From a Los Angeles Rams super-team to the return of Patrick Mahomes, we guide you through some of the biggest storylines heading into the 2026 NFL season on the road to Super Bowl 61 in Los Angeles. The new campaign begins on Wednesday night when the defending champion Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots, live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.20am in the early hours of Thursday. The phrase 'all in' can be over-exhausted at times in the NFL, but rarely has it been as glaringly-fitting than in the case of the 2026 Los Angeles Rams.
They made the biggest move of the offseason by acquiring reigning Defensive Player of the Year and generational pass rusher Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns, traded for Kansas City Chiefs star cornerback Trent McDuffie, reunited him with free agent corner Jaylen Watson and welcomed back Aaron Donald as the three-time Defensive Player of the Year came out of retirement to forge one of the most frightening defensive tandems in NFL history alongside Garrett. Stop them and there is already an existing core of Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and chess piece safety Quentin Lake for which to account. They enter the season led by reigning MVP Matthew Stafford at quarterback, have one of the league's most talented wide receivers in Puka Nacua, boast an upper-tier rushing attack of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum and just produced the NFL's most potent offense on the way to the NFC Championship Game last year, where they fell short against the champion Seattle Seahawks in a game more Super Bowl-esque than the Super Bowl itself.
They are favourites for a reason. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The Baltimore Ravens are desperate to cash in on the prime of their generational quarterback, and so moved on from head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons this year in view of a fresh look to their Super Bowl charge. They would turn to former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle as the men to help Lamar Jackson lead the Ravens over the line following a playoff-less campaign on the back of three Divisional Round exits and an AFC Championship Game defeat in six seasons.
Between Jackson, Derrick Henry and Doyle's offensive scheme, the Ravens have the potential to be one of the league's most destructive play-action run-heavy attacks. Questions remain of a receiving core spearheaded by Zay Flowers, but there are high expectations for third-round rookie Ja'Kobi Lane. A slow start and marquee injuries, namely to Jackson himself, cost Baltimore in 2025, so too one of the worst pass defenses in football.
Minter had been instrumental in transforming the Chargers' defense during his time alongside Harbaugh, and arrives armed with the personnel to orchestrate one of the league's best units behind all-action safety Kyle Hamilton, a returning Nnamdi Madubuike and offseason addition Trey Hendrickson. Despite his demise in Miami, former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel remains one of football's most prized offensive architects as he takes his expertise over to California. There he has been tasked with unlocking the best of Justin Herbert as the new offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers, whose franchise quarterback is yet to shake the monkey of a first career playoff win off his back.
For all the blockbuster arm talent, Herbert's chief criticism remains his modest postseason record, but McDaniel and his whacky wizardry is in town to change that. It remains a team somewhat built on 'ifs' as far as their AFC West challenge is concerned. 'If' star offensive tackle tandem Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater can rediscover their best after combining for just six games due to injury last season, 'if' running back Omarion Hampton can be a difference-maker, 'if' Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston is enough firepower for Herbert on the outside, 'if' first-round pick Akheem Mesidor can make an immediate impact to a slightly understaffed pass rush, 'if' Tuli Tuipulotu, Derwin James and a 35-year-old Khalil Mack can preserve Minter's influence with last season's top-10 defense. Herbert is a freak, but he is not immune to queries, and this is his best chance yet to firmly nestle himself among the AFC's perennial contenders.
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