The NFL's 2026 season kicks off this week, following what veteran analyst Cris Collinsworth called the league's "most unusual" season in decades. The Kansas City Chiefs, once a dominant force, saw their dynasty begin to wane, while teams like Baltimore, Buffalo, and Philadelphia—each considered top Super Bowl contenders—struggled. In contrast, the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears surged up their respective divisions, with the Patriots making it to the Super Bowl, where they were decisively beaten by the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle's quarterback, Sam Darnold, led the Seahawks to their first NFL championship in 12 years, completing a redemption arc after previous struggles in the league. The Los Angeles Rams, who won the Super Bowl last season, are looking to defend their title. Their big game will be held at their home stadium, SoFi Stadium. Last year, the Rams had the best offense in the league, led by quarterback Matt Stafford, who was named the season's Most Valuable Player. The team also made major moves to strengthen their defense, acquiring cornerback Trent McDuffie and defensive end Myles Garrett, who recorded a record 23 sacks in the previous season. Now, the Rams are seen as the top Super Bowl favorites, boasting both the reigning MVP (Stafford) and the defensive player of the year (Garrett). Adding to their strength, three-time defensive player of the year Aaron Donald, 35, has confirmed he will return from retirement to join the Rams, giving them two of the best pass rushers in modern NFL history. Travis Kelce, the veteran tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, has committed to at least one more season, despite rumors of his retirement after the Chiefs' first playoff-less season in 11 years. To help the Chiefs rebuild, the team signed running back Kenneth Walker, who won the Super Bowl MVP in 2023, to take some of the pressure off quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is recovering from a torn knee ligament. Mahomes, now 30, will also have Kelce, who recently married singer Taylor Swift, to support him. This could be Kelce's final season, and he is focused on helping the Chiefs bounce back. Buffalo's Josh Allen and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson, both drafted in 2018, are yet to win a Super Bowl despite being named NFL MVPs. This season offers a fresh start for both teams. The Bills have promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach and moved into a new stadium. Meanwhile, the Ravens have hired former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as their new head coach, replacing John Harbaugh, who is now with the New York Giants. If the Chiefs fail to recover, this could be the year that either Allen or Jackson wins the AFC Conference and reaches the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers, the four-time NFL MVP and one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, is set to retire after his 22nd season. The 42-year-old was "99% sure" he would retire after leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to last season's playoffs. However, the arrival of new head coach Mike McCarthy, with whom he previously won Super Bowl 45 with the Green Bay Packers, convinced him to play one more year. The Cleveland Browns continue to face uncertainty at the quarterback position, having had 13 different starting quarterbacks over the past five years. Deshaun Watson, signed in 2022 on a five-year contract worth a guaranteed $230 million, will begin the season as the first-choice quarterback after recovering from a ruptured Achilles. However, he was booed by Cleveland fans during a pre-season game, which he called "personal" and "disrespectful." Watson has one last chance to avoid being remembered as the worst trade in NFL history, but some believe rookie Shedeur Sanders may soon return, potentially as early as the Browns' home opener in week three.