Story by Arnab Mondal

 

The NFL changes faster than any other league. A team can miss the playoffs one year and become a championship threat the next. One big trade, one elite free-agent signing, or one smart roster move can completely shift the balance.

That is especially true in 2026. Several teams already have franchise quarterbacks, playoff experience, and strong coaching staffs. Most of them also fixed major roster weaknesses over the last two seasons. Still, every contender has one clear hole holding them back from becoming a complete Super Bowl team.

Some rosters need more offensive strength. Others need another pass rusher or secondary help to get going on deep playoff runs. Actually, the margin between a Wild Card exit and a Super Bowl appearance is now very small.

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Quarterback play matters more than ever. Defensive pressure still decides playoff games. At the same time, good receivers and shutdown corners can completely change January games.

A few franchises are already very close. They do not need a full rebuild or massive changes. One final move could push them into the top teams of the league.

So let’s have a look at the five NFL teams that look one move away from true Super Bowl contention heading into the 2026 season.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

5. Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal (30) recovers a fumble from Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the third quarter against the New England Patriots in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

One move away: Add an elite WR1

The Los Angeles Chargers already have the most important piece in place: a franchise quarterback. Justin Herbert continued to prove himself as one of the league’s best passers in 2025. He threw for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns despite constant pressure behind an offensive line that still struggled at times. Taking 54 sacks would slow down most quarterbacks, but Herbert still kept the offense competitive throughout the season.

Things started improving after Jim Harbaugh took over. The offensive line looked more organized, the defense played tougher football, and the team finally developed a stronger identity. The Chargers no longer look directionless. They now look like a serious playoff team.

The biggest issue is the receiving group. Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre Harris combined for only 1,848 receiving yards last season. That production is solid, but it is not enough to compete with elite AFC contenders in the playoffs.

Teams like Kansas City, Seattle, and Philadelphia have defenses capable of shutting down balanced offenses that lack a true superstar receiver. The Chargers need a player who forces defenses to change their entire game plan.

Trade rumors involving Tyreek Hill have already surfaced this offseason. A move like that could completely transform the offense. Herbert already throws the ball at an elite level. Give him a true deep threat, and the Chargers instantly become one of the AFC’s most dangerous teams.

4. Washington Commanders

4. Washington Commanders

One move away: Add another elite edge rusher

The Washington Commanders rebuilt much faster than most people expected. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels immediately changed the direction of the franchise and gave the offense explosive potential. Expectations around the league are now much higher entering the 2026 season.

The offense looks ready to compete. Now the defense needs one more major addition.

Modern NFL contenders win with pass rushers. The best playoff defenses create pressure without constantly blitzing, and Washington still needs another elite edge rusher who can consistently win one-on-one battles.

The team already improved its defensive depth this offseason and added more speed across the roster. Even with those upgrades, the defense still lacks a dominant pass rusher who can completely take over games.

Adding a proven double-digit sack player before training camp could elevate this defense into one of the NFC’s best units. Daniels already gives Washington star-level upside on offense. One elite defender could finally balance the roster enough for a serious Super Bowl push.

3. Green Bay Packers

One move away: Add a true WR1

The Green Bay Packers already have one of the NFL’s deepest and most balanced rosters. Jordan Love continues developing into a reliable franchise quarterback, while the offensive line remains strong and dependable. The coaching staff also does a great job creating explosive plays through scheme and creativity.

Defensively, Green Bay looks like one of the NFC’s most complete teams. However, there is still one missing piece on offense.

The Packers do not have a true No. 1 receiver.

During the regular season, spreading the ball around works well. Playoff football is different. Eventually, every contender needs a star receiver who can beat elite cornerbacks in critical moments.

Right now, Green Bay lacks that type of player. The offense sometimes struggles on important third downs and inside the red zone against stronger defenses. Those situations often decide playoff games.

A true WR1 would completely change the offense. Love needs a dependable target in late-game situations, and defenses need someone they fear enough to double-team every snap.

One elite receiver could take the Packers from a dangerous playoff team to a legitimate Super Bowl favorite.

2. Cincinnati Bengals

2. Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates after sacking Pittsburgh Stealers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) in the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Stealers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.

One move away: Add another elite pass rusher

The Cincinnati Bengals remain one of the NFL’s strangest contenders because their offense looks championship-ready, while the defense still raises major concerns.

Joe Burrow continues playing at an elite level, and the receiver duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins remains one of the best in football. Few teams can match Cincinnati’s offensive firepower.

The problem is the defensive front.

Salary cap pressure created several roster issues over the last few years. The Bengals already tried fixing the pass rush this offseason by adding players like Dexter Lawrence and Boye Mafe. Even after those additions, the defense still needs another dominant edge rusher.

That weakness becomes even more dangerous in the AFC, where every playoff path likely runs through quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Herbert.

Cincinnati cannot survive by winning shootouts every week. One elite pass rusher would help the entire defense by creating more pressure, forcing mistakes, and making life easier for the secondary.

The Bengals already have enough offensive talent to compete for a title. They just need a defense capable of holding up in January.

1. Detroit Lions

One move away: Add another lockdown cornerback

The Detroit Lions look closer to a championship than almost any other team in football.

They already built one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, and Jared Goff continues playing efficient football within the system. The offense remains balanced, explosive, and difficult to stop.

The defense has also improved significantly over the last two seasons. The front seven now looks capable of controlling games and pressuring quarterbacks consistently.

The secondary, however, still feels like the roster’s biggest weakness.

In today’s NFL, elite playoff offenses attack weak cornerbacks immediately. Detroit already has the pass rush needed to pressure quarterbacks, but the team still needs another lockdown corner who can handle top receivers during postseason matchups.

The Lions clearly believe their championship window is open right now. They have veteran leadership, playoff experience, offensive firepower, and physical toughness on both sides of the ball.

One more elite cornerback could complete the roster and finally push Detroit into true Super Bowl contender status.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/5-nfl-teams-one-move-away-from-super-bowl-contention/ar-AA23G6Tm?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=6a0f00f6435c47e982044b1be3fdd45a&ei=74

Another pass rusher? We've been stockpiling 'em for a while. We need a LB a lot more

Between Murphy, Stewart, Mafe, and now Howell, if one of those guys hit and get sacks, especially with Lawernce taking up double teams, then we will be fine.

We need our LBs to take the next step as well.

And really we only need the D to get to top 15 with this O.

So long as we stay healthy well be fine.

56 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

Between Murphy, Stewart, Mafe, and now Howell, if one of those guys hit and get sacks, especially with Lawernce taking up double teams, then we will be fine.

We need our LBs to take the next step as well.

And really we only need the D to get to top 15 with this O.

So long as we stay healthy well be fine.

I agree, I think we're ready to compete as it, but the LBs would make me feel a lot better if they progress. My ONE other concern is I think everyone may be overrating this offense just a little. Elite offenses don't get shutout.

We put up 16 & 19 vs. Cleveland and 0 vs. Baltimore (at home). That scares me a little.

Cleveland gave up 41, 34, 23, 26, 23 last year to Baltimore, Detroit and Buffalo...all of whom we think are in our rankings in terms of offense. Not to mention 31 to Tennessee and Chicago. We're really the only team that struggled vs. Cleveland.

I think our offense is good, but not elite.

8 minutes ago, WRAPradio said:

I agree, I think we're ready to compete as it, but the LBs would make me feel a lot better if they progress. My ONE other concern is I think everyone may be overrating this offense just a little. Elite offenses don't get shutout.

We put up 16 & 19 vs. Cleveland and 0 vs. Baltimore (at home). That scares me a little.

Cleveland gave up 41, 34, 23, 26, 23 last year to Baltimore, Detroit and Buffalo...all of whom we think are in our rankings in terms of offense. Not to mention 31 to Tennessee and Chicago. We're really the only team that struggled vs. Cleveland.

I think our offense is good, but not elite.

IIRC we were top 6?

I'm hoping that Erik All can return fully healthy and start showing what he was showing before the injury because it opened up the O so much more. All I know is I like Yoshi as a person but he isnt helping the O like Boyd did or even Uzomah did. We really need that 3rd option to break the cover 2's we see all the time.

8 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

IIRC we were top 6?

I'm hoping that Erik All can return fully healthy and start showing what he was showing before the injury because it opened up the O so much more. All I know is I like Yoshi as a person but he isnt helping the O like Boyd did or even Uzomah did. We really need that 3rd option to break the cover 2's we see all the time.

Tanner Hudson..

Yeah I know but I like him ..😊

1 minute ago, claptonrocks said:

Tanner Hudson..

Yeah I know but I like him ..😊

Hudson is just a guy. Maybe Endries or Young, but I'm not expecting much out of the rookies this year.

5 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

Hudson is just a guy. Maybe Endries or Young, but I'm not expecting much out of the rookies this year.

Agree....

LBs that can cover, beat blocks and tackle, & chase down scrambling QBs will take away the dump passes & inside runs that turn into first downs. Do even 2 out of 3 and the pass rush benefits.

If this mythical LB can blitz some as well, even better. I don't see one on the roster I trust to do any of that stuff.

2 hours ago, T-Dub said:

LBs that can cover, beat blocks and tackle, & chase down scrambling QBs will take away the dump passes & inside runs that turn into first downs. Do even 2 out of 3 and the pass rush benefits.

If this mythical LB can blitz some as well, even better. I don't see one on the roster I trust to do any of that stuff.

Bobby Wagner..

On second thought . ..

To slow to cover..

Naw .

We are winning the super bowl this coming up season. I guarantee this.

43 minutes ago, Gary said:

We are winning the super bowl this coming up season. I guarantee this.

If they don't you must turn back in your

well deserved prize..

I think your onto something though .

1 hour ago, Gary said:

We are winning the super bowl this coming up season. I guarantee this.

I’m trying not to get my hopes up, makes the fall hurt a lot less. It sucks to think like this.

4 minutes ago, WRAPradio said:

I’m trying not to get my hopes up, makes the fall hurt a lot less. It sucks to think like this.

Then don't...

9 hours ago, WRAPradio said:

I agree, I think we're ready to compete as it, but the LBs would make me feel a lot better if they progress. My ONE other concern is I think everyone may be overrating this offense just a little. Elite offenses don't get shutout.

We put up 16 & 19 vs. Cleveland and 0 vs. Baltimore (at home). That scares me a little.

Cleveland gave up 41, 34, 23, 26, 23 last year to Baltimore, Detroit and Buffalo...all of whom we think are in our rankings in terms of offense. Not to mention 31 to Tennessee and Chicago. We're really the only team that struggled vs. Cleveland.

I think our offense is good, but not elite.

Burrow, Chase, and Higgins are elite, but teams that win rings integrate more run game into their offense. Brown has come on with 1000 yards rushing at over 4 ypc, but it doesn't seem to be a reliable part of our scheme. He just gets a certain amount of opportunity, and does pretty well with it sometimes. But we are so obviously a passing team that 5 wide on 3rd and 2 is far too common in my opinion. Like to see Zac and the offensive coordinators make it more of a priority to keep defenses guessing more.

2 hours ago, A Rock said:

5 wide on 3rd and 2 is far too common in my opinion.

Out of a shotgun formation, empty backfield, in the red zone...

And then they call a draw play that unfolds in slow motion, fools absolutely no one (except possibly OBjr with the snap count) & of course fails to convert.

This is the "tremendous offensive mind" we should be in awe of? Can we see it?

On 5/21/2026 at 12:50 PM, WRAPradio said:

I agree, I think we're ready to compete as it, but the LBs would make me feel a lot better if they progress. My ONE other concern is I think everyone may be overrating this offense just a little. Elite offenses don't get shutout.

We put up 16 & 19 vs. Cleveland and 0 vs. Baltimore (at home). That scares me a little.

Cleveland gave up 41, 34, 23, 26, 23 last year to Baltimore, Detroit and Buffalo...all of whom we think are in our rankings in terms of offense. Not to mention 31 to Tennessee and Chicago. We're really the only team that struggled vs. Cleveland.

I think our offense is good, but not elite.

Two things. 1st, the game slows down in the second year. Second, the DL should require A guard to help the center on Sexy Text so they won't have a guard in their face as they are trying to diagnose.

Just now, kennethmw said:

Two things. 1st, the game slows down in the second year. Second, the DL should require A guard to help the center on Sexy Text so they won't have a guard in their face as they are trying to diagnose.

DEXY!!

with this offense we should not have to relay on gimmicks and trick plays, or sneaky alignments
the oline has been horrible and playing in the shotgun makes our tackles have to take their 1st step back and out to meet the spread DEs rushing ,
and we wonder why they always get driven backwards.
the greatest thing about Flacco was he is slow and they had to play under center more, and then gee the OLINE played better the 2nd half of the year,
and now Joe is saying they need to get back to fast scores ,,
yes you need to push the safeties back with deep passes, but you also need to stay on the field and let the defense rest,
you want to know how to have atop 10 defense?
have an offense that stays on the field

3 hours ago, stryker57 said:

with this offense we should not have to relay on gimmicks and trick plays, or sneaky alignments
the oline has been horrible and playing in the shotgun makes our tackles have to take their 1st step back and out to meet the spread DEs rushing ,
and we wonder why they always get driven backwards.
the greatest thing about Flacco was he is slow and they had to play under center more, and then gee the OLINE played better the 2nd half of the year,
and now Joe is saying they need to get back to fast scores ,,
yes you need to push the safeties back with deep passes, but you also need to stay on the field and let the defense rest,
you want to know how to have atop 10 defense?
have an offense that stays on the field

3 hours ago, stryker57 said:

with this offense we should not have to relay on gimmicks and trick plays, or sneaky alignments
the oline has been horrible and playing in the shotgun makes our tackles have to take their 1st step back and out to meet the spread DEs rushing ,
and we wonder why they always get driven backwards.
the greatest thing about Flacco was he is slow and they had to play under center more, and then gee the OLINE played better the 2nd half of the year,
and now Joe is saying they need to get back to fast scores ,,
yes you need to push the safeties back with deep passes, but you also need to stay on the field and let the defense rest,
you want to know how to have atop 10 defense?
have an offense that stays on the field

Good points.

the more I think about the shotgun

with the linemen taking an initial step back

the more I cringe at it all..

2 hours ago, stryker57 said:

with this offense we should not have to relay on gimmicks and trick plays, or sneaky alignments
the oline has been horrible and playing in the shotgun makes our tackles have to take their 1st step back and out to meet the spread DEs rushing ,
and we wonder why they always get driven backwards.
the greatest thing about Flacco was he is slow and they had to play under center more, and then gee the OLINE played better the 2nd half of the year,
and now Joe is saying they need to get back to fast scores ,,
yes you need to push the safeties back with deep passes, but you also need to stay on the field and let the defense rest,
you want to know how to have atop 10 defense?
have an offense that stays on the field

Yep. And if an opponent puts the safeties deep, you need a potent run game to make them pay, draw them in, then make them pay with deep passes again. People talk about our guys needing to play better in games that matter, and I one hundred percent agree with that. They all add up, of course, but Chase Brown rushing for over 100 yards vs. the Stealers week 7 last year is impressive. And it was still potentially meaningful. I don't care that he rushed for 100 yards against the Cardinals, or had 100 scrimmage yards against the Dolphins with a combined 4 touchdowns in both games. That's playing good football, certainly, but we were already eliminated as were our opponents, who clearly couldn't have cared less. I don't care for stats all that much, they can lead to a false sense of strength. Who are we when it matters? Who are we on the critical downs that decide games? Two things were maddening to me last year. Watching opponents run free over the middle to convert 3rd or 4th and long in the 4th quarter. And watching our guys line up in obvious pass formations to try and convert 3rd and short for an incomplete pass. Would love to see more balance and less predictability this year. Fingers crossed.

On 5/29/2026 at 9:31 AM, A Rock said:

Yep. And if an opponent puts the safeties deep, you need a potent run game to make them pay, draw them in, then make them pay with deep passes again. People talk about our guys needing to play better in games that matter, and I one hundred percent agree with that. They all add up, of course, but Chase Brown rushing for over 100 yards vs. the Stealers week 7 last year is impressive. And it was still potentially meaningful. I don't care that he rushed for 100 yards against the Cardinals, or had 100 scrimmage yards against the Dolphins with a combined 4 touchdowns in both games. That's playing good football, certainly, but we were already eliminated as were our opponents, who clearly couldn't have cared less. I don't care for stats all that much, they can lead to a false sense of strength. Who are we when it matters? Who are we on the critical downs that decide games? Two things were maddening to me last year. Watching opponents run free over the middle to convert 3rd or 4th and long in the 4th quarter. And watching our guys line up in obvious pass formations to try and convert 3rd and short for an incomplete pass. Would love to see more balance and less predictability this year. Fingers crossed.

or then handing it off and losing yardage.. rip that useless draw play out of the playbook ffs it hasn't fooled anyone since 1973

dead on about the rest of it too, though. whole lot of credit for being not quite the worst defense in history for a couple of games. hoping they can get a couple of clutch turnovers or otherwise blessed with some luck to close out games early in the year, try not to actively lose them any & get out to a decent start.

everyone wants to believe in a 20-0 run this time of year which tends to stifle in-depth discussion but really 2-2 or better to start would be Big Improvement. pull it together before they dig too much of a hole, take the division or at least a WC & see what happens

this guy thinks we need a 7th pass rusher.....

he also thinks the lions and commanders at SB verge teams...

10 minutes ago, GoBengals said:

this guy thinks we need a 7th pass rusher.....

he also thinks the lions and commanders at SB verge teams...

I don't know if the lions aren't.

4 minutes ago, claptonrocks said:

I don't know if the lions aren't.

goff is a pumpkin. IMO

the field becomes small for him in the postseason. and facing the rams, hawks, packers, all on his side of the road to the superbowl is basically a death sentence.

you cant make a deep playoff run throwing screens all day. carrying goff to the suprbowl with a run game and defense is the only real hope there.

like burrow trying to drag the defense there the past few seasons... shits just not happening.

Goff will fill up the fantasy football stats for everyone... but he isnt winning shit.