NFL Trends: Teams Looking to Make a Turnaround
There’s a well-known saying about the NFL—it’s a copycat league.
When an offensive scheme finds success, other teams are quick to replicate it. Similarly, if an assistant coach blossoms into a successful head coach, others will likely follow that model. The ultimate aim? To reach the Super Bowl.
The New England Patriots are just 60 minutes away from the top, facing off against the Denver Broncos with backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Even if they don’t clinch it this weekend, their journey from last place in the AFC East to Super Bowl contention will inspire other teams in the upcoming season.
With that context, let’s consider three teams that could potentially experience a similar resurgence from the bottom this season and climb even higher by 2026.
First up, the Titans might just be in the best position to follow the Patriots’ path.
It all starts with the quarterback. New England kicked off this season with Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, who made quite the impact in his rookie year. This season, he’s taken it up a notch, emerging as an MVP contender, a top-tier passer, and a legitimate force in the deep game.
The Titans are banking on a similar leap from Cam Ward in his second year.
However, the Patriots also capitalized on an incredible amount of cap space heading into 2025. They had the financial room to retool their roster significantly, bringing in talents like Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Robert Spillane, and Stefon Diggs.
The Titans, too, have substantial cap space—over $80 million, making it the highest in the NFL for 2026.
The last piece of the puzzle for the Titans is getting their coaching situation right. Mike Vrabel looks to be stepping into the Patriots’ shoes nicely so far.
Will Robert Saleh be the next Titans’ head coach? The bigger question could be whether they manage to find their own version of Josh McDaniel.
Of course, there are distinctions to note between the Patriots as they entered 2025 and the Saints as they approach 2026.
The coaching element is crucial. While the Patriots had experience with Vrabel, he embarked on his first year in Foxboro without the usual playbooks—so to speak.
On the other hand, the Saints are bringing along a rising star in Kellen Moore, who has a strong offensive background, contrasting Vrabel’s defensive experience.
Financially, the Saints are still grappling with the repercussions of past decisions, having been over the cap recently. However, they could easily become cap-compliant through straightforward moves—like restructuring Chase Young and extending Chris Olave.
But it is important to note a clear difference: being cap compliant isn’t the same as enjoying the flexibility the Patriots had just a year ago.
Nevertheless, today’s Saints and last year’s Patriots share a commonality.
In the 2025 season, Tyler Schau replaced Spencer Rattler and proved his worth, securing his position heading into next year. Although the Saints have fallen from first-round draft consideration, they seem to be positioning themselves for 2026 around Schau with both draft picks and free agency.
Then there are the Giants, who may have potential as well.
However, they face a financial hurdle. As we speak, they sit just under the salary cap with a little less than $2 million available. It appears they also have some challenges with effective cap space, meaning Joe Schoen and the Giants have some financial work ahead of them.
Yet there are positive aspects to consider.
The Giants have seasoned head coach John Harbaugh, whose tenure with the Ravens, including a Super Bowl win, makes him an attractive prospect in upcoming recruiting. His experience will be key, especially with comparisons being drawn to New England’s Vrabel.
Then, there’s the quarterback situation. Like the Patriots did last year, the Giants are counting on the progression of second-year QB Jackson Dart. He’ll need to be more cautious on the field and avoid unnecessary hits—certainly a lesson Harbaugh learned during his time with Lamar Jackson.
Patterns and similarities can be spotted throughout.
Factor in the questions surrounding the No. 4 scheduling and the competitive NFC East, and the Giants might present the strongest case for making a comeback.
