Updated August 25, 2026
The preseason always invites a dangerous amount of confidence. Rosters look complete, training-camp stars appear destined for Canton, and every new coordinator supposedly holds the answer. With Week 1 approaching, here is a snapshot of all 32 NFL teams as they stand in August 2026.
1. Seattle Seahawks
The defending champions return much of the lineup that carried them through the NFC, but the backfield will look different without Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who was allowed to leave for Kansas City. Zach Charbonnet’s recovery places additional pressure on Seattle’s younger runners. Mike Macdonald’s defense should remain the foundation, even after losing several contributors from one of the league’s deepest units.
But the champs are the champs! Until they are beaten, they will be No. 1 in this poll!
2. Denver Broncos
Last season’s 14-win breakthrough established Denver as a genuine contender rather than an intriguing young team. Bo Nix is back after the injury that ended his postseason, while Jaylen Waddle gives the passing game another explosive dimension. Sean Payton has continuity, defensive talent and considerable expectations as the Broncos try to finish the job they started in 2025.
The team many considered the NFL’s most complete had its Super Bowl dreams stolen when Sean Payton announced after the divisional game against Buffalo that Bo Nix would miss the rest of the playoffs.
The Broncos are the second-best team until they lose a game!
3. Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford enters the season as the reigning MVP, and the Rams have surrounded him with a roster built to win immediately. Adding Myles Garrett to an already imposing defense was the kind of aggressive move that has defined Les Snead’s tenure. With the Super Bowl returning to SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles has every reason to think this can become a storybook season.
With whispers of Aaron Donald lurking in the background, the Rams are seen as the Super Bowl favorite. But in this poll, they are third and can’t improve until Seattle or Denver loses a game.
4. New England Patriots
Drake Maye’s emergence powered New England to an unexpected AFC championship, but repeating that journey will require overcoming significant roster turnover. A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs give Maye a more dangerous receiving group, while Alijah Vera-Tucker and rookie Caleb Lomu strengthen his protection. The rebuilt defense must prove last season’s success was the beginning of something sustainable.
New England would have been higher except for the trade of Kayshon Boutte, who could be the NFL’s WR1 in 2029. However, A.J. Brown’s chances of winning OPOY have increased with Boutte’s move to Texas.
5. Buffalo Bills
Joe Brady’s promotion maintains offensive continuity while introducing a new voice at the top of the organization. Josh Allen, James Cook and newcomer DJ Moore give Buffalo enough firepower to challenge any defense. The greater uncertainty sits on the other side of the ball, where the Bills must produce enough stops to finally turn another promising season into a Super Bowl appearance.
Is this the season Josh Allen breaks through? Or will his team let him down again for the umpteenth time? As of right now, Buffalo’s road seems tenuous because this poll has the Bills losing the division.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
Liam Coen’s first season gave Jacksonville an offensive identity and helped Trevor Lawrence produce some of his most encouraging football as a professional. The Jaguars resisted the temptation to overhaul a roster that was already trending upward. If last year’s late-season explosion becomes the weekly standard, Jacksonville could develop into one of the AFC’s most entertaining teams.
Will Travis Hunter help this team in 2026, or did the Jaguars blow TWO first-round picks on a player who is more of a cheerleader than a two-way star?
7. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore begins a new era under Jesse Minter without changing the centerpiece of its identity. Lamar Jackson still makes the offense uniquely difficult to defend, and Trey Hendrickson supplies the proven edge pressure the defense badly needed. The remodeled interior offensive line could determine whether the Ravens immediately rebound from their disappointing 2025 season.
Minter should improve the defense, but Jackson needs to play at an MVP level for Baltimore to compete in the loaded AFC this season.
8. San Francisco 49ers
The annual battle between San Francisco’s talent and its injury report has already resumed. Ricky Pearsall is out for the season, George Kittle is recovering from a torn Achilles, and several other receivers have missed time. Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy can still manufacture an effective offense, but the 49ers need enough healthy targets to survive the NFC’s most punishing division.
While 49ers players keep dropping as if they’re being electrocuted by the neighboring substation, it’s hard to count out San Francisco’s never-say-die attitude in football’s toughest division.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati finally treated its defense like the urgent problem it had become, providing Joe Burrow with a better chance to win games without needing to dominate every possession. The offense remains capable of overwhelming opponents when Burrow is healthy. That familiar qualification continues to hang over the Bengals, whose ceiling is enormous but whose margin for another lost season has disappeared.
Everybody is going to be angry about Cincinnati’s place on this list, but Joe Burrow is an S-tier quarterback. He just needs his line to stop getting him killed.
10. Chicago Bears
The second season of the Caleb Williams-Ben Johnson partnership arrives with championship expectations in Chicago. Losing DJ Moore increased the responsibility placed on Luther Burden III, whose preseason groin injury complicates the receiving picture. Injuries throughout the secondary are another early concern, although the roster still contains enough young talent to build on last season’s dramatic rise.
Maybe the Bears are too high, and maybe they are too low. But count me in on the hype that they could become the highest-scoring team of all time. I doubt it, though.
11. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay enters the season attempting to turn recurring playoff qualification into a deeper postseason run. Jordan Love still leads a talented offense, but questions surround Josh Jacobs and a backfield that lacks proven depth behind him. The defense’s potential depends heavily on healthy returns from Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt after Rashan Gary’s departure created another major adjustment up front.
The Packers are awesome year after year but keep failing to put it all together. They are boring to watch, yet they keep winning until the playoffs.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas attacked its defensive weaknesses with unusual decisiveness, acquiring Rashan Gary and Dee Winters while adding Jalen Thompson, Cobie Durant and a defense-heavy draft class. Rookie safety Caleb Downs could become an immediate difference-maker. If Christian Parker can mold those additions into a cohesive unit, the Cowboys will finally have a defense capable of complementing their explosive offense.
Putting the Cowboys over the Eagles will make me hide my location. The death threats will start, and the insults will pour in. I have an egg-catcher ready at my house, and you can find me at 1300 S. 11th Street.
13. Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia spent the offseason trying to restore stability after its uneven finish to 2025. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion inherits an attack that must adjust to life without A.J. Brown, but Jalen Hurts and the offensive line still provide a substantial foundation. The defense remains deep enough to survive early injuries to Greenard and keep the Eagles in the NFC East race.
The defense is good enough to be Super Bowl-bound with Jalyx Hunt ready to breakout in 2026, but with Jalen Hurts, who may be in his final season at quarterback in Philly, we aren’t sure the Eagles’ offense could score a passing touchdown against Central High School in the upcoming homecoming game on Thanksgiving Day!
Go Lancers!
14. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes’ return to full practice is the most important development of Kansas City’s summer. The Chiefs are counting on a rebuilt secondary and hoping L’Jarius Sneed can recapture his previous form alongside rookie Mansoor Delane. Questions remain at receiver, especially with Xavier Worthy managing another shoulder issue, but dismissing a healthy Mahomes remains one of football’s least intelligent gambles.
Never, never bet against Patrick Mahomes—except when the Broncos are in the division and playing great.
15. Houston Texans
Houston’s defense is strong enough to carry the team into January, but C.J. Stroud and the offense must become more dependable once they get there. David Montgomery should bring stability to the running game, while Wyatt Teller, Braden Smith and rookie Keylan Rutledge headline an extensively renovated offensive line. A healthier group of pass catchers would make the Texans genuinely formidable.
Kayshon Boutte is on the way, a potential NFL WR1 in 2029. Now the question is whether Stroud can rediscover his rookie-year form or is permanently broken.
16. Detroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs’ extension keeps one of football’s most dynamic playmakers in Detroit for the long haul. The immediate concern is an offensive line that lost some of its former certainty and is already dealing with another injury to center Cade Mays. Dan Campbell’s formula remains effective, but it depends upon the Lions controlling the line of scrimmage more consistently than they did last season.
The Lions were easily the best team that missed the playoffs in 2025. They could win the division, earn the No. 1 seed or become the final team left out of the playoffs once again.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
Mike McDaniel’s arrival as offensive coordinator gives Jim Harbaugh an inventive partner with whom to reshape the Chargers’ attack. Omarion Hampton, Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell offer distinct options in a potentially devastating running game, while Justin Herbert remains capable of punishing defenses through the air. The offensive line’s health will determine whether all those attractive pieces can function together.
Will Herbert ever win a playoff game or the division? The 2026 season is a crossroads for his legacy—but not for his league-wide fandom—and his job is safer than that of a union worker who shows up every day.
18. Minnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray appears to have won the opportunity to solve Minnesota’s longstanding uncertainty at quarterback. Pairing his mobility and arm talent with Justin Jefferson creates immediate possibilities for Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Brian Flores should again generate pressure through disguise and aggression, but the defense may need to outperform its individual talent in an extremely competitive NFC North.
The Vikings are another NFC North team that could earn the No. 1 seed or miss the playoffs, as they did in 2025. Unlike the Lions, the Vikings weren’t the best team to miss the playoffs, but they may have been the best team without a quarterback.
19. Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones was playing some of his best football before an injury derailed Indianapolis’ promising 2025 season. He returns behind a reliable offensive line with Jonathan Taylor’s contract situation resolved, giving the Colts a clear formula on offense. Michael Pittman Jr.’s departure leaves the passing game short on established targets, however, and could make the unit overly dependent on its running back.
Can Indy find its winning ways again in 2026? The Colts haven’t reached the playoffs in years, even though they looked like a lock early in 2025. Then Daniel Jones broke down, Sauce Gardner was lost and Taylor became stuck in second gear.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike McCarthy’s first season in Pittsburgh will also serve as Aaron Rodgers’ final NFL campaign. Michael Pittman Jr. provides Rodgers with a dependable target, and the Steelers have enough talent up front to lean on the running game. Whether the new coaching staff can modernize the offense without sacrificing the franchise’s defensive identity will define this unusual transition year.
Poor Pittsburgh. For years, the Steelers have been the worst team that refuses to tank. They have no upside, and they are boring to watch, but now, with McCarthy and Rodgers united, they could become the dumpster fire they should have been for years.
Will their rookie quarterback play this season? Will they tank for the 2027 draft? Or are they going to win seven to 10 games and just sign Jalen Hurts or Baker Mayfield in 2027?
21. New Orleans Saints
Tyler Shough enters his second season with a firm hold on the starting job after finishing 2025 with genuine momentum. That clarity should help Kellen Moore expand an offense that showed flashes during his debut season as head coach. Losing Bryan Bresee for the year hurts a defensive front that was already thin, particularly with veteran Cam Jordan managing another injury.
The best team that sucked last year had to be the Saints. After losing every game for most of the season, they became the team nobody wanted to play, with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough—old enough to collect Social Security—taking the snaps.
22. Carolina Panthers
Carolina’s reward for winning the NFC South is the expectation that it can do so again, although injuries have complicated that mission. Nic Scourton and Chris Brazzell II are already lost for the season, while Taylor Moton and Ikem Ekwonu face uncertain recovery timelines. The additions of Monroe Freeling and Rasheed Walker could prove essential to keeping the offense functional.
After winning the NFC South, you would expect Carolina to be the favorite. But since the Saints were considered the division’s best team at the end of the season, the Panthers will be disrespectfully placed behind New Orleans.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield begins the season with something to prove after his contract expectations went unmet. The departures of Mike Evans and Lavonte David removed two pillars of the franchise, while Vita Vea’s trade request added another distraction. Tampa Bay still has enough talent to compete in an open NFC South, but Todd Bowles must prevent an uneasy summer from defining the locker room.
What in the world is TB doing with Baker Mayfield? TB (Tampa Bay) has to be the most dysfunctional organization since TB (Tom Brady) retired, but can TB (Todd Bowles) keep his job and remain competitive in TB (Tampa Bay)? How many fucking TBs does TB have?!
24. New York Giants
John Harbaugh inherits a young offensive core led by Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers. Isaiah Likely could become an important middle-of-the-field target in Matt Nagy’s system, provided the rest of the receiving rotation takes shape. The Giants should be more organized and competitive than last year’s four-win team, although major questions remain on both sides of the ball.
The Giants may be sneaky good and compete for a wild-card berth, but for now, we are slotting them at their floor for this season.
25. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta’s roster contains appealing talent but no comfortable answer at quarterback. Michael Penix Jr. is returning from another ACL repair, Tua Tagovailoa has dealt with back trouble, and late addition Cooper Rush provides insurance rather than a long-term solution. Kevin Stefanski’s first season could depend upon keeping one of those quarterbacks healthy enough to unlock Bijan Robinson and the rest of the offense.
If Atlanta can get competent quarterback play from either Tua or Penix Jr., it will climb the charts. History suggests otherwise, though, and Matt Ryan may soon be drafting another quarterback in hopes of finding the long-term replacement the Falcons have lacked since trading him to Indianapolis.
26. Washington Commanders
Washington’s season rests heavily on Jayden Daniels returning to full strength and avoiding another extended absence. Stefon Diggs gives him an accomplished veteran target, but Laremy Tunsil’s torn triceps creates a serious problem at left tackle. Dan Quinn also needs dramatic improvement from a reconstructed defense that finished last in the league in yards allowed during 2025.
Is this team any good? Most people have Washington in the bottom 10, and the Commanders might stop at four wins out of respect for Jayden Daniels. We’re giving them five—because this poll has no respect.
27. Las Vegas Raiders
Klint Kubiak has a sensible quarterback plan, with Kirk Cousins available to run the offense while first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza develops. Brock Bowers remains the most dangerous player in a thin receiving group, making his health especially important. A rebuilt offensive line and an overhauled linebacking corps could produce progress, but so many new pieces will require patience.
Las Vegas is a logical trade partner for the Eagles if Philadelphia decides to move up in the draft for a quarterback. Eagles fans everywhere will hope the Raiders lose most of their games, while Mendoza and Cousins may have other plans.
28. New York Jets
Geno Smith has brought some badly needed energy to an offense that struggled throughout the closing months of last season. His early success in camp is encouraging, although it has also raised questions about an injury-hit defense. Aaron Glenn may need to rely on the offense more than anticipated, especially while rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq and several defensive contributors work their way back.
Most people predict the Jets will be a bottom-three team, but we think Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith may produce enough magic to make them only a bottom-five team in 2026.
29. Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward has a much healthier environment for his second NFL season. Brian Daboll is directing the offense, first-round receiver Carnell Tate has supplied an immediate vertical threat, and Wan’Dale Robinson adds a dependable option underneath. Robert Saleh is also installing a more aggressive defensive personality, giving Tennessee a coherent direction after the instability that overwhelmed Ward’s rookie campaign.
I had the Titans much higher on this list. After seeing Cam Ward in the preseason, however, I wonder whether they will move on from him after this season and pursue the first overall pick.
30. Miami Dolphins
Miami committed to a broad rebuild by moving Jaylen Waddle and several other established contributors. Malik Willis now receives his first full opportunity as a starting quarterback, but he inherits one of the league’s least proven receiving groups. De’Von Achane supplies badly needed explosiveness; beyond him, the Dolphins are evaluating players who might become part of their next competitive roster.
The Dolphins are predicted by everyone to be the worst team in the league due to their $180 million dead-cap hit. But Malik Willis and Achane are playing to change the narrative. This is the greatest dead-cap experiment in NFL history, and every team is watching.
31. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona has quietly assembled an enviable collection of skill-position talent. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love joins Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr. and 1,000-yard receiver Michael Wilson, giving Jacoby Brissett plenty of options. The Cardinals’ outlook depends less on finding playmakers than it does on protecting their veteran quarterback and fielding a defense capable of getting off the field.
The tank continues for the Cardinals, who have to fight off the Browns for the first overall pick in the 2027 draft.
32. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland’s promising collection of young players is being overshadowed by another unsettled quarterback competition. Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders traded opportunities with the starters, leaving the offense without a clear direction. That was true UNTIL Watson won the competition of losers. Rookie receiver Denzel Boston has generated encouraging camp reviews, but the defense must establish a new identity after the franchise’s decision to trade Myles Garrett.
The Browns did the right thing by sticking with Watson; they can now pursue the first overall pick in the 2027 draft. Who needs an extra three or four wins when you could draft your franchise quarterback for the next decade—or blow the pick like usual?
