A New Champion At Last?

It has been 9 years since a club won their maiden Super Bowl. With the Patriots, Chiefs (on 3 occasions), Buccaneers, Rams, Eagles and Seahawks all winning at least their second title in that time, 12 franchises remain without one.

Preme Football have put together a list, ranking those 12 teams from least to most likely to win Super Bowl LXI and break their title drought.

12. Cleveland Browns

Honesty is the best policy, and to be honest, it’s going to be very difficult to put forward a compelling argument as to why any of the first few teams on this list can win it all this year. But we’ll try at least give these teams’ fans something to be positive about. Having made the playoffs just 3 times this century and not once past the divisional round, this is unlikely to change for Cleveland in 2026. With the departure of perhaps the league’s best player, Myles Garrett, in exchange for young edge rusher Jared Verse and future picks, the Browns have truly accepted the rebuild now. The team fired head coach Kevin Stefanski in the offseason, who had the team playing a dour, defense-first style of football, which, despite leading the team to playoff action in 2023, fans had seen enough of. In positive news, the hiring of Todd Monken promises to offer a more attacking, youthful gameplan, which could unlock the potential of Shedeur Sanders, Quinshon Judkins, K.C. Concepcion, Denzel Boston and Harold Fannin Jr. Potential green shoots for this youthful core, but they won’t be breaking the duck this season.

Super Bowl likelihood: 0%

11. Tennessee Titans

Another team with a new head coach taking the reigns this season, the Titans appointed Robert Saleh back in January. Completely opposite of what the Browns required to steer themselves on the right path in their rebuild, Saleh offers a defensive mindset that is desperately needed by one of the league’s worst defensive teams of last season. Titans fans will of course be hoping for both visual and statistical growth from their 1^st overall selection from 2025, Cam Ward, whose rookie season was about par, when his supporting cast (or lack thereof) is considered. Now complimented by wide receivers Carnell Tate (pick 4) and Wan’Dale Robinson (free agency), Ward has more reliable weapons to work with. Just the 3 wins last year, 5-6 appears a realistic target in 2026 and would convince that they are on the right path.

Super Bowl likelihood: 0%

10. Arizona Cardinals

A tier above the 2 prior teams, given the Cardinals have 3 offensive pieces of top-end talent in Jeremiyah Love (pick 3, 2026), Marvin Harrison Jr. (pick 4, 2024) and Trey McBride, the league’s leading tight end last season. Unfortunately, Arizona has lacked reliable quarterback play for over a decade and doesn’t seem to have a guaranteed long-term solution just yet. Jacoby Brissett provided some electricity when he took the job to close out last year but is 33. Carson Beck has shown strong signs throughout preseason, but question marks naturally still hover as to whether the team will eventually have to return to the first-round of the draft to find their next franchise quarter back. It would also be safe to say that the Cardinals’ defensive profile doesn’t quite align with what is often seen, conceding 40+ points on 4 separate occasions in the year gone by. With Mike LaFleur, responsible for the league-best Los Angeles Rams offense in 2025, at the helm, he will be hoping to turn this into a fun and dangerous offense, while building some much-needed defensive foundations.

Super Bowl likelihood: 0.1%

9. Atlanta Falcons

Similar to Arizona, Atlanta has a key offensive skill position trio (Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr.), who have all now established themselves as leading guys in their position across the league. Also like Arizona, their quarterback situation remains a big question mark in both the short and long-term. With Michael Penix Jr. unlikely to be cleared for Week 1 action, Tua Tagovailoa appears set to start the season under centre, but showed in his time in Miami that there are no guarantees both his own performance and health. To win the Super Bowl would likely require Robinson to recreate LaDainian Tomlinson’s 2006 season, as well as new head coach Kevin Stefanski to transform a middle of the road defense into one of the league’s best. Unlikely to say the least.

Super Bowl likelihood: 0.5%

8. Minnesota Vikings

With respect to draft position, the Vikings may have one of the most talented quarterback rooms of all time. Sounds crazy, I know. But Kyler Murray (pick 1, 2019), Carson Wentz (pick 2, 2016) and JJ McCarthy (pick 11, 2024) make up the depth chart. Murray has been named the week 1 starter and it remains to be seen whether he will be able to get the best out of Justin Jefferson, which none of Minnesota’s options could last season. What sets the Vikings apart from the teams already mentioned is a lock down defense. Despite the loss of All-Pro pass rusher Jonathan Greenard and a season-ending injury to acquisition Jamal Adams, expect them to concede very few points this season. After a few post season appearances with Kirk Cousins and a stellar 2024 with Sam Darnold in control, is it time for the Vikings to fully accept a rebuild?

Super Bowl likelihood: 1%

7. Carolina Panthers

After a dire first 2 years in the Bryce Young era, Carolina made an unprecedented return to the top of the NFC South in 2025. Young had a breakout year with over 3,000 passing yards and despite the loss, a stellar outing in the team’s wildcard round matchup against the Rams. With the division once again up for grabs, the Panthers’ youthful outfit have another opportunity to taste more playoff action, with 2028-2030 presenting as a realistic window to truly contend. It is also worth noting that despite exercising head coach Dave Canales’ 5^th year contract option for the 2027 season, the front office has been in no rush to sign him to a long-term extension. While his job, of course, remains incredibly secure for the time being, the front office and Canales himself would like to see continued improvement this year, to avoid 2027 becoming a potential make or break year for his job.

Super Bowl likelihood: 1%

6. Houston Texans

Alongside the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks, Houston have the league’s most talented, well-coached and game-breaking defensive unit. Despite lacklustre offensive production for most of 2025, defensive firepower single-handedly willed the Texans to a 12-5 record, and a playoff win in Pittsburgh. On the downside, it has now been 3 successive divisional round exits, in which the team’s offense has scored just a combined 40 points. C.J. Stroud has struggled mightily to recapture his rookie season form, putting up career-lows in passing yards and touchdowns in 2025 but will work behind a revamped offensive line this year, which compliments the addition of reliable veteran running back David Montgomery. There is no doubt this defense will give them a chance to win every week, but the offense will need to find another gear, or five, if they are to truly contend.

Super Bowl likelihood: 3%

5. Los Angeles Chargers

Despite being very hard to predict on a week-to-week basis, the Chargers have been reliable for 10-11 wins and to fill a wildcard spot in the AFC for several years now. Justin Herbert and his team put on a few performances every season that show genuine Super Bowl quality, but they are too few and far between and are certainly yet to be seen in the playoffs. Herbert himself is supremely talented and perhaps does more with less than any other quarterback in the league in the regular season, but as the leader of the offense, has put up a total of just 15 points in the team’s 2 most recent elimination games. The hiring of Mike McDaniel as offensive co-ordinator certainly ignites the imagination, and might be what is required to unlock the best out of the Chargers’ skill position players. One of the league’s most reliable defenses remained very stable throughout the offseason and will remain capable of at least keeping games close against the very best, but more consistency is required to establish true Super Bowl credentials.

Super Bowl likelihood: 4%

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

The 2^nd biggest improvers last season (behind New England) taking an unprecedented jump from 4 wins all the way to 13 and winning the AFC South. In his 5^th season and with some critics beginning to question the team’s 1^st overall selection of 2021, Trevor Lawrence broke out and finished with the 3^rd most total touchdowns of any quarterback. He owed this revitalisation to head coach Liam Coen, who transformed not only the team’s offense but its culture, making headlines from day one with his infamous introductory “Duval” press conference, and building a positive winning environment that was reflected on the field. The Jaguars’ defense went from having just 8 takeaways in the 2024 season (league-low) to 31 in 2025. The breakout of Lawrence was complimented by a lot of short fields and Jacksonville will look to replicate that this year. They suffered a heartbreaking wildcard weekend loss to the seasoned Buffalo Bills but will have learnt plenty from it and will use those learnings to continue their upward trajectory.

Super Bowl likelihood: 5%

3. Detroit Lions

An underwhelming year for Detroit in 2025, missing the playoffs altogether despite being hot favourites to retain their NFC North. But it may have been what they needed to revitalise the system that led them to 15 wins in 2024. Known for showing a high level of faith in his playing group, head coach Dan Campbell opted against any major offseason moves, though their hand was somewhat forced in releasing former first-round draftee Terrion Arnold. An already leaky defense also lost veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone, but the drafting of edge rusher Derrick Moore (pick 44) gives Aidan Hutchinson a running mate and playmaker on the opposite side of the defensive line. Again with Chicago and Green Bay providing strong challenge for the NFC North title, it looks like there will be more of the same, high-scoring, football from Detroit in 2026. Can it finally stand up for them in the postseason?

Super Bowl likelihood: 5%

2. Cincinnati Bengals

It’s been a dry 3 seasons without playoff football in Cincinnati, but with good health, it should return this year, and it may even be much more than that. Joe Burrow (for now) is finally healthy and has made it quite clear that he and his team have something to prove. Being in the prime age of his career, the time is now for him to put forward an MVP-calibre season. But he’s done this before, putting up 43 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 passing yards in 2024, and it wasn’t enough to even make the playoffs. So, what’s different this year? Well, despite the loss of star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, they’ve finally properly addressed the defensive depth issues. Trading pick 10 for Dexter Lawrence before the draft showed a statement of intent, and was the headline of 3 major defensive acquisitions, alongside Jonathan Allen and Boye Mafe in free agency. Their offensive line has found some stability of its own and is expected to remain the same as in 2025, hopefully meaning less sacks (and more importantly, injuries) for Burrow. Head coach Zac Taylor is well and truly on the hot seat this season, but coaching for his future, expect his team to be thereabouts at the pointy end of the season.

Super Bowl likelihood: 7.5%

1. Buffalo Bills

With the Chiefs no where to be found in last year’s playoff picture, it looked as though Buffalo might finally break through to at least win the AFC. But it wasn’t to be, succumbing in the divisional round once again to the Denver Broncos. What proved most costly for the Bills’ 2025 season was that they finally had some genuine competition for the AFC East title, eventually regained by New England after 5 successive years. Many would be right to believe the Patriots benefitted from a significantly easier schedule, and they certainly will not have that luxury this year, which opens the door for Josh Allen and the Bills to return to the top of the division. Letting go of Sean McDermott allows Joe Brady to not only control the offense but the whole team, and with that appears to be a reimagined defensive scheme, acquiring Bradley Chubb and C.J. Gardner-Johnson as free agents, while using their first 2 draft picks on T.J. Parker (outside linebacker) and Davison Igbinosun (cornerback). The trade to pick up D.J. Moore gives Allen a true number 1 receiver that had been missed in Stefon Diggs’ absence over the past 2 seasons. They’ll certainly be among the final 8 teams on divisional weekend, but can they finally get over the hump this year and taste success?

Super Bowl likelihood: 10%

What do you think – will a team get their hands on the Lombardi trophy for the very first time this season?