How does the FSN NFL rooting guide work?

FSN measures how each other game in the current week changes a team’s simulated playoff, division, No. 1 seed and Super Bowl outcomes, then ranks the results that help most.

Why is my team’s own game not included?

Winning your own game is already the most direct way to improve your position. The rooting guide focuses on the other games fans should care about.

Do NFL rooting interests change every week?

Yes. Rooting interests rebuild with the FSN season forecast as standings, tiebreak paths and game probabilities change. Weekly snapshots preserve the pre-week picture.

2026 NFL · WEEK 1 · FSN-ROOT-1.0

NFL Week 1 Rooting Guide: Who Should Every Team Root For?

Pick your team for Week 1. FSN ranks every other unplayed game by how much each result helps your playoff path—using the same 5,000 full-season simulations behind the Playoff Predictor.

Playoff Control Center →Playoff Predictor →Game Simulator →

PICK YOUR TEAM

Who should you root for in Week 1?

Team

WEEK 1 ROOTING INTERESTS

Minnesota Vikings fans: here’s who to root for

Your own game is excluded. Winning that one is still the best possible rooting strategy.

Current playoff odds36.3%11 meaningful outside-game impacts

High impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

CHIChicago Bears @ CARCarolina Panthers

ROOT FOR Carolina Panthers over Chicago Bears

+3.0 pts Playoff odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Carolina Panthers wins37.9%Playoff odds

If Chicago Bears wins34.9%Playoff odds

Playoffs37.9%vs34.9%

Division16.6%vs13.2%

#1 seed2.6%vs3.5%

Reach SB3.0%vs2.4%

Win SB0.8%vs0.9%

High impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

NONew Orleans Saints @ DETDetroit Lions

ROOT FOR New Orleans Saints over Detroit Lions

+4.0 pts Division odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If New Orleans Saints wins17.4%Division odds

If Detroit Lions wins13.4%Division odds

Playoffs37.9%vs35.5%

Division17.4%vs13.4%

#1 seed3.4%vs3.0%

Reach SB2.8%vs2.6%

Win SB0.8%vs0.9%

High impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

BUFBuffalo Bills @ HOUHouston Texans

ROOT FOR Houston Texans over Buffalo Bills

+2.7 pts Playoff odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Houston Texans wins37.6%Playoff odds

If Buffalo Bills wins34.9%Playoff odds

Playoffs37.6%vs34.9%

Division15.3%vs14.2%

#1 seed3.5%vs2.8%

Reach SB2.9%vs2.5%

Win SB0.9%vs0.9%

High impact Wed 8:20 PM ET

NENew England Patriots @ SEASeattle Seahawks

ROOT FOR New England Patriots over Seattle Seahawks

+2.6 pts Playoff odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If New England Patriots wins37.8%Playoff odds

If Seattle Seahawks wins35.2%Playoff odds

Playoffs37.8%vs35.2%

Division14.0%vs15.3%

#1 seed3.4%vs2.9%

Reach SB2.8%vs2.6%

Win SB0.8%vs0.9%

Meaningful impact Sun 8:20 PM ET

DALDallas Cowboys @ NYGNew York Giants

ROOT FOR New York Giants over Dallas Cowboys

+2.1 pts Playoff odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If New York Giants wins37.4%Playoff odds

If Dallas Cowboys wins35.3%Playoff odds

Playoffs37.4%vs35.3%

Division15.3%vs14.3%

#1 seed3.5%vs2.8%

Reach SB3.0%vs2.4%

Win SB1.1%vs0.7%

Meaningful impact small model edge Sun 1:00 PM ET

CLECleveland Browns @ JAXJacksonville Jaguars

ROOT FOR Jacksonville Jaguars over Cleveland Browns

+1.8 pts Playoff odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Jacksonville Jaguars wins36.8%Playoff odds

If Cleveland Browns wins35.0%Playoff odds

Playoffs36.8%vs35.0%

Division15.2%vs13.6%

#1 seed3.2%vs2.8%

Reach SB2.6%vs2.8%

Win SB0.9%vs0.8%

Meaningful impact Mon 8:15 PM ET

DENDenver Broncos @ KCKansas City Chiefs

ROOT FOR Denver Broncos over Kansas City Chiefs

+2.2 pts Playoff odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Denver Broncos wins37.5%Playoff odds

If Kansas City Chiefs wins35.3%Playoff odds

Playoffs37.5%vs35.3%

Division15.2%vs14.4%

#1 seed3.5%vs2.7%

Reach SB2.6%vs2.8%

Win SB0.8%vs1.0%

Meaningful impact small model edge Sun 4:25 PM ET

WASWashington Commanders @ PHIPhiladelphia Eagles

ROOT FOR Washington Commanders over Philadelphia Eagles

+1.3 pts Playoff odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Washington Commanders wins37.1%Playoff odds

If Philadelphia Eagles wins35.8%Playoff odds

Playoffs37.1%vs35.8%

Division15.3%vs14.4%

#1 seed3.3%vs3.0%

Reach SB3.3%vs2.3%

Win SB1.0%vs0.8%

Meaningful impact small model edge Thu 8:35 PM ET

SFSan Francisco 49ers @ LARLos Angeles Rams

ROOT FOR San Francisco 49ers over Los Angeles Rams

+1.7 pts Playoff odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If San Francisco 49ers wins37.2%Playoff odds

If Los Angeles Rams wins35.6%Playoff odds

Playoffs37.2%vs35.6%

Division15.0%vs14.5%

#1 seed3.6%vs2.7%

Reach SB2.8%vs2.6%

Win SB0.9%vs0.8%

Meaningful impact Sun 4:25 PM ET

MIAMiami Dolphins @ LVLas Vegas Raiders

ROOT FOR Las Vegas Raiders over Miami Dolphins

+1.3 pts Division odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Las Vegas Raiders wins15.4%Division odds

If Miami Dolphins wins14.1%Division odds

Playoffs36.5%vs36.0%

Division15.4%vs14.1%

#1 seed3.2%vs3.0%

Reach SB2.5%vs2.9%

Win SB0.9%vs0.9%

Meaningful impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

ATLAtlanta Falcons @ PITPittsburgh Steelers

ROOT FOR Atlanta Falcons over Pittsburgh Steelers

+2.0 pts Division odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Atlanta Falcons wins15.9%Division odds

If Pittsburgh Steelers wins13.9%Division odds

Playoffs36.1%vs36.4%

Division15.9%vs13.9%

#1 seed3.4%vs2.9%

Reach SB2.9%vs2.5%

Win SB1.0%vs0.8%

Small edge small model edge Sun 1:00 PM ET

BALBaltimore Ravens @ INDIndianapolis Colts

ROOT FOR Baltimore Ravens over Indianapolis Colts

+0.8 pts Playoff odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Baltimore Ravens wins36.7%Playoff odds

If Indianapolis Colts wins35.9%Playoff odds

Playoffs36.7%vs35.9%

Division15.3%vs14.2%

#1 seed3.1%vs3.1%

Reach SB2.5%vs2.9%

Win SB0.8%vs0.9%

Small edge small model edge Sun 1:00 PM ET

TBTampa Bay Buccaneers @ CINCincinnati Bengals

ROOT FOR Cincinnati Bengals over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

+0.8 pts Playoff odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Cincinnati Bengals wins36.6%Playoff odds

If Tampa Bay Buccaneers wins35.8%Playoff odds

Playoffs36.6%vs35.8%

Division14.5%vs15.1%

#1 seed2.9%vs3.3%

Reach SB2.8%vs2.6%

Win SB0.9%vs0.9%

Minimal impact small model edge Sun 1:00 PM ET

NYJNew York Jets @ TENTennessee Titans

ROOT FOR New York Jets over Tennessee Titans

+0.4 pts Division odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If New York Jets wins15.0%Division odds

If Tennessee Titans wins14.6%Division odds

Playoffs36.3%vs36.3%

Division15.0%vs14.6%

#1 seed3.3%vs2.9%

Reach SB2.8%vs2.6%

Win SB1.0%vs0.8%

Minimal impact small model edge Sun 4:25 PM ET

ARIArizona Cardinals @ LACLos Angeles Chargers

ROOT FOR Arizona Cardinals over Los Angeles Chargers

+0.4 pts Division odds for Minnesota Vikings in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Arizona Cardinals wins15.0%Division odds

If Los Angeles Chargers wins14.6%Division odds

Playoffs36.2%vs36.3%

Division15.0%vs14.6%

#1 seed3.0%vs3.2%

Reach SB2.8%vs2.6%

Win SB0.8%vs0.9%

ALL 32 TEAMS

Top rooting interest at a glance

This server-rendered table gives every fan base’s strongest current outside-game rooting interest. Use the picker above for the full slate.

TeamRoot forAgainstImpact

ARIArizona Cardinals Dallas CowboysNew York Giants+1.6 ptsPlayoff odds ATLAtlanta Falcons Cincinnati BengalsTampa Bay Buccaneers+3.9 ptsDivision odds BALBaltimore Ravens Tampa Bay BuccaneersCincinnati Bengals+5.4 ptsDivision odds BUFBuffalo Bills Seattle SeahawksNew England Patriots+9.5 ptsDivision odds CARCarolina Panthers Pittsburgh SteelersAtlanta Falcons+3.2 ptsPlayoff odds CHIChicago Bears New Orleans SaintsDetroit Lions+5.1 ptsDivision odds CINCincinnati Bengals Carolina PanthersChicago Bears+3.2 ptsPlayoff odds CLECleveland Browns Atlanta FalconsPittsburgh Steelers+3.0 ptsPlayoff odds DALDallas Cowboys New England PatriotsSeattle Seahawks+3.2 ptsPlayoff odds DENDenver Broncos Arizona CardinalsLos Angeles Chargers+4.2 ptsDivision odds DETDetroit Lions Dallas CowboysNew York Giants+2.5 ptsDivision odds GBGreen Bay Packers New Orleans SaintsDetroit Lions+3.4 ptsDivision odds HOUHouston Texans Cleveland BrownsJacksonville Jaguars+8.5 ptsDivision odds INDIndianapolis Colts Kansas City ChiefsDenver Broncos+2.9 ptsPlayoff odds JAXJacksonville Jaguars Buffalo BillsHouston Texans+7.8 ptsDivision odds KCKansas City Chiefs Arizona CardinalsLos Angeles Chargers+4.6 ptsPlayoff odds LVLas Vegas Raiders San Francisco 49ersLos Angeles Rams+1.7 ptsPlayoff odds LACLos Angeles Chargers Tampa Bay BuccaneersCincinnati Bengals+3.0 ptsPlayoff odds LARLos Angeles Rams New England PatriotsSeattle Seahawks+6.3 ptsDivision odds MIAMiami Dolphins Arizona CardinalsLos Angeles Chargers+1.0 ptsPlayoff odds MINMinnesota Vikings Carolina PanthersChicago Bears+3.0 ptsPlayoff odds NENew England Patriots Houston TexansBuffalo Bills+10.4 ptsDivision odds NONew Orleans Saints Cincinnati BengalsTampa Bay Buccaneers+4.1 ptsPlayoff odds NYGNew York Giants Arizona CardinalsLos Angeles Chargers+2.1 ptsPlayoff odds NYJNew York Jets Green Bay PackersMinnesota Vikings+1.3 ptsPlayoff odds PHIPhiladelphia Eagles Jacksonville JaguarsCleveland Browns+3.4 ptsPlayoff odds PITPittsburgh Steelers Indianapolis ColtsBaltimore Ravens+4.8 ptsDivision odds SFSan Francisco 49ers Baltimore RavensIndianapolis Colts+2.7 ptsPlayoff odds SEASeattle Seahawks Los Angeles ChargersArizona Cardinals+3.6 ptsPlayoff odds TBTampa Bay Buccaneers Chicago BearsCarolina Panthers+3.7 ptsPlayoff odds TENTennessee Titans Atlanta FalconsPittsburgh Steelers+1.6 ptsPlayoff odds WASWashington Commanders Chicago BearsCarolina Panthers+2.3 ptsPlayoff odds

WEEKLY ARCHIVE

Rooting guides change as the playoff picture changes

Saved weekly checkpoints let fans revisit what helped their team at that point in the season.

Week 1 →Week 2 →Week 3 →Week 4 →Week 5 →Week 6 →

WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT

It measures the impact instead of guessing at rooting interests

For each unplayed Week 1 game, FSN looks at the season simulations where the away team won and the simulations where the home team won. Then it compares what happened to every other team’s playoff path.

The ranking gives playoff qualification the most weight for bubble teams. For strong contenders, division and No. 1 seed leverage becomes more important. Super Bowl paths remain a smaller secondary signal so the guide does not tell a 5–8 team to root for an exotic championship path instead of the result that actually helps it reach January.

Because these are Monte Carlo estimates, very small differences can move from refresh to refresh. FSN explicitly labels those as small or minimal rather than pretending a tenth of a percentage point is destiny.

FAQ

NFL rooting interests, explained

Why isn’t my team’s own game listed?

Because winning your own game is already the strongest direct way to improve your position. This tool answers the harder question: what should you want to happen everywhere else?

Does “+4.7 points” mean the result guarantees my playoff odds rise by exactly 4.7 points?

No. It is the difference between two conditional Monte Carlo branches in the current forecast. It is a useful estimate of leverage, not a guaranteed future update.

Will the rooting guide update after games are played?

Yes. The live guide follows the current unplayed slate. Weekly archive pages preserve the checkpoint from that week so later results do not rewrite what fans were supposed to root for beforehand.