Why the Houston Texans are a legitimate Super Bowl threat
Summary
Robert Mays and FTN’s Aaron Schatz preview the 2026 NFL season using insights from the FTN Almanac. They highlight Houston as the AFC’s top Super Bowl contender due to elite defense and offensive improvements, while noting Chicago’s projected offensive surge and defensive struggles. The discussion also covers the Patriots’ historically easy schedule, the Bengals’ playoff odds, and the challenges of predicting new coaching impacts.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Comcast, Grainger, and Pura Calm
Intro: NFL Offseason Preview and FTN Almanac
AFC Projections: Texans as Favorites and Defense Volatility
Why Defense is Harder to Predict Than Offense
Seattle Seahawks: Schedule Strength and Second-Half Surge
Coaching Impact: McDaniel, Vrabel, and Fangio
Chicago Bears: Offensive Hype vs. Defensive Reality
Sponsors: Pura Calm and Comcast
Patriots' Easy Schedule and DVOA Adjustments
Bengals and Cowboys: Schedule Strength and Turnovers
Rams' Personnel Usage and Defensive Trends
Sponsors: Pura Calm, Comcast, and Monday.com
Cornerback Value and Jets' Defensive Turnover Rate
Steelers' Play-Action Struggles and Shotgun Trends
Packers' Defense, Jameson Williams Contract, and Outro
Closing Sponsors: Pura Calm, Comcast, and Monday.com
Listen ad-free on Castria