What can derail your team's hopes? With the NFL season opener a week away, we identify the biggest obstacle for each club to reach Super Bowl LXI.
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Arizona Cardinals
Obstacle: NFC West
Before considering playing in Super Bowl LXI, the rebuilding Cardinals need to get to the playoffs, which seems unrealistic in the same division as the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers.
Atlanta Falcons
Obstacle: QB purgatory
There is no strong evidence that Atlanta's recent quarterback issues will be solved with new starter Tua Tagovailoa or 2024 top-10 pick Michael Penix Jr., who was limited at camp while rehabbing a knee injury. The Falcons' QB situation again could be their Achilles' heel.
Baltimore Ravens
Obstacle: Coaching inexperience
No rookie head coach has won the Super Bowl since the 1989 season. Promising first-year boss Jesse Minter likely needs time (similar to Seattle's own young defensive guru, Mike Macdonald, who won it all in Year 2). Also, new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is tasked with helping Lamar Jackson regain his MVP form despite having no play-calling experience.
Buffalo Bills
Obstacle: Postseason heartbreaks
Getting to the playoffs isn't the issue; the Bills have won 10-plus games each year since 2019. However, Josh Allen and Co. haven't been able to get over the hump in January. Even with Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs - Buffalo's kryptonite - out of the picture last season, the Bills fell short again.
Carolina Panthers
Obstacle: Young's ceiling
Bryce Young elevated his floor after consecutive 20-plus-touchdown seasons. Still, the jury is out on whether the 5-foot-10 passer has enough physical tools to become an established high-level quarterback. Without one, a ring is unlikely for Carolina.
Chicago Bears
Obstacle: Higher expectations
General manager Ryan Poles said Chicago will hunt, but the Bears are now the ones with constant targets on their back after an overachieving 2025 campaign. They're also a regression candidate after succeeding in volatile metrics last season, including takeaways and late-game comebacks.
Cincinnati Bengals
Obstacle: Another Burrow injury
Joe Burrow's health has been an issue; he's played one full season in the past three. The Bengals aggressively tackled defensive needs in the offseason and are counting on their talented QB's availability to end a three-year playoff drought and make another long run.
Cleveland Browns
Obstacle: QB position
The Browns know they're not close to a Super Bowl and even traded away Myles Garrett. While Cleveland did a good job in recent drafts, its quarterback depth chart, headlined by Deshaun Watson, holds the team back in the short and long term.
Dallas Cowboys
Obstacle: A subpar defense
Dallas' defense - the NFL's worst in EPA/play in 2025 - also ranks dead last in points since 2024. The Cowboys added emerging coordinator Christian Parker, veterans (Von Miller, Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson), and first-round rookies (Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence), but is that enough for a remarkable turnaround? Only one of eight conference finalists since '24 ranked in the bottom half in EPA/play allowed.
Denver Broncos
Obstacle: Stacked AFC
Aspiring AFC contenders have to worry about not one, not two, but three MVPs. The Broncos eliminated Josh Allen's Bills last season, but their path to the AFC title game was easier with Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson injured and watching from home. They're now healthy again. This conference also features star passers in Drake Maye, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert, as well as Houston's stellar defense.
Detroit Lions
Obstacle: Secondary
The Lions rostered the league's best safety duo in Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph in 2024. However, major injuries devastated their 2025 and raised concerns about their availability for the new campaign. Detroit also released starter Terrion Arnold after his arrest, leaving its cornerback group even thinner.
Green Bay Packers
Obstacle: Parsons' health
Parsons is out until at least October, so Green Bay could play important early games against the Vikings and Bears without him. Once he's back, the Packers need their All-Pro defender firing on all cylinders as they try to potentially secure better playoff seeding (up from No. 7 in 2025) and go on a deep run.
Houston Texans
Obstacle: Stroud's struggles
Houston built arguably the NFL's best defense but still fell in the divisional round, with C.J. Stroud playing poorly in the playoffs. It's been two seasons since the 24-year-old looked like an elite quarterback as a rookie. Can he find his best form and earn a lucrative extension this year?
Indianapolis Colts
Obstacle: Limited potential
In 2025, a banged-up Daniel Jones was solid for most of the season, Jonathan Taylor scored 20 touchdowns, Alec Pierce topped 1,000 yards, and the defense was at least average in several categories. Yet, the Colts finished 8-9. And their ceiling didn't get higher, as they didn't have a 2026 first-round pick and traded away 1,000-yard receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Obstacle: Young stars' development
Jacksonville didn't have a first-round pick and lost starters this year, so its best chance to go further in the playoffs is to develop blue-chip talent. Enter Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. Under Liam Coen in 2025, Thomas' touchdowns fell from 10 in 2024 to three, and Hunter had an injury-shortened rookie campaign predominantly as a receiver. The two-way star will now become a full-time corner with situational WR snaps.
Kansas City Chiefs
Obstacle: Lack of weapons
Kansas City didn't make any moves to give Patrick Mahomes an elite receiving threat. Travis Kelce turns 37 in October, Rashee Rice's availability has been a concern, and Xavier Worthy has yet to truly break out. The Chiefs' most notable newcomer is running back Kenneth Walker, and their biggest training camp riser, Cyrus Allen, is a fifth-round rookie receiver.
Los Angeles Chargers
Obstacle: Unleashing Herbert
Justin Herbert ranks only 17th in EPA/play since coach Jim Harbaugh took over in 2024. Herbert boasts all the traits of an elite QB but has yet to win a playoff game. The good news is that L.A. hired Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator, landing a creative mind who could maximize Herbert's talents.
Los Angeles Rams
Obstacle: The pressure
The 2025 Rams were one win away from the Super Bowl. Since then, they've added three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, reigning DPOY Myles Garrett, and star corner Trent McDuffie, uniting them with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford. Clear favorites to win it all, the Rams' "dream team" will steal headlines and face opponents with extra motivation as the team to beat.
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Las Vegas Raiders
Obstacle: The process
Solid high-profile draftees (Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, Fernando Mendoza) and new coach Klint Kubiak have the Raiders trending in the right direction. But the first-year boss will need time to build a prolific offense and install a winning culture. Las Vegas hasn't had a winning season since 2021, but it patiently needs to trust its long-term process.
Miami Dolphins
Obstacle: A rebuild
Miami is undergoing a complete rebuild and will take a record amount of dead money after releasing key veterans and trading standout starters such as Jaylen Waddle. Even with emerging quarterback Malik Willis' arrival, the Dolphins have several steps to take before thinking big.
Minnesota Vikings
Obstacle: Backfield
Minnesota has quarterback and running back questions. New starter Kyler Murray hasn't consistently played at a high level in years. On top of that, the Vikings don't have an every-down rusher. Jordan Mason has limitations as a pass-catcher and struggles with fumbles, and former Pro Bowler Aaron Jones has an injury history and turns 32 in December.
New England Patriots
Obstacle: Harder schedule
The 2025 Patriots' path to the Super Bowl included only two regular-season opponents that finished above .500. In the playoffs, they faced a depleted Chargers offensive line, a struggling C.J. Stroud, and a backup with no postseason experience (the Broncos' Jarrett Stidham). Now a first-place team, New England will meet tougher teams, starting with the reigning champion Seahawks.
New Orleans Saints
Obstacle: Shough's sophomore year
Tyler Shough's rookie season was promising, but the second-year passer's NFL sample size is very small. There's a big difference between starting nine games midway through a season on a losing team and becoming a full-time QB1 with high expectations. He's unproven as a franchise guy.
New York Giants
Obstacle: Run defense
A stout run defense has been a must for most Super Bowl teams recently, and New York is a work in progress defensively. The 2025 Giants - who traded away standout run-stopper Dexter Lawrence this offseason - ranked dead last in rushing EPA/play allowed, and their 5.3 yards per carry allowed were the league's second-worst mark since 2014.
New York Jets
Obstacle: Coach-QB duo
Aaron Glenn united with Geno Smith after a disastrous first year as New York's coach. There are no indications that he's the right boss to end the Jets' playoff drought, let alone reach the Super Bowl. Smith is two seasons removed from his last Pro Bowl year. He threw a league-high 17 interceptions in 2025 and turns 36 in October.
Philadelphia Eagles
Obstacle: Offense's identity
The Eagles have had a top-10 defense in the past two seasons. Two years ago, they won the Super Bowl with an unstoppable offense. Last year, however, Philadelphia was one-and-done in the playoffs. It's now up to under-fire head coach Nick Sirianni and new coordinator Sean Mannion to recreate an ideal offense for quarterback Jalen Hurts without top target A.J. Brown.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Obstacle: Time
The Steelers reunited coach Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers, a once-elite duo that led the Packers to a Super Bowl title in 2011. Pittsburgh went one-and-done in its last six playoff appearances. However, McCarthy hasn't had postseason success since leaving Green Bay, and a 42-year-old Rodgers isn't at an MVP level anymore. If only they could turn back the clock.
Seattle Seahawks
Obstacle: The star-studded Rams
The Seahawks narrowly prevailed over the Rams last season en route to winning the Super Bowl. But L.A. has since added major pieces, bringing Aaron Donald out of retirement and trading for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, among other moves. The Rams are an even bigger threat to Seattle's title defense.
San Francisco 49ers
Obstacle: Injuries
You know it's bad when the 49ers even investigated a theory linking their injuries to an electrical substation. Last year, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and George Kittle had season-ending ailments. Brock Purdy appeared in nine games. Bosa, Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, and offseason addition Mike Evans have concerning injury histories. Oft-injured Ricky Pearsall has already been ruled out for the year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Obstacle: Imminent rebuild
Tampa Bay is trending down after missing the playoffs following consecutive NFC South titles from 2021-24. This offseason, franchise legends Mike Evans (free agency) and Lavonte David (retirement) left, and quarterback Baker Mayfield's relationship with the team grew strained without a new extension. The Buccaneers seem closer to a rebuild than to another Lombardi Trophy.
Tennessee Titans
Obstacle: It's too early
Cam Ward's supporting cast looks better with coach Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, receivers Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson, and new starting defenders. But even if the second-year QB makes a steep jump, this would most likely be the beginning of a rebuild rather than the final pieces of a title-winning roster. Tennessee has six wins since 2024.
Washington Commanders
Obstacle: Daniels' availability
Jayden Daniels led the Commanders to the NFC title game as a rookie, but injuries limited him to seven appearances in 2025. Washington finished 5-12, down from 12-5 in 2024. Can he stay healthy and bounce back? It'll be harder without injured left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who could miss the entire season.
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