We’re lower than 24 hours faraway from Tremendous Bowl LIX, and a few NFL followers have already moved on to the 2025-26 season.
Tremendous Bowl LX is scheduled to happen in Santa Clara, California on February eighth, 2026, and there are already some groups that needs to be thought-about favorites to seem in that recreation. The Philadelphia Eagles look poised to make one other run on the Lombardi Trophy. Although they suffered a beatdown, the Chiefs are all the time a menace to win the Tremendous Bowl so long as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are collectively.
With franchises already looking forward to Tremendous Bowl LX, let’s decide the 4 squads almost definitely to seem in subsequent 12 months’s large recreation.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have a legit shot at successful back-to-back titles.
Jalen Hurts is below contract for no less than three extra years, whereas Saquon has one other season earlier than Philly has a possible opt-out after 2026. Then once more, if he continues to place up numbers like he did this season, I count on him to signal a contract extension with the Eagles quickly. In the meantime, 4 of their 5 stud offensive linemen are below contract for no less than another 12 months, that means the Eagles will get to run it again in 2025 with one of the best offensive line within the NFL.
They might want to make some enterprise selections on the defensive aspect of the ball. I count on linebacker Zack Baun to signal a lofty contract extension this low season after he led Philly in tackles in the course of the common season and the playoffs. Defensive linemen Josh Sweat and Milton Williams additionally earned themselves renewed contracts with the best way they performed within the Tremendous Bowl.
Philly might want to change some backups/significant contributors on each side of the ball. Offensive lineman Mekhi Becton, defensive finish Brandon Graham, operating again Kenneth Gainwell, and linebacker Oren Burks are all scheduled to grow to be free brokers this low season. Nonetheless, I’m assured that the Eagles will discover strong replacements for all of these guys.
With most of Philly’s key items and coaches staying with the group for the subsequent couple of years, they need to be contending for a Tremendous Bowl in 2025-26.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Simply because the Chiefs misplaced Tremendous Bowl LIX, that doesn’t imply they’re not in line to contend for Tremendous Bowl LX. Actually, I’d argue that the 2025-26 Chiefs shall be a larger menace to win the Tremendous Bowl than the 2024-25 Chiefs as a result of they are going to be motivated to make individuals overlook the blowout they suffered final night time.
Patrick Mahomes continues to be below contract with the Chiefs for no less than the subsequent three years. In the meantime, head coach Andy Reid signed an extension within the low season that can hold him in KC via 2029 until he decides to retire earlier than then. With these two nonetheless main the cost, the Chiefs are a menace to make the Tremendous Bowl yearly, identical to Tom Brady and Invoice Belichick had been for the New England Patriots.
On the similar time, All-Professional defensive lineman Chris Jones is scheduled to play no less than two extra seasons for KC, so the Chiefs’ finest defensive participant shall be returning subsequent season. Plus, Travis Kelce will doubtless come again to the group in 2025-26, in order that’s two massively essential contributors that Kansas Metropolis has coming again subsequent 12 months.
The Chiefs will should be energetic within the free company and the draft. Six of their best large receivers and operating backs are scheduled to be free brokers this low season. They’ll additionally want to determine in the event that they need to deliver again offensive lineman Trey Smith and linebacker Nick Bolton.
If they’ll shore up their ability place teams, signal Bolton, and make some upgrades alongside the offensive line, there’s no motive KC can’t attain a fourth straight Tremendous Bowl in 2026.
Detroit Lions
Although I’m a Inexperienced Bay Packers fan, I would be the first to confess that I believed the Detroit Lions had been going to run away with the NFC. Regardless of all of their accidents, they nonetheless managed to report essentially the most wins in a single season in franchise historical past with 15. Sadly, the accidents and poor preparation by Detroit’s offensive and defensive coordinators caught as much as them within the Divisional Spherical of the 2025 NFL Playoffs. Had guys like defensive linemen Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeil performed in opposition to the Washington Cammanders, that recreation may’ve gone otherwise.
The Lions misplaced the 2 finest coordinators within the NFL, however lots of the different key items from 2024-25 will nonetheless be there subsequent season. Head coach Dan Campbell, quarterback Jared Goff, operating again Jahmyr Gibbs, offensive lineman Penei Sewell, and large receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will all be again in Detroit subsequent 12 months. They’ll additionally get again a number of defensive contributors, together with linebacker Jack Campbell, cornerback Amik Robertson, security Kerby Joseph, and linebacker Alex Anzalone.
Aidan Hutchinson will play an enormous function within the Lions’ success subsequent 12 months. If he can carry out subsequent 12 months the best way he was taking part in earlier than he broke his leg, then he might probably win the Defensive Participant of the Yr award. That kind of contribution could be invaluable for a group that simply surrendered 45 factors within the playoffs.
There’ll should be some replacements made all through the roster. With Carlton Davis III, Kindle Vildor, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Khalil Dorsey, and Emmanuel Mosley set to grow to be free brokers, the Lions will both must re-sign a few of these guys or change them via the draft and free company. They’ll additionally want so as to add some offensive line depth with Kevin Zeitler and Dan Skipper scheduled to check the free-agent market.
Extra importantly, Detroit must make up for the manufacturing they misplaced at defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator. If former Denver Broncos passing recreation coordinator John Morton and former Detroit linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard can maintain their very own as play-callers, then the Lions shall be in a main place to compete for the Tremendous Bowl in 2026.
Buffalo Payments
The Buffalo Payments are proper there within the thick of the Tremendous Bowl hunt with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, however they haven’t but been in a position to recover from the hump. Nonetheless, they need to be thought-about one of many favorites to win Tremendous Bowl LX.
Quarterback Josh Allen simply had one of the best 12 months of his profession with solely three Professional Bowlers on the roster (two of which had been offensive linemen). Now, it’s on common supervisor Brandon Beane to encompass Allen with expertise. James Cook dinner is the second-best offensive weapon that the Payments have, however after him, there’s a serious drop-off on the ability positions. It doesn’t assist that Buffalo’s quantity two receiver, Mack Hollins, is scheduled to be a free agent this low season. Quantity two operating again Ty Johnson shall be a free agent, too. Additionally, Amari Cooper, the wideout they traded for in the course of the season, will doubtless check free company this Spring. There’s an opportunity Buffalo will lose three essential offensive contributors this low season, one thing they can not afford.
Although they want to spend so much in free company and use their draft capital correctly to present Josh Allen extra weapons, the Payments want to enhance defensively. After having two defensive Professional Bowlers in 2023, Buffalo has had just one defender named an All-Professional or a Professional Bowler over the past two seasons (cornerback Taron Johnson was named a Second-Group All-Professional final 12 months). That’s not ok for a group attempting to win a Tremendous Bowl proper now.
Buffalo must make just a few splashy strikes this low season. Making a commerce for Cleveland’s Myles Garrett or Las Vegas’ Maxx Crosby could be the kind of choice that would change the complexion of this group and the AFC as a complete. It additionally couldn’t damage to signal a real number-one large receiver like Cincinatti’s Tee Higgins or New York’s Davante Adams.
Buffalo ought to compete for a Tremendous Bowl subsequent season in the event that they don’t make any of the aforementioned strikes. Nevertheless, they might be checked out as a way more critical menace to hoist the Lombardi Trophy if they’ll herald one other star or two.
