ESPN’s Computer Just Picked All 8 NFL Division Winners — Some Will Surprise You
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The 2026 NFL preseason is officially going on, and the regular season is less than a month away. While teams are finally getting a look at their rosters in live game action, preseason play never tells the whole story.
ESPN has already offered an early look at what could happen this season, but a few days ago, another Super Bowl prediction was made that many disliked. The Football Power Index has picked a winner for all eight NFL divisions. The computer model went with a mix of heavy favorites and a few picks that are bound to spark debate.
The FPI projects the Buffalo Bills to win the AFC East and the Baltimore Ravens to take the AFC North. The Kansas City Chiefs get the nod in the AFC West, while the Houston Texans lead the AFC South projection.
ESPN FPI Picks All Eight Division Winners
The NFC picks include the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, the Detroit Lions in the NFC North, and the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers round out the NFC picks by taking the NFC South.
Let’s have a look at the full list:
- Buffalo Bills, AFC East
- Baltimore Ravens, AFC North
- Kansas City Chiefs, AFC West
- Houston Texans, AFC South
- Philadelphia Eagles, NFC East
- Detroit Lions, NFC North
- Los Angeles Rams, NFC West
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFC South
ESPN’s Football Power Index uses simulations to project how teams could perform. The model runs 10,000 simulations and considers team strength, results to date, and the remaining schedule.
“The Football Power Index (FPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season,” ESPN says.
The model also updates its projections daily. That means these picks can change once the regular season gets underway.
For now, ESPN has made its call. The Bills, Ravens, Chiefs, and Texans lead the AFC projections, while the Eagles, Lions, Rams, and Buccaneers top the NFC. Of course, none of that matters until the games are actually being played.
