Super Bowl 2027 Teams: The Contenders for Super Bowl LXI
Who has the best shot at reaching Super Bowl LXI in 2027? Our complete breakdown of the top AFC and NFC contenders heading into the 2026 season.
The road to Super Bowl LXI begins with the 2026 NFL season. Fourteen teams will make the playoffs — seven from each conference — and fight through three rounds of single-elimination football before the NFC and AFC champions meet at the Super Bowl. Right now, here are the teams best positioned to make that run.
AFC Contenders
Patrick Mahomes and four-time champs. Always in the mix.
Josh Allen is due. Buffalo's window is wide open.
Lamar Jackson's dual-threat ability makes them dangerous every year.
Joe Burrow is elite when healthy. The Bengals are consistently competitive.
Tua Tagovailoa and the speed offense give them high ceiling potential.
NFC Contenders
Defending champions with Jalen Hurts and a loaded roster.
Elite defense and offensive talent. Always a Super Bowl contender.
The star power is there. They just need playoff execution.
The Lions are building something real. Dan Campbell has them competing.
Jordan Love has emerged as a legitimate franchise quarterback.
How Do Teams Qualify for the Super Bowl?
Each of the NFL's 32 teams plays a 17-game regular season, competing within their divisions and conferences. At the end of the season, the top seven teams in each conference earn playoff spots. The top seed receives a bye in the first round, while seeds 2–7 play in the Wild Card round. After three rounds of single-elimination playoff games, the conference champions meet at the Super Bowl.
The Defending Champions: Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 in New Orleans. Jalen Hurts was the runaway MVP, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for two more in a dominant performance. The Eagles' defense was suffocating, holding Patrick Mahomes well below his usual production.
The Eagles enter 2026 as the team to beat. Head coach Nick Sirianni has built a complete roster, and Jalen Hurts at his peak is one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL. Back-to-back Super Bowl championships are rare, but Philadelphia has the pieces to make it happen.
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes has appeared in five Super Bowls and won four of them — an extraordinary record of sustained excellence. Despite the 2025 loss to Philadelphia, Kansas City enters 2026 with the same core that has made them the team of the decade. Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce (if still active), and head coach Andy Reid give the Chiefs a level of experience and coaching sophistication that few teams can match.
For more information, visit our Super Bowl 2027 andSuper Bowl History pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 2027. The exact date and location will be officially announced by the NFL. The game typically takes place on the first Sunday of February.
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