Five months out from Super Bowl LXI, it’s already fair game to start sorting through the teams that look built for a February run. Week 2 is here, the league still feels wide open, and that means the conversation gets fun fast: which NFC and AFC contenders actually have the kind of makeup that can carry them all the way to the last game of the season?
Last year’s Super Bowl LX was proof that the NFL can flip the script in a hurry. Seattle and New England had both missed the playoffs the year before, and suddenly they were on the biggest stage.
That kind of volatility is exactly why this exercise matters now. The league gives you enough surprises to keep you guessing, but some teams still flash one clear Super Bowl trait that makes them worth watching.
At No. 5, the pairing of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears comes with a lot of upside and a lot of buzz. Jacksonville has won nine regular season games dating back to the 2025 campaign, and there’s enough there to take them seriously. The roster may not be overflowing with talent yet, but this regime still feels a year ahead of schedule, and Trevor Lawrence plus head coach Liam Coen gives the Jaguars a legitimate chance to matter.
Chicago brings a different kind of appeal. As long as Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson keep stacking points, the Bears are going to stay in the spotlight. Their defense remains a concern, but if the offense turns out to be as dangerous as people expect, Dennis Allen’s group may not need to do too much heavy lifting.
At No. 4, the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams offer a much more established kind of Super Bowl case. Baltimore opened with a blowout of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 and already checks most of the usual boxes. The big question is still health across the roster and whether Lamar Jackson can put together a full playoff run, something he hasn’t yet done.
The Rams are coming at this from the other direction. Their Week 1 blowout loss was ugly, but it also served as a reminder that one game can distort the picture.
This team has the most talent in the NFL, and it also has the reigning MVP. With Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay steering the ship, Los Angeles already has a championship track record, having won the Super Bowl in 2021.
From top to bottom, the ingredients for another run are there.
In Other News...
Rams Hit With Another Frustrating Issue Ahead Of Giants Game
The Rams are trying to steady themselves after dropping their season opener to the 49ers, and the week has already brought a fresh layer of frustration. Two players were fined for separate penalties from that game, a reminder that the opener not only ended in a loss but also left the team dealing with discipline issues as it turns its attention to the Giants.
Tyler Davis was fined $6,225 for a hit on Brock Purdy that involved contact to the head and neck area, while Nate Landman was docked $11,111 for unnecessary roughness tied to helmet use. The money from both fines will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation, but for a Rams team looking for a cleaner start, the bigger concern is limiting the kind of mistakes that pile up before a tough stretch can really settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Send A Clear Message About Their Linebacker Concerns vs Giants
The Rams kept shoring up their linebacker room ahead of Monday nights matchup with the Giants, activating Elias Neal from the practice squad as they continue to manage some uncertainty at the position. Omar Speights and Nate Landman have both been dealing with injuries, but both are expected to be active, which gives Los Angeles a little more stability in the middle of the defense entering a game where depth could matter.
Neal, an undrafted free agent signed in 2024, gives the Rams another body for a group that has been tested by the injury report and a useful presence on special teams. Even with Speights and Landman trending toward playing, the decision to bring Neal up underscores how carefully the Rams are handling the linebacker spot as they prepare for the Giants. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Have One Monday Night Scoring Edge Fans Should Watch
Monday night gives the Rams another chance to lean on the same offensive pieces that shaped their opener, with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum both drawing attention in the scoring market. Los Angeles has reasons to believe it can create chances against a Giants defense that showed some early vulnerability, and the setup points to another game where the Rams backs and playmakers could matter in the red zone.
Malik Nabers and Jaxson Dart are among the New York names to watch on the other side, but the Rams biggest edge may come from how they manage the scoring opportunities that appear in the first place. Week 1 offered enough defensive questions for both teams to make this feel less like a clean matchup and more like a game where one early finish near the goal line could set the tone. [Read more 🡒]