Early favorites for the 2026 Super Bowl

The dust hasn’t settled on the matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. We’re already talking about the 2026 Super Bowl. That’s right! While the NFL has one of the longest off-seasons in modern sports, it doesn’t mean that the world of sports stops talking about it. You can bet that most teams are fully gearing up for the challenges that await in 2025 and beyond. 

Just like every year, a few teams will surprise the spectators, but this early on, we would bet only on the clear-cut favorites. Those teams have proven in the last few years that they have consistency and the urge to win regularly and on the big stage. Check out our early favorites for the 2026 Super Bowl. 

Philadelphia Eagles

Yes, the Eagles are coming back. Their team didn’t rely on luck, superb quarterback play, or a hot streak in the playoffs. Instead, they build a solid roster through the draft and boast the most potent lines on offense and defense. Even with a few tweaks here and there, the likes of Jurgens, Mailata, Carter, and Davies will be able to hold their own next year as they did this year. Hurts and Barkley are not going anywhere, so we expect the Eagles to be looking to get back to the Super Bowl ASAP. 

Buffalo Bills 

After the Eagles dismantled the Chiefs in the Super Bowl LIX, the Bills must have felt dreadful for their loss against Mahomes & Co. even more than they have in the aftermath of the AFC championship game. Josh Allen will certainly be taking notes, as will the Bills front office. They have more than a few tweaks to make in the upcoming offseason, but the Bills have all the necessary tools to beat the Chiefs, and they will be looking to do so next year when the time comes. Early sportsbet NFL odds have them as one of the top 5 favorites to make it to the big game next year. 

Kansas City Chiefs 

While fans of all other 31 franchises enjoyed seeing the Chiefs getting manhandled by the Eagles in the Super Bowl LIX, this was not the end of the dynasty. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes were outplayed and outcoached in the SB, and they will not be taking it lightly. While the Chiefs weren’t the most dominant team in the regular season, they have that competitive mojo to take them all the way. As long as Reid and Mahomes remain in KC, this team has nothing to fear regarding their regular season results. The playoffs are different, but we’re sure they will build on their most recent defeat. 

Cincinnati Bengals 

Call us naive, but we’re massive fans of Joe Burrow. Last season, Burrow kept the Bengals playoff hopes alive despite the team having no quality to even consider playing in January. Cincinnati is a rare team with a blueprint for beating Mahomes and the Chiefs. They need to retool their defense and make the team competitive for Joe. This is easier said than done, but the Bengals have to do it, or they’ll be wasting the prime years of one of the best QBs in the league. 

San Francisco 49ers

Kyle Shanahan is one of the best HC minds in the league. The only reason he’s not proving it year in and year out is that the 49ers have an injury bug that hits hard every other year. This is the year when they should be healthy. This could be the last hurray for some of their top players, such as CMC. As the Eagles have shown, a strong run game can carry the team pretty far, and the 49ers have the tools necessary to make their squad powerful through the air and on the ground. Yes, the Brock Purdy extension might hurt them salary cap-wise in the future, and that’s why this might be their year to compete. 

Baltimore Ravens

Another team with a superb quarterback does not make it far in the playoffs. Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP who hasn’t sniffed the Super Bowl. The worst part is that the Ravens have fielded some of the league’s best defenses in the last few years, and they have an unstoppable run game led by King Henry. As is always the case in Baltimore, their WR corps are depleted, which is where they need strengthening. Considering that their season ended on a TE Marc Andrews’ drop, they need some safe hands in the end zone, and they’ll be good to go in 2025.