Five NFL teams that could race to strong starts in 2026 season

A strong start to the season can set NFL teams on the right foot toward a long, deliberate march toward the playoffs – or provide a full-on illusion.

Figuring out what to make of a good early impression can be difficult, with any given team's long-term viability often not coming into focus until far deeper into the fall. Still, there's no questioning that coaches covet building an initial advantage in the standings rather than falling into a hole. With fortuitous schedules and the components to click in the opening weeks, several organizations are on track to pull ahead of their competition in the first month or two.

Here are five NFL teams that could be poised to start the new season strong with an early-season run:

Last season's crash landing to the bottom of the NFC North standings was a particularly painful outcome for a franchise that had already begun to question how long its competitive window would remain ajar. It did, however, confer one major benefit: a schedule that some might view as the league's softest setup.

If Detroit can emerge unblemished after its Week 2 prime-time showdown with the Bills, there's a solid chance for the organization to…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/