Stadium News

Breaking News from the Bench to the Bleachers

New York Giants

Giants get brutal Achilles update on undrafted UNC cornerback

Teams around the NFL are getting their rookies, drafted and undrafted, adjusted to the professional level with training camps quickly approaching. On Thursday, one of the undrafted free agents the New York Giants signed suffered an unfortunate Achilles injury that is likely to prevent him from playing at all in the 2026-27 campaign. Reports indicate […] The post Giants get brutal Achilles update on undrafted UNC cornerback appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Read moreGiants get brutal Achilles update on undrafted UNC cornerback

Giants’ Offensive Line Shown Ultimate Disrespect in League Rankings

The New York Giants didn’t have a lot of things going for them in 2025, but their offensive line could certainly be considered one of the bright spots.Left tackle Andrew Thomas stayed relatively healthy, starting 13 games for the Giants. It was his most games played since the 2022 season.Jermaine Eluemunor held things down on […] The post Giants’ Offensive Line Shown Ultimate Disrespect in League Rankings appeared first on HEAVY.

Read moreGiants’ Offensive Line Shown Ultimate Disrespect in League Rankings

Commanders’ Latest Schedule Release Leaks Rumor Season Opener

The Washington Commanders’ official schedule for the 2026 NFL season will be released at 8 p.m. ET tonight. As the clock ticks closer to the full drop, leaks have begun to seep through the cracks. It was previously revealed that the Commanders would face the Indianapolis Colts in London in Week 4. Now their season-opening matchup has been leaked as well. The post Commanders’ Latest Schedule Release Leaks Rumor Season Opener appeared first on HEAVY.

Read moreCommanders’ Latest Schedule Release Leaks Rumor Season Opener

Malik Nabers underwent a second surgery

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers recently underwent a second surgery on his injured knee. Nabers needed the surgery to remove scar tissue from the knee that was causing stiffness, per Dan Duggan of The Athletic. The surgery took place multiple weeks ago. Jordan Ranaan of ESPN added that the Giants still hope Nabers … The post Malik Nabers underwent a second surgery appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Read moreMalik Nabers underwent a second surgery

Unexpected Malik Nabers News Emerges Amid NFL Offseason

Malik Nabers of the New York Giants is entering his third NFL season rehabbing a major injury. After a rookie season in which Nabers set the New York franchise record for receptions (109) to go along with 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, high expectations were placed upon the former LSU ...

Read moreUnexpected Malik Nabers News Emerges Amid NFL Offseason

Eli Manning’s ex-Giants teammate drops mic with ‘best’ hot take

The legacy of New York Giants legend Eli Manning is complicated, to say the least, but not to his former wide receiver, Amani Toomer. During an appearance on Good Morning Football, Toomer recalled his initial hesitancy with Manning. He wasn’t sure if he’d be an underachieving hotshot quarterback like Ryan Leaf upon his arrival in […] The post Eli Manning’s ex-Giants teammate drops mic with ‘best’ hot take appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Read moreEli Manning’s ex-Giants teammate drops mic with ‘best’ hot take

10 NFL Wide Receivers Who Burned Out After One Epic Season

Nov 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) adjusts his helmet during the second quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports One season. That’s all it took. One season of highlight-reel catches, jaw-dropping numbers, and Pro Bowl hype — and then… nothing. Gone. Like they never existed, not like the greats for each NFL team. Today, we’re counting down ten NFL wide receivers who had the entire football world convinced they were about to become superstars — and then completely fell off the map. If you’ve ever drafted one of these guys in fantasy football the year after their breakout, you already know the pain. This one’s for you. Stay until the end — because number one might genuinely surprise you. And look, we want to be clear about what we mean here. We are not talking about wide receivers who were never any good. We’re not dunking on career backups or practice squad guys who got a cup of coffee. We’re talking about players who had one legitimate, statistically dominant, make-you-a-believer season — a season where scouts were nodding, fantasy managers were celebrating, and front offices were drawing up massive contracts. And then the very next year, sometimes the year after that, they just… vanished. The league adjusted, production cratered, and those big seasons became outliers rather than launching pads. It happens more than you’d think. And every single time, it’s a story worth telling. Let’s count it down. Which wide receivers had one good season, then fell off the map? 10. TRAVIS TAYLOR The Baltimore Ravens selected this wide receiver out of Florida with the 10th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. First round. Top ten. The expectations were enormous from day one. Taylor showed flashes in his first few seasons but never quite put it all together — until 2003, when he finally delivered what Ravens fans had been patiently waiting for: 70 receptions, 942 yards, and 6 touchdowns. For one season, he looked like the player Baltimore had always believed they were drafting. But that was the peak. Taylor never topped 400 receiving yards in any season that followed. The big games stopped coming, the targets dried up, and he was eventually released. He bounced around the league before calling it a career. The cruel irony? His best season came in year four. Some guys just take time to develop — and then run out of time right after they do. 9. DEVERY HENDERSONNovember 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devery Henderson (19) carries the ball against the New York Giants during the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports Speed kills — until it doesn’t. Henderson was a burner out of LSU who spent most of his early career as a role player and return specialist with the New Orleans Saints. He was always dangerous in the open field, but in 2008, something clicked. Drew Brees found him 40 times for 793 yards and 5 touchdowns. Defenses were genuinely terrified of him leaking behind the secondary. For one season, he was a legitimate deep threat in one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. The following year, he dropped back down to 35 catches for 453 yards. By 2010, he was a part-time contributor, and by 2012, his career was effectively over. Here’s the thing about pure speed receivers — once defensive coordinators game-plan for you, once the film is out and corners know your tendencies, and once your legs lose even half a step, there is nowhere to hide. Henderson’s entire game was predicated on getting behind people. The moment the league figured out how to keep him in front of them, the magic disappeared. 8. IKE HILLIARDJan 6, 2002; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; FILE PHOTO; New York Giants receiver Ike Hilliard (88) in action against the Green Bay Packers at Giants Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK Playing alongside Amani Toomer with the New York Giants, Hilliard had a legitimate breakout campaign in 1999 — 72 catches, 996 yards, and 7 touchdowns. He was four yards shy of a 1,000-yard season and had established himself as a genuine playmaker on a team going places. Giants fans penciled him into the lineup for the next decade. He was young, productive, and looked completely comfortable as a starting wide receiver. Then the injuries came. And they didn’t stop. Hilliard battled through a string of physical setbacks that robbed him of his explosiveness and his availability. He never cracked 500 receiving yards in a single season after 1999. Think about that — one near-thousand-yard year, and then nothing close to it ever again. He eventually finished his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a long way from the player the Giants thought they had. His story is less about the league adjusting and more about the randomness of injury — how one wrong landing, one awkward tackle, can permanently alter the trajectory of a career that had every reason to thrive. 7. JERRY PORTERNov 18, 2007; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oakland Raiders receiver Jerry Porter (84) reacts after catching a 28-yard pass in the fourth quarter of 29-22 loss to Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports The Oakland Raiders wide receiver had what genuinely looked like a superstar breakout in the 2005 season — 74 catches, 942 yards, and 9 touchdowns. He was a big, physical receiver who won contested catches and generated yards after contact. He looked like the kind of player you build an offense around for the next decade. Raiders fans were excited. The league was on notice. Then came front office drama. Feuds with the coaching staff. A suspension. A total implosion that had nothing to do with his talent and everything to do with the chaos around him — and some of the chaos within him. Porter played only scattered games of note in the following seasons and never came anywhere close to replicating that 2005 output. He signed with Jacksonville, tried to revive things, and eventually faded out. His case is a reminder that football is a team sport in every sense — and when the organization around you is dysfunctional, even legitimate talent can get swallowed up. 6. DONTE' STALLWORTHJul 30, 2013; Richmond, VA, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth (14) runs onto the field prior to a morning walkthrough as part of the 2013 NFL training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports In 2007, with the New England Patriots — yes, that Patriots offense, the one that nearly went 19-0 with Tom Brady breaking every record in sight — Stallworth hauled in 46 catches for 697 yards and an almost absurd 11 touchdowns. The touchdown total alone would make any receiver look elite. With Randy Moss commanding every safety and corner in the building, Stallworth was picking apart single coverage all season long. He was a genuine weapon and earned every penny of his reputation that year. The following offseason, the Cleveland Browns handed him a massive free agent contract worth over $35 million. The result? Three catches. In the entire 2008 season with Cleveland, Donte’ Stallworth caught three passes for 46 yards and played only eight games. It was one of the most jarring single-season collapses you will ever find in a wide receiver. The lesson here is hard but important: context is everything. System matters. Quarterback matters. When you go from Tom Brady and the greatest offense of a generation to a struggling Cleveland Browns squad, the numbers will not follow you. Stallworth’s talent was real. The situation in New England was just unrepeatable. 5. DAVID GIVENSFeb 06, 2005; Jacksonville, FL, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver #87 David Givens runs after making a catch against the Philadelphia Eagles defense during Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium. The Patriots won the game 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Another Patriots wide receiver on this list — and honestly, that’s not a coincidence. The New England system was incredible at making receivers look better than they were. Givens was a legitimate contributor during the dynasty years, but his true breakout came in 2004 — 56 catches, 874 yards, and 3 touchdowns. He was reliable, smart, ran clean routes, and had genuine chemistry with Brady. The Tennessee Titans looked at that production and rewarded him with a massive free agent deal worth up to $24 million. A huge payday. A fresh start. A new chapter. He played four games in his first Tennessee season before a serious knee injury ended his year. He managed six games the following year before another injury struck and ended his NFL career entirely. David Givens never played another snap in the league. One of the most heartbreaking entries on this entire list because there was no failure of talent, no drama, no system mismatch — just a body that couldn’t hold up when it mattered most. Football is violent and random, and sometimes the cruelest outcomes have nothing to do with anything a player could control. 4. SAMMIE STROUGHTERAug. 28, 2008; Stanford, CA, USA; Oregon State Beavers wide receiver Sammie Stroughter (19) reacts after wide receiver Darrell Catchings (not pictured) fumbled the ball for a touchback during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, CA. Stanford defeated Oregon State 36-28. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports In 2009 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Stroughter had a legitimate eye-opening rookie season — 56 catches for 680 yards, flashing open-field instincts and route-running ability that had people genuinely excited about where his career was headed. For a young receiver coming out of a smaller program, those numbers were impressive. Tampa Bay looked like they had found something. The following year: 3 catches for 26 yards. Not a typo. Three. The year after that, he was out of the NFL altogether. His rookie season now reads almost like a statistical anomaly when you look at the rest of his career. What happened? The league happened. Defensive coordinators studied his tendencies, corners stopped giving him free releases, and Stroughter couldn’t make the adjustments fast enough. It’s one of the most dramatic single-season disappearing acts you’ll find in recent NFL history. 3. FREDDIE MITCHELLFeb 06, 2005; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Philadelphia Eagles receiver Freddie Mitchell (84) is hit by New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi (54) and Roman Phifer (95) during Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium. The Patriots won the game 24-21. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports Oh yes. Number three is Freddie Mitchell — aka FredEx —, and if you watched Philadelphia Eagles football in the early 2000s, you already have strong feelings about this man. The Eagles selected Mitchell in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, and in 2002, he assembled a genuinely solid season: 55 catches, 750 yards, and 6 touchdowns. More importantly, he made one of the most memorable catches in Eagles playoff history — hauling in that miraculous reception on 4th-and-26 against the Green Bay Packers to keep Philadelphia’s season alive. In that moment, FredEx was a legend. What followed was one of the most spectacular collapses — both on and off the field — of that entire era for a wide receiver. His production fell off a cliff almost immediately. He feuded openly with the organization. He made bizarre and boastful quotes to the press. And he called out opposing players by name before games in which he contributed almost nothing. He thanked his own hands in a postgame press conference. Mitchell was released after the 2004 season, attempted a comeback with Kansas City that went nowhere, and never played meaningful NFL football again. The talent was real — that 4th-and-26 catch proved it forever. The rest of it? Not so much. 2. MIKE WILLIAMSDec 31, 2006; Irving, TX, USA; Detriot Lions wide receiver (88) Mike Williams celebrates a touchdown in the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports (c) copyright 2006 Tim Heitman Mike Williams was supposed to be Detroit’s next big-time weapon after dominating at USC, but his NFL career never came close to matching the hype. After sitting out the 2004 college season due to eligibility issues, Williams still went 10th overall to the Lions in 2005, joining a receiving corps that already included Charles Rogers and Roy Williams. But his lack of speed, conditioning concerns, and struggles separating from NFL defenders quickly became major problems. He lasted only two seasons in Detroit, catching just 37 passes before bouncing around the league. For a player once viewed as one of college football’s most unstoppable wideouts, Williams became one of the clearest examples of a receiver whose peak came before the NFL ever really began. 1. KELLEY WASHINGTONAug 19, 2005; Landover, MD, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver #87 Kelley Washington celebrates his touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the second quarter at Fed-Ex Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2005 Geoff Burke Now hear us out, because this is precisely what makes the one-hit wonder wide receiver so devastating. Washington was a big, physical pass-catcher for the Cincinnati Bengals who, in 2004, genuinely flashed the kind of versatility and contested-catch ability that makes scouts salivate. He was getting meaningful targets, producing in the run-after-catch game, and looked like he could be a legitimate long-term starter in that offense. The hype was real. The potential was real. Then came the slow fade. Injuries mounted, the opportunity window closed, and he bounced from Cincinnati to New England to Baltimore to Tampa Bay — barely a footnote in each city. No scandal, no enormous bad contract, no catastrophic single injury moment. Just a career quietly evaporating before it ever fully arrived. And that’s why he’s number one — because his story is the most common version of this tale. Not every burnout is dramatic. Most of them look exactly like Kelley Washington: a guy who showed you just enough to believe, and then disappeared before you could prove yourself right.

Read more10 NFL Wide Receivers Who Burned Out After One Epic Season

NFL Strength of Schedule 2026: Rankings for All 32 Teams Revealed Ahead of Schedule Release

The NFL strength of schedule has been revealed. Here's a look at each of the 32 teams' expected difficulty of schedule.

Read moreNFL Strength of Schedule 2026: Rankings for All 32 Teams Revealed Ahead of Schedule Release

5 Teams With The Biggest Super Bowl Windows Closing And 5 That Will Be Opening Soon

While some NFL teams are running out of time to win it all with their respective cores, other clubs have done a masterful job in stockpiling young talent to create a long-term title contender. Here are five NFL teams whose Super Bowl windows are rapidly closing, and five whose will open real soon. Which teams should win the Super Bowl soon, and which ones will not? Closing: Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills helmet (Denny Medley-Imagn Images) It’s not only mind-boggling that the Bills have yet to win it all in the Josh Allen era. It’s baffling that they haven’t even gotten to the Super Bowl in the first place.  Buffalo has won double-digit games every year since 2019. They’ve won the AFC East division crown five times. And yet… The Bills’ heartbreaking Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos was the final straw for GM Brandon Beane, who fired beloved head coach Sean McDermott. The Bills then promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, the latest desperation move to get this franchise over the hump. The problem is, the window in Buffalo can’t be considered wide-open anymore. Allen has entered his 30s, and it’s anybody’s guess how much longer he’ll be in his prime with his style of play. Wide receiver DJ Moore, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, defensive tackle Ed Oliver, and edge rusher Bradley Chubb aren’t young guns, either. And while the Bills are trying to “win now,” the archrival New England Patriots have taken over as the team to beat in the AFC East. And if their rebuilds are done properly, the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins could gain ground on Buffalo in a couple of years. At this rate, the Bills’ window has no more than three years. If they can’t get it done, then it’ll be time to start over. Opening Soon: New York GiantsOct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants helmets on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images We know Giants fans haven’t had much to celebrate since their last Super Bowl triumph in the 2011 season. But for the first time since they last won it all with Eli Manning, the long-term future in New York is oozing with brightness and promise. They hit on their 2024 first-round pick of wide receiver Malik Nabers, and finally ended the failed Daniel Jones experiment. They found three potential franchise cornerstones in the 2025 NFL Draft with edge rusher Abdul Carter, quarterback Jaxson Dart, and running back Cam Skattebo. Dart showed promise in his rookie year despite season-ending injuries to Nabers and Skattebo. And decided to play behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines….with a terrible coaching staff at his side. Then something special happened for the Giants. The Baltimore Ravens fired head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons at the helm. So, the G-Men moved quickly to hire the future Hall of Fame head coach. And boom goes the dynamite. The Giants then aced the draft, snagging prized offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and linebacker Arvell Reese with their first two picks. So, the Giants now have one of the best coaches of the 21st century to maximize a roster loaded with offensive firepower and a ridiculous front seven featuring Carter, Reese, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.  With their three NFC East rivals all facing long-term question marks across the board, the path is there for the Giants to emerge as the new kids on the block and rule the division. Bottom line: They’re about to enter a lengthy Super Bowl championship window. Much brighter days are coming, G-Men fans. Closing: Philadelphia EaglesFeb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Detailed view of a Philadelphia Eagles helmet during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images It’s a good thing the Eagles won the Super Bowl with this very core in 2024, because there’s a high probability that the group will never get that close to tasting victory champagne again. Only could a Philadelphia sports team win a championship one year, let locker room drama affect their title defense, and seemingly have half the fanbase demand a new head coach. That’s the state of the Eagles, folks. Everyone knows about the Jalen Hurts-AJ Brown drama that never got resolved. Despite winning the NFC East with an 11-6 record, the Eagles never found their rhythm. And nobody was shocked when they were upset by a short-handed San Francisco 49ers team in the Wild Card Round. Anyway, AJ Brown is gone, and we wish Makai Lemon luck in repeating his all-world production. Jalen Hurts is maddeningly inconsistent. Saquon Barkley could slow down at any time with all that mileage. Lane Johnson is likely retiring within the next two years. Jalen Carter has yet to put it all together, and mainstays on the defense from the Super Bowl 59 championship team, like Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, and Darius Slay, are long gone. There are just too many question marks for us to think that Philly can compete for a Super Bowl much longer. And honestly, the Eagles will probably fire Sirianni if they don’t at least reach the NFC Championship Game next season. If that happens, good luck replacing a Super Bowl-winning head coach with a .694 winning percentage. As we said, it’s a darn good thing the Eagles won it when they had their best chance in 2024. Opening Soon: Cincinnati BengalsDec 1, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; A general view of the helmet of Cincinnati Bengals long snapper Cal Adomitis (48) during warmups before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images It feels weird putting the Bengals under this entry, yes. Their last “championship window” was seemingly wide-open three years ago. Three straight non-playoff seasons unexpectedly followed. But sometimes, a retooling phase and short-term pain are necessary. The Bengals have worked through that, and now they’ve lined up what appears to be another window of opportunity with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow, Chase, and Tee Higgins are just in the midst of their prime years. Chase Brown emerged as the new lead RB with his first 1K rushing seasons. The defense was garbage last year, but it could be much better in 2026, even if Trey Hendrickson is out. They signed Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen in free agency before making a blockbuster trade for ex-Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Cincy also got great value with Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell, a projected first-round pick who fell to them at No. 41. So, the Bengals have a top-five offense and a rebuilt D that just has to go from abhorrent to average for them to win. Why else are the Bengals on this list? Look at their AFC North rivals. The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to take a big step back. The Baltimore Ravens face major question marks with John Harbaugh gone, and with Lamar Jackson facing longevity issues. And the Cleveland Browns? Yeah, a QB room with Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel isn’t scaring anyone. Closing: Pittsburgh SteelersSteelers helmet (Photo via Eric Hartline-Imagn Images) Sticking with AFC North teams… When Mike Tomlin made the right decision by stepping down as the Steelers’ head coach, this was the perfect time for the organization to sell its fans on a necessary rebuild. But of course, the Steelers just couldn’t bring themselves to it. Rather than bring in a young, energetic, and culture-building coach, the Steelers went with Mike McCarthy, who’s hardly different from Tomlin. He won a Super Bowl more than a decade ago. His teams are always in the mushy middle. Not a bad coach, but not one to get you over the hump again. The Steelers made a win-now move by trading for ex-Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr., because an overpaid and fading DK Metcalf wasn’t enough. They’re retaining pricey and rapidly aging veteran defensive players like TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Jalen Ramsey, who aren’t the same game-breakers anymore. And oh yeah, the QB thing. It’s sad that a fading and 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers is still their best option. Otherwise, yeah, Mason Rudolph isn’t saving the day. And that Super Bowl dream remains far. If you’re a Steelers fan, you should just hope for 2026 to go off the rails. That will give this organization the long-overdue wake-up call to rebuild from scratch. At some point, 10-win seasons and wild-card berths should stop being the standard in Steel City. Opening Soon: Carolina PanthersDec 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Panthers helmet rests on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images If the Panthers played in any other division, they wouldn’t be on this list. Fortunately, they play in the NFC South — football’s worst division by a country mile since 2021. Carolina won the NFC South with an 8-9 record last season. They also took the heavily-favored Los Angeles Rams to the wire in their Wild Card Round matchup, narrowly losing 34-31 to Matthew Stafford’s squad. 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young finally came into his own, thanks to the emergence of wide receiver and 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Tatairoa McMillan. Seeing that his young roster was ready to take the next step, GM Dan Morgan completed an excellent offseason that has Carolina on the path to long-term contention. He bolstered the front seven by signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd, giving Dave Canales more game-changing juice. He landed a future star in Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling at No. 19 overall, before snagging Tennessee wideout Chris Brazzell II in the third round. Morgan filled Carolina’s last few remaining roster weaknesses with an excellent offseason. If Young, McMillan, Freeling, and the other young talents take that next step forward, Carolina will be more than the best of a weak NFC South division. They should soon enter “Super Bowl contender” status. Closing: Tampa Bay BuccaneersNov 4, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmets against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images When Tom Brady lead the Bucs to a Super Bowl 55 championship in the 2020 season? We know it’s important not to be too greedy, but it sure felt like the Buccaneers could have won another before the GOAT retired. But it never happened. In fact, the Bucs won just one more playoff game over Brady’s final two years before he retired.  Just when we all thought his retirement would destroy the team, Baker Mayfield stepped in and emerged as Tampa’s new star QB, leading them to NFC South division crowns in 2023 and 2024. But it’s all over now, folks. The Bucs just got too old and didn’t make the necessary roster upgrades to maximize their window of opportunity with Mayfield. And they’re going to be taking many steps back from here. Lavonte David retired, and Mike Evans left to sign with the 49ers. Chris Godwin, the No. 1 receiver, can’t stay healthy. The secondary has been a weak link for five years, and the Bucs have done nothing to fix it. While Tampa is built around a few aging veteran stars, their three NFC South foes have stockpiled plenty of young talent, with young QBs in place. The Bucs got their one Super Bowl with Brady, but the chance to add another in this decade has sailed away. Opening Soon: Arizona CardinalsJan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of an Arizona Cardinals helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images We know this entry will surprise most of you. But do hear us out. The Cardinals just used the No. 3 pick on a can’t-miss running back prospect in Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. He joins an offense with superstar tight end Trey McBride, 1,000-yard wideout Michael Wilson, and another hopeful star in Marvin Harrison Jr., who has yet to put it all together. Josh Sweat, 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson, and 2025 first-round pick Walter Nolen headline an underrated front seven. Budda Baker is still a game-wrecker at safety, and Will Johnson has the tools to be Arizona’s next great All-Pro cornerback. So, why do we have Arizona on this list with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II leading their QB room? Because the Cardinals will probably have a top-five pick in 2027. That means getting an elite quarterback prospect like Arch Manning or Oregon’s Dante Moore. Add a young QB to that core, and the Cardinals will be ready to compete for a Super Bowl very soon. If they get Manning or Moore next year? Look out, league. Closing: San Francisco 49ersDetail view of the helmet for San Francisco 49ers (Kyle Terada-Imagn Images) Unlike the Bills, the 49ers have been to the Super Bowl with their current core. Franchise mainstays like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and George Kittle led the 49ers to big-game appearances in the 2019 and 2023 seasons, both losses to the Kansas City Chiefs. GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have done a remarkable job building up a sustainable title contender since they both came over in 2017.  But the clock is ticking on this group to win it together, which is why it’s unfortunate that they were hit hard by the injury bug in 2024 and 2025. Kittle and newcomer Mike Evans are entering their age-33 seasons in 2026. Trent Williams is 38. Christian McCaffrey is 30, which is rather ancient for a running back in this day and age. Bosa and Warner, who’ve dealt with multiple significant injuries since 2020, aren’t getting any younger, either.  Is there a time for Shanahan’s 49ers to finally break through and bring Lombardi Trophy No. 6 to the Bay Area? It has to be in 2026 or 2027. Their window will not be happening after that. Opening Soon: Chicago BearsNov 3, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Chicago Bears helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Yes, they won the NFC North and were one play away from reaching the NFC North last season. But regression is inevitable for the Bears, who benefited from unsustainable one-score luck and improbable comebacks. Also, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions shall have better health luck next year. The Minnesota Vikings should contend as well if JJ McCarthy breaks out…or, more likely, if Kyler Murray takes over as the QB1. But folks, this would only be a temporary setback. The Bears are still set up nicely to dominate for the next half-decade-plus. Ben Johnson is the real deal as a head coach. Caleb Williams is THAT GUY. The young offensive nucleus of Colston Loveland, Luther Burden, and Rome Odunze is only going to get better. There’s a lot to like about a secondary of Coby Bryant, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, and rookie Dillon Thieneman. The Bears may take a temporary step back in 2026, but their long-term setup is much better than that of their division rivals. 2025 was fun and all, but these Bears are still a year or two away from hitting their ceiling and really taking off.

Read more5 Teams With The Biggest Super Bowl Windows Closing And 5 That Will Be Opening Soon