’t going anywhere.
Chicago Bears (2-6)
Midseason Prediction: 5-12
The Chicago Bears have a manageable second-half schedule. If Justin Fields returns and elevates Chicago’s offense, this team could exceed expectations.
NFC South
New Orleans Saints (4-4)
Midseason Prediction: 11-6
The New Orleans Saints have a well-rounded roster and one of the league’s easiest second-half schedules. They also have the division’s best quarterback, Derek Carr. If New Orleans plays to its potential, this team could cruise to the top of the NFC South.
Atlanta Falcons (4-4)
Midseason Prediction: 9-8
The Atlanta Falcons have a good roster, but they have a quarterback problem. That makes them a less reliable team than the rival Saints.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4)
Midseason Prediction: 6-11
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t had an effective running game in two years, which means Baker Mayfield carries this offense. Tampa Bay is good, but its defense isn’t enough to make up the difference against quality opponents.
Carolina Panthers (1-6)
Midseason Prediction: 5-12
The Carolina Panthers opened the year with their most brutal schedule stretch. Through the rest of the season, they face two teams with winning records. We aren’t expecting an epic surge from Carolina, but it is well-positioned to finish strong.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers (5-3)
Midseason Prediction: 12-5
The San Francisco 49ers enter their bye on a three-game losing streak, but even the best teams lose games in the NFL. From here on out, they face four opponents with winning records. And San Francisco has played in three of the last four NFC Championships.
The 49ers also have a high-end head coach and one of the best rosters in the league. If Brock Purdy returns to playing clean football, San Francisco is one of the toughest outs in the league.
Seattle Seahawks (5-2)
Midseason Prediction: 11-6
The Seattle Seahawks have an excellent skill group, and their defense has been consistently strong for over a month. Every team’s quarterback drives their success, but Geno Smith hasn’t been consistent this season.
When he plays well, the Seahawks are an NFC contender. But Seattle has won a few games despite him this season, including last week’s win against Cleveland.
Los Angeles Rams (3-5)
Midseason Prediction: 7-10
Matthew Stafford and the passing attack have carried this team through the first half of the season. If he misses any time, the Los Angeles Rams have one of the worst rosters in the league.
Arizona Cardinals (1-7)
Midseason Prediction: 4-13
The Arizona Cardinals have given some high-quality teams some tough games. When Kyler Murray returns, Arizona will win a few more of those close games. If Clayton Tune sees significant action, the Cardinals are the worst team in football.
AFC Win-Loss Predictions
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West |
| BUF 12-5 | CIN 12-5 | JAX 13-4 | KC 12-5 |
| MIA 12-5 | BAL 12-5 | HOU 7-10 | LAC 9-8 |
| NYJ 8-9 | PIT 9-8 | TEN 7-10 | DEN 7-10 |
| NE 6-11 | CLE 9-8 | IND 6-11 | LV 4-13 |
AFC East
Buffalo Bills (5-3)
Midseason Prediction: 12-5
The Buffalo Bills were all over the road in the season’s first half; they went through a tough stretch that started with their game in London against the Jaguars.
They also have three dominant wins, including one against Miami. We know Buffalo has the ceiling to challenge for the top seed in the conference, but it needs to be more consistent.
Miami Dolphins (6-2)
Midseason Prediction: 12-5
Entering Week 9’s tilt with Kansas City, the Miami Dolphins have lost to their opponents with winning records and beat those with losing records.
The Dolphins’ offense is for real, and their defense is improving. However, if Miami is going to take the next step, it needs to win games against quality opponents.
New York Jets (4-3)
Midseason Prediction: 8-9
If Aaron Rodgers was active, the New York Jets could win the AFC East. With Zach Wilson at the controls, the Jets’ defense drives their success. It’s hard to win games in the NFL with a nonfunctioning passing attack.
New England Patriots (2-6)
Midseason Prediction: 6-11
The New England Patriots have one of the most talent-poor rosters in the league, but they have beaten the Jets and Bills. The Patriots have winnable games against the Commanders, Colts and Giants in the next four weeks.
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)
Midseason Prediction: 12-5
Joe Burrow is back in form, meaning the Cincinnati Bengals are one of the most dangerous teams in football. Cincinnati’s second-half schedule is mixed with contenders and below-average teams.
If the Bengals can beat the teams they are supposed to while splitting with the contenders, they’ll be part of the No. 1 seed conversation.
Baltimore Ravens (6-2)
Midseason Prediction: 12-5
The Baltimore Ravens are one of the most reliable teams in the league and pair one of the league’s best defenses with former MVP Lamar Jackson. The Ravens can beat anyone, but their second-half schedule is littered with quality teams.
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
Midseason Prediction: 9-8
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team with a difference-making defense and a volatile offense. For Pittsburgh to take a step forward, Kenny Pickett's offense must do more.
Cleveland Browns (4-3)
Midseason Prediction: 9-8
The Cleveland Browns are a quarterback away from being a contender. Despite some of the significant injuries on offense, that’s the only thing holding this team back.
As things stand, the quarterback position looks like it will be unsolved all year for Cleveland.
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)
Midseason Prediction: 13-4
Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars are a good team with an easier schedule than the other AFC contenders. That gives Jacksonville a real shot at finishing the year as the conference’s No. 1 seed. You could also argue the Jaguars have the most straightforward path to winning their division.
Houston Texans (3-4)
Midseason Prediction: 7-10
The Houston Texans’ passing attack and defense have exceeded expectations to this point. Neither group is reliable, but we’ve already seen spike games against quality opponents.
The future looks bright for the Texans.
Tennessee Titans (3-4)
Midseason Prediction: 7-10
The Tennessee Titans are a well-coached, scrappy team that overachieves. Their defensive front is a premium group, but their secondary is beatable.
Similarly, on offense, the Titans have a strong skill group with a bottom-tier offensive line. That collective volatility has them stuck in the middle.
Indianapolis Colts (3-5)
Midseason Prediction: 6-11
Coach Shane Steichen has driven an overachieving offense with two different quarterbacks this season. In fact, the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive success has to be among the biggest surprises of the first half.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the offense took a step back in the second half but kept the Colts competitive.
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)
Midseason Prediction: 12-5
The Kansas City Chiefs are the league’s measuring stick, and their defense has been fantastic. Their offense, on the other hand, is becoming concerning.
Part of that unease is because Patrick Mahomes has set a ridiculously high bar in his still-young career. That said, if the Chiefs are going to make another run this year, Mahomes needs more from his supporting cast.
Los Angeles Chargers (3-4)
Midseason Prediction: 9-8
The Los Angeles Chargers are among the league’s most frustrating teams because they have a premium quarterback and a ton of talent. Despite that, the Chargers find ways to lose games far too often. Their second-half schedule is a mix of beatable opponents and top-shelf contenders.
Denver Broncos (3-5)
Midseason Prediction: 7-10
In the last several weeks, the Denver Broncos’ defense has become the team's strength, driving their upset win against Kansas City.
The Broncos have enough talent to insert themselves into the wild-card race. If that happens, it will boil down to Russell Wilson and whether this team can become more consistent.
Las Vegas Raiders (3-5)
Midseason Prediction: 4-13
The Las Vegas Raiders just fired their coach and general manager after Week 8’s loss to the Lions. Las Vegas’ second-half schedule has a few winnable games, but the Raiders’ season has been falling off the tracks for weeks.
It would be no surprise if they only won another game or two from here.
Five Predictions
Winner of Caleb Williams Sweepstakes
The loser of Week 9’s tilt between the Raiders and Giants will end up with the first overall pick.
AFC East Goes Down to Wire
Bills at Dolphins will be the final game of the regular season, and the winner will take home the AFC East crown.
Chargers vs. Chiefs Rematch
The Chargers will beat the Chiefs in the regular season finale, then lose to Kansas City in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Jaguars Rule AFC?
The Jaguars take advantage of their schedule and finish the year as the AFC’s No. 1 seed. They then lose to Buffalo in the Divisional Round.
Super Bowl Picks
The Eagles will beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl.
Predicted Playoff Seeding
| Seed | NFC | AFC |
| 1 | Eagles | Jaguars |
| 2 | 49ers | Chiefs |
| 3 | Lions | Bengals |
| 4 | Saints | Bills |
| 5 | Cowboys | Ravens |
| 6 | Seahawks | Dolphins |
| 7 | Falcons | Chargers |
Ryan Reynolds is the associate director of fantasy and betting at The 33rd Team and has been covering NFL betting markets for five years. Follow him @RyanReynoldsNFL on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
