It's quite tough to build up a roster good enough to win a Super Bowl, and there usually aren't many legitimate contenders in any given season. With the number of positions that have to be solidified that aren't even at quarterback, front offices have struggled constantly.
Getting the head coach right is also a huge factor here. Across the league, there might be 6-8 legitimate contenders for the 2026 NFL Season. Some of those teams also have a ton at stake and simply are in a 'do or die' mode for the coming season.
We dove into this more here and power-ranked the teams that have the most at stake for this year.
Which NFL teams have the most to lose approaching the 2026 NFL Season?
7. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens come in at No. 7 in our list, and had they not fired John Harbaugh, we could have justified a much higher ranking. The elephant in the room here is obviously Lamar Jackson. He's already a future Hall of Famer and the best dual-threat quarterback of all-time, but the stark difference in regular and postseason success could not be more obvious.
As good as Jackson has been in the regular season, you'd think he would have held up his end of the bargain a bit more in the playoffs. The Ravens have an all-time talent at the position, a roster capable of winning it all, and a new head coach who could help fix the defense. There is a ton of pressure on this team.
6. Houston Texans
Speaking of pressure, the Houston Texans make an appearance here. Sporting a top-3 roster in the league, the Texans appear to have it all, but quarterback CJ Stroud has been thoroughly average in 2024 and 2025. That's really the only thing potentially holding this team back.
And at some point, the front office will have to make a decision on whether to give him a long-term extension. Given that they don't have to pay him yet, they've been able to bring in a ton of high-end players.
It's now or never for Houston.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have to get this thing figured out at some point. In the 2021, 2023, and 2025 seasons, the Eagles have made the playoffs but lost in the first round. In 2022 and 2024, they've made the Super Bowl, winning it once.
This every-other-year type of success isn't sustainable, and to their credit, Philly now has double-digit wins in four-straight seasons. However, it's not felt like that at times. Whether it's drama stemming from the head coach running his mouth, or iffy quarterback play, the Eagles just can't find notable consistency.
There's yet another new offensive coordinator in town in Sean Mannion, and with Jalen Hurts' contract guarantees getting smaller after 2026, this could be the year for the Eagles. While the contract isn't ideal, the Eagles could move on financially in 2027.
The team swung a major deal to trade AJ Brown to the New England Patriots, so that's also worth mentioning. Seeing as this team hasn't found consistent, long-term success with their current setup, it plagues this group with much more pressure for 2026.
4. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos suddenly find themselves with a Super Bowl squad and a quarterback who may have been able to lead them there had he not broken his ankle. The Broncos have it all, and made an all-in move this offseason, adding Jaylen Waddle via trade.
Nix is suddenly entering year three of his career, so he'll be eligible for a contract extension next offseason. The Broncos roster might only trail the Los Angeles Rams in terms of overall talent, and with the team having a future Hall of Fame head coach in Sean Payton in place, coupled with an elite front office, this team is absolutely a 'Super Bowl or bust' squad for 2026, putting a ton of pressure on the franchise to come through in a major way.
3. Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions made the NFC Championship Game in 2023, went one-and-done in the playoffs in 2024, and didn't even make the playoffs in 2025. While the Lions could be viewed as one of the more stable teams in the NFL right now, this team has regressed the past few seasons.
It's not a great spot to be in, as players are getting a year older. The Lions are like many teams high in our power rankings here - they have a Super Bowl-caliber roster and don't appear to be missing anything. They were on the cusp of the big game back in 2023 and honestly have not gotten close since then.
Quarterback Jared Goff is getting older, and all of these big-time contracts they have will catch up to them at some point. Detroit is under a lot of pressure.
2. Los Angeles Rams
We'll rank the Los Angeles Rams at No. 2 here. While the Rams have gone all-in this offseason in one of the more aggressive offseasons we have seen by any front office in recent memory, they aren't No. 1. The main reason is that this team did recently win it all.
The Rams won it all back in 2021, and while the roster is a lot different, they aren't necessarily chasing a Super Bowl. Los Angeles figures to be among the best teams in the league again in 2027, and while we cannot guarantee that, the roster is never not in a good spot, thanks to General Manager Les Snead.
Don't get me wrong - the Rams have a ton of pressure this season, but they have a bit more leeway
1. Buffalo Bills
How many more years will we see the Buffalo Bills lose in heartbreaking fashion in the playoffs? Buffalo has been in the postseason each year since 2019, winning at least one game each year since 2020. Josh Allen now has a career playoff record of 8-7.
And, especially after last season, we're left asking ourselves over and over if this team is capable of making a run. To the Bills credit, they did make a bold change this offseason, promoting Joe Brady to replace Sean McDermott.
Adding DJ Moore in a trade should also help out the offense, so it's clear that the front office is at least attempting to make the necessary moves. The Bills have appeared to have it all in place for years now, but another season of a brutal playoff loss amps up the pressure even more for the 2026 season.