There is a lot of parity in the NFL, but that does not mean there won't be some terrible teams for the 2026 NFL Season. While you can argue for many of the teams to get into the playoffs, some teams simply do not have a viable path forward.
Besides teams that we all know are going to be very good: Los Angeles Rams, Seattle, Denver, Buffalo, and many others, there will be some teams that just aren't going to win many games and will finish with a losing record.
We took a look at five of those teams here and made a guarantee that they'll finish with a losing record this season.
These five teams are guaranteed to finish with a losing record in 2026
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins finally blew it up this offseason, which was the right move, but when that happens, reality sets in. While Miami had a ton of NFL Draft picks this year and did move on from players that yielded them some cap relief, the rebuild is now only just beginning.
This also means that much more uncertainty swoops in. While undergoing a rebuild is precisely what many teams need to do, there is no guarantee that it'll be done the right way. On paper, the Dolphins are missing quite a bit. The coaching staff is brand-new, and Malik Willis is now the quarterback.
Willis has extremely limited experience in the NFL and might not end up being more than a high-end backup-caliber player at the position. Miami is also in a division with two double-digit win teams from 2025, so it's going to be a heavy lift either way.
Arizona Cardinals
You could argue that the Arizona Cardinals will become the first team to go 0-17 in the history of the NFL. Arizona is absolutely in the best division in the NFL and may also be the worst team in the league overall. With a bottom-5 roster and nothing close to a stable quarterback situation, the other three NFC West teams would have to forefeit for the Cardinals to make any progress this year.
Like the Dolphins, the Cardinals are in the beginning stages of a rebuild, so this is going to take some time. If nothing else, the Cardinals may end up with a top-3 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, which could end up being used on a potential franchise quarterback.
There is some light at the end of the tunnel, but it's dim as of now.
New York Jets
The New York Jets did make a lot of changes this offseason, but the time is not now. You can tell that the Jets are really angling toward the 2027 NFL Draft, as they have a trio of first-round picks and could end up picking whoever they want at the quarterback position, especially if the class is deep like many expect.
And while the roster does have some nice talent, especially on offense, that head coach-quarterback combination of Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith is honestly as bad as you'll get in the NFL. Smith is now on his third team in as many seasons for a reason, and Glenn looked to be in way over his head last year.
The Jets could be a frisky team at times, but it's going to be another season with more losses than wins.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders might already have the franchise quarterback in the building in Fernando Mendoza, but this is another team right in the middle of a rebuild. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is likely starting for this team, as the Raiders clearly want to take it slow with Mendoza, which might be the smart play here.
That offense still needs work; the offensive line is a bit of a mess, and the wide receiver room might be the worst in the league. The Raiders could be a competent team in 2027 and maybe even a good team if Mendoza pans out, but this is a long-term view the Raiders are wanting to have, so 2026 should end up being one of those encouraging, but losing seasons, if that makes sense.
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts were 7-1 at one point during the 2025 NFL Season. The team finished with just eight wins, which is insane. That second-half collapse has changed a lot for the Colts, as this team feels unproven once again, and I am not sure many are looking at them as being a legitimate threat in the AFC South.
Quarterback Daniel Jones is coming off another major injury, and he wasn't consistent in 2025 to begin with. The roster itself is good, not great, and head coach Shane Steichen has not won more than nine games as a head coach with Indy.
With Houston and Jacksonville both having won double-digit games in 2025, and even the Tennessee Titans making some progress this offseason, the Colts might be in store for another brutally mediocre 8-win season, which should then prompt some major change.