The 2026 NFL season has reached its halfway mark as Week 10 gets underway, bringing plenty of unexpected storylines. CBS Sports gathered its football staff, including writers, editors, and analysts, to vote on updated midseason award winners, playoff seeds, and Super Bowl projections.
Player Award Projections
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow leads the MVP voting with 11 votes following a stellar first half that features at least four total touchdowns in each of his last four games, leading the league in completion percentage at 74%, passing touchdowns with 23, and passer rating at 114.8. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba paces the Offensive Player of the Year voting, leading the NFL with 1,036 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. leads the Defensive Player of the Year voting with 9.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Denzel Boston leads Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates with 507 receiving yards and three touchdowns. New York Giants linebacker Arvell Reese leads the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after becoming the youngest player to record a three-sack game, alongside 65 tackles and an interception.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes leads Comeback Player of the Year following his return from a December 2025 ACL and LCL tear. Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell dominates the Protector of the Year voting with 12 votes, allowing just one sack across 298 pass-blocking snaps.
Coaching, Executive, and Team Projections
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh leads the Coach of the Year voting after guiding his team to a 5-2-1 record in his first year, despite losing starting quarterback Jaxson Dart in Week 2. Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores dominates Assistant Coach of the Year with 11 votes, leading a unit that ranks first in red-zone efficiency and points allowed per game at 14.5. Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone leads Executive of the Year following bold trade-deadline moves for defensive lineman Jordan Davis and safety Jessie Bates III.
CBS Sports experts project the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and Jacksonville Jaguars to win the AFC East, North, and South divisions, respectively, while the Denver Broncos edge out the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West title. In the NFC, the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Francisco 49ers are projected to win their respective divisions.
For the championship game, the Jacksonville Jaguars received the most votes to win the Super Bowl, while the Chicago Bears received the most votes to finish as the runner-up.
