It’s starting to get real. A.J. Brown was finally traded to the New England Patriots, and Myles Garrett, in an absolute seismic trade and even bigger surprise, was traded to the Los Angeles Rams.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, the acquisition of Brown does not move the needle too much. However, the Rams’ acquisition of Garrett puts a team that was firmly a Super Bowl favorite back in the conversation for a 2026 Super Bowl run, quieting the doubters who rose after the 2026 NFL Draft.

Now, after the schedule release and teams having their OTSs, which five teams look to change their (bad) fortunes of last season and make some noise?

5 NFL Teams To Watch Post Schedule Release 5. Kansas City Chiefs, 2025 record 6-11

The Chiefs missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2014. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his left ACL and LCL against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14 of a 2025 season that was already on the path to disaster.

Then came the offseason, where the Chiefs famously lost Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson during free agency. Wide receiver Rashee Rice, who only played in four games last season, may potentially face a suspension as he is currently serving a 30-day jail sentence. And the topper of it all is that the Chiefs enter the season with the fifth hardest strength of schedule, playing teams that last season had a .536 winning percentage.

Chiefs 2026 Schedule

But here is where it gets interesting. Although the Chiefs begin the 2026 campaign at home against the Denver Broncos, they next host the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts will be returning with a rehabbing quarterback and without wide receiver Michael Pittman, edge Kwity Paye and linebacker Zaire Franklin. The Chiefs then travel to Miami to face the Dolphins, whose entire roster is in question, and then go up against the retooled Las Vegas Raiders in Vegas.

All this to say that Mahomes and company have roughly three weeks to get it going and should emerge with at worst a 2-1 record as they hit their murderers’ row West Coast swing.

But this optimism is more about getting the band back together for one more shot. Eric Bieniemy is back as the offensive coordinator. Tight end Travis Kelce is back for one more year. The pick up of running back Kenneth Walker is like getting Ringo Starr to replace Pete Best. And the cherry on top is that Mahomes was seen doing light workouts during OTAs.

Betting Odds

Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Chiefs’ win total is currently 10.5 wins ( +115 O, -140 U), and they are 15-1 odds to win the Super Bowl.

Doubt Andy Ried and company at your own peril.

4. Las Vegas Raiders, 2025 record 3-14

HENDERSON, NEVADA – MAY 28: Quarterbacks Aidan O’Connell #12, Jacob Clark #16 and Kirk Cousins #8 of the Las Vegas Raiders practice during an OTA offseason workout at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Health Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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The Raiders finished last season statistically last in almost every offensive stat that mattered:

32nd in first downs per game, 15.132nd in points per game, 14.228th in passing yards per game, 169.532nd rushing yards per game, 77.5

And although they were firmly holding up the AFC West, their 2026 schedule appears not to be that of a last-place team (looking at you, Detroit Lions) but is the seventh hardest schedule, playing teams that had a .529 winning percentage last year.

Raiders 2026 Schedule

After starting the season at home against the Miami Dolphins, the Raiders go on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers, stay on the road in a dome game against the New Orleans Saints, come back home to face the Kansas City Chiefs and then do the three game murderers row of games which include a road game against the New England Patriots, home game against the Buffalo Bills and home game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Whew! September and October could be a little rough for the Raiders. But what if it isn’t?

New and Improved?

The Raiders made some serious off-season moves. In addition to waiting out and acquiring Klint Kubiak as their head coach, the Raiders made some significant on-field acquisitions. In addition to resetting the free agent market for centers with the acquisition of Tyler Linderbaum, they acquired linebacker Quay Walker, defensive end Kwity Paye, linebacker Nakobe Dean, and quarterback Kirk Cousins. Then proceeded to be respectable in the 2026 NFL Draft, including drafting quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the number one pick.

Betting Odds

Their schedule is brutal, making the pre-schedule optimism rapidly fade into pessimism. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Raiders are now +600 to make the playoffs, predicted to win 5.5 games (-146 O, +120 U), and 150-1 odds to win the Super Bowl.

But with Maxx Crosby sitting at +700 to win DPOY (second to Garrett and tied with Micah Parsons), maybe +600 for the Raiders to make the playoffs isn’t such a crazy parlay after all.

3. Tennessee Titans, 2025 record, 3-14

Yet another team holding up their division. The Titans finished last in the AFC South. It was a big ask. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward started the season playing the Denver Broncos defense in Denver, then met the Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, and Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns. It was a rude way to start a rookie quarterback playing with two fourth-round rookie wide receivers as his primary weapons.

A change was inevitable. The Titans hired Robert Saleh as the head coach, and he then proceeded to hire Brian Diaboll as his offensive coordinator. In the off-season, the team acquired wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency and drafted receiver Carnell Tate as the fourth overall pick.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 23: Cam Ward #1 of the Tennessee Titans makes a pass while under pressure in the second half of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

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Titans 2026 Schedule

There is reason for optimism. The Titans enter the season with the eighth easiest schedule per last year’s teams’ win and loss percentage (.476). They start their season with a Saleh revenge game hosting the New York Jets, they then host the Philadelphia Eagles, go on the road against the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens before having to host the formidable defense of the Houston Texans.

Starting 2-2 would be good and not out of the question for the Titans. Ward is familiar with playing tough defenses with much fewer weapons. The defense that was 21st in yards allowed per game (345.1) and 28th in points allowed per game (28.1) is now under the tutelage of Saleh and should be better.

Betting Odds

DraftKings Sportsbook currently has the Titans winning 6.5 games (-110 O -110 U). They are +340 to make the playoffs and 120-1 odds to win the Super Bowl.

2. Los Angeles Rams, 2025 record, 12-5

The Rams were legitimately one play away from going back to the Super Bowl last season. They are doubling down this year.

The Rams will face teams that had a combined .516 winning percentage last season. That places the Rams with the 13th hardest schedule. They open the season against the San Francisco Niners in Melbourne, Australia. They then have a Monday Night game against the New York Giants before facing the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles (both on the road), before coming home to face the Buffalo Bills on another Monday Night football game.

The team whose offense was first in points per game (30), yards per game (397.0), and first downs (23.3) has kept its offense intact, including restructuring 2025 MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford’s contract.

Their defense, which was 10th in points allowed (21.3) and 19th in yards per game allowed, flexed up. They not only acquired Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to revamp their secondary, but they tripled down and added defensive end Garrett.

The Rams are currently the favorites to win the Super Bowl, regardless of what your favorite book is. DraftKings Sportsbook has them at +600, Fanduel Sportsbook at +550, and betMGM currently sits at +500.

1. Cincinnati Bengals, 2025 record 6-11

The Bengals finished the season third in the AFC North. They were the only team in the AFC North to retain their head coach.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 15: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals smiles with Ja’Marr Chase #1 prior to an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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While quarterback Joe Burrow only played in eight games due to injury, the offense managed to coast in mid-position, statistically speaking. They were 12th in points per game (24.4), 16th in yards per game (330.4), and tied for seventh in first downs per game (20.7).

The defense, on the other hand, raced with the Dallas Cowboys for the worst statistical defense in the league. The Bengals did their share as they were 30th in points allowed (28.9), 31st in yards allowed per game (382.1), and 32nd in pass rush win rate (28.8%).

So the Bengals went and upgraded their defensive line; they acquired Boye Mafe, Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, and Cashius Howell. Sure, they let Trey Hendrickson go, but he only played seven games last season. The loss of Joseph Ossai might sting a little, but the potential production from Maye and Lawrence should dull the ache.

What really bounces the Bengals into the number one position is their schedule. The Bengals have been credited with the third easiest schedule, with their opponents’ last year win total coming in at .450 percent.

And while their notoriously slow start could see a bump with the second and third games on the road against the Houston Texans and division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s right about there that they have historically found their stride. They have a home stand against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a road game against the Miami Dolphins, a road game against the Baltimore Ravens, and a home game against the Tennessee Titans.

Betting Odds

DraftKings Sportsbook currently has the Bengals at +200 to win the division, -175 to make the playoffs, and 20-1 odds to win the Super Bowl.