Ranking all 14 Super Bowl contenders – Broncos can be world champs but this NFC team has no chance

Bo Nix and Sam Darnold can’t lose in NFL Wild Card weekend.

But one NFC team has no shot — and shouldn’t even be in the playoffs.

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Only one franchise can win Super Bowl LX, and a world champion will be crowned on February 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

If the New England Patriots face off vs the San Francisco 49ers in the big game, Brock Purdy will take the field earning $220 million more than Drake Maye.

Some fanbases have a legitimate chance at winning Super Bowl LX as the playoffs begin.

Other supporters are downright delusional and they’re better off preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Below, talkSPORT ranks all 14 Super Bowl contenders.

14. Carolina Panthers (8-9 record)

Raise your hand if you believe that the Carolina Panthers are going to win the Super Bowl.

Bryce Young’s team couldn’t even achieve a winning record, while the Panthers needed help from the Atlanta Falcons just to make the playoffs.

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were better.

The Panthers got lucky in Week 18 — but their luck will end before the NFL takes over California.

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13. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1)

Do the Pack have a chance without Micah Parsons?

It’s highly unlikely, and no one will be shocked if Green Bay is one and done in the postseason.

Jordan Love must carry even more weight vs Caleb Williams in Chicago.

Green Bay’s Super Bowl dream should end in the Wild Card round.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

John Harbaugh was fired after the Ravens fell short vs the Steelers.

Mike Tomlin flexed after making the playoffs with Aaron Rodgers.

But the real test for Pittsburgh’s veteran head coach and quarterback will be the Houston Texans‘ defense.

What will the 42-year-old Rodgers do when facing one of the toughest attacks in the league?

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11. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)

Jim is now the only Harbaugh brother coaching in the NFL.

Justin Herbert also had a better season than Lamar Jackson, which makes Jim 2-0 vs his older brother.

The Chargers are still getting over last year’s playoff letdown vs the Texans.

It won’t be any easier in New England while facing Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel and the revived Patriots.

10. Buffalo Bills (12-5)

They’re baaaaaack.

Will this finally be the year for the Bills?

They’ve waited 66 seasons for a Super Bowl trophy and now must win four games to break a heartbreaking streak.

Josh Allen will have to be the MVP of the playoffs for Buffalo to finally deliver a trophy to one of the NFL’s best fanbases.

9. Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

If the real Rams show up in the playoffs, they could march all the way to San Francisco.

If the team that lost to three of its final six games returns, Los Angeles will regret its late-season slide.

But there’s no way the Rams are losing to the Panthers, right?

Ranking the best quarterbacks in NFL history

6. John Elway (Denver Broncos)

The 1983 NFL Draft changed the league.

It also produced two of the greatest QBs in history.

Marino went to Miami at No. 27.

Elway was so talented that he went No. 1 overall in a first round that featured seven future Hall of Famers, then forced his way from the hapless Baltimore Colts to the Denver Broncos by threatening to play baseball for the New York Yankees.

One of the first dual-threat QBs, Elway possessed a rocket arm and a bruising body — he rushed for 3,407 yards and 33 TDs during his 16-year career.

Elway’s name is still linked with some of the NFL’s greatest moments (‘The Drive’) and he appeared in five Super Bowls, winning back-to-back trophies in 1997-98 before going out on top.

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8. Chicago Bears (11-6)

Who remembers Jayden Daniels now?

Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson have been a blessing for the Bears, who captured an NFC North that featured all four teams posting winning records.

Williams can make his name in Chicago even bigger by taking care of business vs the Packers at Soldier Field.

7. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)

How does Brock Purdy make people stop talking about his $265 million contract?

By going to Philadelphia in January and beating the Eagles in the playoffs.

He’ll face Jalen Hurts in the best matchup of Wild Card weekend.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)

Now it gets real for the Eagles.

They have the talent to repeat as Super Bowl champs.

They also have enough simmering inner drama to fall apart on Sunday vs the 49ers.

This is a dream matchup for NFL lovers.

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5. Houston Texans (12-5)

Maybe I’ll regret this.

But I’m betting that the Texans’ defense will end Aaron Rodgers’ season and finally send the future Hall of Famer into retirement.

Winning the AFC South pales when compared to big playoff victories on the road.

This is what the Texans hired DeMeco Ryans for.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)

Duuuuuuuuvall.

Liam Coen rivaled Mike Vrabel as Coach of the Year, while Trevor Lawrence reminded NFL fans why he once was viewed as a generational QB talent at Clemson.

The Jags face a tough test vs the Bills.

But Jacksonville closed the year with eight consecutive victories and this feels like a real breakthrough moment for a franchise that normally disappoints.

3. New England Patriots (14-3)

No one cares about a soft schedule in the playoffs.

Drake Maye vs Justin Herbert and Mike Vrabel vs Jim Harbaugh is must-watch playoff TV.

Pats 27-20 in a New England winner that will just be the start of the ‘next Tom Brady‘ talk.

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2. Seattle Seahawks (14-3)

Sam Darnold made it this far last year, then was seriously outplayed by Matthew Stafford in the playoffs while the Minnesota Vikings watched their season flame out.

This time, Darnold is backed by an elite defense, a top-notch wide receiver and a fervent fanbase — the same scenario that surrounded the former No. 3 overall draft pick last year.

He also gets a week of rest and can watch the first round of the playoffs on TV.

1. Denver Broncos (14-3)

Sean Payton has built it and the Broncos have followed.

Payton also deserves Coach of the Year consideration, and the former New Orleans Saints leader was spot on in predicting that Bo Nix would be the ideal QB for Denver.

The Broncos are 24-10 the last two years with Payton and Nix leading the way.

Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is now only two wins away.

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