Yahoo Sports outlines key betting trends for NFC franchises ahead of 2026 season

Yahoo Sports has published a comprehensive betting preview for the 2026 National Football League season, focusing specifically on the National Football Conference. The analysis utilises historical performance metrics, including point spread records, season-opening tendencies, and player prop projections. The report covers all NFC franchises, with specific attention given to the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, and Seattle Seahawks.

Notable trends identified include the Philadelphia Eagles' strong performance record prior to December and the Arizona Cardinals' relatively low win-total projections. The Eagles have posted a 37-8 record in games played before December since the start of the 2022 campaign, while the Cardinals are forecast to win just 3.5 games, the lowest total in the league.

The Dallas Cowboys are projected for a bounce-back season with a consensus win-total of 9.5, following two years of subpar performance where they went 14-20 against the spread. Conversely, the Giants have signed John Harbaugh as head coach but are projected for only 7.5 victories, having exceeded their preseason win total just twice in the past 15 years.

In the NFC North, the Detroit Lions have been profitable backing them through Halloween recently, going 20-7 against the spread in the first nine games of the season since 2023. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears face an alarming trend in divisional play, having lost 27 of 36 games against NFC North rivals since 2020.

The San Francisco 49ers are projected for 10.5 victories, continuing a pattern of high expectations following their 12-5 season last year. The Seattle Seahawks, led by quarterback Sam Darnold’s strong recent form, are also projected for 10.5 wins, with Darnold posting a 28-6 record as a starter in his past two regular seasons.