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Depth over the marathon of a 162-game season helped 12 teams reach the postseason. Now, it’s the stars and standouts who will take center stage. 

Here are the 26 players who will define the 2026 MLB playoffs, whether through their talent, their storylines entering October, their importance to their clubs or all of the above. 

In other words, here are the people we will remember — for better or worse: 

The most valuable all-around player in baseball this season, Crow-Armstrong did it all for the Cubs in a 40-40 season. It was, by fWAR, the best season by a Cubs player since Rogers Hornsby in 1929. He personifies the Cubs, who had the highest OPS and the best defense in the sport this year. They’ll need that defense to mask their pitching concerns. 

He was, without question, the best hitter in baseball this year, leading all qualified players in every slash line category. And he was, without question, the reason the Astros made it to the playoffs, despite an 81-81 record. The worst playoff team in MLB history will go as far as the AL MVP favorite can carry it. 

Even if he won’t be the MVP of his league for the first time since 2022, the baseball world still revolves around him. Will MLB’s modern marvel get back to looking otherworldly? Or will the injuries to his left knee and right biceps continue to make him look like a shell of himself at the plate? More than anything else, Ohtani’s health will have the biggest impact on a potential Dodgers three-peat.

Yes, he throws incredibly hard. Historically so. But Misiorowski, who’s learning how to harness his extraordinary stuff, is more than the novice flamethrower he was a year ago. He cut his walk rate nearly in half from his rookie season while leading all qualified starters in strikeouts, strikeout rate, ERA and WHIP and surrendering the lowest batting average in MLB history, transforming into the best pitcher in baseball while becoming arguably the most important piece to the Brewers’ World Series hopes. 

That Caminero even made the AL MVP conversation a debate speaks to what an exceptional talent he is. On a Tampa Bay team built for contact and speed, he is the exception. Caminero led the Rays with 42 homers — 20 more than the next closest players on the team (Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Díaz each hit 22). The Rays will be relying on Caminero’s power to make a deep run. 

It’s not a coincidence that the Padres had the worst offense in MLB before the break and one of the best in the second half. Tatis didn’t hit his first home run until May 30 and had just three homers through his first 82 games; then he blasted 22 homers over his next 72 games. Meanwhile, after a slow start, the Padres posted the best record in MLB from July 24 through season’s end. The Padres will go as Tatis goes. 

Rotation depth is the biggest concern on Atlanta’s roster entering the postseason. There’s a lot riding on the success of their ace, Sale, who ranked third in MLB in ERA and recorded 200 strikeouts at 37 years old. 

Surprise, surprise: The Dodgers won the sweepstakes for the best pitcher available at the deadline. Was it worth it? That will all depend on how much the reigning back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner helps them over the next month. 

Contreras is right up there with Alvarez as one of the most important hitters in baseball to his team’s success this season. That’s not hyperbole. Contreras finished the year with a 151 wRC+, a tally that ranked third in MLB behind only Alvarez and Crow-Armstrong. The next closest qualified Red Sox hitter was Wilyer Abreu at 112. Needless to say, his health after getting hit by a pitch on the hand a couple weeks ago will be something to monitor.

Harper wasn’t pleased last October when Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski questioned if the two-time MVP would be elite again. He claimed Dombrowski’s comments wouldn’t serve as motivation, but a year later, you have to wonder if those words still stick with him. The Phillies, who had the lowest OPS in the National League in September, need him to be an impact player. 

 It’s not October yet, but Bregman’s face looked more like a Halloween mask after he got hit by a foul ball on Sept. 20.  Despite suffering facial fractures, he was back in the lineup days later. And in the regular season finale, a week after the incident, he went 4-for-4 with two home runs. Bregman was the best hitter in baseball in the season’s second half, and that performance erased any doubts about what he might be able to do going forward. 

He didn’t make the wild-card roster after straining his calf, so he can’t be top 10 on this list. But could he be back for the ALDS if the Yankees advance? And if he is, what version will the Yankees get? They were 41-25 with Judge in the lineup and 52-43 when he wasn’t. Obviously, the health and availability of the three-time MVP will be one of the biggest storylines of the postseason. 

Is there a pitcher in October you trust more with in a must-win game or series? It’ll be fascinating to see how he builds on his postseason reputation after his heroics last October — he pitched back-to-back complete games in Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series, then pitched on consecutive days in Games 6 and 7 of the World Series — earned him World Series MVP honors. 

Schlittler announced his presence on a national stage last October with 12 strikeouts in eight scoreless innings against the Red Sox. A year later, he has proven himself as the best pitcher in the American League as he gets set to face Boston in the postseason once again. He’s the star of a Yankees rotation that will be their key to a deep run. 

Limited again by injury, Acuña had a largely forgettable 2026 season…until late August. Over his final 26 games, Acuña slashed .337/.393/.604 with seven homers and six doubles, looking like a superstar once again. After missing the postseason during Atlanta’s 2021 World Series run and again during the 2024 wild-card series, he might be especially motivated to demonstrate what he can do on the biggest stage. 

Arguably MLB’s biggest All-Star snub, Turang launched 21 homers, knocked in 100 runs and stole 19 bases this season. By fWAR, he was the fifth-most valuable position player in the sport. After a knee issue sapped much of his power in August, he bounced back in September to slash .361/.475/.602 in the season’s final month. While Milwaukee didn’t do much to change their offense after last year’s NLCS disappointment, Turang’s ascension as a star talent is a big reason why this year’s team might be different. 

 He’s the best reliever in baseball, and he pitches on the best bullpen in the sport. The Padres will need Miller and their relief group to be electric, given the concerns in their rotation. 

The Red Sox paid a massive price to make the surprise deal of the deadline, sending three of their top prospects to Baltimore to acquire Rutschman. He’ll need to be a difference-maker for Boston to make that price worth it. After a rough August (.500 OPS), he certainly looked like a player who could swing a game or a series in September (.845).

Is it fair to put Messick, Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana all in one spot? Well, I make the rules here. Messick will get Rookie of the Year consideration and down-ballot Cy Young votes. DeLauter will also likely find himself on some Rookie of the Year ballots. Whatever happens to Cleveland over the next month, their rookies will play a significant role. 

 It’s hard to know what to expect from Jesus Luzardo, who hasn’t made a full start since Sept. 7. Zack Wheeler, meanwhile, started Sunday in the regular season finale, putting his wild-card availability into question. The Phillies’ rotation should be its biggest strength, but that will only be the case if Sánchez looks like the Cy Young contender he was all season. 

King was the lone source of stability in the Padres’ volatile rotation. They’ll need his innings and dependability in the postseason to make sure their elite bullpen doesn’t get overworked. 

The Red Sox scored the fewest runs in MLB in September. If Contreras doesn’t look like himself at the plate after hurting his hand last month, they’ll need someone else to step up. Anthony, who missed nearly four months, had an OPS over 1.000 over his last eight games of the season and has the talent to be that star. 

The most valuable player on the team this year was Miguel Vargas. But the one who could decide how far they go? That might be Murakami, who led the White Sox with 35 homers in 127 games but also had the second-highest strikeout rate among all qualified MLB hitters. The former NPB star personifies Chicago’s all-or-nothing offense. If Murakami and Colson Montgomery launch balls out of Daikin Park, the White Sox could move on. If they struggle to put the ball in play, Chicago’s magical summer won’t continue deep into autumn. 

No Judge in the wild-card series means the Yankees need to find their power elsewhere. Rice, who hit 41 home runs this season, is their best source of it. Will they get the guy who had a .948 OPS in May, a .947 OPS in July and a 1.055 OPS in September? Or the guy who had a .657 OPS in June and a .641 OPS in August? 

The Brewers decided to hold onto Henderson at the deadline rather than include him in a potential Skubal deal. He rewarded them with a 2.22 ERA over 11 second-half starts. Given the uncertainty in the Brewers’ rotation after Misiorowski, Henderson’s success this October will be critical for Milwaukee. 

Tucker was a league-average hitter this season in the first year of a four-year, $240 million contract in Los Angeles. It was mostly a disaster. But he started to look like a difference-maker down the stretch, slashing .333/.406/.667 with five homers over his final 17 games. If he helps the Dodgers three-peat, it will wipe away the stench of his previous six months of mediocrity. 

(Honorable mention) Tyler Mahle, SP, Atlanta Braves: The Braves need a starting pitcher they can trust after Sale. Their options are limited and could be their downfall. Mahle, who had a 1.99 ERA in nine starts after getting traded to Atlanta at the deadline, is their best hope to eat up innings.

Also worth mentioning: Kyle Schwarber (DH, Philadelphia Phillies), Drew Rasmussen (SP, Tampa Bay Rays), Miguel Vargas (3B, Chicago White Sox), Hunter Brown (SP, Houston Astros), Jackson Chourio (OF, Milwaukee Brewers), Payton Tolle (SP, Boston Red Sox), Jackson Merrill (OF, San Diego Padres), Bryan Baker (RP, Tampa Bay Rays), Mookie Betts (SS, Los Angeles Dodgers), Drake Baldwin (C, Atlanta Braves), George Lombard Jr. (SS, New York Yankees), Didier Fuentes (RP, Atlanta Braves), Ethan Salas (C, San Diego Padres)

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South Carolina star pass rusher Dylan Stewart may not return to the field again this season for the Gamecocks.

Since officials missed the incident live, Stewart avoided ejection during Saturday’s loss to Alabama. However, the SEC and South Carolina have since issued a joint one-game suspension after a review confirmed Stewart threw multiple punches at Crimson Tide tight end Josh Ford.

Following the incident, head coach Shane Beamer suspended Stewart indefinitely. While Stewart has not been permanently dismissed from the football program , his return remains unknown at this point.

When asked by reporters about Stewart’s timeline, Beamer declined to say when—or if—the pass rusher would return to the team.

“No, he’s not with the team right now,” Beamer said. “And to answer your question and [as for] Jordan’s question, his role or involvement on this team will be decided going forward by me. But right now, he’s not with the football team this week.”

Stewart is projected as a top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and may have played his final game in a Gamecocks uniform. Across his three seasons with the program, he has put up impressive production, recording 57 tackles, 11 sacks, and six forced fumbles.

While Beamer has had his struggles at South Carolina, landing Stewart was one of the program’s biggest recruiting wins. According to 247Sports, Stewart was a five-star recruit in 2024, ranking among the top 20 prospects nationally and coming in as the No. 2 edge rusher in his class.

Sitting 0-2 in SEC play and 2-2 overall entering Week 5, South Carolina is under mounting pressure. To avoid the hot seat, Beamer’s defining decision may come down to whether he welcomes a player of Stewart’s caliber back.

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The Chicago White Sox got some extra encouragement from a familiar fan before their playoff opener.

Ahead of their AL Wild Card Series game against the Houston Astros, the team announced that a letter from Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and White Sox fan, arrived at Rate Field on Tuesday.

“Earlier today, a letter from Pope Leo XIV arrived at Rate Field. Go White Sox!” the team posted on X.

The letter, addressed to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and dated Sept. 9 from the Vatican, thanks Reinsdorf for a note he sent following the Aug. 11 game at Rate Field. Leo wrote that he was “most grateful for this thoughtful gesture.”

The pope also tied the team to a message about sports from his Feb. 6 letter, “Life in Abundance,” in which he wrote that sport can be “a school of life.” He said he hopes the White Sox “will continue to foster bonds of friendship and solidarity among people.”

“With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the almighty’s abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones,” Leo wrote.

The letter comes days after Leo, asked whether he had a hand in Chicago’s postseason berth, answered “No comment,” adding that “great things happen in Chicago.” Chicago clinched its first playoff appearance since 2021 with a win over the Kansas City Royals on Sept. 24. 

Last month, the White Sox held a Pope Leo-themed cap giveaway and later sent the hat to the pope, who took a picture with it.

Leo became the Pope in May 2025. At the time, there was raging debate among Chicago baseball fans over whether Pope Leo, who’s from Chicago, was a Cubs fan or a White Sox fan. 

After some debate between the north and the south sides of Chicago, a picture surfaced of Pope Leo wearing a White Sox hat at the 2005 World Series, which was the team’s last championship win.

However, the Pope might have brought some luck to both sides of the rivalry as the Cubs also qualified for the postseason in the NL. The last both teams reached the playoffs were in 1906, 2008 and the expanded field in 2020. The 1906 season was the only in which there was a Windy City World Series, with the White Sox beating the Cubs.

The White Sox open game 1 of the AL Wild Card series in Houston against the Astros on Tuesday.

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The Braves and Phillies have become familiar postseason opponents, and they’re set to meet again in the NL wild-card round.

Atlanta enters as a slight favorite, but the odds suggest a close series between the NL East rivals.

Let’s check out the series odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 29, along with what to know about the matchup.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

NL Wild Card: Braves vs. Phillies

   Series Winner

Braves: -310 (bet $10 to win $13.23 total)
Phillies: +240 (bet $10 to win $34 total)

   Correct Score

Braves win 2-0: +210 (bet $10 to win $31 total)
Phillies win 2-1: +225 (bet $10 to win $32.50 total)
Braves win 2-1: +290 (bet $10 to win $39 total)
Phillies win 2-0: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)

   Game 1 — ATL 5, PHI 3

Spread: Braves -1.5 (ATL covers)
Moneyline: Braves -192, Phillies +158 (ATL wins)
O/U: 6.5 (Over hits)

   Game 2 (Sept. 30)

Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+148), Braves +1.5 (-180)
Moneyline: Phillies -121, Braves +100
O/U: 7

Here’s what to know about the Braves-Phillies odds:

Season Series: The Braves won the regular-season series against the Phillies 9-4, outscoring them 66-43 across 13 games. Atlanta swept a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park in April, then took two of three at Truist Park the following week. The teams split four games in Philadelphia in early September before the Braves won two of three in Atlanta to close the head-to-head schedule. Atlanta finished 5-2 in Philadelphia and 4-2 at home.

Game 1: Talk about a hot start to the postseason. In the first playoff game of the year, Atlanta and Philadelphia did not disappoint. After the Braves took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, off an Ozzie Albies RBI triple, J.T. Realmuto returned the favor for Philly, hitting his own triple in the top of the seventh that drove in two runs, giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead. Realmuto was almost the hero of the day, but Austin Riley must have had other thoughts, because he hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the eighth that put the Braves in front for good. Game 2 is set for Wednesday in Atlanta.

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Christian Lundgaard still seems a little surprised that he has ended up at Chip Ganassi Racing.

The 25-year-old driver finished third in the 2026 INDYCAR standings with two victories — victories he earned before he was told in July that he wouldn’t be retained at Arrow McLaren. 

That had to be devastating. 

Christian Lundgaard is out at McLaren but has found a new ride at Ganassi.

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And yet it could easily be argued he is moving up to a better organization at Chip Ganassi Racing, an organization that has won six of the last seven INDYCAR titles.

“It’s still a big question mark to me, and I think it is too many,” Lundgaard said during a virtual news conference on Tuesday. “I choose to look at it in a very different way. I’ve done well and a better opportunity has arose versus what it could have been.

“I think this is a conversation that Chip and I have already had. We’re just looking forward now. It’s not really look back.”

Lundgaard is happy to be looking “forward” not back.

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But it’s hard not to look back because of the bizarre situation. 

Arrow McLaren, with a heavy focus on winning the Indianapolis 500, determined it would do better by adding six-time Scott Dixon and 2026 Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist to the organization.

That meant that Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel were out. 

Now Lundgaard replaces Dixon — who last won a title in 2020 — at Ganassi, where Alex Palou has been the dominant driver in capturing five titles over the last six years (including the last four).

Lundgaard spent three years at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, where he won one race and then the last two at McLaren. He now joins CGR as the driver of the iconic No. 9 with sponsorship from PNC Bank.

“I think I’ve learned so many things in the past five years, on track, off track, matured a lot from when I joined INDYCAR … to now having the experience that I have,” Lundgaard said.

Lundgaard acknowledges that he has big shoes to fill.

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“It’s really [thinking about] just what I’ve done to achieve this in many ways. I wish them the best, but it’s definitely big shoes to fill.”

While it has been nearly three months since Lundgaard found out he would be released, it became clear relatively quickly that he would land at Ganassi. 

But it still didn’t make it easy.

“A lot of long nights, a lot of long race weekends, in all honesty,” Ludngaard said. “Obviously, I found out a couple of hours before the media found out back in [July]. I sort of had an idea midway through the season that that was a possibility, and I tried to just keep my head down.

“I know the media likes to talk about the relationship between the teammates there. For me, it was I need to just keep my head down and do the best that I can. I knew there was an opportunity here, and we made it work.”

One thing’s for sure: It has been a roller coaster of a season for Lundgaard.

“Obviously, I was very disappointed, very confused, and I’m sure I share that opinion with many,” Lundgaard said.

“But as soon as the conversations started, that was when I knew there was a chance, and all I had to do was keep performing on track, and it would all fall into place.”

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Some of the biggest names in INDYCAR — including a past champion — will be making moves after the 2026 season. Here’s the latest.

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It would be hard to tell the story of Major League Baseball without talking about the rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox. 

That rivalry will write another chapter this postseason, with the two teams set to face off in the AL wild-card round. 

Let’s check out the odds for the series at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 29, as well as what to know.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

AL Wild Card: Yankees vs. Red Sox

  Series Winner

Yankees: -135 (bet $10 to win $17.41 total)
Red Sox: +115 (bet $10 to win $21.50 total)

  Correct Score

Yankees win 2-0: +205 (bet $10 to win $30.50 total)
Yankees win 2-1: +235 (bet $10 to win $33.50 total)
Red Sox win 2-1: +290 (bet $10 to win $39 total)
Red Sox win 2-0: +360 (bet $10 to win $46 total)

  Game 1 (Sept. 29)

Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+159), Red Sox +1.5 (-194)
Moneyline: Yankees -140, Red Sox +116
O/U: 6

Here’s what to know about the Yankees-Red Sox odds:

Season Series: The Yankees won the regular-season matchup between the two teams 7-6. Boston was 4-3 at home against New York at home, and New York was 4-2 at home against Boston. However, the Yankees won three of the last four over the Red Sox, including a 16-1 demolition on Aug. 30. 

MLB’s Greatest Rivalry: It doesn’t get much better than Yankees vs. Red Sox, does it? The two teams faced off in the wild-card round just last season, and N.Y. emerged victorious in three games. Prior to that, Boston defeated New York in the AL wild-card game in 2021, and beat the Yanks 3-1 in the AL divisional round back in 2018. The series took a bit of a turn on Tuesday, however, when it was announced that Aaron Judge had been left off the wild-card roster for the Yankees due to a calf injury. He hasn’t played since Sept. 16, and during the regular season, he played only 66 games.

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The four MLB wild-card series are set, with more than a few juggernaut matchups.

Get ready for the MLB postseason with FOX Sports’ wild-card series hub. 

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

AL Wild Card Series

Season Series: Houston went 5-2 against the White Sox in the regular season.

Game 1 Matchup: AJ Blubaugh (HOU) vs. Hagen Smith (CHW)

What To Know: Prior to this season, Chicago had at least 100 losses in each of the last three seasons. They last made the playoffs in 2021, and last won a playoff series in 2005, the same year they last won the World Series. As for the Astros, they have World Series wins in 2017 and 2022 and World Series losses in 2019 and 2021. 

FULL SERIES PRIMER

Everything you need to know ahead of Astros-White Sox.

Season Series: The Yankees went 7-6 against the Red Sox in the regular season.

Game 1 Matchup: Cam Schlittler (NYY) vs. Payton Tolle (BOS)

What To Know: The two teams faced off in the wild-card round just last season, and N.Y. emerged victorious in three games. Prior to that, Boston defeated New York in the AL wild-card game in 2021, and beat the Yanks 3-1 in the AL divisional round back in 2018. 

FULL SERIES PRIMER

The rivalry continues. Everything you need to know about Yankees-Red Sox.

NL Wild Card Series

Season Series: During the regular season, the Cubs went 5-1 against the Padres.

Game 1 Matchup: Michael King (SD) vs. Matthew Boyd (CHI)

What To Know: The Cubs beat the Padres 2-1 in last year’s wild-card round, but that series was played at Wrigley Field. The series now shifts to Petco Park. While Pete Crow-Armstrong has taken the baseball world by storm this summer and is a likely MVP, the Padres have been one of baseball’s hottest teams. San Diego owns MLB’s best record since July 24.

FULL SERIES PRIMER

The Cubs and Padres will meet in the wild card for a second straight season. See the odds.

Wild-Card Series: Atlanta leads 1-0

Game 1: The Braves eked out a 5-3 victory in Game 1 behind a 3-run homer from Austin Riley in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Game 2 Matchup: Cristopher Sanchez (PHI) vs. Tyler Mahle (ATL)

What To Know: The Braves and Phillies know each other well, and their rivalry has carried into October. The Phillies beat the Braves 3-1 in back-to-back division series in 2022 and 2023, and have won all three postseason series between the teams. Atlanta is on the right track in putting an end to that trend, however, taking a 1-0 lead over Philly in their best-of-three wild-card series. 

FULL SERIES PRIMER

Atlanta leads 1-0 in the best-of-three series. See the latest odds.

MLB Odds Stories

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The New England Patriots visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, September 27, 2026 from EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL. New England beat Pittsburgh 20-3 on Sept. 20 and Jacksonville lost at Denver in Week 2.

New England allows a league-best 8 points per game with 6 sacks. Jacksonville allows 15 points per game and carries a plus-2 turnover margin.

Jacksonville converts 45.5 percent of third downs. New England averages 122.5 rushing yards per game.

The Jaguars are 3-point favorites over the Patriots.

Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

How to Watch Patriots vs. Jaguars

• When: Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET
• Where: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
• TV: CBS
• Stream: Paramount+
• Follow Live: FOX Sports

Players To Watch

Facing the league’s stingiest defense through two weeks complicates things for Jacksonville’s passing attack, and most of that weight lands on Lawrence. He has 434 passing yards and 4 touchdown passes on the season, though his Week 2 line told a rougher story: 17 of 29 for 189 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in the loss to Denver. Jacksonville is converting 45.5 percent of its third downs, 10th in the NFL, a number that leans heavily on Lawrence extending drives.

New England has allowed just 8 points per game through two games, the best mark in the league, and that defense will test whether Lawrence can clean up the mistakes from last week’s second half. A steadier outing from him keeps Jacksonville in control of the clock.

Targets are trending up for Thomas even though the production hasn’t caught up yet. He drew 8 looks against Denver on September 20, more than double his Week 1 total, but finished with just 3 catches for 40 yards, the same yardage total he posted in the opener.

New England’s defense has already racked up 6 sacks through two games, a pass rush that could make it harder for Thomas to turn volume into a breakout day. Jacksonville still needs him to produce the chunk plays that have been missing so far.

New England’s passing game needs to find another gear, and Maye sits at the center of that search. He has thrown for 386 yards and 1 touchdown through two games, but 4 interceptions and a 63.1 passer rating tell the fuller story, including a Week 2 line of 208 yards and 1 interception in the 20-3 win over Pittsburgh.

Jacksonville is plus-2 in turnover margin, tied for fifth in the league. Better ball security against that unit would let New England’s passing game finally complement its defense.

Henderson wasted no time making an impact in his season debut on September 20, rushing 16 times for 76 yards and a 39-yard touchdown in the 20-3 win over Pittsburgh. That burst pushed New England’s rushing average to 122.5 yards per game, ninth-best in the league through two weeks.

Jacksonville has allowed 15 points per game so far, and a heavier ground game gives New England another way to shorten the game and rest its own defense. The early burst points to a more balanced offense than the one that opened the season without him.

Patriots vs. Jaguars Odds

Learn more about the New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game and check the full schedule on FOX Sports!

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The Houston Texans visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 27, 2026 from Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN. Both teams are 0-2 after Week 2 losses to Cincinnati and Kansas City respectively.

Houston allows 85.5 rushing yards per game. Indianapolis allows 337.5 passing yards and 530 total yards per game.

Houston has 7 sacks through two weeks. Indianapolis averages 26.5 points per game.

The Texans are 2.5-point favorites over the Colts.

Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

How to Watch Texans vs. Colts

• When: Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET
• Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
• TV: CBS
• Stream: Paramount+
• Follow Live: FOX Sports

Players To Watch

Indianapolis is leaning on the run more than anything else so far, and Taylor is doing the heavy lifting. Through two games he has carried 43 times for 190 yards and 4 touchdowns, adding 7 catches for 63 yards out of the backfield. On September 20 against Kansas City alone, he turned 24 carries into 92 yards and 2 touchdowns while catching 4 passes for 40 yards.

He gets a Houston defense that has held up far better against the run than the pass, allowing just 85.5 rushing yards per game through two weeks. Indianapolis has kept riding that approach through an 0-2 start, and there is no reason for that to change on Sunday.

Stroud has kept producing even as Houston sits at 0-2, throwing for 627 yards, 2 touchdowns and zero interceptions across two games, an average of 313.5 yards per outing. He threw for 353 yards in last week’s loss to Cincinnati after opening the season with 274 against Buffalo, back-to-back 270-plus-yard performances.

That volume lines up well against a Colts defense that has been carved up early, allowing 337.5 passing yards per game. Houston’s offense has had to travel through the air in both losses, and Stroud’s arm is the clearest reason it has stayed competitive.

Houston’s passing game has increasingly funneled through the middle of the field, and Schultz is the one catching the ball there. He leads the Texans with 175 receiving yards on 16 catches through two games, including a 12-catch, 140-yard outing on September 20 against Cincinnati.

Indianapolis has been vulnerable to sustained drives, allowing 530.0 total yards per game, and Schultz’s work underneath figures to test that again. Houston has already shown it will feed him at that volume when the matchup allows it.

Jones has kept Indianapolis competitive through two starts, throwing for 376 yards and 2 touchdowns against 2 interceptions, with the offense averaging 26.5 points per game overall. The record still reads 0-2.

Houston’s front has racked up 7 sacks in two games, yet Jones has been sacked just twice himself, an encouraging sign for his pocket management so far. If he avoids untimely turnovers and finishes the drives this passing game keeps building, the Colts can finally turn one of these leads into a win.

Texans vs. Colts Odds

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The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 27, 2026 from Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA. Cincinnati is 2-0 after a win over Houston and Pittsburgh lost to New England last week.

Cincinnati averages 26.5 points per game and converts 44.8 percent of third downs. Pittsburgh averages 11.5 points with 175 passing yards per game and ranks 31st in third-down conversion.

Cincinnati has 8 sacks and a league-best plus-3 turnover margin. Pittsburgh allows 16.5 points per game with 3 interceptions and averages 74.5 rushing yards per game.

The Bengals are 3.5-point favorites over the Steelers.

Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

How to Watch Bengals vs. Steelers

• When: Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET
• Where: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
• TV: CBS
• Stream: Paramount+
• Follow Live: FOX Sports

Players To Watch

Cincinnati needs its passing game to keep carrying the offense, and Burrow has delivered. He leads the Bengals with 461 yards and three touchdowns through two games, and Cincinnati is averaging 26.5 points while converting 44.8 percent of its third downs.

Pittsburgh’s defense has allowed 16.5 points a game through two weeks, and Burrow gets a chance to keep that pace going on the road against a unit still finding its footing.

Tee Higgins is riding a hot stretch into this matchup. He caught five passes for 95 yards in last week’s win over Houston, and through two games he has eight receptions for 154 yards, a 19.3-yard average per catch.

Pittsburgh’s defense has already picked off three passes this season, so ball security on contested throws will matter for Higgins against that secondary. Cincinnati’s passing game leans on him to win those looks regardless of coverage.

A Cincinnati defense that already has eight sacks this season, tied for the most in the league, is the next test for a Pittsburgh passing attack that has produced next to nothing so far. Rodgers has thrown for 408 yards and one touchdown through two games, but the Steelers are averaging just 11.5 points and 175 passing yards a game, ranking 29th in passing offense and 31st in third-down conversion at 20 percent.

Rodgers has faced pressure early, and finding rhythm behind a shaky Pittsburgh line remains the challenge this week.

Rico Dowdle is ruled out for Sunday with a toe injury from last week’s loss to New England, leaving Warren in line for a bigger workload. Warren is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. He turned 11 carries into 43 yards and added two catches for 34 yards in that game, and Pittsburgh is averaging 74.5 rushing yards a game on 3.4 yards per carry this season. 

Cincinnati protects the ball at a league-best rate, with a plus-3 turnover margin through two games, so avoiding negative plays and controlling the clock will matter for Warren and Pittsburgh’s offense Sunday.

Bengals vs. Steelers Odds

Learn more about the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game and check the full schedule on FOX Sports!

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