NFL 2026 Preview
Today, the Tampa Bay Bucs & the San Francisco 49ers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into the 2026 NFL season aiming to reclaim their throne atop the NFC South following a rocky 2025 campaign that saw them miss the postseason. Head coach Todd Bowles finds himself under an intense spotlight as he attempts to navigate a roster caught between a familiar veteran presence and an urgent youth movement. There is palpable frustration surrounding the team coaching staff, as the defense’s performance has steadily plateaued over the past few years, raising questions about whether Bowles’ schemes have been permanently figured out by modern NFL play-callers. The organizational response was swift in the offseason, replacing previous staff with a highly regarded new offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson, to fully overhaul a stagnant unit and inject life into a stalling ground game.
The team still possesses an elite foundation on the offensive front to support this transition. The Buccaneers' biggest strength remains the left side of their offensive line, which provided a rare silver lining during last year's injury-riddled campaign. All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs anchors a line that welcomes second-year center Graham Barton, a player who looks to significantly elevate Tampa Bay's wide-zone running game under the new blocking schemes. Defensively, elite safety Antoine Winfield Jr. remains the undisputed heart and soul of the secondary, providing elite coverage and run support. Up front, the young, explosive edge rusher Yaya Diaby is primed for a major breakout season alongside dynamic defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, creating a formidable interior pass rush that can single-handedly disrupt opposing offenses.
However, major personnel departures leave significant holes across the starting lineup. For the first time in over a decade, the Buccaneers will take the field without their all-time leading wide receiver, Mike Evans, who departed for San Francisco. His absence leaves a massive void in both production and veteran leadership on offense, alongside the retirement of longtime defensive anchor Lavonte David. The secondary also looks highly vulnerable after cornerstone cornerback Jamel Dean departed in free agency to join Pittsburgh, exposing a thin and unproven cornerback room. Young corners Zyon McCollum and rookie Benjamin Morrison face immediate pressure to step up and stop high-powered passing attacks. Furthermore, Bowles’ heavily reliant blitzing scheme came under fire last season for giving up massive chunk yardage, and the unit must adapt to modern split-safety zones if they want to survive the upcoming year.
With Evans gone, all eyes turn to rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka, who is locked in as a primary target alongside seasoned veteran Chris Godwin Jr. Though Egbuka's initial reps in training camp showed some expected rookie inconsistency, his high ceiling and route-running capability are absolutely vital to this revamped passing offense. Defensively, the Bucs added notable pieces like rookie pass-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone to reshape the middle of the field and provide a steady hand in the wake of David's retirement. The front office also shored up the ground game by signing running back Kenneth Gainwell, offering a complementary skillset to young back Bucky Irving as Zac Robinson attempts to build a more balanced offensive attack.
The quarterback situation revolves entirely around Baker Mayfield, who returns to the helm under immense personal stakes. Mayfield is playing out a pivotal contract dispute year after extension talks completely broke down over guaranteed money and contract length. While his first half of last year was spectacular enough to garner genuine MVP buzz, his performance tanked down the stretch, making the front office hesitant to commit to a long-term franchise deal. He must prove he can consistently move the chains under Robinson's new playbook without relying on Evans as a downfield safety blanket. This creates a high-stakes gamble for both sides; if Mayfield delivers another strong season, he could force the front office into a massive, costly payday next winter. Behind him, Jake Browning serves as the experienced backup, ready to step in if the offense stalls.
Tampa Bay benefits from a mathematically friendlier schedule overall, starting on the road on September 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The early stretch of the year offers ample opportunities to build momentum, featuring winnable home stands against the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers. However, their real test comes in a grueling late-season stretch that will define their postseason aspirations. Starting in Week 11, the Bucs must play away at the Detroit Lions, host the divisional rival Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football, and then hit the road for back-to-back brutal games against Justin Herbert’s Los Angeles Chargers and Lamar Jackson’s powerhouse Baltimore Ravens.
Given the defensive vulnerabilities in the secondary, the transitional offense adjusting to life without Mike Evans, and a brutal winter stretch, the Bucs will remain highly competitive but hit a few bumps against elite passing offenses. They will hover right around the line projected by major sportsbooks, resulting in a hard-fought final predicted record of 9-8.
The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2026 NFL season facing a critical turning point as they attempt to balance their championship window with a shifting roster landscape. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is tasked with maintaining the team’s signature offensive efficiency while managing significant personnel turnover on both sides of the ball. After a highly productive 2025 campaign that ended with another deep postseason run, the pressure on this coaching staff remains immense, as anything short of a Super Bowl appearance is viewed as a disappointment by the fan base and the front office.
The team still possesses an elite foundation on the offensive side of the ball to anchor their championship ambitions. The biggest strength remains their versatile, star-studded offensive core led by left tackle Trent Williams and running back Christian McCaffrey, who both continue to play at an elite level despite accumulating heavy mileage over their careers. Furthermore, the passing offense received a massive boost with the offseason acquisition of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans from Tampa Bay, giving the team a dominant downfield threat and a reliable red-zone target. Defensively, the defensive front remains formidable, anchored by elite edge rusher Nick Bosa and a healthy, explosive interior line that can consistently disrupt opposing backfields and force turnovers.
However, major personnel departures and aging core pieces leave significant holes across the starting lineup. The team bid farewell to longtime star wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who left in free agency, completely reshaping the rhythm and identity of the perimeter blocking and short-area passing game. The secondary also looks highly vulnerable after cornerback Charvarius Ward departed, exposing a thin and relatively unproven group of young cornerbacks who will face immediate pressure to stop high-powered passing attacks in a highly competitive NFC. Furthermore, the offensive line behind Trent Williams has shown signs of regression, raising concerns about whether the unit can consistently protect the quarterback or open up running lanes against physical defensive fronts.
With Samuel gone, all eyes turn to rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan, who is locked in as a primary target alongside the newly acquired Mike Evans and veteran Brandon Aiyuk. Though McMillan's initial reps in training camp showed some expected rookie inconsistency, his high ceiling, size, and contested-catch capability are absolutely vital to this revamped passing offense. Defensively, the 49ers added notable pieces like rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham and veteran linebacker Jerome Baker to reshape the middle of the field and provide athletic reinforcement for the run defense. The front office also shored up the defensive backfield by signing safety Kamren Curl, offering a versatile skillset to help mitigate the loss of veteran defensive backs.
The quarterback situation revolves entirely around Brock Purdy, who returns to the helm under immense personal and financial stakes. Purdy is playing out a pivotal contract dispute year after extension talks completely broke down over guaranteed money and contract length, meaning every single snap will directly impact his market value next winter. While his ability to execute Shanahan's complex system has been spectacular over the past few years, the lack of a long-term deal creates a high-stakes gamble for both the player and the organization. He must prove he can consistently move the chains and win big games without his usual security blanket in Samuel, forcing him to adapt to a more traditional downfield passing attack featuring Evans and Aiyuk. Behind him, Joshua Dobbs serves as the experienced backup, ready to step in if injuries strike.
San Francisco benefits from a mathematically friendlier schedule overall, starting on the road on September 13 against the Chicago Bears. The early stretch of the year offers ample opportunities to build momentum and establish the new offensive identity, featuring winnable home stands against the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams. However, their real test comes in a grueling late-season stretch that will define their postseason seeding and test their roster depth. Starting in late November, the 49ers must play away at the Philadelphia Eagles, host the powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, and then hit the road for back-to-back brutal games against the Detroit Lions and a physical Buffalo Bills squad in cold weather.
Given the defensive vulnerabilities in the secondary, the transitional offense adjusting to life without Deebo Samuel, and a brutal winter stretch, the 49ers will remain highly competitive but hit a few bumps against elite passing offenses. They will hover right around the line projected by major sportsbooks, resulting in a hard-fought final predicted record of 11-6 and another trip to the postseason.
Tomorrow, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Chargers