The 2026 NFL season is approaching, and the Los Angeles Rams have emerged as the clear favorite in the NFC. Their status is partly driven by the fact that Super Bowl 61 will be played at SoFi Stadium, their home venue and the site where they won their most recent Lombardi Trophy four seasons ago.
The Rams also boast an elite offense led by reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams. However, their biggest strength is their defense, which received a major boost through the blockbuster trade for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett after his record-breaking sack campaign.
Los Angeles also acquired star cornerback Trent McDuffie and welcomed the stunning return of three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. The 35-year-old came out of retirement on a one-year, $20 million contract, joining Garrett to form what could be one of the most intimidating pass-rushing duos in NFL history.
Rams, Seahawks Take Different Paths Into the 2026 Season
On paper, the defending champion Seattle Seahawks are the Rams’ biggest challenger in the NFC. However, the two teams had dramatically different preseasons. Los Angeles swept its three exhibition games against the Chiefs, Saints, and Chargers, while Seattle failed to win a single preseason matchup.
The Seahawks also experienced more significant roster departures than incoming additions during the offseason, further strengthening the case for the Rams as the NFC’s leading contender.
Los Angeles finished the preseason undefeated alongside the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals. Although all four teams appear to be strong playoff candidates on paper, recent NFL history offers a warning to every unbeaten preseason team.
Unbeaten NFL Preseasons Have Delivered Limited Playoff Success
Since the preseason schedule was reduced from four games to three in 2021, 25 teams have completed the exhibition schedule undefeated. Only 10 of those teams reached the postseason, producing a 40% success rate.
The trend becomes even more concerning when looking at playoff advancement. Of the 25 teams that went unbeaten during that span, only the Denver Broncos advanced beyond the wild-card round last year.
For the Rams, Bills, Ravens, and Bengals—all widely projected to contend for a Super Bowl—the historical odds are unexpectedly unfavorable. Based on these trends, at least one of the four teams could miss the postseason entirely.
Missing January football would be an unmitigated disaster for the Bills and Rams. For the Ravens, failing to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons has never happened during the Lamar Jackson era. Meanwhile, another postseason absence would give the Bengals four straight years without playoff football and place immense pressure on Joe Burrow and the franchise’s front office.
Source: www.marca.com
