The race for Super Bowl LXI is already underway, but with the NFL season still in its early stages, there is plenty of time for the picture to change. For fans following the latest action, LiveScore UK is a site where you have one account for sport and games, with the NFL among the competitions attracting significant attention throughout the campaign.
Rather than placing too much emphasis on individual early-season results, there are several teams who entered the 2026 season with strong cases to be considered Super Bowl contenders. Their credentials are built on a combination of last season’s performances, coaching, quarterback play and the strength of their current rosters.
Here are some of the teams expected to feature prominently in the championship conversation.
NFL Super Bowl Contenders
Seattle Seahawks
It is impossible to begin anywhere other than Seattle. The Seahawks entered the 2026 season as defending Super Bowl champions after completing a 14-3 regular season before winning three consecutive playoff games on their way to the Lombardi Trophy.
The foundation of that success remains in place.
Mike Macdonald has quickly established a strong defensive identity in Seattle, while the Seahawks possess considerable talent across their defensive front and secondary. Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Demarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu give the team plenty of experience and ability up front, while Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love headline a talented secondary.
Offensively, Sam Darnold returns following an impressive campaign, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba has emerged as one of the league’s premier receiving threats. Kenneth Walker III also provides another important component to an offence capable of putting pressure on opposing defences.
Being defending champions naturally brings expectations, but Seattle’s roster gives them a strong foundation from which to attempt another deep playoff run.
Los Angeles Rams
Yes, they just lost a heartbreaker to the Bills. And they are chasing Brock Purdy in the division, sitting a distant 2-3 on the season. But the Rams were one of Seattle’s closest challengers last season, finishing 12-5 before reaching the playoffs. Their 2025 campaign demonstrated that Sean McVay’s team remains capable of competing at the highest level.
Matthew Stafford’s return for 2026 is particularly significant. The veteran quarterback won the 2025 MVP award and gives Los Angeles an experienced leader who has already demonstrated that he can operate at an elite level.
The Rams have also strengthened their defense, with Myles Garrett joining a unit that already possesses significant talent. McVay’s ability to combine established stars with younger players and experienced additions has become one of the defining characteristics of the organisation.
The Rams therefore enter the season with a roster that blends experience, elite individual talent and an established offensive system.
New England Patriots
New England’s remarkable 2025 campaign also puts them firmly among the teams worth discussing.
The Patriots went from 4-13 in 2024 to 14-3 in 2025, won the AFC and reached Super Bowl LX. Although they ultimately fell short of the championship, the transformation demonstrated the progress made by the organisation in a single season.
Drake Maye’s development is central to New England’s long-term hopes. The young quarterback now has a full season of high-level experience behind him, while the Patriots have continued to build around him.
The addition of A.J. Brown provides another significant offensive weapon, giving Maye an established receiver capable of making an impact immediately.
After reaching the Super Bowl last season, New England enters 2026 with considerably different expectations from the team that began the previous campaign.
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo remain another perennial AFC contender, having finished 12-5 during the 2025 regular season and reached the playoffs. And they have #17.
Josh Allen continues to be the centrepiece of the franchise. His combination of passing ability, mobility and experience makes Buffalo one of the most difficult teams to prepare for, particularly when games reach their decisive stages.
The Bills have also developed a roster designed to support their quarterback rather than relying exclusively on individual brilliance. Their continued presence among the AFC’s strongest teams means they remain part of the wider Super Bowl conversation.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers finished 12-5 in 2025 and also reached the postseason, reinforcing their reputation as one of the NFC’s most consistently competitive organisations.
San Francisco’s roster has traditionally been built around physicality, defensive talent and an offence capable of creating mismatches. That formula remains relevant heading into another campaign.
With a combination of established stars and players entering important stages of their careers, the 49ers have the personnel required to compete deep into the season.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are a slightly different proposition after a disappointing 2025 campaign, but their longer-term record means they cannot simply be removed from the conversation.
Patrick Mahomes remains one of the defining quarterbacks of his generation, and Kansas City have spent years demonstrating their ability to build a championship-calibre team around him.
The previous season represented a significant downturn, but NFL.com noted that the Chiefs’ roster and quarterback situation still make them a team capable of changing the championship picture.
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