Bradley Locker· Aug 21, 2026
An unsigned PFF piece previewing the 10 most important games of the 2026 season suggests the Seahawks-Rams Week 18 game could decide the NFC West and the No. 1 overall seed, that the Lions-Packers Week 18 game could decide the NFC North, that Bills-Broncos could determine AFC home-field advantage, and that the Rams are Super Bowl 61 favorites.
“There's a serious chance this Monday night gem serves as a Super Bowl preview, with Los Angeles and Buffalo holding two of the three highest spots in PFF's Power Ratings.”
published in writing · Pro Football Focus · read the original →
3 checkable claims — 2 seeding, byes and home field and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
3 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldBuffalo BillsAug 21, 2026
Buffalo Bills to take the top seed
“Indeed, this contest might just determine who gains home-field advantage throughout the AFC in January.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldLos Angeles RamsAug 21, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to take the top seed
“Last year's NFC championship game rematch could decide the NFC West and No. 1 overall seed in the final week of the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsNew Orleans SaintsAug 21, 2026
New Orleans Saints to beat expectations
“The Saints have a great worst-to-first case given their burgeoning finish last season, going 4-1 in their final five games.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nick ShookRoster Spot Calls · Aaron DonaldHit · 100Shook unveiled his first NFL power rankings of the year, putting the Rams first, the Broncos second and the defending champion Seahawks only third, with the Dolphins last.
- Danny ParkinsGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Parkins picked the Giants to upset Dallas, the Steelers to beat Atlanta by two scores, the Bears to beat Carolina, the Bills to beat Houston and Denver to beat Kansas City outright; he also said Justin Herbert will win an MVP and had the Bengals as AFC North champs.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100AJ Hawk picked the Ravens over the Colts, Carolina to beat Chicago outright, the Bills at Houston, the Bengals over Tampa Bay, the Titans over the Jets, the Raiders over Miami, the Packers at Minnesota and the Cowboys over the Giants.
- Richard ShermanScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 98Sherman picked Seattle to beat New England 28-17 in the opener, ran through score picks for the rest of the week one slate (49ers, Cowboys, Bills, Bears, Vikings, Colts, Broncos), said the Seahawks would also beat the Cardinals, Commanders and Chargers, backed Dallas to win its division, and predicted Christian Gonzalez's deal would come in barely above Devon Witherspoon's.
- Mike KadlickGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Kadlick's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
More seeding, byes and home field
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Nick WrightSeeding, Byes and Home Field · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Wright argues Matt Stafford deserves MVP but predicts Drake Maye will win the award; he also picks Kyle Shanahan for Coach of the Year and Christian McCaffrey for Offensive Player of the Year over JSN. He makes several Week 18 game calls and thinks Seattle beats San Francisco to take the NFC's one seed, while the Raiders' loss scenario yields the No. 1 overall pick.
- Kevin WildesSeeding, Byes and Home Field · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Wildes' upset alert is the Chargers beating the Broncos straight up, which he says would hand the No. 1 seed to New England.
- Rich EisenSeeding, Byes and Home Field · Chicago BearsHit · 100Eisen forecast the Week 18 results and the entire wild-card field: Buccaneers over Panthers but Carolina still gets in as the 5 seed when Atlanta beats New Orleans, 49ers over Seahawks, Ravens over Steelers, Jaguars beating Tennessee to win the AFC South, and six wild-card matchups (Seahawks-Panthers, Bills-Jaguars, Texans-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chargers-Patriots, Rams-Eagles), with Houston upsetting Baltimore. He also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year.
- JP AcostaSeeding, Byes and Home Field · New England PatriotsHit · 100JP picked Carolina, Seattle, Baltimore, Denver, Jacksonville, New England, Detroit, the Rams and Kansas City in Week 18, and said the Patriots will likely end up with the AFC's No. 2 seed.
- Nick WrightSeeding, Byes and Home Field · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Nick Wright made five Week 18 picks against the spread: Tampa Bay over Carolina, Seattle over San Francisco (and to take the No. 1 seed), Las Vegas to cover against Kansas City, Miami to cover 12 at New England, and Pittsburgh to cover at home against Baltimore. He also predicted Seattle wins the No. 1 seed and Mike Evans scores a touchdown.
- Rich EisenSeeding, Byes and Home Field · Los Angeles ChargersHit · 100Eisen called the 49ers-as-NFC-favorites take an overreaction, picked the Jaguars to beat the Titans and win their division, leaned Ravens over the Steelers in the Week 18 Sunday night game, expects the Bills to beat the Jets even without Josh Allen, sees the Chargers as the AFC's seventh seed, agreed Tyler Shough could win Offensive Rookie of the Year with a good Saints 2026, said Malik Willis will be a starter somewhere next season, and insisted Detroit goes into 2026 with Goff.