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 2 · FSN-ROOT-1.0

NFL Week 2 Rooting Guide: Who Should Every Team Root For?

Pick your team for Week 2. 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 2?

Team

WEEK 2 ROOTING INTERESTS

Pittsburgh Steelers fans: here’s who to root for

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

Current playoff odds48.9%8 meaningful outside-game impacts

Huge impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

NONew Orleans Saints @ BALBaltimore Ravens

ROOT FOR New Orleans Saints over Baltimore Ravens

+6.3 pts Division odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If New Orleans Saints wins19.8%Division odds

If Baltimore Ravens wins13.5%Division odds

Playoffs49.4%vs48.7%

Division19.8%vs13.5%

#1 seed3.6%vs2.6%

Reach SB3.6%vs2.5%

Win SB1.6%vs0.9%

High impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

CINCincinnati Bengals @ HOUHouston Texans

ROOT FOR Houston Texans over Cincinnati Bengals

+4.6 pts Division odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Houston Texans wins16.9%Division odds

If Cincinnati Bengals wins12.2%Division odds

Playoffs49.7%vs47.6%

Division16.9%vs12.2%

#1 seed3.3%vs2.1%

Reach SB2.9%vs2.6%

Win SB1.1%vs1.1%

High impact Sun 4:25 PM ET

SEASeattle Seahawks @ ARIArizona Cardinals

ROOT FOR Seattle Seahawks over Arizona Cardinals

+2.7 pts Playoff odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Seattle Seahawks wins49.9%Playoff odds

If Arizona Cardinals wins47.2%Playoff odds

Playoffs49.9%vs47.2%

Division15.4%vs14.9%

#1 seed3.0%vs2.7%

Reach SB2.8%vs2.7%

Win SB1.0%vs1.3%

Meaningful impact small model edge Sun 4:25 PM ET

MIAMiami Dolphins @ SFSan Francisco 49ers

ROOT FOR Miami Dolphins over San Francisco 49ers

+2.1 pts Playoff odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Miami Dolphins wins50.6%Playoff odds

If San Francisco 49ers wins48.5%Playoff odds

Playoffs50.6%vs48.5%

Division15.4%vs15.1%

#1 seed3.3%vs2.7%

Reach SB2.6%vs2.8%

Win SB0.9%vs1.2%

Meaningful impact small model edge Sun 8:20 PM ET

INDIndianapolis Colts @ KCKansas City Chiefs

ROOT FOR Kansas City Chiefs over Indianapolis Colts

+1.8 pts Playoff odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Kansas City Chiefs wins49.6%Playoff odds

If Indianapolis Colts wins47.8%Playoff odds

Playoffs49.6%vs47.8%

Division15.1%vs15.3%

#1 seed2.8%vs3.0%

Reach SB2.7%vs2.9%

Win SB1.1%vs1.1%

Meaningful impact small model edge Sun 1:00 PM ET

GBGreen Bay Packers @ NYJNew York Jets

ROOT FOR Green Bay Packers over New York Jets

+1.6 pts Playoff odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Green Bay Packers wins49.7%Playoff odds

If New York Jets wins48.0%Playoff odds

Playoffs49.7%vs48.0%

Division14.9%vs15.5%

#1 seed3.0%vs2.7%

Reach SB3.1%vs2.4%

Win SB1.3%vs0.9%

Meaningful impact small model edge Sun 1:00 PM ET

PHIPhiladelphia Eagles @ TENTennessee Titans

ROOT FOR Tennessee Titans over Philadelphia Eagles

+1.1 pts Division odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Tennessee Titans wins15.9%Division odds

If Philadelphia Eagles wins14.8%Division odds

Playoffs49.4%vs48.7%

Division15.9%vs14.8%

#1 seed2.6%vs3.0%

Reach SB2.9%vs2.7%

Win SB1.3%vs1.0%

Meaningful impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

CLECleveland Browns @ TBTampa Bay Buccaneers

ROOT FOR Tampa Bay Buccaneers over Cleveland Browns

+2.2 pts Playoff odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Tampa Bay Buccaneers wins49.6%Playoff odds

If Cleveland Browns wins47.5%Playoff odds

Playoffs49.6%vs47.5%

Division14.9%vs15.8%

#1 seed2.8%vs3.1%

Reach SB2.6%vs3.2%

Win SB1.0%vs1.3%

Small edge small model edge Sun 4:25 PM ET

WASWashington Commanders @ DALDallas Cowboys

ROOT FOR Dallas Cowboys over Washington Commanders

+0.6 pts Playoff odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Dallas Cowboys wins49.2%Playoff odds

If Washington Commanders wins48.6%Playoff odds

Playoffs49.2%vs48.6%

Division15.5%vs14.7%

#1 seed2.9%vs2.8%

Reach SB2.6%vs3.0%

Win SB1.2%vs1.0%

Small edge small model edge Sun 1:00 PM ET

MINMinnesota Vikings @ CHIChicago Bears

ROOT FOR Minnesota Vikings over Chicago Bears

+0.5 pts Division odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Minnesota Vikings wins15.5%Division odds

If Chicago Bears wins15.0%Division odds

Playoffs48.9%vs48.9%

Division15.5%vs15.0%

#1 seed2.6%vs3.0%

Reach SB2.7%vs2.8%

Win SB1.3%vs1.0%

Small edge Mon 8:15 PM ET

NYGNew York Giants @ LARLos Angeles Rams

ROOT FOR Los Angeles Rams over New York Giants

+0.9 pts No. 1 seed odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Los Angeles Rams wins3.2%No. 1 seed odds

If New York Giants wins2.3%No. 1 seed odds

Playoffs48.9%vs49.0%

Division15.2%vs15.1%

#1 seed3.2%vs2.3%

Reach SB3.0%vs2.4%

Win SB1.0%vs1.3%

Small edge small model edge Sun 4:05 PM ET

JAXJacksonville Jaguars @ DENDenver Broncos

ROOT FOR Denver Broncos over Jacksonville Jaguars

+1.0 pts Division odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Denver Broncos wins15.8%Division odds

If Jacksonville Jaguars wins14.8%Division odds

Playoffs48.5%vs49.2%

Division15.8%vs14.8%

#1 seed3.7%vs2.3%

Reach SB2.6%vs2.9%

Win SB1.4%vs1.0%

Minimal impact small model edge Sun 4:05 PM ET

LVLas Vegas Raiders @ LACLos Angeles Chargers

ROOT FOR Los Angeles Chargers over Las Vegas Raiders

+0.5 pts Playoff odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Los Angeles Chargers wins49.1%Playoff odds

If Las Vegas Raiders wins48.6%Playoff odds

Playoffs49.1%vs48.6%

Division15.3%vs15.1%

#1 seed3.1%vs2.5%

Reach SB2.9%vs2.7%

Win SB1.2%vs1.1%

Minimal impact small model edge Thu 8:15 PM ET

DETDetroit Lions @ BUFBuffalo Bills

ROOT FOR Buffalo Bills over Detroit Lions

+0.3 pts Playoff odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Buffalo Bills wins49.0%Playoff odds

If Detroit Lions wins48.7%Playoff odds

Playoffs49.0%vs48.7%

Division15.2%vs15.2%

#1 seed2.6%vs3.3%

Reach SB2.9%vs2.5%

Win SB1.2%vs0.9%

Minimal impact small model edge Sun 1:00 PM ET

CARCarolina Panthers @ ATLAtlanta Falcons

ROOT FOR Atlanta Falcons over Carolina Panthers

+0.2 pts Division odds for Pittsburgh Steelers in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Atlanta Falcons wins15.3%Division odds

If Carolina Panthers wins15.1%Division odds

Playoffs48.9%vs48.9%

Division15.3%vs15.1%

#1 seed3.0%vs2.8%

Reach SB2.4%vs3.1%

Win SB1.0%vs1.2%

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

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 2 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.