Five teams that could make a Seahawks-like surprise run to Super Bowl LXI
NFL.com • • general
Key Points:
- The Seattle Seahawks' dominant 2025 season, culminating in a Super Bowl LX victory led by Sam Darnold, was initially unexpected but ultimately made sense given their strong roster and coaching.
- Several NFL teams in 2026 could emulate Seattle's surprising rise, including the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, and Cincinnati Bengals, each with key building blocks and potential for growth.
- The Texans boast a top-tier defense and promising offensive pieces around QB C.J. Stroud, positioning them to break out of the AFC South and make a strong playoff push.
- The Vikings, under coach Kevin O'Connell and with a solid defense led by Brian Flores, have the talent to improve significantly if front-office stability returns following recent changes.
- The Bengals, despite Joe Burrow's elite talent, need defensive improvements, highlighted by the addition of Dexter Lawrence, to return to consistent Super Bowl contention after several injury-plagued seasons.
