The reality is that only a fraction of the NFL is capable of competing at the highest level each year, and in 2026, there are a couple of squads in particular that set the bar ridiculously high. The Los Angeles Rams constructed a superteam this offseason, and do not forget about the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, who steamrolled their way to a title about six months ago. In order to visualize which franchises have the best chances of winning the Super Bowl this year, let us place all 32 teams in an S-to-F tier list.
Here are the criteria for each category: Below are the six tiers of Super Bowl contenders. The top of the NFC West is stacked with heavyweights. That the Rams and Seahawks will square off twice in the regular season is a treat, and it would be no surprise if, like last year, they met for a third time in the playoffs.
No team had itself a better offseason than the Rams. Trading for Myles Garrett was the biggest move of the summer in the NFL, and they followed up that blockbuster by pulling Aaron Donald out of retirement. With those two up front and fellow offseason acquisitions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in the secondary, this could be the league's best defense.
Plus, the other side of the ball should remain as difficult to stop as any offense in football. Los Angeles has the shortest odds to win the Super Bowl, and it is not close. This team is practically in a tier of its own.
There is one more squad at the front of the pack, though. While the Seahawks have widely been cast aside as the No. 2 team in their division, they are the reigning champions and won two out of three against L.A. last season. The running back group is a question mark, but everything else remains intact on a roster that dominated its way to the Lombardi in February.
Mike Macdonald's defense can stop anyone. Do not be so quick to forget that this was clearly the best team in the league in 2025. Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos Each of these four teams played in at least the divisional round of the 2025 postseason.
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