The wait is almost over for gridiron lovers. With the 2026 season about to officially kick off at the NFL Kickoff on Wednesday, September 9 (an unprecedented date that moves the celebration to Wednesday to make way for the historic inaugural game in Melbourne, Australia), there are exactly 42 days until the ball flies again.
Furthermore, eyes are already on the most coveted horizon in world sports: exactly 200 days separate us from the great event of Super Bowl LXI, which will be played on February 14, 2027.
📅 The Countdown in Numbers
Season Start (NFL Kickoff 2026): 42 days (6 weeks / ~1,008 hours).
Opening Game: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots at Lumen Field (rematch of Super Bowl LX).
The Big Event (Super Bowl LXI): 200 days (28 weeks and 4 days).
🔮 10 Bold Predictions by Ben Solak (ESPN)
Predicting the NFL is a risky sport, but renowned ESPN analyst and journalist Ben Solak has taken the plunge after thoroughly studying offseason moves and tactical trends. Here are his 10 predictions, as risky as they are fascinating, for the upcoming season:
1. Myles Garrett will reach 20 sacks with the Rams
Myles Garrett's trade from Cleveland to the Los Angeles Rams was the bombshell move of the preseason. After recording 23 sacks in 2025, Ben Solak projects that his arrival on a defensive front alongside Kobie Turner and Byron Young will give him more plays in clear passing situations. If his volume of opportunities increases in Chris Shula's scheme, he will enter the select club of 20+ sacks for the second time in his career.
2. Dak Prescott will be the 10th QB to surpass 5,000 yards
The Dallas Cowboys will maintain a blistering pace in Brian Schottenheimer's offense. With Dak Prescott throwing over 600 passes and having the CeeDee Lamb / George Pickens duo at 100%, Solak anticipates that the aerial volume will allow him to break the 5,000-yard barrier in a 17-game season.
3. The Kansas City Chiefs will miss the Playoffs
Despite having Patrick Mahomes, the ESPN journalist points out that the Kansas City roster has been losing depth over the years. With a formidable division (Broncos and Chargers), serious doubts in the receiving corps, and Mahomes' knee recovery after his December injury, the Chiefs could suffer a historic disappointment and miss the postseason.
4. Houston Texans will win the American Football Conference (AFC)
Let's forget C.J. Stroud's collapse in the past playoffs. For Ben Solak, the Texans aggressively reinforced the offensive line (Ingram, Teller, Smith) and brought in David Montgomery to build a real ground game. Coupled with an elite defense that returns 100% intact, Houston has the highest ceiling in the AFC.
5. New Orleans Saints will conquer the NFC South
With young Tyler Shough established as QB1 and a defense led by Brandon Staley that finished 2025 at a high level, New Orleans made a leap in quality after building a solid ground attack with Travis Etienne Jr. and David Edwards. In a division as even as the NFC South, Solak predicts that the Saints will go from last to first.
6. Minnesota Vikings will surprise by winning the NFC North
While the Packers, Bears, and Lions face defensive doubts or key absences, Brian Flores' unit in Minnesota remains the league's most strategic. With the arrival of Kyler Murray and the offensive talent of Justin Jefferson, Ben Solak positions the Vikings as the dark horse of the NFC North.
7. Jonathan Taylor will be traded to the Chicago Bears
In the final year of his contract with the Colts and facing an eventual rebuild in Indianapolis, Jonathan Taylor will become the league's most coveted trade piece. Solak predicts that the Chicago Bears, led by Ben Johnson, will add the star running back mid-season to make a definitive leap towards Super Bowl contention.
8. Sam LaPorta will be traded to the Carolina Panthers
With Detroit tight on renewals for Jahmyr Gibbs and Brian Branch, and with Jameson Williams established as the second option after Amon-Ra St. Brown, the ESPN analyst believes Sam LaPorta's contract will be expendable. Carolina will make the move to give Bryce Young an impact receiver over the middle of the field.
9. Brock Bowers will win Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY)
No tight end has won this award, but the arrival of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in Las Vegas will revolutionize the use of Brock Bowers. After his impressive rookie year, Solak bets that Bowers will surpass Travis Kelce's 1,416-yard record to make history.
10. Antonio Williams (Commanders) will win Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY)
Selected 71st in the Draft, the Clemson receiver will find the perfect stage in Washington connecting with Jayden Daniels. His reliable route-running and yards after catch style will make him the "Amon-Ra St. Brown" of this class, surprising everyone to take home the trophy according to Ben Solak's prediction.
Experience the NFL on FansOrbit: Win a PS5 to Dominate Madden NFL!
At FansOrbit, we are passionate about the NFL and want you to experience every touchdown, scoring pass, and field goal with maximum visual power. To warm up for this new 2026 season, we are running a massive giveaway of completely free PlayStation 5 consoles so you can jump onto the virtual gridiron and enjoy the latest installment of EA SPORTS Madden NFL on your TV.
How to participate: Go to https://fansorbit.com, access the official orbits of your favorite content creators, and maintain active and interactive participation in their profiles and community posts.
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The Prize: Sony's next-gen platform ready to deliver the realistic experience and hyper-realistic graphics of Madden NFL, allowing you to take the reins of your favorite franchise and guide your team to the Vince Lombardi trophy.
Don't miss out: visit the orbits on FansOrbit, overcome the challenges, and secure your entries to take home a PS5 completely free.
Conclusion: An Unforgettable Season Just Around the Corner
The clock has begun its unstoppable countdown. There are just 42 days until the initial whistle of Kickoff 2026 and 200 days until the great champion is crowned at Super Bowl LXI. How many of Ben Solak's risky predictions will come true on the gridiron? We'll get the answer Sunday by Sunday, but in the meantime, the best way to warm up is by participating in FansOrbit's orbits, playing mini-games, and preparing your gaming zone with a new console. Let the show begin!