Welcome to the Labor Day edition of the Pick Six newsletter!
We officially have a new Labor Day tradition here at CBS Sports and that tradition is me releasing my full predictions for the NFL season. As a salute to Labor Day, I spent my entire weekend laboring over my predictions for the upcoming season. I haven’t slept in three days, my blood smells like Red Bull and I’ve eaten nothing but waffles for the past 72 hours, but I have to say, it was all worth it because my predictions are now done.
Who’s going to make the playoffs? Who’s going to win the Super Bowl? Who’s going to finish with the worst record in the NFL? We’re going to answer all of that today.
We’re also going to take a look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for each NFL team.
As always, here’s your daily reminder to tell all your friends to sign up for the newsletter. To get them signed up, all you have to do is click here.
1. Full AFC predictions for 2025: Patriots make the playoffs in Mike Vrabel’s first year on the job
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As I just mentioned at the top, I spent my entire Labor Day weekend going through all 272 regular-season games on the NFL schedule, and after 37 straight hours of contemplating the 2025 season, my picks are finally in. And Browns fans, I have some bad news: For the 36th straight year, I don’t think your team is going to win a division title.
Here’s my final record prediction for every team in the AFC:
*make playoffs
AFC East
1. *Bills: 13-4
2. *Patriots: 10-7
3. Dolphins: 7-10
4. Jets: 5-12
AFC North
1. *Ravens: 12-5
2. *Bengals: 11-6
3. Steelers: 9-8
4. Browns: 5-12
AFC South
1. *Texans: 9-8
2. Colts: 8-9
3. Jaguars: 7-10
4. Titans: 3-14
AFC West
1. *Chiefs: 12-5
2. *Broncos: 10-7
3. Chargers: 8-9
4. Raiders: 7-10
AFC playoffs: 1. Bills 2. Chiefs 3. Ravens 4. Texans 5. Bengals 6. Broncos 7. Patriots
If you want to know who my AFC Super Bowl team is, you’ll have to read my full predictions here.
2. Full NFC predictions for 2025: Cardinals set to surprise everyone
In the NFC, I have the Cardinals making the playoffs for the first time since 2021. There is a cardinal nest in my backyard and I’m starting to think they might have somehow influenced my pick.
Anyway, here’s my final record prediction for every team in the NFC:
*make playoffs
NFC East
1. *Eagles: 12-5
2. *Commanders: 10-7
3. Cowboys: 8-9
4. Giants: 5-12
NFC North
1. *Packers: 11-6
2. *Lions: 9-8
3. Vikings: 8-9
4. Bears: 7-10
NFC South
1. *Buccaneers: 10-7
2. Falcons: 8-9
3. Panthers: 5-12
4. Saints: 3-14
NFC West
1. *49ers: 13-4
2. *Cardinals: 10-7
3. Rams: 9-8
4. Seahawks: 8-9
NFC playoffs: 1. 49ers 2. Eagles 3. Packers 4. Buccaneers 5. Commanders 6. Cardinals 7. Lions
I would like everyone to know that I actually like the Rams a lot, but I don’t trust Matthew Stafford’s back.
If you want to know who I have getting to the Super Bowl out of the NFC, you’ll have to read my full story here. If you do read my full story, not only will you get my Super Bowl prediction, but you’ll also get to see the nine bold predictions I made about the 2025 NFL season, including a dark horse MVP winner.
3. Ceiling and floor for each NFL team in 2025
If you’re wondering what the best-case scenario is for your favorite team this year, I have some good news: Jeff Kerr went ahead and figured that out for you. With the start of the season just three days away, Kerr went through every team to figure out their best-case and worst-case scenario for the 2025 season.
Here’s a look at how he sees things going for five different teams:
BEARS
Best case: 10-7 (Make playoffs)
Worst case: 8-9 (Miss playoffs)
COWBOYS
Best case: 8-9 (Miss playoffs)
Worst case: 5-12 (Miss playoffs)
PACKERS
Best case: 13-4 (Win Super Bowl)
Worst case: 11-6 (Lose in divisional round)
STEELERS
Best case: 11-6 (Win AFC North)
Worst case: 8-9 (Miss playoffs)
BROWNS
Best case: 5-12 (Miss playoffs)
Worst case: 3-14 (Miss playoffs)
Kerr clearly thinks the Browns are going to be terrible and it’s hard to disagree with him. At 5-12, the Browns’ best-case scenario is tied with the Saints for the worst ceiling in the league. You can also tell that Kerr likes the Packers. Even in their absolutely worst-case scenario, he has them in the divisional round of the playoffs.
If you want to know the ceiling and floor for every NFL team, then be sure to click here.
4. NFL preseason All-Rookie team: Chargers land two players on the offensive side of the ball
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We wanted to start the week off with a bang, so not only did we reveal our record predictions for each team, but we’re also going to unveil our All-Rookie team. NFL Draft guru Chris Trapasso locked himself in a room over the weekend and didn’t come out until he was completely satisfied with his entire team.
Here’s a look at the All-Rookie Team on the offensive side of the ball:
QB: Jaxson Dart, Giants
RB: Jacardia Wright, Seahawks
WR: Isaac TeSlaa, Lions
WR: Efton Chism III, Patriots
WR: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Chargers
TE: Oronde Gadsden II, Chargers
OT: Kelvin Banks Jr., Saints
OG: Dylan Fairchild, Bengals
OG: Willie Lampkin, Eagles
One notable aspect of the All-Rookie Team is that the Eagles and Chargers were the only two teams that had at least one player on both sides of the ball. If you want to see what the defensive side of the All-Rookie Team looks like, then be sure to click here.
5. Cowboys contract priorities: Three deals Dallas needs to think about making soon
It’s been a bizarre five days for the Cowboys. Last week, we saw them trade Micah Parsons to the Packers, but then Jerry Jones turned around and handed out a massive extension to DaRon Bland over the weekend. Since Jerry clearly needs some help making contract decisions, Garrett Podell decided to give him some help by revealing the three players that the Cowboys need to target next for a contract extension.
1. LG Tyler Smith. Re-signing the 24-year-old will require resetting the interior offensive lineman market that was recently reset by Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith, and his four-year, $94 million extension. Jones will likely have to go just a smidge higher in a new deal with Smith.
2. WR George Pickens. It could be wise for Jones to lock Pickens down now. If the Cowboys do decide to be proactive, they could save a lot of money on the back end by signing Pickens now. Based on his career numbers (174 catches for 2,841 yards receiving and 12 receiving touchdowns in three seasons) and his age (24), perhaps Jones could re-sign Pickens to a three-year, $58 million deal. That would surpass Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy’s three-year, $52.5 million extension he signed at the same age.
3. K Brandon Aubrey. The Cowboys kicker, who’s headed into the final year of his deal, rewrote NFL record books in his first year in the league in 2023 thanks to making his first 35 field goals in a row. That shattered the record for most made field goals in a row to begin a career. …. It’s obvious Aubrey is already an all-time weapon as a kicker.
Garrett even came up with a contract proposal for each player and you can check that out here.
6. Extra points: Cowboys hand out massive extension
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It was a busy weekend in the NFL, and since it’s nearly impossible to keep track of everything that happened, I went ahead and put together a roundup for you.
- DaRon Bland signs extension with Cowboys. The Cowboys got rid of Micah Parsons, but they had no problem handing out a new deal to DaRon Bland. The corner signed a four-year, $92 million contract over the weekend. At $23.04 million per year, Bland is now the fifth-highest paid corner in the NFL. We’ve got the full details on his contract here.
- Shilo Sanders might be done in the NFL. After getting cut by the Buccaneers, Deion’s son might already be thinking about calling it quits in the NFL if he can’t find somewhere to play this season. “I’ll be talking to my agent and we’re waiting on the next opportunity,” Sanders said over the weekend. “If that’s in the NFL, cool, but God has blessed me with a lot of talent to do things other than football.” You can check out Shilo’s full comments here.
- Micah Parsons will wear a number that no Packers player has worn in 99 years. The Packers new defensive star has officially picked his number and he’s going with ONE. When Parsons takes the field on Sunday, he’ll become the first Packers player since Curly Lambeau in 1926 to wear No. 1. In a fitting twist, Parsons first game with the Packers will happen at the stadium named after Curly: Lambeau Field.
- Hunter Renfrow signs with Panthers. After getting cut by Carolina last week, it looked like Renfrow’s comeback attempt might be over, but the Panthers brought him back over the weekend on a one-year deal. Renfrow, who sat out the 2024 season, could be on the field as soon as Sunday for Carolina’s opener against the Jaguars. You can read more about Renfrow’s comeback here.
