The Main Contenders Heading into the 2026 NFL Season

The 2026 NFL season is fast approaching, with social media beginning to light up as fans get into the mood for a new campaign. The Kick-Off Game, which will see the Seahawks and Patriots open up the season in a Super Bowl rematch, will get underway on September 9, so it’s really not that long for fans to wait. 

Of course, between now and then, we still have the matter of the preseason games, which should give us a good idea of teams’ preparedness and how new additions to rosters are bedding in. But while it might be a bit too early to make assumptions, we can make a fist of listing some of the teams considered the top contenders for Super Bowl LXI next February. 

Things can go awry, of course, and it’s worth remembering that a lot of last season’s early favorites struggled. But these six teams are looking like they could be in the mix over the coming months:

LA Rams 
The clear favorite for Super Bowl LXI according to DraftKings NFL betting. The Rams, who lost out to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game last season, were aggressive in the offseason, bringing in Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett. In short, the Rams have strengthened from a position of strength, so you can appreciate why many pundits believe they are the team to beat. 

Buffalo Bills
Here we go again: Another season, another journey for the long-suffering Bills fans. Everyone knows that they are a very good team, and that they have the weaponry, including Josh Allen, to go and claim the Super Bowl. The problem is that they have to prove it, and that’s altogether different. There is a sense among fans that this is their time to deliver, but they might lose patience if they can’t get over the line. 

Baltimore Ravens
An interesting one. The Ravens have some continuity, building an offense around Lamar Jackson. But this is a season of change, being the first campaign since 2008 that the team will not be led by head coach John Harbaugh. The task is now in the hands of Jesse Minter, who will be taking his first NFL head coaching role. It is a big task in front of him, and you get the feeling that Minter will have to hit the ground running. 

Seattle Seahawks
It’s a bit of a weird situation with the Seahawks, as you get the sense that they are being slightly underrated, despite being the current Super Bowl champions. Head coach Mike McDonald will probably like that, keeping his players grounded as he tries to mastermind a repeat. 

Kansas City Chiefs
Arguably, the Chiefs are the most intriguing team to keep an eye on in 2026. They were pretty turgid last season, as fans had to watch the wheels come off after years of dominance. Patrick Mahomes’ rehab will be one of the most worrying issues for fans. It just remains to be seen whether last season was a blip or a sign of a deeper decline. If Mahomes is fit, many will lean toward the former. 

New England Patriots
Like the Seahawks, there seems to be a sense of the Patriots being underrated. Mike Vrabel will enjoy the chance to prove that last season’s (surprise) visit to the Super Bowl was no fluke. Recruitment has been smart and steady, and there is no reason to doubt that the Patriots won’t be in the Playoffs again. Once there, who knows what will happen?