We are just a few days away from the start of the 2026-27 NFL season! Beginning on September 9th, 32 teams will set out to make their Super Bowl dreams a reality. But if we're being honest, every squad has different ceilings that they are capable of reaching. Therefore, we’ve looked at each team to determine what their ideal 2026-27 season would be.
Arizona Cardinals
Carson Beck plays like the QB of the future
With understandably low expectations and an incredibly difficult divisional schedule, the Cards are not going to come close to sniffing the playoffs. Hell, it's even fair to assume that Arizona will finish the year with double-digit losses. However, it would be a great season if the Cardinals started rookie quarterback Carson Beck midway through the year, and he played lights out. That would resolve their quarterback questions and allow them to invest more draft capital into building up the defense and the rest of the offense. If Arizona came out of the 2026-27 season with Carson Beck as their surefire quarterback of the future, it would be a massive success in the desert.
Atlanta Falcons
NFC Championship Game appearance
If we're talking about the best-case scenario for the Atlanta Falcons, I don't think this team is capable of winning the Super Bowl or even the NFC. However, they have the talent and coaching to make it to the NFC Championship Game if all goes well. The three-headed monster of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts Sr. will allow both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa to have a good year. Meanwhile, James Pearce Jr. returns from his suspension and produces a sack-a-game. If the stars align, this squad is more than capable of making a playoff run and being one of the final four teams left in the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens
Win the Super Bowl
The Ravens have been right on the cusp of greatness for a few years now. Since 2023, they are tied with the Seattle Seahawks for the fourth-highest regular-season winning percentage (.647). After parting ways with John Harbaugh, Jesse Minter completely revamps the defense, while the offense continues to perform at a high level. Not only does the culture change propel the Ravens to the Big Game, but they even win the Lombardi Trophy with a strong defense coupled with the one-two punch of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. The conversations surrounding Lamar go from him being a playoff choker to being one of the 10 best quarterbacks of all time.
Buffalo Bills
Win the Super Bowl
Just like the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills have been among the best teams in the NFL recently. In fact, they are tied with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles for the most wins in the NFL since 2023 (36). By making a head coaching change, the offense reaches new heights as Josh Allen has another MVP season. And with Jim Leonhard leading the defense, Buffalo manages to hold playoff opponents to fewer than 20 points per game. It all culminates in the first Super Bowl win in franchise history, as Josh Allen immediately becomes the face of the NFL and the undoubted best player in Buffalo Bills history.
Carolina Panthers
Make an NFC Championship Game appearance, and Bryce Young plays like an MVP
Similar to their NFC South brethren, there’s a limit to how good of a season the Panthers will have. With that in mind, Carolina can definitely win their division and even a couple of playoff games, which would result in an NFC Championship Game berth. This would happen because quarterback Bryce Young finally conquered his demons and started to look like the number-one overall draft pick he was expected to be. By limiting his turnovers and increasing his touchdown output, Young takes the Cats to the NFC Championship Game, which all but guarantees that he would receive a contract extension next off-season.
Chicago Bears
Win the NFC, and Caleb Williams is MVP
Expectations are sky-high in Chicago after a fantastic single-season turnaround. Though the Bears have the weapons and coaching to field one of the best offenses in the NFL, their defense leaves a little something to be desired. However, that unit still plays well enough for Chicago to make it to the Super Bowl. They're able to replicate the takeaways they had last season, while the offense takes another step forward. Meanwhile, Caleb Williams has an ascension similar to Patrick Mahomes, which earns him the league's Most Valuable Player award. His on-field play gets the Bears to the Super Bowl for the first time in 20 years as Williams cements himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL for the next decade.
Cincinnati Bengals
Win the AFC with a much-improved defense
Joe Burrow is able to stay healthy and play in every game as he puts up the gaudy numbers we saw two years ago. No team in the AFC has the defensive prowess to contain the Bengals' offense. Simultaneously, the investments the Bengals made on the defensive side of the ball pay off in a big way. Cincy goes from 30th in points allowed per game (28.9) to the top 12. With the offense continuing to light up the league and a better defense, the Bengals reach the Super Bowl, restoring confidence in the current regime and making Cincinnati an attractive destination for free agents. The strong season also ensures Joe Burrow will remain with the team for many years.
Cleveland Browns
Playoff berth
Of all the best-case scenarios, this is the one that feels the least likely to happen. Still, it's not outside the realm of possibility that the Browns reach the postseason. Deshaun Watson plays much better now that he is unencumbered by injuries, while the defense continues to produce at a high level despite the departure of Myles Garrett. All of the young pieces in Cleveland play to their full potential, giving the Browns a bright future to build around. Though they fall in their first postseason game, a playoff berth signifies a very successful season in The Land. It also creates confidence amongst Browns fans that head coach Todd Monken is the right man for the job long-term.
Dallas Cowboys
Win the NFC
Thanks to the money and draft capital invested on the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys manage to go from last in the league in points allowed per game (30.1) to 16th, which would obviously be a significant improvement. They already have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL and are bringing back basically every single starter from last season. In Brian Schottenheimer's second year, the 'Boys bring it all together and finally advance to the NFC Championship Game, where they win and go on to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Though they lose in the Big Game, Jerry Jones can smile knowing everybody will stop clowning his team for its Super Bowl drought.
Denver Broncos
Win the Super Bowl
I have made my feelings about the 2025-26 Denver Broncos very clear: if quarterback Bo Nix had not broken his ankle, then this team would have won the AFC. Hell, they might have even won the Super Bowl! In all likelihood, Nix will not suffer the same season-ending fate. With a healthy and compotent QB, the Broncos are poised to be one of the best teams in the NFL. They barely lost any key contributors to free agency while also adding another elite playmaking wide receiver in Jaylen Waddle. Assuming their defense can be as effective as it was last season, then the Broncos are good enough to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Detroit Lions
Win the NFC
As I pointed out in my NFC North predictions piece, every team in this division has a fatal flaw that will likely prevent them from winning the Super Bowl. For the Lions, it's their weakness in the secondary and uncertainty at certain spots along the offensive line. Thankfully, though, they are really good at every other position offensively and defensively. The Lions have a top-flight quarterback, running back, wide receiver, left tackle, pass rusher, and linebacker. That level of talent and elite coaching makes Detroit a legitimate threat to win the NFC and make it to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.
Green Bay Packers
Win the NFC
As I just discussed, the Packers have a fatal flaw. In fact, they have not one but two fatal flaws: Green Bay is lacking at the cornerback spot, and it could be without starting running back Josh Jacobs for half the year. However, if Jacobs can play the second half of the season, then Green Bay has the ability to win the NFC. Despite what some media members might tell you, Jordan Love is a good quarterback, and Matt LaFleur is a reputable NFL head coach. If new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon can limit Green Bay's deficiencies on that side of the ball until Micah Parsons returns from injury, then they will be positioned to make a Super Bowl run but fall just a bit short of the ultimate prize.
Houston Texans
Win the Super Bowl
Since the beginning of last year, the Texans have had a Super Bowl-caliber defense; the issues have come on the offensive side of the ball with uninspired play calls and a limited group of skill position players outside of wideout Nico Collins. However, second-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley will be able to find much more success with a top-notch running back tandem and improved offensive line play. That allows quarterback C.J. Stroud to take the next step in his progression and finally emerge as one of the 12 best QBs in the league. Should the defense replicate what it did last season, and the offense can average over 21 points per game, that would be enough for the Texans to win the Super Bowl.
Indianapolis Colts
AFC Championship Game appearance
Indy had to make some difficult financial decisions this off-season, which is why they had to part ways with multiple key players. On the plus side, Daniel Jones should be fully recovered from his torn Achilles tendon, which will allow him to play better than he did in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign. Since the Colts are breaking in so many fresh faces on both sides of the ball, there could be a few missteps, but those new guys will bring a different type of energy and passion to the locker room that has been missing in Indy. The Colts get hot at the end of the season with a favorable schedule and ride that momentum all the way to the AFC Championship Game.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Win the AFC, and Trevor Lawrence wins MVP
Interestingly, the AFC South is one of the few divisions in which each team has differing degrees of best-case scenarios. For the Jaguars, the ultimate 2026-27 season would culminate in a Super Bowl berth, which would be the first in franchise history. In his second year under Liam Coen, Trevor Lawrence shatters all of his personal records by scoring 40+ total touchdowns now that he has the full strength of his receiving corps. Even if the defense fails to record as many takeaways as it did last year, Jacksonville does a better job of getting after opposing quarterbacks. With an improved pass rush and an MVP quarterback, the Jaguars make it all the way to the Big Game.
Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes doesn't miss a beat as KC wins the Super Bowl
Arguably the biggest non-Super Bowl story of last season was Patrick Mahomes suffering the first major injury of his pro career. However, after a long rehab process, he returns to the field and plays as well as he always has. He might not throw 50 touchdowns, but he still has all the tools to once again be recognized as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Plus, the addition of running back Kenneth Walker III opens up the offense much more. On top of that, the young defensive players on the team exceed expectations, allowing the Chiefs to win their fourth Super Bowl in eight years.
Las Vegas Raiders
A playoff berth, OR Fernando Mendoza plays well
The expectations in Las Vegas should be fairly low after what we saw from this team during the preseason. Still, the Raiders completely revamped their roster and have eight new projected starters, which will bring a different kind of energy to Sin City. The Raiders have enough talent at key positions that they could go 9-8 or 10-7, which will likely secure a playoff berth.
Then again, that might not be the best-case scenario for the long-term success of Las Vegas. If Kirk Cousins is playing well and gets the Raiders to the playoffs, then that means Fernando Mendoza probably didn't get any playing time. Considering he was just taken with the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it would be just as good for him to replace Cousins and play well as it would be for the Raiders to make the postseason with Kirk Cousins leading the charge.
Los Angeles Chargers
Win the AFC, and Justin Herbert is named MVP
The Chargers have had a very difficult time replicating their regular season success in the playoffs. But with a new offensive coordinator and healthy Pro Bowl-level starting offensive tackles, Justin Herbert plays with much more poise, allowing him to toss over 40 touchdown passes. Meanwhile, the defense continues to perform at an elite level under new DC Chris O'Leary, making the Bolts one of the most well-rounded teams in the AFC. Not only do the Chargers get over the payoff hump, but they make it to the Super Bowl for the first time in over 30 years.
Los Angeles Rams
Dominate in the playoffs on the way to a convincing Super Bowl win
It was hard to come up with a best-case scenario for this team because the expectation is that they will win the Super Bowl. Hell, if they fail to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, this season will be deemed a failure. So what would the best possible campaign look like in Los Angeles? It would probably be at least 14 wins in the regular season and domination in the playoffs. If the Rams can win every postseason game by double digits, it will just prove that this is undoubtedly the best team in the National Football League.
Miami Dolphins
Win at least seven games, and Malik Willis plays well
Out of all the teams in the AFC, the Dolphins are projected to be the worst. According to bet365, their over/under win total for the season is 3.5, meaning you could make a profit if you bet on the 'Phins to win at least four games this season. With severe limitations on defense and in the wide receiver room, it would be remarkable if Miami could double that and win seven games. More importantly, Malik Willis plays well enough to justify the $67.5 million investment that the franchise made in him. With salary cap restrictions, a new head coach, and a new general manager, this is an obvious rebuild. Still, seven wins would be a roaring success for Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan, especially with one of the weakest rosters in the league.
Minnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray's career resurgence helps them win the NFC
Not much separates the four squads in the NFC North. After all, every team in the division finished last season with at least nine wins. Now that the Vikes have a reliable starting quarterback, they are once again a threat to win the NFC North, which they end up doing! Wide receiver Justin Jefferson returns to All-Pro status, while the defense boasts one of the most dangerous pass rushes in the NFL. Kyler Murray has a career resurgence under Kevin O'Connell and becomes the quarterback of the future, which will help fans forget about the Sam Darnold debacle. As a result, Minnesota makes its first Super Bowl appearance in over 50 years.
New England Patriots
Win the Super Bowl
The Pats were clearly outmatched in Super Bowl LX. Still, this team was good enough to make it to the Big Game with a second-year quarterback and a new head coach. The additions that they made in the off-season have an immediate impact. Wide receiver A.J. Brown greatly outperforms Stefon Diggs, the offensive line is better, and the defense manages to improve with pass rush help and veteran leadership in the secondary. In New England, the fans don't care about regular season performances; they are focused on postseason success. Even if the Bills win the division, that would be inconsequential if the Pats can get their hands on the Lombardi Trophy.
New Orleans Saints
Win the NFC South after Tyler Shough takes that next step
The Saints are one of the most interesting teams in the NFL. They have everything you want in a rebuilding team, including a promising young head coach and quarterback. With another year in Kellen Moore's system, QB Tyler Shough shows that he has what it takes to make it in the NFL by scoring at least 25 total touchdowns and limiting himself to 10 or fewer turnovers. With consistent quarterback play, the offense looks better, which - in turn - leads to improvement on the defense. That will also be the catalyst for enough wins that the Saints end up taking the NFC South divisional crown.
New York Giants
Win the NFC East and a playoff game
A lot of people are high on the Giants, and rightfully so. They have an elite coaching staff, incredibly talented young players, and veterans on both sides of the ball. With improved coaching, quarterback Jaxson Dart plays better and avoids injuries, while the defense and special teams take a huge leap forward. By playing intelligently in all three phases of the game, the Giants win the division for the first time since 2011. Once the playoffs begin, they ride the energy of a home game to a postseason victory, laying the foundation of success in New York for years to come.
New York Jets
Make the playoffs, OR finish with the worst record in the league
The Jets' measures of success are at opposite ends of the spectrum. A good season in New York will either result in a playoff berth or earn Gang Green the number-one overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Maybe Geno Smith looks much better than he did last year now that he gets to play with talented weapons and an elite offensive line. His veteran leadership and understanding of the game make the Jets one of the better offensive teams in the league. Meanwhile, Aaron Glenn gets the most out of the guys he brought in on the defensive side of the ball, and New York's defense returns to 2024-25 form.
The opposite could also be deemed a success. The Jets struggle to get out of the gate and continue to lose games early in the season. They sprinkle in a win here and there but lock up the worst record in the NFL by Week 16. After that, New Yorkers can let their imaginations run wild, deciding who should be the franchise quarterback that they draft.
Philadelphia Eagles
Win the NFC East and the Super Bowl
Even in what would be considered by most Philly natives to be a down year, the Birds still won the NFC East and made it to the playoffs. Now that they have brought in a new offensive coordinator and the O-line is healthy, this team's offense looks much closer to what we saw in 2024 as opposed to 2025. Defensively, they're better as well, with more bodies in the secondary and a former Pro Bowl pass rusher lining up on the defensive line. Since Eagles fans are a fickle bunch, they'll only be satisfied if this group wins the NFC East AND the Super Bowl. There would actually be some fans unhappy if they won Super Bowl LXI as a Wild Card team.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Win the AFC
Steelers fans do not care about their team posting another winning record. Their biggest concern is Pittsburgh securing its first playoff victory since 2017, and they manage to do just that. Aaron Rodgers scores 30 TDs with more offensive weapons. On the other side, the defense stays healthy all year and looks like one of the best groups in the National Football League, thanks in part to the investments the franchise made in the secondary. Their efficient offense coupled with an elite defense helps the Steelers make it all the way to the Super Bowl, where they just don't have the offensive firepower to go toe-to-toe with the best team in the NFC. Even with the loss, this would be a roaring success in the Steel City, especially with a new head coach.
San Francisco 49ers
Win the Super Bowl
The Niners have been in the Super Bowl picture for a while now, but they have not been able to get over the hump, whether it was because of injuries, quarterback play, or something else. This year, though, San Francisco has all of the pieces necessary to end its 31-year Lombardi Trophy drought. The 49ers' elite offensive weapons stay healthy throughout the regular season and the playoffs, which makes them one of the deadliest teams in the league. On top of that, Raheem Morris is the perfect replacement for Robert Saleh, while San Francisco's defensive linemen give the squad a ferocious pass rush. Those two sides of the ball working in conjunction with one another produce a historically great team that wins the Super Bowl.
Seattle Seahawks
Win the Super Bowl
With the additions the Los Angeles Rams have made and the losses the Seahawks suffered in free agency, many fans are discounting just how good Seattle was last season. However, they come back and play as well as they did last year. The defense matches its production from last season, and the offense is able to make up for the loss of running back Kenneth Walker III with Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet. They win at least 11 games and comfortably secure a playoff berth. From there, the Seahawks win some road games before making it back to the Super Bowl, where they become the first back-to-back champions since the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Win the NFC
There are some clear limitations to this team, with young receivers, losses in the secondary, and questionable coaching. However, quarterback Baker Mayfield is able to ignore all the outside noise and have an MVP-caliber season in which he scores 40+ touchdowns. The additions of Rueben Bain Jr., A'Shawn Robinson, and Al-Quadin Muhammad give Tampa a ferocious pass rush, which raises the floor for the rest of the defense. A healthy Baker Mayfield, consistency along the offensive line, and an improved defense help the Buccaneers make it to the Big Game for the first time in the post-Tom Brady era.
Tennessee Titans
Playoff appearance
The Tennessee Titans might have gone through the most change of any franchise in the NFL this off-season. They have new coaches, multiple new starters, and even a brand new uniform! With a great defensive playcaller and a good OC, quarterback Cam Ward looks much better, especially with multiple new offensive weapons. Defensively, this unit sees improvements as well, with at least five new projected starters on that side of the ball and one of the best defensive minds in the NFL leading the team. Whether they make the postseason as a division winner or a wild card team, a playoff berth would be the best possible outcome for the Titans.
Washington Commanders
Win the NFC East and make an NFC Championship Game appearance
Outside of the quarterback position, the Commanders spent most of the off-season overhauling the roster after they signed 15 players to the team. A healthy Jayden Daniels opens up the playbook for offensive coordinator David Blough, while Stefon Diggs and Chig Okonkwo take attention away from wideout Terry McLaurin. An influx of talent across the board makes Washington's defense younger and faster, which allows the team to finish better than 27th in points allowed per game (26.5). Defensive improvements and quarterback consistency help the Commanders win the division and make it to the NFC title game.
