Kyler Murray won Minnesota’s quarterback job while J.J. McCarthy slipped to third on the depth chart. The 2026 Vikings are trying to stay competitive while quietly reshaping the franchise underneath him.
Green Bay has the quarterback, the weapons and enough defensive talent to contend. After another Wild Card exit, 2026 is about Jordan Love turning a dangerous roster into a dependable one.
Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown still give Detroit an elite offensive core. After a 9-8 season defined by injuries and line problems, the Lions must prove the structure around their stars is strong enough to contend again.
Caleb Williams broke the Bears’ passing record, won the NFC North and delivered a playoff comeback in 2025. Now Chicago must prove the breakthrough can become a sustainable contender.
Washington fell from 12 wins to five when injuries exposed how dependent the roster was on Jayden Daniels. After changing both coordinators and rebuilding the defense, 2026 is about proving the Commanders can support their franchise quarterback.
Dallas kept Dak Prescott’s loaded offense intact and finally spent aggressively to rebuild a defense that collapsed in 2025. The 2026 Cowboys have fewer obvious holes — and fewer excuses.
Jaxson Dart enters Year 2 as the starter, John Harbaugh brings an established standard and Joe Schoen has reshaped the roster again. The 2026 Giants finally have a coherent plan — now they have to prove it works.
Houston already has an elite defense, a franchise quarterback and a 12-win foundation. With C.J. Stroud’s extension looming, the 2026 Texans must prove the offense is ready for a real AFC title push.
Aaron Rodgers is playing his final NFL season while Mike McCarthy tries to win now and develop Pittsburgh’s post-Rodgers core at the same time. The 2026 Steelers are balancing urgency with succession.
