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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 14: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions throws a touchdown pass to Jameson Williams #1 during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After going through NFC regression candidates, several rebound candidates could give the Los Angeles Rams issues in 2026. Between the Lions’ potential return to playoff contention and the Eagles aiming to bounce back after a rough end to the year, there are a few teams that might make some noise ahead of the new season.
Read more: Bears, Seahawks among NFC regression candidates in 2026
Here are four NFC teams that could make some noise during the 2026 season.
Detroit Lions
The Lions had an up-and-down season following the departures of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. That landed Dan Campbell’s squad in the NFC North basement despite finishing with a winning record.
Detroit has a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing, who earned high praise from Johnson earlier this offseason.
The team had a reasonably quiet offseason, but they didn’t lose many key players aside from David Montgomery, DJ Reader, Alex Anzalone and Amik Robertson.
People around the NFL have short memories and have seemingly forgotten that the Lions won the division twice before their down year in 2025. Detroit might not be among the conference favorites as they once were, but they still have one of the NFC’s best rosters, which will always remain in contention.
Philadelphia Eagles
It’s unfair to put Philly on this list considering they’ve won the NFC East in back-to-back years. It wasn’t a banner year for the team, as they lost four of their last seven games, but STILL earned the NFC’s No. 3 seed.
Things will change for the better because they’ll have the NFL’s easiest schedule … for a first place team. Since the NFL added the 17th game in 2021, teams with the easiest first place schedule have averaged 10.6 wins per season, according to CBS Sports.
There’s still plenty of drama involving the Eagles because when is there not? Between Jalen Hurts’ leadership abilities being questioned and the ongoing A.J. Brown saga, there’s no shortage of it in the City of Brotherly Love. But don’t fret, as Howie Roseman addressed one of those problems, selecting Brown’s replacement in USC wideout Makai Lemon during the NFL draft.
The rich keep on getting richer, so Philly will again be one of the Rams’ top conference rivals in ‘26. How nice to know that some things never change … dammit.
Dallas Cowboys
It pains me to put America’s Team on this list, but here we are.
Dallas has had a solid offseason to date. Ugh, I just threw up in my mouth typing that.
The Cowboys have prioritized fixing their godawful defense from a year ago by acquiring Rashan Gary from the Packers and signing players like Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick (c’mon guys!). Additionally, they added high-end talent in the first round of this year’s draft with Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence. Those additions truly can’t make the unit any worse.
Don’t expect the Cowboys to be a Super Bowl contender or even appear in the NFC Championship for the first time in ages, but a playoff spot is well within their reach after a two-year hiatus.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints were expected to be one of the NFL’s worst teams last season. They proved analysts right at first with a 2-10 start, yet managed to win four of their last five to end the year, and were even in NFC South contention for the home stretch as well.
New Orleans will have the second-easiest schedule in the league in 2026. Plus, the front office gave second-year quarterback Tyler Shough a weapon in wide receiver Jordyn Tyson in the draft to pair with star pass catcher Chris Olave. If Shough can build on a solid rookie campaign, then the team might have their long-awaited answer under center since Drew Brees retired.
New Orleans will be one of the hottest worst-to-first picks leading up to the season. In most divisions, that wouldn’t happen, but they have the luxury of playing in the South, a division that was won by a team with a losing record for the second time in four seasons.
Believe me, expectations are CRAZY low in NOLA, so it can happen.
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