The heart of the NFL offseason can be a dangerous time for ranking teams for the upcoming season.
While transactions have mostly slowed to a trickle, the period before training camps doesn’t tend to lend a lot of insight into the state of teams. Prior to practices starting in a more formal summer setting, it can be difficult to make substantive assertions about the upcoming campaign.
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But summer is meant to be a time of fun, so let’s assess each franchise on how amusing each team might be in the fall.
While acknowledging that there’s no universal standard for football aesthetics, here is our ranking of all 32 teams from most to least entertaining in 2026:
Sean McVay last year managed to make heavy tight-end usage cool. What’s next for the NFL’s ultimate trendsetter? With NFL MVP Matthew Stafford’s return keeping the core of last year’s No. 1 scoring attack intact, Los Angeles should be as dynamic as ever on offense. The real draw, however, might be a defense that added single-season sack king Myles Garrett and vaunted cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, thereby radically shifting the unit’s outlook at its two weakest spots. Garrett’s utilization is sure to be fascinating, especially given the extent to which other teams will go to mitigate his game-wrecking potential. But he won’t be so easily avoided, especially when the Rams operate with a lead. Regardless, his arrival only affirms this team as appointment viewing.
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Drake Maye has already established himself as one of the NFL’s most lethal deep throwers, as evidenced by his 128.5 passer rating and +1.31 expected points added per dropback on throws of 20-plus yards, according to Next Gen Stats. Now, he has vertical dynamo A.J. Brown at his disposal. No matter how quickly the three-time Pro Bowl adapts, the addition cements the reigning AFC champions as the conference’s most compelling group. Mike Vrabel’s tumultuous offseason, Will Campbell’s rocky playoffs and the uncertain nature of the pass rush only add to the intrigue.
The defending champions might not command the spotlight the way that several recent Lombardi Trophy winners have, but the on-field product is still a highly appealing one. Even with Brian Fleury taking over for Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator, the big-play identity that Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba established for the offense should remain in place. Mike Macdonald’s vexing defense might not be fun to face, but it generates plenty of sparks for viewers.
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In firing Sean McDermott after falling just short of the AFC championship game, the Bills ramped up the already considerable pressure facing the franchise. Yet with Joe Brady appointed as McDermott’s replacement, Josh Allen and Co. should be as captivating as ever. And the 2024 NFL MVP might even be a bit more at ease thanks to the acquisition of DJ Moore, who can change the complexion of what was a severely undermanned and underperforming receiving corps.
With an NFL-record seven of their wins coming via comebacks after trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, the Bears might have been without peer as the NFL’s most exciting team in 2025. A regression is to be expected on several fronts – including a league-leading 33 takeaways – but Chicago should remain must-watch with Ben Johnson calling plays and Caleb Williams executing them. Star turns could be ahead for tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden II in their second season.
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Any sense of Chiefs fatigue has likely dissipated in the aftermath of last season’s 6-11 crash-landing. Now, how Kansas City charts a course back to the summit is sure to be one of the season’s most meaningful story lines. Patrick Mahomes’ encouraging trajectory in his recovery from multiple ligament tears in his knee should ensure no wasted time in that effort. While the return of Eric Bieniemy reflects an element of doubling down on what’s worked in the past, there are new wrinkles as well, with Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III addressing the woeful run game and offensive imbalance that long weighed down the attack.
MORE: Patrick Mahomes agrees to historic $500 million reworked Chiefs contract
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There’s a strong argument to be made that the Chargers belong in the top five merely due to the hiring of Mike McDaniel, one of the league’s most creative offensive architects. There should be no restraints on his innovation as he takes over a Justin Herbert-helmed attack that should benefit greatly from a fresh outlook up front, both in personnel and scheme. The new emphasis might mean fewer deep shots for Herbert but an overall uptick in big plays, with receivers doing a bulk of their damage after the catch.
Even in a down year, the Ravens still tied for the league lead with six initial Pro Bowl selections. Now, however, Baltimore is counting on Jesse Minter to provide a new message and allow that top talent to discover a level of consistency that evaded last year’s group on both sides of the ball. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who’s less than a year older than Lamar Jackson, might soon be the league’s next highly hyped play-caller – or one of its most scrutinized assistant coaches.
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For all of last season’s turbulence, the Lions still managed to trail only the Rams in yards per play. Still, new coordinator Drew Petzing should help establish a more consistent baseline for a unit that reinforced its sky-high capacity for generating big plays. With Dan Campbell calling Jahmyr Gibbs his “bell cow,” the post-David Montgomery ground game could be more explosive than ever. Meanwhile, a defense dotted with high-end talent could ascend if it can avoid the widespread health setbacks that derailed the last two seasons.
While the Bengals initially staved off drastic changes at the outset of the offseason, it’s hardly been status quo for Cincinnati. The uncharacteristic Dexter Lawrence trade revealed the true depth of the Bengals’ desperation to return to the playoffs after a three-year absence. Joe Burrow has lauded this roster as the most talented one he’s been equipped with, and the skill-position talent is as formidable as ever. Only another catastrophic injury could significantly damage the Bengals’ entertainment value.
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Assuming Kyler Murray wins the starting job, Minnesota – which has finished in the top 10 in scoring twice under Kevin O’Connell – might be fun again in short order. Meanwhile, Brian Flores has entrenched the defense as one of the most surprising and fluid units in all of football.
A defense that routinely demoralizes its opponents is the driving force behind Houston’s ranking. If C.J. Stroud and a dormant run game don’t wake up in 2026, the Texans are liable to sink here – and in the AFC South standings. Still, don’t let the pedestrian brand reputation fool you: DeMeco Ryans’ group should hook anyone who gives it a proper chance.
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The entertainment factor is alive and well for an organization that tends to drive a conversation louder than its on-field performance. A standoff with standout receiver George Pickens could color the season for an offense that quickly quieted doubters of head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s play-calling credentials. The defense should be improved from its avert-your-eyes level of performance of last year, but Dallas ultimately doesn’t have a ceiling comparable to that of true contenders.
Acquiring Jaylen Waddle allows Sean Payton to be less methodical on offense, with the speedy wideout sure to break some big gains both on screens and as a downfield target. Yet even if the dominant defense doesn’t waver much, Denver might not be the kings of close calls that they were in 2025, when they went 11-2 in one-score games.
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A contentious and ultimately unfulfilling Super Bowl repeat bid led to significant changes for the Eagles, who jettisoned offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo as well as A.J. Brown. New play-caller Sean Mannion’s expected push for more under-center looks and throws over the middle could put him at odds with Jalen Hurts, who hasn’t looked comfortable in either of those areas during his career. But a receiving corps that more evenly spreads out its targets and upper-echelon defense could provide a needed degree of stability.
When everything is clicking, Green Bay is hardly stuck in the middle of the pack. Jordan Love can be deadly working against man coverage or attacking deep, and Micah Parsons last year reaffirmed his place as one of the game’s few elite disruptive forces. Yet with Parsons acknowledging he won’t return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament until at least mid-October, it’s clear that the Packers will have to navigate another season in which they’re not close to full strength.
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Liam Coen’s crew actually looks as though it has some staying power after last year’s drastic turnaround, fueling hopes that Jacksonville could enjoy its first consecutive seasons with 10-plus wins since 1998-99. The reinvigorated run game at the heart of the resurgence could have more of a boom-or-bust element, with second-year back Bhayshul Tuten and his electric yet inconsistent running style potentially taking center stage. But while there are many hopes of the passing game fully unlocking the capabilities of Travis Hunter Jr. or getting Brian Thomas Jr. back on track, Trevor Lawrence might again rely on the steady but unspectacular Jakobi Meyers after the midseason acquisition’s work at the intermediate level helped the quarterback find his stride in 2025.
Kyle Shanahan’s offense certainly has an unimpeachable track record, with San Francisco having finished in the top seven in yards per game in each of the last five years despite various significant injuries. That staying power shouldn’t be overlooked, as the 49ers once again set the bar for keeping things moving with a 41.3% third-down conversion rate. Beyond the integration of a true X receiver in Mike Evans to boost a depleted set of pass catchers, though, the attack probably shouldn’t vary greatly from its established ways.
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If Indianapolis can recapture the thrilling highs of last season’s 8-2 start, it should easily tick higher than this. But that bygone magic seems distant as Daniel Jones tries to work his way back from a torn Achilles, and another mid-tier operation – both in process and results – seems like the most likely outcome for the Colts.
The Steelers haven’t exactly taken an imaginative approach to moving past the Mike Tomlin era, opting to bring back 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers to work once again under 62-year-old coach Mike McCarthy. Still, the reunion between the two should at least make Pittsburgh more palatable to viewers, as should a more dynamic approach to deploying the league’s most highly paid defense.
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For better or worse, John Harbaugh and his coaching staff appear prepared to embrace Jaxson Dart’s devil-may-care play style – and the volatile results that come with it. That might be the primary source of thrills for Big Blue, though, as an expectedly run-heavy approach and shortage of talent at receiver figure to weigh the attack down a good deal.
Everything is trending in the right direction for the Saints, who could see Kellen Moore’s fast-paced offense find its footing in Year 2. More big plays downfield should be accessible to Tyler Shough with the addition of rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, and running back Travis Etienne Jr. and offensive guard David Edwards could jump-start a ground game that ranked second in yards per carry (3.7). Still, New Orleans might need some time before everything comes together.
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A reset could go a long way toward revitalizing Jayden Daniels after the quarterback’s injury-marred follow-up to his 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign. But first-time coordinator David Blough is implementing a system that should skew heavier toward under-center runs for a group that offers limited assistance to Daniels. Don’t expect too many fireworks.
Baker Mayfield’s unpredictability ensures the Buccaneers won’t be entirely boring. But the shine is off the apple for Tampa Bay after the team’s four-year reign over the NFC South came to an end last season. Unless coordinator Zac Robinson proves to be more Liam Coen than Josh Grizzard, there might not be much of a path forward for a group that seems to be growing stale entering Todd Bowles’ fifth year at the helm.
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Embodying the “Keep Pounding” ethos paid off for Carolina, which ended an eight-year playoff drought by capturing the NFC South crown. Yet between an offense that ranked 27th in scoring and Bryce Young seldom straying from his reserved tendencies, the Panthers weren’t a particularly easy watch. Shifting play-calling duties from head coach Dave Canales to offensive coordinator Brad Izik could yield a necessary shake-up, but the more dramatic difference could be found on the defense, which added needed playmakers in edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd.
For all of Cam Ward’s pervasive rookie struggles, the 2025 No. 1 pick was hardly boring. If the risk-embracing quarterback can make his wild on-the-move throws a flourish rather than the core feature of the Titans’ offense, a considerable leap could be ahead in Year 2. Despite all the offseason spending spree that reshaped the roster, Tennessee still seems like a team that’s a year out from truly taking off.
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At least Las Vegas has a chance to approach competence after last season’s false start under Pete Carroll. Yet with Kirk Cousins potentially keeping the starting gig out of Fernando Mendoza’s hands for a considerable stretch, the Raiders might – rightfully – be prioritizing functionality over flash.
Kevin Stefanski was tasked with getting Atlanta’s house in order after a series of messy misfires by the previous regime. The effort to establish some level of equilibrium might not captivate outsiders, with the lingering Michael Penix Jr. vs. Tua Tagovailoa quarterback battle eliciting little more than a yawn. Stefanski’s systems could accentuate the strengths of All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, but his debut season at the helm in Atlanta might not move the needle much beyond that.
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As they undergo a more extensive reboot than any other franchise, the Dolphins have become a fixture at the bottom of most preseason power rankings. Yet Miami’s backfield of Malik Willis and De’Von Achane might be legitimately scintillating if given the proper room to operate. Still, their impact might be rendered moot by a receiving corps, offensive line and defense all stuck in transition.
A Jacoby Brissett contract standoff at least provides some reason to glance at a team that otherwise might be an afterthought this summer. The Cardinals did little to improve a defense that allowed 35.2 points per game during its nine-game losing streak to close out the year, and there’s not enough of a spark behind center – whether from Brissett or rookie Carson Beck – to keep Arizona competitive in likely shootouts.
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Geno Smith proved untenable as the starter for what was easily the NFL’s worst offense last fall. Gang Green is now counting on the 35-year-old passer to hold things down for an attack that only fared marginally better on most fronts. The Jets tried to take aim at several weak links throughout their roster with a free agency approach aimed at upping the roster’s overall respectability. But new play-caller Frank Reich hardly inspires much faith after his stewardship of the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers led to midseason firings.
It might be quite a while before Cleveland enjoys a brief trip to the limelight, which it made when Garrett’s down-to-the-wire chase for the single-season sack record helped shift the focus away from another deflating campaign. With Garrett off to Los Angeles, Todd Monken seems like he’s been tasked with overseeing a loose collection of spare parts. Though several young pieces from the past two draft classes look promising, the Browns are now without a true catalyst on either side of the ball. And Deshaun Watson’s potential return as starting quarterback might only exacerbate the hollow feeling many will get in watching the franchise tread water for another year.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking all 32 NFL teams from most to least entertaining in 2026
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