2026 is among us
By: Jake Rajala
The NFL has lived up to its expectations in 2025, to say the least. Sure, there are silly roughing the passer penalties and recent ACL tears to star players. Nonetheless, every game is competitive and a blood bath with playoffs approaching. The last Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football contests came down to the wire. It’s only a taste of what’s to come in the 2026 playoffs.
With that said, I’m going to unfold a thrilling 2026 outlook and lay out several significant things that will happen in 2026.
7. Aaron Rodgers will retire
Aaron “Burning Man” Rodgers will finally hang up his cleats this upcoming offseason. The rest of the football season in 2026 spells trouble for A-Rod, too. His best wide receiver, DK Metcalf, did his best Will Smith impression by punching a fan, so he will miss the final regular-season game. Then his TE Darnell Washington, who is like Goliath, is out for the rest of the season with a broken arm, as well.
6. Tyler Shough will win 12 games
Tyler Shough is 26, which is the same age as me. One of us is getting paid millions of dollars to sling the ball, while the other is still seeking an MA degree. He started the season as the backup to Spencer Rattler. Fast forward to January, Tyler Shough is the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He is on a four-game winning streak, which includes wins over the Bucs, Panthers, and a hot Tennessee Titans squad. Let it be known that he hasn’t even had Alvin Kamara in his arsenal over the past few contests.
5. Derrick Henry will run over 2k yards
Derrick Henry is like a defensive end playing running back. The pass rusher, Chase Young, has the nickname “Predator”. If someone deserves the nickname on offense, it’s King Henry. Despite being 31 years old, he is coming off a game where he ran angrily for 216 yards. He is fourth in yards after contact. However, Henry needs to stop fumbling.
4. Jayden Daniels is the favorite to win CPOTY
Jayden Daniels brought his team to the NFC Championship last season. He lit up the Detroit Lions in the process. Some say the Commanders broke the Lions. Of course, it didn’t help that Ben Johnson left. Well, this season was flat-out putrid for him. Even when he was healthy, things couldn’t quite go right. He went 2-5. He has a 60.6 completion percentage, which isn’t near his 2024 completion percentage, which was 69%. Hopefully, he doesn’t follow in RG3’s footsteps “on the field”.
3. Joe Burrow is the MVP favorite
Joe Burrow led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns last season. If he had any help on defense outside of the elite pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, they would have had a real shot at returning to the Super Bowl. Burrow is 5-2 this season, which seems to be forgotten.
2. The Chiefs don’t have a winning record, again!
The Kansas City Chiefs are 6-10 this season, but things could even go further south. I expect Travis Kelce to retire. They also play in a brutal division, where the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers reign. The Broncos and Chargers swept the Chiefs this season. Yes, you read that correctly. They have a few B players at WR and RB, but they are missing an A player at WR or RB.
1. The 49ers win 14+ games
Somehow, the San Francisco 49ers are playing the best football among every team, and they don’t have Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, or George Kittle. They are pouring their hearts out. They wouldn’t lose to the Atlanta Falcons right now. Yes, the 49ers nemesis, the Rams, just got beaten by the Falcons. Rex Ryan is right about Brock Purdy being the most underrated QB in the league.
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