From the high-stakes ambition of a Los Angeles Rams super-team to the highly anticipated return of Patrick Mahomes and a sweeping wave of coaching changes across the league, the 2026 NFL season promises to deliver extraordinary drama on the long road to Super Bowl 61 in Los Angeles.
The new campaign gets underway on Wednesday night when the defending champion Seattle Seahawks begin the defense of their crown by taking on the New England Patriots, broadcast live on Sky Sports NFL in the early hours of Thursday. As teams around the league position themselves to dethrone the champions, several compelling storylines dominate the landscape of professional football.
Super Bowl or Bust for the Rams?
The phrase "all in" is frequently overused in the conversation surrounding National Football League roster construction, but rarely has it been as glaringly fitting as it is for the 2026 Los Angeles Rams. Looking to capitalize on their championship window, the franchise executed the biggest move of the offseason by acquiring reigning Defensive Player of the Year and generational pass rusher Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns.
Not stopping there, the Rams also traded for Kansas City Chiefs star cornerback Trent McDuffie, reunited him with free-agent cornerback Jaylen Watson, and welcomed back Aaron Donald. The legendary defensive tackle came out of retirement to forge what projects to be one of the most frightening defensive tandems in NFL history alongside Garrett. Opposing offenses attempting to neutralize that duo will also have to account for an already established young core featuring Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and versatile safety Quentin Lake.
On the other side of the ball, the Rams enter the season led by reigning Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford at quarterback. They feature one of the league’s most dynamic wide receivers in Puka Nacua, boast an elite rushing attack spearheaded by Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, and are fresh off producing the NFL’s most potent offense. Their run last year culminated in a heartbreaking NFC Championship Game defeat against the Seattle Seahawks—a contest widely regarded as more Super Bowl-esque than the actual Super Bowl. They enter the new season as clear favorites for a reason.
A new era in Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens are acutely aware of the need to capitalize on the prime years of their generational quarterback, leading to a seismic shift in leadership this offseason. After 18 seasons at the helm, the franchise parted ways with head coach John Harbaugh, opting for a fresh direction in their ongoing charge for a Super Bowl title. The Ravens turned to former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to help Lamar Jackson push the team over the hump, following a playoff-less campaign that immediately succeeded three Divisional Round exits and an AFC Championship Game appearance over six seasons.
Between Jackson, star running back Derrick Henry, and Doyle’s innovative offensive scheme, the Ravens possess the potential to field one of the league’s most destructive play-action, run-heavy attacks. While lingering questions remain about a receiving corps primarily spearheaded by Zay Flowers, high organizational expectations surround third-round rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane.
A sluggish start and marquee injuries—most notably to Jackson himself—derailed Baltimore’s 2025 campaign, compounded by one of the worst pass defenses in the entire league. Minter, who was instrumental in transforming the Chargers’ defense during his tenure alongside Harbaugh, arrives in Baltimore armed with the defensive personnel necessary to orchestrate an elite unit anchored by all-action safety Kyle Hamilton, a returning Nnamdi Madubuike, and high-profile offseason addition Trey Hendrickson.
Can McDaniel unleash Herbert?
Despite his turbulent departure from Miami, former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel remains universally regarded as one of football’s premier offensive architects. He now brings his schematic expertise to California, where he has been tasked with unlocking the absolute best of Justin Herbert as the new offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Despite boasting a franchise quarterback with a truly elite, blockbuster arm, Herbert has yet to shake the narrative surrounding his lack of a career playoff victory. For all of his physical gifts, Herbert’s modest postseason record remains his chief criticism, but McDaniel’s eccentric offensive wizardry has arrived in Los Angeles specifically to change that narrative.
The Chargers remain a team somewhat defined by conditional questions heading into their AFC West challenge. Success will depend on whether star offensive tackle tandem Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater can rediscover their peak form after combining for just six games due to injury last season, whether running back Omarion Hampton can emerge as a consistent difference-maker, and whether Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston provide enough weaponry on the perimeter. Furthermore, the team will look for first-round pick Akheem Mesidor to make an immediate impact on a slightly understaffed pass rush, while Tuli Tuipulotu, Derwin James, and a 35-year-old Khalil Mack attempt to preserve the elite foundation of last season’s top-10 defense. Herbert remains a physical freak, but this represents his finest opportunity yet to firmly establish himself among the AFC’s perennial contenders.
The post-Patullo Eagles
The 2025 season in Philadelphia was nothing short of bizarre. The Eagles managed to clinch the NFC East division title amidst a storm of locker room tension and frequent offensive struggles while attempting to defend their previous Super Bowl championship. That rocky campaign culminated in a wild-card round defeat to the San Francisco 49ers and the eventual departure of wantaway wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown appeared to grow increasingly distant from quarterback Jalen Hurts while openly criticizing Kevin Patullo’s play-calling within an offense that slumped to 24th in total yards.
Patullo was relieved of his duties as offensive coordinator this offseason and replaced by former Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion. Mannion will now turn to DeVonta Smith as his primary passing threat, alongside a new supporting cast featuring Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, and rookie Makai Lemon as the Eagles adapt to life without Brown.
Although legendary offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland retired this offseason, he leaves behind a unit that remains among the league’s most accomplished upfront. Operating behind that line is Saquon Barkley, whose explosive running style should thrive in Mannion’s outside zone scheme as the star running back looks to bounce back from a perceived down year. Defensively, Vic Fangio continues to pull the strings for a talent-rich personnel group, leaving virtually zero concerns on that side of the ball. All eyes in Philadelphia will now focus on the developing partnership between Hurts and Mannion.
Which Mahomes do we get back?
For the first time since 2014, the Kansas City Chiefs missed the postseason. Following a remarkable era that featured seven straight AFC Championship games and five Super Bowl appearances in six campaigns—three of which ended in victories—the Chiefs’ run of dominance hit a major speed bump. It also marked the first time since 2015 that the franchise failed to capture the AFC West title, slumping to a third-place finish with a 6-11 record as offensive frailties finally caught up with them. To compound their misery, quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn ACL and LCL in December, requiring immediate surgery. Now he is back—but the lingering questions persist regarding his mobility and whether the Chiefs as a whole have reclaimed their dominant form.
Andy Reid’s dynasty found itself in unfamiliar territory on the periphery of contention. Mahomes endured his worst statistical campaign as a professional, and a once high-powered offense finally fizzled out, having been propped up for too long by Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Few would argue that Mahomes is no longer the premier quarterback in the NFL, but the Chiefs must wait to see how quickly he can regain his dynamic, out-of-structure playmaking ability following his rigorous recovery.
Travis Kelce no longer serves as the defining focal point of Reid’s playbook at age 36, while Rashee Rice enters a crucial "prove it" year as Mahomes’ primary receiver after appearing in just eight games in 2025. To ease their quarterback’s return, the Chiefs added Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III to inject a vital new dimension into an otherwise uninspiring backfield. Additionally, Matt Nagy was replaced by returning offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, a wildly popular figure from the franchise’s past championship runs. Even with these adjustments, the enduring trio of Mahomes, Reid, and Spagnuolo remains a formidable force, though Sean Payton’s rising Denver Broncos will not relinquish control of the AFC West without a fierce fight.
Cincinnati’s ‘this-is-it’ year
Joe Burrow insists he is entirely finished waiting. The star quarterback has made it clear that he is tired of kicking Cincinnati’s Super Bowl aspirations down the road and tired of uttering phrases about next year; for him, the time is now to return to the ultimate stage and capture a Lombardi Trophy. Confidence has never been in short supply for Burrow, but a combination of unfortunate injuries—including to Burrow himself—and occasional roster imbalances have prevented the Bengals from breaking through since they fell just short against the Rams in Super Bowl LVI.
The Bengals have now missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, an astonishing drought considering that Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins comprise one of the most explosive aerial attacks in football history. An organizational shift toward more play-action and under-center concepts represents a fascinating and long-awaited evolution for an offense that critics argued had grown stale under head coach Zac Taylor. In reality, the Bengals’ struggles have rarely stemmed from offensive deficiencies; rather, their championship pursuits have consistently been undermined by defensive shortcomings. Addressing this, the franchise recently traded a first-round pick for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and acquired edge rusher Boye Mafe, leaving fans to wonder if these moves will finally bridge the gap.
Super Bowl slump or surge?
"Run it forward" was the rallying cry issued by Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald this offseason as the team prepares to defend the Super Bowl crown they captured following a dominant victory over the New England Patriots in February. Based on their current roster construction, there is no logical reason they cannot plot a successful return to the game’s ultimate stage.
While Kenneth Walker’s departure introduces some fresh uncertainty into the backfield, the Seahawks retain a remarkably complete roster overflowing with playmakers, overseen by arguably the finest defensive mastermind in the professional game. Quarterback Sam Darnold is coming off a campaign in which he performed at a top-10 level, comprehensively silencing his remaining critics by feeding star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on his way to a league-leading 1,793 receiving yards.
Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde engineered a defense that ranked first in expected points added (EPA) per drive and first in points allowed, showing virtually no signs of regression. Aside from the backfield transition involving Walker and rookie running back Jadarian Price, the most notable change for Seattle occurs on the sidelines, where Brian Fleury takes over play-calling duties for the first time following offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s departure to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Nevertheless, another deep playoff run remains a distinct possibility.
In New England, the outlook is slightly more tempered as the organization braces for potential regression following a season that saw them accelerate their timeline by reaching the Super Bowl ahead of schedule. That run ended in a humbling defeat to a vastly superior Seahawks team, but that outcome should not overshadow the emergence of Drake Maye as a definitive long-term solution to the Patriots’ historical quarterback woes. Maye reaped the rewards of being the most aggressively minded passer in the league, and the Patriots reinforced their perimeter depth this offseason by welcoming A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.
With TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson capable of anchoring one of the league’s top running games, and Christian Gonzalez serving as an elite cornerstone on a defense that ranked eighth in yards and fourth in points allowed, the Patriots possess plenty of talent. However, legitimate concerns remain in the trenches regarding a lack of star quality in the pass rush and an offensive line that surrendered 47 sacks a season ago.
Is this finally Allen’s time?
The profound impact of the Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid era is perhaps best illustrated by the sheer urgency it has bred across the rest of the AFC. The ripple effects of Kansas City’s dominance contributed to the Buffalo Bills dismissing Sean McDermott, the Baltimore Ravens parting ways with John Harbaugh, and Joe Burrow issuing urgent demands for the Cincinnati Bengals. While Kansas City did not directly eliminate all of them last season, their sustained dynastic supremacy has prolonged the championship agony of numerous franchises, most notably Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
Much like Jackson in Baltimore, the Bills carry a clear organizational responsibility to maximize the prime of their transcendent quarterback, who has kept them perpetually knocking on the Super Bowl door. Buffalo is currently nursing the fresh wounds of another playoff heartbreak following an overtime loss to the Broncos in the divisional round—marking their fourth exit at that stage in the last five years and ultimately triggering the end of McDermott’s tenure. Joe Brady was subsequently promoted to head coach, while Jim Leonhard was brought in as the new defensive coordinator in a renewed bid to clear the final hurdle.
As long as Allen remains healthy and on the field, the Bills will perpetually loom as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. A compelling argument can be made that he is the league’s ultimate X-factor, given his unique ability to carry an entire roster on his back while accumulating more total touchdowns than any quarterback since entering the league in 2018. Bolstered by last season’s leading rusher, James Cook, the Bills’ offense consistently hovers near the top of league rankings. The offseason brought marquee wide receiver D.J. Moore into the fold, while a revamped defense introduces Bradley Chubb and C.J. Gardner-Johnson following the departures of notable veterans like Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa, Matt Milano, and Tre’Davious White.
Coen and Johnson: The Sequel
Liam Coen and Ben Johnson both served loud notice to the rest of the league during impressive maiden campaigns as head coaches of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears, respectively. Each coach punched a ticket to the postseason and found immediate success with their respective number-one overall draft pick quarterbacks. The burning question now is whether they can take the next decisive step forward.
Trevor Lawrence delivered the most clinical and commanding season of his professional career by a wide margin, throwing for 4,007 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while adding nine rushing scores to lead the Jaguars to the wild-card round before falling to Buffalo. That success was fueled by an eight-game winning streak to close the regular season as Jacksonville’s offense took flight under an aggressive scheme that ranked fifth in EPA per play. The primary question mark now rests in a backfield that lost its primary rushing threat, Travis Etienne, leaving a new-look committee led by Bhayshul Tuten.
In Chicago, Ben Johnson fully lived up to his billing as one of the most innovative offensive minds in modern football, securing 11 victories in his debut season and guiding the Bears to the divisional round of the playoffs. Johnson installed one of the league’s most dynamic rushing schemes and proved to be the ideal mentor for Caleb Williams, successfully cutting down on negative plays while leaning into the quarterback’s natural penchant for spectacular execution. While minor accuracy inconsistencies remain under the microscope, the foundation of a formidable coach-quarterback tandem is firmly in place, though Chicago’s most pressing concern remains a lack of consistent pass-rush threats.
Will the Cowboys and Texans make elite units count?
Only the Los Angeles Rams boasted a more productive offense than the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. The aerial trio of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens was expertly complemented by a long-awaited resurgence in the running game, largely driven by Javonte Williams.
However, the stunning offseason decision to trade away Micah Parsons preceded a defensive collapse that saw the Cowboys rank third-worst in total yards allowed, dead last against the pass, and last in points allowed. Addressing this vulnerability became the absolute focal point of their offseason, leading to the hiring of Christian Parker as defensive coordinator, a trade for former Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Rashan Gary, and the selection of safety Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick. Even a middle-of-the-pack defense would instantly vault this team into true championship contention, especially with Prescott performing at an MVP level and the Lamb-Pickens receiving tandem ranking among the most terrifying in football.
Conversely, DeMeco Ryans’ Houston Texans defense tormented opponents across the league, finishing as the number-one unit in yards allowed while ranking second in scoring and EPA per play. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter were virtually unblockable off the edge, while Derek Stingley solidified his status as a premier shutdown cornerback at the heart of a suffocating, hard-nosed defense that carried the Texans to the divisional round.
Attention in Houston now shifts to C.J. Stroud amidst ongoing contract negotiations. The young quarterback threw four interceptions in their postseason loss to New England, having not quite built upon the massive statistical leaps anticipated after his sensational rookie campaign. The offensive line remained a glaring weakness, prompting general manager Nick Caserio to aggressively reinforce pass protection by acquiring Wyatt Teller, Braden Smith, and drafting rookie Keylan Rutledge in the first round. Caserio also traded for running back David Montgomery to inject life into an offense that finished 26th in total yards and 22nd in rushing last season.
Murray in Minnesota
In an alternate professional timeline, Kyler Murray might universally be celebrated as one of the defining dual-threat marvels of modern football, possessing the arm talent and rushing acceleration capable of total defensive devastation. Instead, his tenure since signing a lucrative contract extension featuring a widely scrutinized independent study clause in Arizona has largely been a frustrating slog characterized by unrealized potential. He enters the 2026 season carrying the distinction of being arguably the most high-profile resurrection candidate in the sport.
Murray turned the page on that difficult chapter by signing with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, aligning himself with head coach Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell has built a strong reputation as a quarterback whisperer, most visibly demonstrated by his role in orchestrating Sam Darnold’s career revival.
Murray has swiftly supplanted J.J. McCarthy as the team’s starting quarterback and will now command an offense featuring the undisputed best receiver in the NFL in Justin Jefferson, alongside a tremendously talented supporting cast of Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and T.J. Hockenson.
Murray represents one of the most intriguing tactical case studies of the year as he attempts to revitalize his career surrounded by the most gifted collection of offensive weapons and coaching minds he has experienced since being selected with the first overall pick in 2019. That supporting infrastructure also features defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who continues to deploy one of football’s most inventive, high-octane, blitz-heavy schemes.
Watch the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including every London game, Thanksgiving action, and every minute of the playoffs on the road to Super Bowl 61 in Los Angeles.