The 2025-2026 NFL season has been full of surprises. Teams such as the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars—who failed to make the playoffs last year—are division leaders, while the Chiefs and Bengals have been disappointing. Records, however, are not always indicative of how a team will perform in the playoffs when they face elite competition. Amongst the many teams with good records this year, there are a few that have not proven themselves enough to be serious contenders. That is also not to say that there are teams that stand above the rest in their conferences. One of those standout teams is the Patriots.
As of November 27, the Patriots hold the best record in the league at 11–2, a considerable improvement from last year’s 4–13 finish. Led by quarterback Drake Maye, the frontrunner for NFL MVP, the Patriots have been able to assert themselves as one of the best teams in the league. After investing almost $300 million into players this offseason, the team has transformed into one of the best in the league. With an experienced coaching staff consisting of head coach Mike Vrabel and longtime offensive play-caller Josh McDaniels and a strong defense that ranks fifth in points allowed per game and seventh in yards allowed per game, they appear to be the best team in the American Football Conference (AFC). The recent emergence of rookie running back Treveyon Henderson only adds another layer to their already dynamic offense.
While many will point to other teams in the AFC such as the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, they are not as complete as the Patriots. The Colts started extremely hot, much of which can be attributed to the outstanding year running back Jonathan Taylor has had; however, recent losses to the Steelers and the Chiefs showed that the team might not be capable of beating the best teams in the league. The most significant factor holding the Colts back, however, is quarterback Daniel Jones’ devastating Achilles tendon tear that occurred on December 7 against the Jaguars. Without Jones, a deep playoff run seems hard to imagine.
Although the Broncos have a great coach in Sean Peyton and boast a defense that ranks inside the top 3 of most defensive statistics, their sophomore quarterback, Bo Nix, has had an average year, ranking 13th in yards and 19th in QB rating. The last seven Super Bowl-winning teams have all had two things in common: an established veteran quarterback and an elite playcalling coach on offense. The Broncos lack the former, making it hard for me to view them as a Super Bowl contender. The Broncos have also had very close games with the Giants, Jets and Commanders, three teams that will not make the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams are one of the few teams in the league currently that meet all of the criteria to be a Super Bowl winner. The QB-Coach duo of Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay has already won a Super Bowl before (LVI) and with two elite wide receivers in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, both of whom have caused problems for NFL defenses this year, the Rams could breeze through the playoffs. Not only have the Rams been one of the best offenses this year, but their defense has given up the fewest points per game in the league. Despite a surprising loss to the Carolina Panthers on November 30, the Rams outplayed the Panthers during the game, and there should be no doubt that this is the best team in the league and the favorite to win the Super Bowl.
The Philadelphia Eagles have posted an 8-5 record despite ranking 24th in yards per game and 18th in points per game. Three consecutive embarrassing losses to the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Chargers have exposed offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s uncreative utilization of an offense full of elite talents like Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown. Kevin Patullo, a close friend of head coach Nick Sirianni, was hired this offseason. If Sirianni is not able to put friendship aside and fire Patullo, it is hard to see the Eagles repeating as champions. In 2021, Siriani’s first year as a playcaller, he struggled mightily. The Eagles could hire former Giants coach Brian Daboll as the new Offensive Coordinator, who has coached quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley.
The Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears are in similar situations with outstanding records. Quarterbacks Sam Darnold with the Seattle Seahawks and Caleb Williams with the Chicago Bears have yet to prove themselves as playoff winners. The success of both teams in the playoffs will depend on the ability of each respective quarterback to lead their team.
The Kansas City Chiefs, once a lock to be a favorite to win the Super Bowl, have a high likelihood of missing the playoffs this year. According to Fanduel, an online sports app, the odds of the Chiefs making the playoffs are at -600. A playoff bracket without the dominant combination of head coach Andy Reid and superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes leaves the door open for many different teams to win the Super Bowl this year. Even though the Rams should be considered favorites, this NFL season is very competitive, and every team in the playoffs will have a shot to win Super Bowl LVX.
