Conor Orr Predicts All 272 NFL Games, Picking Rams for 13-4 and Lions for 14-3
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · Aug 4
Conor Orr Predicts All 272 NFL Games, Picking Rams for 13-4 and Lions for 14-3
3 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Aug 4
Summary
Orr’s full 2026 game-by-game forecast projects an unusually stable season, with 11 playoff teams returning and strength-of-victory tiebreakers needed in both conferences.
13-4 Houston and 13-4 Los Angeles Rams top the AFC and NFC on paper in his model, but Orr says the Rams—despite being the league’s best roster—will miss the No. 1 seed.
14-3 Detroit lands Orr’s best regular-season record, while other division winners are Buffalo 10-7, Baltimore 11-6, the Chargers 11-6, Dallas 12-5, Carolina 10-7 and the Rams 13-4.
9-8 New England grabs the AFC’s No. 6 seed in a four-way tie by conference record, and 9-8 Jacksonville takes No. 7 over Cincinnati and Kansas City on strength of victory.
Orr says he corrected for last year’s overly cautious picks by allowing more surprise in records, but still sees defenses and roster economics favoring established contenders over major upheaval.
Is Sports Illustrated right that defense, coaching stability, and quarterback efficiency will decide 2026—or will NFL chaos crush its mostly unchanged playoff picture?
Why does Conor Orr see Houston, Detroit, and the Rams as true powers while Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and possibly Philadelphia slide backward?
If so many 2026 playoff races come down to tiebreakers, which overlooked games could quietly decide who gets in and who stays home?