Nick Wright's Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Tiers: Where Does Your Team Land?
📖 Full Retelling
It's never too soon to start thinking about football! The 2025-26 NFL season concluded on Sunday when the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. Three days later, FOX Sports' Nick Wright is looking ahead to next season. What does Wright expect for your team? Here are his Way-Too-Early 2026 Tiers Death Spiral Teams: Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets Explanation: "I just don't know how these teams extract themselves from where they're at right now." One Playoff Team? Teams: New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants Explanation: "Odds are yes, among these six that one gets in." Their Fans Believe Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts Explanation: "Fans of all three of these teams think, ‘we’re going to the playoffs.'" Anxious Offseason Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Explanation: "That offseason will lead to an anxious regular season." They're Actually the Same Teams: Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys Explanation: "They both have owners that are a hindrance to winning. They both have statically prolific quarterbacks. They both have excellent wide receiver duos. They both have defensive plans of — it probably won't be worse, huh?" Just Enough to Make You Believe Team: Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans Explanation: "Deep down, all of us feel Dan Campbell was right, that the Lions best chance was two years ago in the NFC Championship game. And the 9ers are always going to be injured. And the playoffs are going to still be a thing that happens at the regular season for herbert. And what's going on with CJ Stroud." Was It a Fluke? Teams: New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens Explanation: "Was the 2025 season a fluke, is the question both these teams have." JV Seahawks/Rams Teams: Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears Explanation: "They hop
📄 Original Source Content
It's never too soon to start thinking about football! The 2025-26 NFL season concluded on Sunday when the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. Three days later, FOX Sports' Nick Wright is looking ahead to next season. What does Wright expect for your team? Here are his Way-Too-Early 2026 Tiers Death Spiral Teams: Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets Explanation: "I just don't know how these teams extract themselves from where they're at right now." One Playoff Team? Teams: New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants Explanation: "Odds are yes, among these six that one gets in." Their Fans Believe Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts Explanation: "Fans of all three of these teams think, ‘we’re going to the playoffs.'" Anxious Offseason Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Explanation: "That offseason will lead to an anxious regular season." They're Actually the Same Teams: Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys Explanation: "They both have owners that are a hindrance to winning. They both have statically prolific quarterbacks. They both have excellent wide receiver duos. They both have defensive plans of — it probably won't be worse, huh?" Just Enough to Make You Believe Team: Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans Explanation: "Deep down, all of us feel Dan Campbell was right, that the Lions best chance was two years ago in the NFC Championship game. And the 9ers are always going to be injured. And the playoffs are going to still be a thing that happens at the regular season for herbert. And what's going on with CJ Stroud." Was It a Fluke? Teams: New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens Explanation: "Was the 2025 season a fluke, is the question both these teams have." JV Seahawks/Rams Teams: Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears Explanation: "They hop