Chris Horwedel closes out the NFC preview series on The Underdog NFL Show with a full breakdown of the NFC West heading into the 2026-27 NFL season. In this episode, Chris goes team by team through the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks, looking at each team’s offseason moves, free-agent signings, trades, NFL Draft picks, roster strengths, statistical profile, and projected division finish.

The show starts with the Arizona Cardinals, who enter a full reset after moving on from Kyler Murray, hiring Mike LaFleur, and drafting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick. Chris looks at whether Arizona can build a real offensive identity around Love, Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett, and rookie quarterback Carson Beck.

From there, the focus shifts to the Los Angeles Rams, the NFC West favorites and one of the top Super Bowl contenders. Chris breaks down the Rams’ aggressive offseason, including the blockbuster addition of Myles Garrett, the trade for Trent McDuffie, and the selection of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson as a possible long-term successor to Matthew Stafford. With Stafford coming off an MVP season and the Rams adding elite defensive talent, Chris explains why Los Angeles may have the highest ceiling in the NFC.

The San Francisco 49ers are next, and Chris discusses how strange it is that a 12-win team could still feel like a third-place projection in this division. He looks at the additions of Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, Osa Odighizuwa, Dre Greenlaw’s return, and a draft class focused on receiver, pass rush, running back, offensive line, and defensive depth.

Finally, Chris turns to the Seattle Seahawks, who won the NFC West at 14-3 but still enter the season behind the Rams on the odds board. He examines Seattle’s elite defense, physical running game, Jaxon Smith-Njigba extension, continuity-based offseason, and draft-day addition of Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price.

Chris wraps the show by comparing the NFC West odds, Super Bowl odds, NFC Championship odds, number-one seed market, and exact division order prices from Lucky Rebel, ultimately landing on Rams first, Seahawks second, 49ers third, and Cardinals fourth.

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On this special edition of **The Underdog NFL Show**, Chris Horwedel continues his 2026 NFL division preview series with a full breakdown of the NFC South. After previously covering the NFC East and NFC North, Chris turns to one of football’s most unpredictable divisions, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons all enter the season with real questions and possible paths to the top.

The episode looks at every NFC South team’s offseason moves, free-agent additions, trades, draft class, roster strengths, quarterback situation, division odds, Super Bowl odds, NFC Championship odds, finishing-position markets, and exact-order betting options from oddsmakers.

Chris begins with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who enter as the division favorite despite losing franchise icon Mike Evans to San Francisco. He breaks down Baker Mayfield’s stability, the additions of Kenneth Gainwell and Cade Otton, Tampa Bay’s defensive reinforcements, and a defense-heavy draft led by Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr.

Next, the defending division champion Carolina Panthers get the spotlight. Chris discusses Bryce Young’s development, the importance of improved pass protection, major defensive additions Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd, the Panthers’ investment in the offensive line with Monroe Freeling, and why Carolina may be more dangerous than the market suggests.

The New Orleans Saints section focuses on Tyler Shough, Chris Olave, Travis Etienne, Jordyn Tyson, Noah Fant, Tyree Wilson, Cam Jordan’s final season, and whether New Orleans added enough offensive firepower to climb back into contention.

Finally, Chris examines the Atlanta Falcons, including the unusual Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa quarterback setup, Drake London’s massive extension, Kyle Pitts’ uncertain future, Atlanta’s pass rush, Avieon Terrell, Zachariah Branch, Harold Perkins Jr., and the team’s wide range of possible outcomes.

Chris closes with his NFC South prediction: Tampa Bay first, Carolina second, New Orleans third, and Atlanta fourth, while highlighting Tampa-Carolina as his favorite order-based betting angle.

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0:12 – Chris Horwedel opens a solo Underdog NFL Show by explaining the division finishing-position series and setting up a full NFC North preview using offseason moves, draft results, division odds, and Super Bowl odds from oddsmakers.

1:21 – NFC North market overview covers the Lions, Packers, Bears, and Vikings, with Detroit positioned as the early division favorite and Chicago, Green Bay, and Minnesota each carrying very different expectations entering the 2026 NFL season.

2:28 – Chicago Bears offseason recap focuses on Ben Johnson’s offensive line rebuild, including Jedrick Wills, Garrett Bradbury, Braxton Jones, Jordan McFadden, plus defensive additions like Neville Gallimore, Devin Bush, Kobe Bryant, and multiple linebacker depth moves.

5:14 – Bears draft breakdown highlights Oregon safety Dylan Thieneman, Iowa center Logan Jones, Stanford tight end Sam Roush, LSU wide receiver Xavier Thomas, Texas defensive back Malik Muhammad, and why Chicago looks improved but still hard to place in a deep NFC North.

8:24 – Detroit Lions offseason review covers Teddy Bridgewater, Isaiah Pacheco, Greg Dortch, Tyler Conklin, Cade Mays, Juice Scruggs, DJ Wonnum, Jack Campbell’s major extension, Roger McCreary, Avonte Maddox, and Detroit’s attempt to reload after a slight step back.

10:54 – Lions draft analysis centers on Blake Miller as the new offensive tackle addition, Michigan edge Derek Moore as a strong complement to Aidan Hutchinson, plus Jimmy Rolder, Keith Abney, Kendrick Law, Skylar Gill-Howard, and Tyree West.

11:59 – Detroit’s division finishing odds are reviewed, with Chris explaining why the Lions look like the safest NFC North team and why their roster still profiles as a serious NFC contender.

12:41 – Green Bay Packers offseason discussion includes Tyrod Taylor, Skyy Moore, Sean Rhyan’s extension, Javon Hargrave, Zaire Franklin, Benjamin St-Juste, and a quieter approach compared with other NFC North teams.

14:00 – Packers draft recap features South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse, Missouri defensive tackle Chris McLennan, Penn State edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, Kentucky center Jager Burton, Alabama corner Damani Jackson, and Florida kicker Trace Mack.

15:10 – Minnesota Vikings offseason outlook starts with Kyler Murray arriving on a one-year deal, Carson Wentz returning, Aaron Jones restructuring, Jauan Jennings joining the receiver room, and key depth moves at linebacker, cornerback, punter, and long snapper.

17:39 – Vikings draft breakdown covers Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks as a surprising first-round pick, Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday, Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange, Northwestern tackle Caleb Tiernan, Miami safety Jacoby Thomas, and later depth additions.

19:19 – Full NFC North finishing-position odds are compared, including exact-order markets and how oddsmakers view Lions-Packers, Lions-Bears, and Packers-Bears outcomes in one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions.

20:39 – Super Bowl odds close the episode, with Chris comparing the Lions, Packers, Bears, and Vikings nationally before wrapping up the NFC North preview and teasing future division breakdowns.

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