New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough at training camp. Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
With the 2026 NFL season arriving, we take a look at five teams that could do better than the football world anticipates.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have still been seen as a solid team when Joe Burrow is healthy over the past few years. Cincinnati went 9-8 in each of 2023 and 2024. In 2025, the Bengals went 6-11, but they went 5-3 in the games Burrow played while he battled a turf toe injury during the season.
But the Bengals haven’t performed like or been viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl contender since 2022. That could change in 2026.
Cincinnati’s defense has been a disaster over the past three seasons, but the team made a massive move over the offseason by acquiring Dexter Lawrence in a trade with the New York Giants. The 350-pound defensive tackle could transform the Bengals’ defensive line.
And if the Bengals’ defense can even be average, they will be really hard to beat with an outstanding offense led by Burrow, wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and running back Chase Brown.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings had a winning record in 2025, but it didn’t exactly feel like it. Minnesota fell to 4-8 before finding five wins after falling out of playoff contention. The team’s quarterback play on the season was atrocious, with 2024 No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy making 10 of those starts and putting together a 72.6 passer rating.
Minnesota addressed the quarterback position by bringing in a former No. 1 overall pick (2019 NFL Draft) in Kyler Murray.
Murray looked like a franchise quarterback over his first few years with the Arizona Cardinals, but he regressed over the last few years, and Arizona decided to move on.
Can Murray regain that dynamic dual-threat form with Minnesota? The Vikings would love it if he could, but regardless, he figures to be a huge upgrade over McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. And Minnesota still found a way to win nine games with that trio of quarterbacks.
Additionally, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has a history of getting more out of quarterbacks with his development and system, as he did with Sam Darnold in 2024.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints have two things going for them: They appear to have a quarterback, and they play in the NFC South.
New Orleans went 6-11 in 2025, but 5-4 in games started by Tyler Shough, which included a four-game winning streak. It was an impressive rookie season for the quarterback, who completed 67.6 percent of his passes and had a 91.3 passer rating.
And, as is usually the case, the NFC South is up for grabs. Last year, the NFC South champion had just eight wins. This year, it’s not looking any different on the surface. DraftKings has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning the division while having an over/under of 8.5 wins (and the under is favored).
There’s no reason the Saints can’t be the best team in the NFC South.
New York Giants
The Giants were already looking like a team that could ascend in 2026, and then they added John Harbaugh as head coach.
Harbaugh never won fewer than eight games over 18 years as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Yes, the Giants don’t have Lamar Jackson and company, but they’re a team on the upswing and now with a head coach who knows what it takes to win.
If Jaxson Dart can stay healthy and take a step forward in year two (and having a healthy Malik Nabers at wide receiver helps), the Giants might hang around playoff contention.
Tennessee Titans
This one is all about the quarterback position, as the league tends to be in general.
Cam Ward is an extremely talented quarterback whom the Titans selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He has a massive, superstar ceiling. In his rookie season, his flashes were outstanding, and he made numerous rare-level plays. He also looked extremely raw at times and was tied for the NFL lead in sacks taken with 55.
If Ward makes a substantial leap, which he’s very well capable of, the Titans will be a postseason contender. At the same time, if there’s not much improvement from Ward, the Titans could be a bottom-five team. This will all make Tennessee one of the most interesting teams to watch in 2026.
Francis Tiafoe
Francis Tiafoe
LSU Tigers helmet
LSU Tigers helmet