Which NFL teams finished the preseason undefeated? Recent history offers a warning as we head into the 2026 season
Since 2021, only 10 of the 25 teams that remained unbeaten in pre-season made it to the play-offs
The 2026 NFL season is right around the corner, and in the NFC , there is a clear favorite in the Los Angeles Rams , not only because Super Bowl 61 will be played at their home venue, SoFi Stadium where they captured their last Lombardi Trophy four seasons ago, or because they feature an elite offense led by reigning MVP Matthew Stafford , Puka Nacua , and Davante Adams .
The primary reason for their powerhouse status is their defense, bolstered by a blockbuster trade for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett , who is coming off a record-breaking sack campaign.
They also acquired star cornerback Trent McDuffie , alongside the stunning return of 3x Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald , who at 35 years old came out of retirement on a 1-year, $20 million deal to pair with Garrett in forming arguably the most terrifying pass-rushing duo in league history.
Preseason Perfection Meets History: Why Unbeaten Augusts Spell Danger for NFL Contenders
In theory, the biggest challengers to the Rams in the NFC are the defending champion Seattle Seahawks , but unlike the Rams, who swept their three preseason matchups against the Chiefs, Saints, and Chargers, the Seahawks failed to win a single exhibition contest while suffering more major roster departures than incoming signings during the offseason.
The Rams managed to finish the preseason undefeated alongside the Buffalo Bills , Baltimore Ravens , and Cincinnati Bengals . While all four squads look like heavy playoff locks on paper, recent history issues a stark warning.
Ever since the preseason slate was reduced from four games to three starting in 2021, 25 teams have finished the exhibition schedule undefeated, but only 10 of them managed to punch their ticket to the postseason, representing a modest 40% success rate .
Even more telling, out of those 25 unbeaten preseason squads, only the Denver Broncos managed to advance past the wild-card round last year.
For high-powered outfits like the Rams , Bills , Ravens , and Bengals , who are universally projected to contend for a Super Bowl title, the historical odds are strangely stacked against them. Looking closely at these trends, at least one of these four heavyweights is projected to miss the postseason entirely.
For the Bills and Rams , missing January football would register as an unmitigated disaster; for the Ravens , missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons is something that has never occurred during the entire Lamar Jackson era; and for the Bengals , another postseason absence would mark four straight years without playoff football, applying immense pressure squarely onto Joe Burrow and the front office.
