Author: jminx94

A 2017 Fall Graduate of Western Illinois University. I majored in Sports Broadcasting and minored in Journalism. Sports are very serious to me, as they are what i'm most passionate about (history, world news and reading are steadily behind.). Still in the process of learning about other sports both nationally and internationally.

February 2026 NBA Power Rankings: Go West Young Men

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Lakers forward LeBron James (23) scores against Grizzlies center Jock Landale (31) and forward Santi Aldama (7) in the second of two home wins against Memphis January fourth.

After heavy conversations, debates and layered takes on NBA expansion, commissioner Adam Silver finally spoke about a realistic timeline to add two more teams. Right now, there are two cities in serious contention that Silver admitted are in the league’s sights; Las Vegas and Seattle. Las Vegas is a major economic jolt to every major U.S. sports league right now, and not just because it’s the gambling center and mouthpiece for what gaming websites want. There is commitment to building state-of-the-art stadiums, quality entertainment and scant oversight when it comes to taxes and federal rules. It’s also warm and one of the fastest growing areas in the country. Then there’s Seattle. The pacific northwest city desperately wants the SuperSonics to return with stable ownership. Seattle wants to make sure the new iteration of the Sonics will not have a chance to leave the state of Washington again.

While these are the main two featured cities, it wouldn’t be crazy if a few more cities throw in some bids for an NBA team. Notable cities of interest might be:

  • Louisville– A serious choice because of Kentucky’s contributions to the game of basketball. It’s impossible to go through the sports’ history without mentioning the state. Anyone who has watched Louisville or the University of Kentucky teams knows about the raucous atmospheres and how hard it is for opposing teams to play there.
  • Kansas City– Another state that shares similar history, die-hard fans and great teams is Kansas. Kansas City would be a great place to have an NBA team. Like Louisville, there are not many pro-sports teams located in the Sunflower State. The one in Kansas City, will have a new stadium built by 2030. Denver and Oklahoma City are the only teams around or near the Great Plains area that fans can root for, and both are extremely popular, boasting some of the best NBA fandoms. Kansas City would be a good addition to create some new, fresh rivalries.
  • Vancouver– Despite the Seattle choice, another team in Canada makes sense and sticks out more. When the Grizzlies were born in Vancouver, former commissioner David Stern and the NBA front office didn’t make expansion easy. In fact, many people on all sides say the league never gave the city a chance to develop a team or even compete. The Grizzlies didn’t last long and relocated to the United States. It’s time to give the city a second and fairer chance.
  • A second Ohio city– a second Ohio team also makes sense. If Louisville is rejected, Cincinnati becomes an attractive option. While the city stretches both the Ohio and Kentucky borders, it also boasts two professional sports team with strong rivalries in and out of state. Another city that could be considered is Columbus. The state capital is a growing metropolis that is a clean, fun place to be, easy to invest in and is full of passionate sports fans. While college football is the dominant sport, the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets team has held its own. It certainly helps that the Blue Jackets have their own stadium and the new team could strike an agreement to play home games there. That is something a good number of the other expansion options don’t have. Finally, basketball is also rising in popularity and would be a positive, long-term investment. This coupled with teams that create new rivalries would be fun.

The next issue for commissioner Adam Silver is how these teams would be created. Fortunately for the NBA, this one can be easily solved given how some teams are on the brink of collapse and should be moved to other markets. For those who read last month’s rankings, the most notable team here is the New Orleans Pelicans. Going back two decades ago when they were named the Hornets, the NBA once owned the team and finalized a lot of the roster moves. The infamous Chris Paul-Los Angeles Lakers trade backfired because the league stepped in and said it wasn’t fair. Once the new Pelicans had a new owner, the NBA eased off. Owner Gail Benson inherited a shaky foundation that is now in shambles, mostly because their former number one overall pick Zion Williamson epically failed.

Many will say Williamson’s career derailment from injuries, pornography obsessions and terrible weight/body management is the final nail in the coffin for New Orleans. While he seems to be the catalyst for the Pelicans inevitable move, the even bigger argument for possible relocation is the failure of Louisiana never finding a long-term passionate fan-base to support or attend games the franchise played. That is bizarre given how the city, state and surrounding areas love the NFL’s Saints. Ownership and executive management never gave fans something to appreciate or tap into the excitement of, outside of former center Anthony Davis’ MVP season. Terrible roster construction, bad coaching hires and mediocre performances in critical games have doomed the franchise.

New Orleans isn’t the only team that could move. For years, Sacramento was fought over by the California legislature, the state of Washington, and the NBA. Ownership remains a problem and it looks like the Kings will attempt another full-scale rebuild. Fortunately both the NBA and the fandom in Sacramento County are united in keeping the team. Still, one has to wonder when one or both get tired enough to finally rid themselves of what appears to be a never-ending dumpster fire.

Other teams that could be considered would be Portland, Brooklyn and Memphis. New owner Jody Allen announced the TrailBlazers would be for sale in 2025. Whoever purchases the team could decide to move it to another pacific northwest city if Seattle or Vancouver missed out on a team in the future. Brooklyn will always be the inferior New York team given how the city and state favors the Knicks at every opportunity. Moving back to New Jersey or another east coast state wouldn’t be the worst idea, especially with yet another painful rebuild in progress. Memphis though, is the most interesting and possible option.

The Grizzlies are on the verge of going for a full re-build. When Memphis played Orlando in early January, former Grizzlies star shooting guard Desmond Bane said that when he talked to his former teammates throughout the first few months of the season, former coach Taylor Jenkins was missed and there was a lack of proper structure among coaches and players. Bane made it clear that he’s not the only one who misses (former coach) Taylor Jenkins. The fluid forward and guard is competing with the Magic for a top six seed and despite the team’s struggles, have a lot more positives and opportunities than Memphis provides. Controversial star point guard Ja Morant has made it known throughout the season he doesn’t have the same passion playing the game anymore and has suffered more injuries (his most recent was a UCL injury that lasted at least three more weeks). The roster is banged up and lacks considerable of talent compared to when they played Los Angeles in the playoffs three years ago.

Off the court, Memphis has serious problems. They’re the least valuable franchise in the NBA and more importantly, don’t own the building in which they play, FedEx Forum. The new mayor has recognized these issues and is trying to get a stadium deal in place by 2029. However, the league and their unpredictable, impulsive owners could pull the plug early and dip. That would be a shame since the Grizzlies have been named by both the NBA and serious sports outlets like Sports Illustrated as the best small market team in U.S. men’s professional basketball. The franchise is also deeply imbedded with the city’s diverse communities. Should there be serious talks of a relocation, it would deal a lot of damage to the NBA on wanting to have another team in the south.

For now, only one team looks to be an easy pick on relocation. Maybe both new teams and locations are named years apart. Some cities are more deserving than others. Then again, it wouldn’t be a shock if the other 29 teams (excluding New Orleans) stand firm and nothing changes. Expansion should then be the next serious conversation, and the cities above would be great additions. There’s nothing wrong with an even 32 teams. It would fix a lot more issues than it would create.

Commissioner Adam Silver would love to expand the NBA to 32 teams if possible.

Here are the second power rankings of the calendar year. Like the NHL rankings, some have tiebreakers based off how teams perform on a neutral site.

#30 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 27)

You have to give Sacramento their flowers for being one of the top clown show organizations in the NBA. First owner Vivek RanadivĂ© makes his daughter Anjali the general manager of the minor league affiliate Stockton. It turns out that was a terrible move because reportedly Anjali couldn’t stop being intimate with former player Jeremy Lamb and convicted murderer Chance Comanche. Fast-forward to this season and the Kings have re-invented how to tank for the draft lottery. Masterful gambits.

#29 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 30)

January was a necessary month for Washington’s young, rising core. A nine game losing streak, especially after winning three out of four to start the new year, would demoralize any young roster. The Wizards kept a lot of those losses close, and were rewarded with two wins in a row against play-in contending teams and an early February upset victory against Detroit. That’s something this team can build off of after the All-Star break.

#28 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 19)

The trade deadline addition of Ivica Zubac shows how much Indiana is focused on next season. Combined with what will be a high first round draft pick, the Pacers should have an obvious rebound next year. In hindsight, the only move they probably regret is letting Myles Turner walk last offseason.

#27 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 30)

With the trade of Jose Alvarado to New York, New Orleans officially went from a decent, talented roster even when forward Zion Williamson’s hurt, to a roster led by two, 10+ year veteran centers being the best players (outside of Williamson). It will take divine intervention to keep the Pelicans in Louisiana.

#26 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 28)

It has been a brutal start to 2026 for Brooklyn. The Nets had a seven game losing streak, released Cam Thomas and now center Nic Claxton is on IR. Michael Porter Jr. is the only player averaging more than 20 points a game and he is also out right now. At least Brooklyn keeps their first round pick after the regular season ends.

#25 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 26)

On one hand, trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. was a plus for Utah. Jackson Jr.’s season is done after he needed surgery on his left knee to remove a PVNS growth. Jaren Jackson Jr. will keep the Jazz competitive and is a good scoring piece. On the other hand, the NBA fining Utah and Indiana for trying to tank and not stay competitive should have warranted more punishment. It will be interesting to see if any other teams learn from this controversy.

#24 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 25)

If there was a dark horse NBA team that could be dealt to Vegas and surprise no one, it would be the Dallas Mavericks. Remember that owner Miriam Adelson wanted more casinos and gambling in the current stadium. With an imminent re-build looming, a new hope with number one overall pick Cooper Flagg and a heavily upset fanbase that remains hurt over star point guard Luka Doncic being traded unexpectedly, the Mavericks leaving and being named an expansion option would make a lot of sense.

#23 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 21)

The most dreadfully dumb story of the NBA season has to be when Memphis majority owner Robert Pera reportedly got furious and threatened to buy out the team’s minority owners after a woman he met didn’t believe he owned the team and thought Justin Timberlake did (via Pablo Torre on the Dan LeBatard Show). Every horrid thing audiences have seen with the Grizzlies on the court somehow didn’t spark the same reaction from Pera. What a time to be an NBA team owner!

#22 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 23)

The biggest sports scandal since the Luka Doncic trade should be Giannis Antetokounmpo partnering with gambling company Kalshi. So many viewers bought into Antetokounmpo finally wanting out of Milwaukee, only to find out Kalshi let people bet on if he’d go to a specific franchise or stay with the Bucks. It feels sinister when a league superstar floats the idea of a trade and then partners with a betting app after the trade deadline ends. The NBA must do something about this, and soon.

#21 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 20)

It’s amazing to see how aggressively dim Chicago’s front office is. The Bulls traded Nikola VuÄŤević, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter, Guerschon Yabusele, and Nick Richards for small name players and a lot of second round draft picks. Not only did the Bulls fail to land a first round pick from any of their trades, but they did so knowing there’s a full re-build coming. Who will be their core and star players in the later draft rounds? Talk about incompetence!

#20 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 18)

The Trae Young trade to Washington could be one of the best moves this season. Young is a great player to lead the Wizards young core and make sure they develop well. The Hawks getting C.J. McCollum to compliment forward Jalen Johnson will make opponents second guess who to defend. Johnson deserved the All-Star nod by how he’s led Atlanta in almost every serious statistic.

#19 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 22)

Only Los Angeles could make a run back into play-in and playoff contention and then decide to move on from point-guard James Harden near the trade deadline. To be fair, Harden wanted out and couldn’t handle how weird he feels the organization has gotten. This again shows the Clippers cannot sustain long-term success.

#18 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 26)

Ok. THIS is what I pictured when the regular season started. Scoring and shooting percentages are up, the Hornets are great at the free throw line, and forward/guard Kon Knueppel is a favorite for rookie of the year. I wouldn’t be surprised if Charlotte has a higher play-in spot by the next rankings.

#17 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 17)

Portland has been blown out in six of their last seven losses. Only one was in the western conference. The Trailblazers had a nice January, but one wonders if not having a veteran head coach is starting to factor into some of these losses. Portland is a streaky team, and that is actually better than what many thought they’d be at the beginning of the season. However, it again highlights how not firing Billups after the end of last season was a terrible idea.

#16 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 9)

Orlando not playing up to their potential this season has been a big storyline. The Magic have a subpar offense and their defense hasn’t improved. In a less-talented eastern conference, it’s shocking Orlando hasn’t delivered and grabbed a top five seed. The Magic will kick themselves if Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton come back next season and play their teams into top seeds.

#15 Miami Heat (last ranking: 15)

Forward Andrew Wiggins has been a good complimentary player on both sides of the court. The big surprise is ten year veteran Norman Powell being the main scorer on offense and playing better each game. It’s unknown if both players can keep playing this well for the next season and a half. One wonders what is Miami’s plan.

#14 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 10)

Credit to Golden State for playing better and harder than most anticipated after Jimmy Butler tore his right ACL last month and Steph Curry injured his right knee. There’s no more Jonathan Kuminga drama after he was traded to the Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis. It’s up to the Warriors bench and role players to find ways to win, improve their talents and develop properly in a tight play-in race.

#13 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 16)

It appears Philadelphia found another guard to compliment Tyrese Maxey. V.J. Edgecombe should be a rookie of the year candidate and is one of the most important rookies on a current playoff team. Edgecombe’s averaging 15 points a game and is second in team scoring, rebounding, assists, steals per game and third in field goal percentage. He has a bright future ahead.

#12 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 14)

It’s wild how Dillon Brooks has become one of the more complete NBA players. Brooks went from a hot-and-cold, crass-mouthed star in Memphis to being a big reason Phoenix is only two games back from the western conference’s sixth seed. It’s tempting to say Brooks could have hit his ceiling again, but it’s clear the Grizzlies let go of a great player and miss his contributions.

#11 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 15)

Outside of close wins against Oklahoma City and Philadelphia, most of Toronto’s wins have come against play-in teams at best. One could say the Raptors are taking care of business by beating the teams they should, but they need to have more quality wins against other playoff caliber teams.

#10 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 8)

Not only did Minnesota get a steal from the Bulls with Ayo Dosunmu, but they wound up getting point guard Mike Conley back after trading him for Dosunmu. It would be a shock if the Timberwolves don’t spike up the rankings and standings by next month with the quality defensive depth added at the trade deadline. Thank you, Bulls.

#9 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 12)

The Darius Garland for James Harden and Dennis Schröder trade is a huge gamble. Emphasis on huge. Harden has come up short in multiple playoff trips but is the better player than both Garland and Schröder, even though Schröder has the needed championship experience. We will see how this trade works out in the next two postseasons.

#8 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 7)

It gets ever harder to not say forward LeBron James isn’t the best NBA player of all time. James recorded his first triple double of the season in a 124-104 home win against Dallas last Thursday. This was without star point-guard Luka Doncic. Performances like that have to be appreciated because no one knows the next time we’ll see it again from LeBron.

#7 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 5)

Originally, I wrote about how Houston seems to be on the cusp of being an elite team but has to figure out how to get better play from their centers. Then the Kevin Durant drama (nicknamed the KD Files) exploded Sunday afternoon when Twitter users found at least one burner account he’s had over the last decade and leaked group chat conversations. This could potentially wind up as the biggest story of the NBA season given what social media users have seen. If accurate, this could possibly both end Durant’s time with the Rockets and destroy his legacies (in and outside of basketball). It’s astonishing and disturbing Kevin Durant didn’t learn anything from his previous Twitter controversies.

#6 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 6)

Nikola Jokic got to return and play for a few games before the All-Star break. Jokic was out a whole month and sometimes that makes people forget how special he is. There might not be another dominant center in the last 20 years like Nikola Jokic has been, and we need to start treasuring that. Go look at what categories he leads in Denver if you want to appreciate how unique he is to the Nuggets.

#5 New York Knicks (last ranking: 3)

There was a point in January where New York lost all but two games. Ten wins in the last 12 games (including an eight game winning streak) smooths over some of the January issues. The Knicks first game coming out of the All-Star break is against Detroit. The Pistons pulverized New York in their last two matchups. It’s important the Knicks start strong against Detroit and Houston if they’re serious about a long playoff run.

#4 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 5)

There is no doubt Boston would be the NBA’s best team if star forward Jayson Tatum played the entire first half of the season. Viewers would see the Celtics as the easy champion favorites. Boston is still a top five team because of forward Jaylen Brown’s breakout, MVP-caliber year. The addition of Nikola VuÄŤević makes the Celtics more of an underrated playoff threat.

#3 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 13)

This insane Victor Wembanyama stat came out over two weeks ago. Whichever the next three champions in the NBA finals are, will both be lucky and have earned it. That’s how close we are from Wembanyama dominating all of professional basketball.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking: 1)

Oklahoma City was an easy lock for the top spot with their league leading number of wins a few weeks ago, but their 18-13 record after starting 24-1 is an eye opener. The Thunder still dominate most NBA teams but a lot of serious playoff contenders have dragged Oklahoma City back down to earth. Maybe the All-Star break helps the Thunder rest up and play fresh again.

#1 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 4)

Wow. If anyone was told two years ago that Detroit would have the best winning percentage in the 2025-26 season, they would’ve laughed it off and thought it was impossible. I don’t know who wins MVP if it’s not Pistons star point guard Cade Cunningham. J.B. Bickerstaff has firmly cemented himself as one of the NBA’s best coaches in this turnaround. Now Detroit’s biggest test the next few months is if they can switch to a playoff mindset and play smarter. The Pistons still have a young roster and will need all the experience possible.

Detroit’s star point-guard Cade Cunningham should be the top MVP candidate this season.

NFL Super Bowl LX Prediction

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The Super Bowl features the best team in each conference. Seattle and New England mirror each other in their running games, solid quarterback play and total defense. Both offensive and defensive lines play better each week and the secondaries know when to shut down receivers. It is now time to reveal which team has the best chance of winning the Vince Lombardi trophy and why.

#1 Seattle Seahawks v. #2 New England Patriots

The NFC’s top seed and the AFC’s second seed both excel in running the ball, executing deep-ball plays and have a lot of speedy playmakers. These combinations may result in one of the best games of the year. It is an unexpected sequel to the championship matchup from 11 years ago. Although both head coaches have defensive-first philosophies (the first since Super Bowl 51), the names in this re-match are different.

Like the last time these teams met in Super Bowl 49, both the winner of this game and the champion of the 2025-26 season will be determined by which team’s defense makes the bigger plays and forces the quarterback to make more mistakes. Pass rush is the most important factor because of how well both teams run the ball. Seattle has better depth at the edge-rusher positions and at defensive tackle. One big disadvantage could be veteran linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence against left tackle Will Campbell. Lawrence is one of the best and smartest outside linebackers who is feared by several tackles. He finds ways to beat and get past them. Campbell was surprisingly the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft. He was picked higher than many predicted despite his shorter arms and wingspan. The Patriots have had a drop-back success rate of 39.8% and a rushing success rate of 31.7% in their three playoff games. That would have ranked second-to-last and last if it were during the regular season. Seattle’s front wall of Lawrence, Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed, Brandon Pili, Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Derick Hall and Leonard Williams ranked eighth in sacks and were third against the run. Any pass rush where the front four can generate tons of pressure without assistance is dangerous for any opposing offense. Believe they will take advantage of New England’s weaknesses almost every snap.

If Patriots quarterback Drake Maye finds open receivers and hangs in the pocket long enough to read the field, he’ll have to beat a deep Seahawks secondary. Receivers Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, and tight-ends Austin Hooper and Hunter Henry give most secondaries problems. They bring a lot of experience and precise route running. Seattle can easily counter with their defensive back depth that features Devon Witherspoon, Quandre Diggs, Coby Bryant, Josh Jobe, Julian Love, Ty Okada, Tariq Woolen, Shaquill Griffin, and defensive rookie of the year Nick Emmanwori. It will be hard for Maye to find a receiver who isn’t in double coverage every passing play.

On the opposite end, the Patriots front seven struggled to sack opposing quarterbacks throughout the season, but stepped up and averaged four in their last three playoff games. They’re sixth best against the run. However, New England hasn’t faced an offensive line like the Seahawks. Seattle’s whole line is healthy and has received high ratings against end rushers. The runningback tandem of Kenneth Walker III and George Holani will be a problem since the Patriots face a mismatch at the line of scrimmage.

The Seahawks passing attack has been one of the NFL’s best this season. Tight-ends A.J. Barner, Eric Saubert and Elijah Arroyo could dominate the middle of the field against the Patriots linebackers. Receivers like the 2026 Offensive Player of the Year and league leader in yards Jaxon Smith-Njigba, former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp and deep-field threat Rashid Shaheed could be too much for New England’s Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones. Smith-Njigba got the better of Gonzalez the last time they played and both Smith-Njigba and Kupp don’t give away routes or hints at the line of scrimmage. Quarterback Sam Darnold has had brutal games against the Patriots in the past, and with head coach Mike Vrabel having a similar playbook as his predecessor, there are valid reasons to believe Darnold could have a turnover filled game. Despite the valid takes, there is no doubt Vrabel will have his hands full against these receivers when he calls defensive plays.

As in every Super Bowl, coaching will determine who wins this game. Both Mike Vrabel and Mike Macdonald know how to make adjustments, listen to their players and get creative with play-calling. Although Vrabel is one of the best head coaches to come from the Bill Belichick tree, Macdonald gets the nod here. New England had the easiest schedule (via every NFL schedule predictor) in the regular and postseason. A season split versus the Buffalo Bills were the hardest games the Patriots played. Seattle played 12 teams that won eight games or more. Of those wins, three were against division winners and two versus division rivals with at least 12 wins in three attempts (each). The Seahawks maintained some of the NFL’s best stats despite playing some of the most complete teams start to finish.

Even the special teams units favor Seattle. The veteran, All-Pro caliber trio of kicker Jason Myers, punter Michael Dickson and returner Rashid Shaheed could tilt the game towards the Seahawks favor or get them a win in the final seconds. New England’s rookie kicker Andy Borregales will have more pressure to play perfect against one of the NFL’s best special teams.

Finally, Seattle’s stats after a bye week are resounding. Mike Macdonald is undefeated and the Seahawks have outscored opponents 99-37. They have never allowed more than 17 points as a defense or scored fewer than 20 points as an offense in those games. New England simply does not have enough talent or firepower to win this game.

Super Bowl 60 Winning Prediction: Seahawks win Super Bowl 31-17 and take home their second Vince Lombardi Trophy

Conference finals predictions record: 2-0

2026 overall playoffs record: 6-6

2026 NFC Conference Championship Playoff Pick

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Three games remain. Four teams with two in each conference. The remaining two in the NFC are the west wildcard Los Angeles Rams and the west division winning and conference leading Seattle Seahawks. Both teams have potent offenses, solid quarterbacks, hard-hitting defenses, and intelligent coaches. It is time to determine who will advance to the Super Bowl.

#5 Los Angeles Rams v. #1 Seattle Seahawks

Another division rivalry in the conference finals will make this one of the best and most memorable games of the 2025-26 season.

Conference championship games featuring division rivalries are some of the best and most memorable playoff games in NFL history. Casual viewers can remember which year a team won a Super Bowl because of a rare, divisional matchup in this round. It’s also more fun if the teams split their regular season series.

Los Angeles hasn’t played well throughout the playoffs. Chicago struggled to get pressure and sack opposing quarterbacks during the regular season, but had success against the Rams. Los Angeles’ defense has faltered since Thanksgiving weekend, giving up 20+ points in five of their last seven games. Poor defensive performances put a lot of pressure on the offense to win a lot of shootouts. That’s not a winning formula.

Coincidentally, Seattle has solidified their claim as the NFL’s best team. Head coach Mike Macdonald is undefeated when his team faces an opponent they have already played that season. The Seahawks depth on the defensive line and secondary will keep this a lower scoring game than the last matchup in Lumen Field. An almost fully healthy offensive line and the return of running back George Holani off injured reserve makes Seattle’s offense more dangerous and adds more pressure on defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s predictable defense.

Better play from quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and runningback Kenneth Walker III (9) has Seattle one win away from the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks have more advantages than the Rams. Los Angeles will again play in a colder, outdoor climate. Seattle’s offense has taken better care of the football, posting an NFL best plus seven turnover ratio since their first game against the Rams in week eleven. More importantly, the Seahawks are more fresh and rested compared to a battle-weary Los Angeles roster. This will stand out in the second half, especially if the game is close. Seattle has also played a division rival their last two games. That means the Seahawks are dialed in to play physical and nasty on every side of the ball. Los Angeles hasn’t played a mean opponent in a month. A fresher, nastier and more physical team on every side of the ball may be too much for the Rams to handle.

Finally, this conference finals game will be in Seattle. One could argue that while the Seahawks are undefeated in conference finals games played at home, Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay is also undefeated in conference championship matchups. However, McVay has never had to coach the Rams in a sold out Lumen Field in the postseason. This is also the ninth game since 1970 in the conference championship or later to feature the NFL’s top offense versus the NFL’s top defense. The top defensive team is 7-1 in the first eight matchups. Both Seattle and quarterback Sam Darnold have been plagued by Los Angeles getting the last laugh too many times. This is the weekend head coach Mike Macdonald flips the narrative, reclaims the Seahawks dominance of the West and wins the NFC George Halas trophy.

Prediction: Seahawks win the NFC championship 30-24 and advance to Super Bowl LX

NFC divisional round playoff picks record: 1-1

2026 NFC playoff picks record: 2-3

2026 AFC Conference Championship Playoff Pick

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Three games remain. Four teams with two in each conference. The remaining two in the AFC are the east winning New England Patriots and the west division winning and conference leading Denver Broncos. Both teams have run-first offenses, elite defenses, and bright-minded veteran head coaches. Time to determine who will advance to the Super Bowl.

#2 New England Patriots v. #1 Denver Broncos

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) and receiver Kayshon Boutte (9) celebrate after a scoring drive against Houston last Sunday.

The NFL was right to schedule this conference championship game first. Not only is it the least exciting of the two, this game will have a backup quarterback start his first game of the season. Denver’s Jarrett Stidham will play his sixth career game against one of the NFL’s most complete defenses.

It won’t matter how great the Broncos defense is in this game. Denver will struggle to put together scoring drives against a New England defense that stifles the running game and gives up less than 195 passing yards each weekend. Despite a week of practice, Stidham’s lack of game and playoff experience as a starting quarterback tragically dooms the Broncos this late in the season.

Prediction: Patriots win the AFC championship 31-13 and advance to Super Bowl LX

AFC divisional round playoff picks record: 0-2

2026 AFC playoff picks record: 2-3

January 2026 NHL Power Rankings: Can the Scorching Hot Red Wings Keep This Up?

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John Gibson might be the NHL’s best goaltender since December 2025

When former team captain Steve Yzerman was hired to be Detroit’s general manager back in 2019, Red Wings fans were ecstatic. It had been three years since Detroit made the Stanley Cup playoffs. The roster wasn’t good and the minor league systems had no pro-level talent. Yzerman went from building up a roster in what many consider the best team of the 21st century in Tampa Bay, to figuring out how the Red Wings could become relevant again. As many expected, it has been rough.

Unlike many viewers, this website and those affiliated don’t see Steve Yzerman as the problem holding back Detroit. Many fans and pundits firmly believed the former captain would have instant success after the COVID-19 pandemic was lifted. After all, current captain Dylan Larkin finally had some help on the first and second lines. Goaltending was fine, but nowhere close to being the best in the NHL. Defensemen pairings were a problem, and depth scoring was non-existent. That meant more changes in both free agency and the draft. Yzerman stayed the course.

Three years after the pandemic lifted, the Red Wings came within a few games of clinching their first postseason spot of the 2020s. Injuries, lack of defensive depth and average goaltending were reasons Detroit missed out. Add in division losses, especially a sweep by Ottawa in their regular season series, and that made a lot more viewers frustrated. Questions ranged from what was the front office and ownership doing, to hometown fans wanting more people out the door because the amount of offensive production was being wasted on plug-in acquisitions.

After a disappointing 2024-25 season where the Red Wings plunged in the standings after Larkin missed a month with an illness, upper and lower body injuries, the noise reached a tipping point against the front office. It’s important to highlight that when Steve Yzerman first came back as general manager, Detroit had almost no workable talent in both their minor and major league levels. Former general manager Ken Holland traded those players away in order to keep the Red Wings playoff streak alive and maybe get close to the conference finals. That meant whoever came in had to build everything back up. Former number one overall pick and the former Lightning general manager Brian Laughton (hilariously, he was their GM before Yzerman took his job) once said in an NHL Network off-season segment that if a team commits to a full re-build, the process takes about a decade to complete. This is year six of Steve Yzerman’s tenure.

That brings us to this year. Like four other U.S. original six teams, it is Detroit’s centennial season. Unlike Boston and Chicago, there were expectations for the Red Wings. It might not be the Stanley Cup finals expectations the Rangers had, but a playoff berth was objective. Detroit traded for Anaheim’s prized goaltender John Gibson and kept backup Cam Talbot. They signed Travis Hamonic in the offseason and brought up Emmitt Finnie from the minor leagues. Due to how the talent Yzerman drafted and acquired in trades needed time for development, the Red Wings added more veterans the last few off-seasons. Centers and forwards Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, Patrick Kane, Mason Appleton, and James Van Riemsdyk were great for scoring depth, the power-play and five-on-five offense. Detroit’s defense got boosts with Hamonic and Ben Chiarot playing a lot of minutes and helping the younger players develop and ease into starting roles. The defense is easily the biggest issue Yzerman still must to work on long-term. Though, with one of the league’s best offenses and special teams consistently scoring, that won’t matter for a while.

If you wonder how well the Red Wings development minor league affiliates are doing, here’s an update on their American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins. The Griffins have six losses in 37 games. Steve Yzerman’s first phase of the Detroit’s re-build is almost complete since the farm system is brimming with up and coming talent. The biggest name to watch for will be Grand Rapids starting goaltender Sebastian Cossa. A behemoth at 6’7, Cossa has lost one game this season and is bound to make a start at some point this NHL season after he became the first Griffins goalie to make consecutive AHL All-Star selections. Forwards Dominik Shine and John Leonard are going to the All-Star game with Cossa and are considered two of the AHL’s best players. Even coach Dan Watson has made an impression. Watson is the second coach in Grand Rapids history to attend multiple All-Star games (the other being Vegas’ Bruce Cassidy).

Even the most ardent optimist didn’t have Detroit as one of the NHL’s best teams this year. Coach Todd McLellan has the Red Wings tied for first with Carolina and Tampa Bay in the eastern conference with 66 points. Detroit is a top five team with a lot of young players, a captain who’s been through a whole rebuild, and veteran players wanting the franchise moving toward a postseason return. Part of their success has to do with Florida’s injuries, Boston’s and Ottawa’s fall and Toronto’s inconsistent play. Even if all those teams get hot at some point the second half of the season, it will be hard to keep Detroit out of the playoffs. Audiences of all walks of life have waited hungrily for almost a decade to see America’s hockey team return to relevance. There’s no louder statement the Red Wings are back than in their 100th year of existence.

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson (77) tries to make a play on the puck in Detroit’s 4-3 OT home win versus Carolina. Edvinsson is one of the European standout players general manager Steve Yzerman drafted almost five years ago.

Time for the first power rankings of 2026. These show where all 32 teams objectively stand going back to December. Some teams will have tiebreakers based off how they’d perform on a neutral site.

#32 Vancouver Canucks (last ranking: 26)

Vancouver had an eleven game losing streak and they’re main concern was about <checks notes> trading for Jesperi Kotkaniemi? Former captain Quinn Hughes got out at the best time. Management and ownership seemingly have no concept of priorities.

#31 St. Louis Blues (last ranking: 25)

Only one player has 30+ points after 50 games: Robert Thomas. It’s hard to win games when the roster can’t score. The defense has issues too but the Blues offense might be one of the worst this decade. General manager Doug Armstrong has to do something.

#30 Calgary Flames (last ranking: 31)

Forward Blake Coleman was placed on long-term injured reserve January 13th after he was injured in Boston on the eighth. There are rumors general manager Craig Conroy could trade Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson by next month. If the Flames didn’t have bad luck, they’d have no luck at all.

#29 Chicago Blackhawks (last ranking: 28)

Without face of the franchise Connor Bedard, Chicago is a solid team without anything special. While that does show how valuable Bedard is to the franchise, it also shows how the Blackhawks are a big work in progress. They are where Detroit was five years ago.

#28 New York Rangers (last ranking: 21)

The only team to have fewer home wins than New York this season is Vancouver. As I said in the article above, there were championship expectations for the Rangers this year when Mike Sullivan was hired. Last week, general manager Chris Drury told star forward Artemi Panarin he won’t play for New York after this year. Everyone except goaltender Igor Shesterkin and maybe defenseman Adam Fox are on the trade block. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Sullivan is fired after the season. This is not why Igor Shesterkin signed that massive extension.

#27 Columbus Blue Jackets (last ranking: 24)

Firing Dean Evason and assistant Steve McCarthy is one of the weirdest moves this season. Evason’s not only a good coach, but he did a great job almost getting Columbus into the playoffs last year despite all the chaos that happened. The Blue Jackets are one of the more dysfunctional franchises since coach John Tortorella left.

#26 Nashville Predators (last ranking: 32)

Much better month for Nashville. We’re starting to slowly see how good this Predators team is when everyone is on the same page and not injured. They might be 5-5 to begin 2026, but there’s a lot more hope Nashville can make a playoff run two months from now.

#25 Ottawa Senators (last ranking: 23)

It has been a wild week for Ottawa’s goaltenders. Linus Ullmark’s mental health concerns after what he saw as an abrupt trade to Canada are valid. Then defenseman teammate Jake Sanderson torched backup Leevi Merilainen for blowing a two goal lead with under four minutes left against Montreal last Saturday. Although Sanderson is not wrong and had to apologize, the Senators defensive struggles are straining most of the roster and NHL analysts’ patience. General manager Steve Staios’ biggest test right now is how he can fix and improve the defense by next season.

#24 Anaheim Ducks (last ranking: 18)

Do you see why the ten spot max up or down in the rankings works well? Anaheim wasn’t a top ten team by the time December’s power rankings were published, and they definitely aren’t a top 20 this month. Like Peter DeBoer, Joel Quenneville is seen by many as goaltender killer and wants all offense, all the time. A nine game losing streak followed by a five game winning streak also screams inconsistent.

#23 New Jersey Devils (last ranking: 13)

This about sums up New Jersey’s season

The cherry on top is the Devils crushing Minnesota 5-2 on the 13th and instead of good energies, news outlets broke out that the organization is looking to move veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton. What a nightmare season!

#22 Utah Mammoth (last ranking: 22)

Utah is a year or two away from a breakout, dominant season. Before that happens, they might need to get a new coach. I like Andre Tourigny, but he’s not getting most out of the young talent put together. Yes, injuries are a part of why things have slowed down. Yet Tourigny is one of the most tenured coaches in the NHL. He should have more solutions for the Mammoth than what they have shown almost every week.

#21 Seattle Kraken (last ranking: 29)

Defense is all the rave in Seattle these days. The Seahawks are the crowned jewel in the NFL and the Kraken are a true playoff threat. Having former Vezina finalist Philipp Grubauer return to top form should give Seattle a massive edge when the playoff race heats up.

#20 Winnipeg Jets (last ranking: 10)

If someone were told in January of 2025 that a year later Winnipeg would be tied as the second worst team in the NHL despite a healthy Connor Hellebuyck in net, they might suggest you see a therapist. Perhaps it’s bad luck to cancel out last year’s phenomenal season. Still, it would be a disappointment if the Jets implosion led to a lot more permanent moves.

#19 San Jose Sharks (last ranking: 27)

NHL media and pundits have the Hart Trophy (MVP) race winner either as Nathan MacKinnon or Connor McDavid. Both names are worthy of the award. Real NHL analysts should look closely and consider picking San Jose sophomore Macklin Celebrini instead. He is third in the league with 72 points at the time of this publishing. The player with the second most points on the Sharks? Alexander Wennberg with THIRTY FOUR. If San Jose somehow clinches one of the two lower seeds, Celebrini may have the best case to win the Hart Trophy.

#18 Buffalo Sabres (last ranking: 30)

Someone in Buffalo must have read December’s rankings because the Sabres were on a mission to win every game possible after. A bad loss in Columbus could have brought Buffalo back down to earth. Instead they won three straight and lost a close game to the two time defending champion Panthers. The Sabres are 17-4 since December ninth. They earned this jump.

#17 Los Angeles Kings (last ranking: 9)

There are discussions on which coach could be next to get fired. Jim Hiller has to be at or near the top of the list. Los Angeles has underperformed in Anze Kopitar’s final season and we should best believe ownership and the front office will make moves to make sure he doesn’t miss the playoffs. That starts with fixing an almost unwatchable offense that can’t fall back on Darcy Kuemper in net for a few games.

#16 Philadelphia Flyers (last ranking: 17)

If there was a Comeback Player of the Year award in the NHL, it would easily go to Philadelphia forward Trevor Zegras. After Anaheim did their best to destroy any shot at a stellar career, they traded him to the Flyers. Philadelphia easily won that trade. Zegras leads the team in points (44), goals, (19), and assists (25). He’s the Flyers offensive engine.

#15 Pittsburgh Penguins (last ranking: 16)

It had been a while since former Norris trophy winning defenseman Erik Karlsson was placed on injured reserve. His absence after Pittsburgh is now in the thick of a muddled eastern conference could have serious effects on every team involved in the playoff race. Odd to think no one would have batted an eye about that five years ago.

#14 Boston Bruins (last ranking: 14)

Forward Morgan Geekie scored 50 goals in the 83 games he played in 2025. Every NHL viewer who tuned into a Bruins game knew that if Boston had any chance of making the playoffs, they needed more scoring from players not named David Pastrnak. Geekie could be a long-term option or a valuable trade piece.

#13 Toronto Maple Leafs (last ranking: 15)

Toronto is another example of why teams need a ten spot limit on these rankings. The Maple Leafs beat a number of playoff and Stanley Cup championship contenders this month and held their own most of December. Toronto is trying to stay well positioned for the playoffs like other veteran teams, and that means the type of hockey they play every week won’t be pretty. This is why the Fire Craig Berube takes were stupid.

#12 Florida Panthers (last ranking: 8)

TNT play-by-play broadcaster Kenny Albert gave a great stat in the third period of the Winter Classic January second: Sergei Bobrovsky had the most wins AND shutouts in the 2025 calendar year. Think of how great Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Darcy Kuemper were all of last year. None of them came close to Bobrovsky’s stellar play. He is easily the best goaltender in the NHL with Marc-Andre Fleury retired and a major reason Florida has a chance of sneaking into the playoffs.

#11 Edmonton Oilers (last ranking: 12)

It took the third full week of January to have a goaltender not named Stuart Skinner be number one in both goals against average and save percentage. Skinner was traded over a month ago to Pittsburgh. Hilariously, he’s keeping the Penguins close in as tight a playoff race as possible in the east. The Oilers however wonder how long Tristan Jarry will stay hot with no Leon Draisaitl in the lineup.

#10 Detroit Red Wings (last ranking: 20)

At one point this month, Detroit had the second highest point percentage at .762 (second only to Colorado’s .800). General manager Steve Yzerman has assembled a temporary juggernaut on offense that will get better once the minor league talent gets to play in the NHL.

#9 New York Islanders (last ranking: 19)

The NHL Muse twitter account raised an interesting point two weeks ago. What could have happened if San Jose won the draft lottery instead of New York? A Macklin Celebrini-Matthew Schaefer tandem would have the Sharks on a terror spree throughout the western conference, with the possibility of only the top three teams in the central division shutting the duo down. Thankfully, greed like that only exists in the Bible. The Islanders have to be relieved that the last three years of struggle gifted them a generational player.

#8 Washington Capitals (last ranking: 3)

Remember how valuable I said Tom Wilson was in the last rankings? The last four weeks have shown how important Wilson is to both this Washington roster and coach Spencer Carberry. Without Tom Wilson in the lineup, the Capitals are easier to defend against and opposing offenses chip away at Washington’s defense. Wilson’s return comes at the most critical point in the season as the Capitals have a slate of playoff favorites the next few weeks.

#7 Vegas Golden Knights (last ranking: 5)

It’s wild how getting Carter Hart did little for Vegas except land Hart on injured reserve. Goaltending was a serious issue until Adin Hill came back. Hill might have been the NHL’s most missed player after the Golden Knights became a sieve in net.

#6 Montreal Canadiens (last ranking: 11)

Montreal could be the most underrated team this season. They’re a good team in the east that hasn’t stood out too much because of Detroit’s success, Tampa Bay’s resurgence and Carolina’s consistency. At the moment, they don’t look like a team that will do much damage in the playoffs. That’s why general manager Kent Hughes re-signed most of the young talent to long-term deals. They will be fearsome to see every regular and postseason within the next decade.

#5 Dallas Stars (last ranking: 3)

Dallas has cooled off after a red-hot two first months. The weird thing is how the roster is also getting healthier. Whether it’s a slump or everyone finally playing together under coach Glen Gulutzan, the Stars have to snap out of it if they don’t want Minnesota to surpass them.

#4 Carolina Hurricanes (last ranking: 6)

Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov missing the rest of the season makes the Brandon Bussi story more special, and it was already a fun one. It will also make Carolina question what to do with 36 year old veteran Frederik Andersen once the season ends. Kochetkov was expected to be the future starter in net, but if Bussi steals that from him, the Hurricanes will need to decide who to trade.

#3 Minnesota Wild (last ranking: 7)

No one laughed harder than I did after Minnesota stole Canucks captain Quinn Hughes in a lopsided trade. Hours after I wrote, edited and published that the Wild would be taken more seriously by everyone if they added or traded for a veteran scoring threat, that’s what Minnesota did. Hughes wasted no time and scored in his third game with the Wild in a 6-2 beatdown of Boston. Minnesota has some things to clean up this month, but they deserved this ranking.

#2 Tampa Bay Lightning (last ranking: 4)

The NHL on TNT dropped some interesting numbers on Tampa Bay on Tuesday night’s double-header. Since December 20th, the Lightning have the NHL’s best record (13-0-1), the most goals per game (4.36), goals allowed (2.14) and the sixth best power play at 29.6%. What makes this fascinating is how most of this has been when captain Victor Hedman was placed on IR. Tampa Bay’s dominance has returned with little resistance in the eastern conference, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy looks almost unbeatable.

#1 Colorado Avalanche (last ranking: 1)

The Wild, Lighting, Stars, Golden Knights or Hurricanes will probably switch each rankings between which team is the NHL’s second best. No matter. Right now, Colorado is the de facto one. The Avalanche have 77 points and five regulation losses this season. Beating Colorado without them getting a point is starting to feel like a Stanley Cup winning moment. They had their first home loss of the season without overtime last week. I don’t know how Jared Bednar doesn’t win coach of the year.

Hurricanes forward Shayne Gostisbehere flails in vain before MVP favorite Nathan MacKinnon (29) shoots the puck into an empty net in a January third 5-3 Avalanche win.

2026 NFC Divisional Round Playoff Picks

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The NFC wildcard weekend had everything audiences wanted. History was made when San Francisco won their 40th playoff game, the most in NFL history. Chicago won their first playoff game in 15 years, and their first against a team with a winning record since their Super Bowl 41 run. Los Angeles eked out a close win in Carolina. The remaining four (the Seattle Seahawks had a week off) teams have a great shot at getting to both the conference championship and the Super Bowl. Even with the injury plagued 49ers remaining, no team is an easy out. It’s time to analyze which two teams have the best chance at making the next round.

#6 San Francisco 49ers v. #1 Seattle Seahawks

Elijah Arroyo’s return from injured reserve means fellow tight-end A.J. Barner (88) will be a bigger threat than he was in week 18.

If there was any game that could be a decisive blowout, this would be it. San Francisco lost star tight-end and team co-captain George Kittle to a torn achilles the rest of the year. That means the 49ers have to rely on runningback Christian McCaffrey and receivers Ricky Pearsall (who still has an injured knee), Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne to consistently beat Seattle’s deep secondary. That won’t happen.

The Seahawks are ecstatic to face a battered and depleted 49ers team they whooped in Santa Clara, CA. week 18. Both teams get their starting left tackles back, but only one offense has the fire power to score consistently. Quarterback Brock Purdy has never played in Seattle when it’s either a playoff game or near full capacity for the hometown fans. He will learn why nobody in the NFL wants to travel to the pacific northwest during the postseason.

Prediction: Seahawks win 37-7

#5 Los Angeles Rams v. #2 Chicago Bears

A Bears win depends on how well quarterback Caleb Williams (18) plays all four quarters.

This could be the best game in either conference. Every NFC team this round is in the western division except for Chicago. Head coach Ben Johnson is very familiar with Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay. Anyone thinking this will be a blowout is mistaken.

The Bears have multiple advantages against the Rams. Johnson has consistently beaten McVay with a dual threat running game and an offensive line that leads from the interior. Runningbacks coach Eric Bienemy remains one of the NFL’s best offensive minds. Left guard Joe Thuney has won Super Bowls with multiple teams. A younger, less experienced Los Angeles defensive line will be on their heels most of this game having to deal with Chicago’s offensive line and the runningback duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.

A major factor many have forgotten since the Rams won last Saturday was the hand injury veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford suffered in Carolina. That will be tested early and often against a Bears defense that is the NFL’s best in forcing turnovers. Since this will be a Sunday night game, temperatures are predicted to be at four degrees (fahrenheit). Stafford has not played in many frozen temperature games over the last five years. The Rams are also 2-7 in games that are under 50 degrees since Stafford arrived in 2021. Los Angeles is in for a long game despite having an almost fully healthy roster.

Upset prediction of the round: Bears win 30-21

NFC wildcard weekend predictions record: 1-2

2026 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Picks

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This year’s wildcard weekend was slightly more competitive in the AFC than last year’s. Houston and New England dominated their games and won with few scares. The only nail-biter was Buffalo’s last minute win over Jacksonville. Two teams return to the divisional round, while the other two play their first divisional round game in the post COVID-19 era. The remaining four (the Denver Broncos had a week off) teams have a great shot at getting to both the conference championship and the Super Bowl. Even with the inexperienced Broncos remaining, no team is an easy out. It’s time to pick which two teams have the best chance of making the next round.

#6 Buffalo Bills v. #1 Denver Broncos

Both quarterbacks Josh Allen (left) and Bo Nix (right) have a lot of pressure to make the conference championship.

The easiest of the four divisional games to predict. Buffalo crushed Denver in their last playoff meeting with similar rosters. The Broncos were lucky in most of their close, regular season wins. A serious playoff contender with Super Bowl aspirations will teach Denver some valuable lessons.

Prediction: Bills win 30-24

#5 Houston Texans v. #2 New England Patriots

While Drake Maye (left) had the better regular season, Houston’s C.J. Stroud IV (right) has more playoff experience.

This is easily the best matchup in the AFC. Both teams have elite defenses and good offenses. Both offenses also have many weaknesses, and this game will come down to which defense cracks first.

At one time, both head coaches were intimidating middle linebackers with playoff success. The main coaching difference for Houston’s DeMeco Ryans is his playoff experience with the current roster. New England’s head coach Mike Vrabel is great, but his starting quarterback Drake Maye struggled more than expected in what many believed would be an easy home win against Los Angeles. The Texan defense has more than enough to shut down the Patriots offense no matter how often they have the ball.

Prediction: Texans win 24-9

AFC wildcard weekend picks record: 2-1

2026 NFC Wild Card Weekend Playoff Picks

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The 2025-2026 NFL regular season is over. Seven teams in each conference have a chance to win the Vince Lombardi championship trophy. For those unfamiliar with the updated playoff format, an extra team was added. That means there’s one bye week for the top seeded team in each conference and a Monday night playoff game. Everyone wants to know which three teams in the NFC advance to the divisional round, so here are the best picks come Sunday.

#5 Los Angeles Rams v. #4 Carolina Panthers

MVP candidate Matthew Stafford had no answers for Carolina’s defense in their regular season matchup.

This will be one of the most intriguing games of wild card weekend. On one hand, there’s little chance Carolina completes the sweep of Los Angeles. On the other, the Rams are going through the motions and don’t look excited to play (outside of a second half comeback against Arizona last Sunday). The Panthers played Los Angeles well in their regular season matchup, with the defense scoring 14 points and stealing a win. Best believe Rams head coach Sean McVay will get his team to play Carolina more seriously this week…even if the game ends in a close score.

Prediction: Rams win 30-23

#7 Green Bay Packers v. #2 Chicago Bears

Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams has to lead the offense to more touchdowns and less three-and-outs.

The last time Chicago and Green Bay faced off in the playoffs, the Packers won a wild 2010 conference championship game. Much has changed in 15 years, but a lot has stayed the same. The Bears defense again led the league in interceptions and Green Bay ran the ball well in both regular season games.

The Packers rested their starters whereas Chicago suffered an ugly loss last Sunday with all their starters. Head coaches Dan Campbell, Matt Lafleur and Kyle Shanahan have exposed the Bears defense in two ways: having their offense’s receivers run multiple crossing routes against the secondary, and consistently running the ball well against Chicago’s front seven each possession. That’s a bad sign when three head coaches of veteran, playoff caliber teams keep exposing the same mistakes. It doesn’t help that the Bears offense usually plays inept for at least a half in most games. This is one time the more veteran roster and coaching staff should prevail and advance.

Prediction: Packers win 28-24

#6 San Francisco 49ers v. #3 Philadelphia Eagles

Brock Purdy (left) and Jalen Hurts (right) have a lot of pressure to get their teams into the divisional round.

The Eagles could have been the second seed, but decided to start their backups in a close loss against Washington. Thus, Philadelphia drew a favorable opponent. Many consider San Francisco v. Philadelphia to be the best matchup of the weekend. Some do not and see this matchup as one team is well rested while the other is exhausted.

As bad as Seattle bullied the 49ers, the Eagles could be worse. Saquon Barkley is more dangerous than Kenneth Walker III and A.J. Brown is a physically, more intimidating receiver. Philadelphia’s offensive line should be able to bully a depleted and exhausted San Francisco defensive line.

Anyone thinking 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will have a much better game is mistaken. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has a top five defense that’s played well the last two months. They may allow a few more scoring drives, but Philadelphia should have a comfortable first round win.

Prediction: Eagles win 35-20

2025 NFC playoff predictions record: 4-3

2026 AFC Wild Card Weekend Playoff Picks

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The 2025-2026 NFL regular season is over. Seven teams in each conference have a chance to win the Vince Lombardi championship trophy. For those unfamiliar with the updated playoff format, an extra team was added. That means there’s one bye week for the top seeded team in each conference and a Monday night playoff game. Everyone wants to know which three teams in the AFC advance to the divisional round, so here are the best picks come Sunday.

#6 Buffalo Bills v. #3 Jacksonville Jaguars

If Jacksonville’s defense can stop Buffalo’s run game, they will advance to the divisional round.

Wild card weekend in the AFC starts with a bang. Buffalo’s run game has been one of the NFL’s best. It will face a challenge against Jacksonville’s number one running defense. The Jaguars defense is also top three in interceptions and the front seven does a great job of getting to opposing quarterbacks.

The Bills have a lot of pressure to make both the conference finals and Super Bowl. Jacksonville’s on an eight game winning streak playing their best, carefree football. Head coach Sean McDermott will have to figure out how to get Buffalo’s first ever postseason win against the Jaguars, and the Bills first road playoff win since 1992 with an undermanned defense and a thin receiver core.

Prediction: Jaguars win 31-21

#7 Los Angeles Chargers v. #2 New England Patriots

New England quarterback Drake Maye is a favorite to win MVP this season

The easiest pick of either conference. New England is the healthier, better coached team and doesn’t play down to the competition. Head coach Mike Vrabel will expose the offensive line woes Los Angeles faced all regular season. Drake Maye’s playoff debut won’t be perfect, but he won’t have to worry about a tough loss with the head coach, defense and running backs taking the pressure off of him in this matchup.

Prediction: Patriots win 34-23

#5 Houston Texans v. #4 Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) high-fives friend and fellow quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) after scoring a touchdown versus Miami last month.

This could be the best game in either conference. The return of wide receiver D.K. Metcalf after a two game suspension will open up Pittsburgh’s passing game. Unfortunately for the Steelers, they’re playing a top three defense that features a deep, elite secondary. Houston’s eight defensive backs are dangerous and they shut down one-on-one matchups like it’s practice.

Pittsburgh also lacks a strong running game. The Texans defense could turn this into a blowout if the Steelers can’t find a way to run the ball. While Houston’s offense will struggle with Pittsburgh’s defense, their issues won’t matter if the Steelers offense doesn’t do anything right. It might not matter how many points the Texans offense scores.

Prediction: Texans win 19-6

2025 AFC playoffs prediction record: 4-3

January 2026 NBA Power Rankings: Where Does the Buck Stop With Giannis?

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Trade talks for Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo have been constant even though he was out for a few weeks because of a strained right calf.

The floodgates opened on December third when both Milwaukee star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent Alex Saratsis made public that they met with the Bucks’ front office about the forward’s future with the franchise. The closed door meeting discussed whether Antetokounmpo’s best fit is staying with the Bucks or moving to somewhere else. 22 games into the season went from mediocre to things could get a lot worse.

Giannis’ explanation for the meeting, scrubbing the team off his social media pages, and his future was a deep, satisfying answer to those who can critically listen, read and think. While that seems difficult for a lot of people these days, it’s almost always ignored by sports media. Outlets like ESPN, FOX Sports, CBS Sports and even the NBA Network broke this down like a Rubik’s cube. Not even 15 minutes after clarification, betting sites went haywire on where Antetokounmpo would end up by mid-season or be traded to once the season ends.

For anyone who’s tuned into the NBA within the last five years, you not only know that there’s been a massive push to get Giannis out of Milwaukee and into a bigger market, but that the media also blatantly downplays any achievements, records or eye-popping performances he has had. It’s one of the nastiest, under-discussed topics more fans need to be aware of and for which both sports broadcasters and journalists should be shamed. One of the Bucks’ top three players in franchise history does everything fans or analysts say should be done to be considered one of the best of all-time. Yet, after a championship and consecutive trips to the playoffs, the media still isn’t satisfied with Antetokounmpo’s greatness. Instead the gradual bias is how Giannis doesn’t want to leave and “save his legacy”. Save his legacy? For whom? From what? For gambling sites, national bettors and Las Vegas to get him to listen to their noise and be traded to a bigger market?

This topic is why a lot of serious NBA fans and students of the game must continue to separate themselves not just from the gambling addicts who can’t get over certain stats and over/unders, but the casual fans who either know nothing about what goes on with the league or are starting to learn about how certain biases have existed for years prior to Adam Silver’s tenure. For decades, sports networks, certain fanbases and even players wanted more parity. Former commissioner David Stern believed that for professional basketball to succeed, the largest markets had to dominate almost every year. It’s no surprise that Stern’s prized franchise was the Los Angeles Lakers. While Stern retired more than 12 years ago, this philosophy has now returned after Silver and players union did the impossible: parity became common. There are relatively few teams you could look at this year and say they’re not competitive or a play-in threat at any point. Drafting and proper disclosures of what teams and players are doing are the norm. For the most part, this is one of the better things Adam Silver has done, (and we know how many issues there have been with his tenure).

It also means that anyone who doesn’t like this will be vocal in any and everything involving parity. Sports media views this as a tragedy because of which teams they have to talk about now. These websites and networks tell us the NBA is in serious trouble if the Lakers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics or Golden State Warriors aren’t the highlight team or making the most news stories (the irony is the Warriors being one of these teams. They are the crowned jewel of Silver’s tenure). The agendas couldn’t be more blatant. Instead of profiles, takes and educated opinions about the real, rising playoff and championship contenders like Oklahoma City, Minnesota, San Antonio, Phoenix or Orlando, outlets bemoan the league is in a decline, or the league’s failing, or certain players must be traded to make the big franchises relevant again.

Sports media backward thinking is big reason why viewership has gradually tuned out until the playoffs get closer. It is also another reason ESPN’s long running business model is failing and other sites like Amazon’s new NBA front desk and shows are popular with the serious fans. Audiences want to hear players who were in previously ignored and different markets talk about the game and not about why a Great Depression is incoming if the Lakers aren’t at .500 by mid-January.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s right calf strain came at an interesting time. Right now, Milwaukee is outside of a play-in spot. Unlike some fanbases, Bucks fans have been more than grateful Antetokounmpo has succeeded where many past players have not. Unlike former Maverick guard and icon Luka Doncic, Milwaukee has and will continue to listen to Giannis without making things uncomfortable or focused solely on profits. It’s a shame BetESPN and those similar to them cannot fathom anything else.

Surprise! Giannis doesn’t care about your parlay, fantasy trade scenario or over/under!

Here are the first power rankings of the 2025-26 season. Similar to the NHL rankings, this one will be objective in placement as some teams may have tiebreakers over others on a neutral site.

#30 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 27)

My next power rankings will cover NBA expansion after Adam Silver’s recent comments about it and discussions around the league whether or not certain teams could move to different cities. It appears likely that the New Orleans Pelicans could be a strong candidate to relocate to a new market, such as Seattle. When the Pelicans announced they were open to trading former number one overall pick Zion Williamson (a player they pinned franchise hopes on) in November, it opened the door to a relocation countdown.

#29 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 29)

A prime example of how the NBA media fails their job nowadays is covering good players on terrible teams. Yes, there is a lot wrong with Washington from their stunning average of 15 turnovers per game to being third to last in free throw percentage. Yet the Wizards have some genuine gems with sophomores Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George. George is first in assists (5.1) and steals per game (1). He’s also third in points per game and second in rebounds per game, blocked shots per game and field goal percentage.

Sarr is first in rebounds per game (7.8), blocked shots (2.3) and field goal percentage (49.9%). Alex Sarr is also second in points per game, third in steals and fourth in assists. These are two names viewers hear very little about and should keep an eye on.

#28 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 25)

There’s a rumor going around that Nic Claxton could be traded to a playoff contender like Golden State within a few months. We know rumors are easy to start, but Brooklyn needs draft capital. The Nets aren’t going to win many games anytime soon. It’s best they trade Claxton to a contender that wants to win now.

#27 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 17)

Everything has gone wrong for Sacramento, and just when trade rumors heated up, stars like center Domantas Sabonis was put on injured reserve for four to five weeks because of a partially torn left meniscus. The Kings can’t do a full re-build if their important trade pieces keep getting hurt.

#26 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 28)

Interestingly, Charlotte is 9-4 when point guard LaMelo Ball and forwards Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel start together. The Hornets struggles with shot accuracy, scoring and ball possession are big reasons why they’re near the bottom of the east. However, if coach Charles Lee keeps these three in the starting lineup, then Charlotte has a chance for a playoff push.

#25 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 30)

Another example of a team under-reported. Utah is second in assists, fifth in points scored, seventh in free throw percentage, and 13th in total rebounds per game. The Jazz don’t have a good roster, but general manager Danny Ainge has found ways to improve the team in ways that will continue to stand out throughout the next few seasons.

#24 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 16)

Center Anthony Davis injuring his groin on Christmas added more fuel to the analysis fire of Dallas starting a long-term re-build. Outside of overall number one pick forward Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks don’t have the talent to both stay competitive and not worry about injuries with the number of older veteran players past their prime. Like Sacramento, Dallas will be a popular team to trade with at the deadline.

#23 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 13)

Milwaukee is currently tied for last in free throw percentage and is second to last in total rebounds per game. At this point, the most glaring issue is coaching. Legendary Marquette player, and Celtics championship coach Doc Rivers is a midwestern emotional favorite, but he certainly has not made the Bucks any better since Adrian Griffin was dismissed. Rivers is outdated and a big reason the Giannis trade talks haven’t gone away.

#22 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 12)

Just because the Clippers had a six game winning streak, doesn’t mean their issues are cured and everything is fine. Many who follow the NBA haven’t forgotten the Chris Paul drama where he was cut because he may or may not have went off on Tyronn Lue. The focus and anger should remain on everyone else in the organization. This team was bad in ways no one thought possible in 2025. Los Angeles might be great at the free-throw line, but they are awful in several other areas. A few standout Kawhi Leonard performances won’t change that. Owner Steve Ballmer has tried to make the Clippers a winner for over a decade with nothing to show for it but chaos and repeats of the Donald Sterling era. What a mess.

#21 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 11)

First sophomore center Zach Edey misses at least one month of play because of a stress reaction in his left ankle. Then rookie shooting guard Cedric Coward suffered a nasty ankle sprain trying to get a rebound against DeAndre Ayton and the Lakers last night. Younger talent suffering serious injuries means veteran players like Jaren Jackson Jr. have more pressure to play almost perfect each game with little bench depth to help out. The hype on Memphis being a quality playoff contending team fizzled fast.

#20 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 20)

In two months, Chicago has:

  • a five game winning streak
  • a five game losing streak
  • a seven game losing streak
  • a five game winning streak

Good luck figuring them out. Anybody?

#19 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 9)

Many viewers knew Indiana would struggle most of the season, but wow is this team abysmal. Coach Rick Carlisle has done some of his best work with the Pacers, but even he can’t fix how depleted and overwhelmed they are almost every game. Pascal Siakam remains a solid player, but if he’s the best Indiana has right now, the playoffs are a long-shot.

#18 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 18)

It’s a tale of two seasons for Atlanta. The Hawks had a nice November, then lost all but three games in December. Atlanta’s downturn got worse when news broke yesterday that star point guard Trae Young wants a trade. There has to be significant change if Atlanta wants to be better. It’s also a shame that will happen without Young.

#17 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 21)

Perhaps Portland won’t make the playoffs, but each game shows how guilty Chauncey Billups is in his federal gambling case. Here’s a look at how some of the players are doing this season.

  • Deni Avdija leads the Trailblazers in points per game (25.9) and assists per game (7.1). He’s also second in team rebounds per game, field goal percentage, and blocked shots.
  • Sophomore center Donovan Clingan leads in rebounds per game (10.8), field goal percentage (54.5%) and blocked shots per game (1.4).
  • Shaedon Sharpe is second in points per game, third in shot percentage and assists, first in steals per game (1.5) and fourth in rebounds per game.

This is with Jrue Holiday, Matisse Thybulle, Scoot Henderson and Jerami Grant on IR. Billups must go to prison.

#16 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 26)

Philadelphia’s a much better team this season than last year. That’s because there is a better roster in place whenever former MVP center Joel Embiid doesn’t play. Point guard Tyrese Maxey is excellent to build around and transition to with Embiid’s injuries taking a toll each month. Perhaps the 76ers can also swing a deal or two at the trade deadline with Sacramento or Dallas to cement an early playoff berth.

#15 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 24)

Forwards Brandon Ingram and Scotty Barnes will get a lot of attention because of Ingram’s league tenure and Barnes being the face of the franchise, but Toronto’s not where they are without Immanuel Quickley and Sandro Mamukelashvili. Quickley’s intelligence at point guard and his ability to be a few plays ahead makes the Raptor’s offense free-flowing. Mamukelashvili’s height and aggression is what Toronto needs to stay in close games against playoff contenders. The Raptors will be a tough team to play against no matter the month.

#14 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 22)

The Suns have surpassed every expectation this season. Staying competitive in 2026 with Royce O’Neale, Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks as Devin Booker’s supporting cast puts coach Jordan Ott into the coach of the year conversation. Phoenix is the west coast version of where I had Charlotte in October.

#13 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 23)

For anyone who has read my power rankings before, you know that the first rankings of the season are always difficult. A team rising or falling too high will be controversial. Injuries are also a factor. San Antonio isn’t the 13th best team in the league, but their rise this early in the season is fine to question.

That said, the Spurs total domination of reigning champion Oklahoma City is easily their highlight of their season. It’s okay to say San Antonio is a mostly young team that has feasted on easy wins outside of three(!) victories against the Thunder and a nail-biter against the Knicks within the last five weeks. For the Spurs to be a true playoff contender, they must beat more contending teams on a consistent basis. The good news is, there’s no doubt they will do so and continue improving throughout the season.

#12 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 2)

This year’s Cavaliers are what many expected to see early season last year. Cleveland is still a serious playoff threat, but they don’t have last season’s luck. Part of that is because opposing defenses don’t give the Cavaliers offense too many second chance scoring opportunities. Some better scoring depth would also help.

#11 Miami Heat (last ranking: 19)

Unfortunately, there’s nowhere to put Miami with the ten spot range selection used. Yes, I understand San Antonio not being higher is a result of that, but the Heat also have a few games at hand compared to some of the other teams above and below. We should also consider how great a coach Erik Spoelstra is. Nobody had Miami sniffing a playoff spot with their current roster. Not only should Spoelstra win coach of the year, Heat upper management needs to trade for some star players in the coming months.

#10 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 8)

Basketball pundits broke down the Draymond Green-Steve Kerr debacle too much. The real focus is how general manager Mike Dunleavy can add a center like Nik Claxton or Daniel Gafford. A healthy Al Horford gives Golden State scoring and rebounding advantages. However, the Warriors need a younger center who defends well and takes that pressure off Horford. A move must be made soon considering how unpredictable Golden State’s bench plays.

#9 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 15)

Injuries keep de-railing what should be a breakout season. Still, forward Paolo Banchero and guard Desmond Bane keep dragging Orlando to a lot of close wins. We’ll see how long that can stays this month.

#8 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 10)

That was a damaging loss against Denver on Christmas night. Nikola Jokic’s 56 point game will be talked about for years despite Anthony Edwards’ 44 and Minnesota’s valiant second half comeback. Most importantly, the Timberwolves defense was tested by a championship caliber offense and glaringly failed when it mattered most. It’s not a surprise that since the Christmas day loss, Minnesota’s a candidate to trade for Hawks guard Trae Young. Although it might not be the best fit, the organization has to make a move.

#7 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 6)

The Christmas loss to Houston was big. Every game Los Angeles lost in December was by double digits. Coach JJ Redick is getting ripped for a lot of bad decisions. While it doesn’t inspire confidence in the roster after multiple blowout losses the last three weeks, it’s also not his fault multiple star players were injured.

#6 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 7)

Nikola Jokic out for a month after hyperextending his left knee was bad enough, but his replacement at center Jonas Valanciunas missing four to five weeks with a calf strain is a problem. Denver is down to their third center and will need both point guard Jamal Murray and forward Aaron Gordon to really step up on offense with little help from the bench. We’re going to see how coach David Adelman handles leading an undermanned team all of January. That will show viewers if the Michael Malone firing was for the better.

#5 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 5)

Houston has one of the best and most dangerous offenses in the NBA, but the defense is ok at best. If the Rockets want to make a run for the western conference finals, the defense has to play tighter and cut down on opponents’ second chance scoring opportunities. It’s one thing to blow out the Lakers on Christmas because Los Angeles didn’t have the roster to expose Houston’s holes. It’s another when the Rockets will have to get past a healthy Denver, San Antonio, Golden State or Oklahoma City.

#4 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 14)

Many viewers are starting to rank Detroit’s star point guard Cade Cunningham as an MVP candidate. If that’s the case, J.B. Bickerstaff should be a coach of the year candidate too. Cunningham’s dominant rise is tied to Bickerstaff getting the Pistons to play their best basketball in decades. Detroit somehow being the best team in the east with only nine losses is one of the best NBA stories the last two years.

#3 New York Knicks (last ranking: 4)

Despite the Monday night blowout loss in Detroit, I’d still favor New York in a seven game series against the Pistons. They will also be favored to take out an inexperienced, injured Magic and a best of seven against Cleveland. There are valid concerns and questions in the Knicks’ four game losing streak, but until another team can prove they can beat the Knicks at least three times in a season, New York is the east’s championship threat.

#2 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 3)

There are games in which Boston misses Jayson Tatum, and then there are games where he could sit without his injury during a lopsided win. The Celtics haven’t played many games where they look mediocre. This makes their January schedule more interesting with the number of playoff contending teams lined up. The further the season goes, the more Boston’s play will intrigue viewers.

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking: 1)

Three losses to San Antonio in 13 days should make Oklahoma consider how to upgrade their roster. It’s clear center Victor Wembanyama dwarfs Thunder center Chet Holmgren in talent and commitment, so Oklahoma City must get creative. General manager Sam Presti has accumulated a lot of draft capital and could use it the next few months to bring in a few veterans who long to win a championship now. Even if the Thunder win every game in January and February, the losses to the Wembanyama’s Spurs will gnaw at them until the postseason. That should be the main priority for the front office.

Three losses to Victor Wembanyama’s (1) Spurs will be the new big obstacle for Oklahoma City and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) to overcome the next few months.