NFL 2026 Season Preview: Predictions, Players & Teams to Watch
The 2026 NFL season is here — so which teams, players and storylines should fans be watching? In this NFL 2026 season preview, Sue breaks down her predictions for the year ahead, the teams that could make some noise, players to keep an eye on and the contenders she thinks could be playing deep into the postseason. Who could surprise us? Which teams are ready to take the next step? Which players could have a breakout year? And, of course, who has a real shot at making it all the way to the Sup...
The 2026 NFL season is here — so which teams, players and storylines should fans be watching?
In this NFL 2026 season preview, Sue breaks down her predictions for the year ahead, the teams that could make some noise, players to keep an eye on and the contenders she thinks could be playing deep into the postseason.
Who could surprise us? Which teams are ready to take the next step? Which players could have a breakout year? And, of course, who has a real shot at making it all the way to the Super Bowl?
It’s time to look ahead, make some predictions and get ready for another NFL season.
🏈 Who are YOUR teams and players to watch in 2026?
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00:00 - NFL 2026 Season Preview
00:38 - Episode Into
01:41 - Biggest Storylines Entering The 2026 NFL Season
06:01 - Teams Under Pressure & Teams Ready for next step
11:12 - Quarterbacks Under Most Pressure
14:30 - Players to Watch in 2026
16:58 - Rookies & New Faces to Watch
21:14 - The Team I'm Buying This Year
22:51 - My Uh-OH Prediction
25:18 - NFL Playoff Predictions
27:14 - Super Bowl Prediction
28:34 - Is the NFL Preseason Too Long?
31:43 - Sue's True Moment
35:17 - TFTO Outro
NFL 2026 Season Preview
SueNew faces trying to prove they belong, veterans still chasing something they haven't quite been able to catch, and fans everywhere are starting to believe again. Because right now, everybody's undefeated. We all think we know which team is ready to break out, which player is about to have a huge year, and who's going to be there at the very end. And every year we're right about a few things and completely wrong about the rest. That's what makes a new NFL season so much fun.
Episode Into
SueI'm going to be completely honest with you all. I don't follow or watch every team in the NFL the way I do with, let's say, hockey and baseball. But I love watching my team every Sunday. I follow the playoffs, and of course, I watch the Super Bowl. And like any sports fan, I get excited when a new season is about to begin. And every year, I start looking at the big stories from the offseason. And especially the drama, because you all know I love a little sports drama. I look at the injuries coming out of training camp. That could really hurt a team. Coaches and players moving around. Which teams got better and which ones maybe didn't? And with every new season comes the new faces, the rookies. Who's going to make that immediate impact? And are they really going to be everything the experts say they are? So for this episode of True Fan True Opinions, I'm giving you exactly that. My honest takes and opinions from the perspective of a fan. Not an expert, a fan. So let's talk sports like fans do.
Biggest Storylines Entering The 2026 NFL Season
SueEvery NFL season starts with a million different storylines, but there are five that have really caught my attention heading into this year. First up, Aaron Rodgers is 42 years old. 42. And he's coming back for one more season in Pittsburgh. What makes this even more interesting is Mike McCarthy taking over the Steelers. Rogers is reunited with the coach he won a Super Bowl with in Green Bay, and now they're trying to do it again all these years later. I mean, come on. If they somehow pull this off at this stage of Rogers' career, that's one hell of a story. But at 42, I've also got to wonder, how much does Aaron Rodgers really have left? Because eventually father time wins. Then there's Patrick Mahomes. To me, this might be one of the biggest stories in the entire NFL this season. He's coming back from tearing both his ACL and LCL last December. And he's trying to be ready for week one. He was practicing and he was taking the first team reps, but KC has been extremely careful with him and kept him out of the preseason. And after the kind of season the Chiefs had last year, everybody's going to be watching. Is Mahomes still Mahomes? Can he come back from that kind of knee injury and get Casey right back into the AFC conversation? I can't wait to find out. Then we've got Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas. The number one overall pick. A fully guaranteed 57 million rookie contract. Which, I'm sorry, what? $57 million before you even played an NFL regular season game? That's insane to me. And now there's already a quarterback conversation because Mendoza hasn't exactly lit it up during the preseason. Well, they also got veteran Kirk Cousins sitting right there. So now I'm really interested. Do you throw the kid in and let him learn? Or do you let him sit behind cousins for a while? Either way, when you're the number one pick with that much money and that much hype attached to you, everybody's watching. And then there's the one of the biggest moves of the entire offseason: Miles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Players like Garrett don't get traded in their prime very often. And the Rams went all in to get him. Put Garrett on that defense with the team LA already has? Yeah, the Rams have my attention. There is one thing I'm watching though, that knee. He's been dealing with soreness and swelling and hasn't played during the preseason. And hopefully that's all it is. Because if Garrett is healthy, he's going to be a force. And apparently the Rams, they weren't done. Because just yesterday, Aaron Donald announced he's coming out of retirement and going back to the Rams. Are you kidding me? Garrett and Donald on that defense front. Yeah, I'm feeling even better about something I'm going to predict a little later this episode. And finally, come on, you knew I wasn't gonna leave this one out. The Cowboys and Saints joint practice. What was supposed to be a football practice basically turned into a WWE match. There were fights, punches, helmets coming off. And the NFL ended up fining both teams $500,000. But the one that got me was Saints rookie Brock Reichsneiner, who, by the way, actually comes from a wrestling family. Basically, German suplexing a cowboy player onto the field. I'm sorry, what the hell are we doing? You're supposed to be preparing for the season, and instead you're out there throwing guys around and risking somebody getting hurt before the games even count. I love the intensity, the competition in these joint practices in training camp, even in the preseason. But at what point does being competitive become plain stupid? Because sometimes I think NFL players crossed that
Teams Under Pressure & Teams Ready for next step
Sueline. Every year there are teams we expect to take a step forward. And then there are teams where I look at them and think, I don't know if I'm buying this. And I've got three of them. So let's start with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They went eight and nine last year, and now they've lost Mike Evans. That's a big one for me. You're not just replacing another receiver, you're replacing a guy who has been such a huge part of that franchise and such a reliable weapon for Baker Mayfield. And then there's Todd Bowles. I know he's under pressure this season, and I'm just not convinced his team has gotten better around him. Maybe Baker proves me wrong, maybe somebody steps up and replaces some of what Evans gave them. But right now, I think Tampa is going backwards before they're going forward. Then there's the Chicago Bears. And Chicago is different because I actually think they're a good football team. They went 11-6 last year. There's a lot to like there. But I'm looking at that defense and wondering if some of what went right last season can happen again. They force a ton of turnovers, and turnovers are funny. You can't always count on getting the same breaks year after year. They've also lost some important pieces defensively, and the schedule isn't doing them any favors. So I'm not saying Chicago is suddenly going to be bad. I just don't know if they're going to be as good as people expect them to be. And my third team is the New England Patriots. They went 14-3. They made the Super Bowl. So why the heck am I putting them on the list of teams that could disappoint? Because I think last year a lot of things went right for the New England. They had one of the easiest schedules in football. They stayed relatively healthy. And when you're winning 14 games, sometimes a couple of those breaks have to go your way. This year, different story. They got a much tougher road. Seven of their first 11 games are away from home. And they lost Stefan Diggs. So I'm curious to see how that offense looks around Drake May without him. Now, do I think New England's going to fall off a cliff? No. But do I think they're winning 14 games again? No. And that's really what I mean when I say these teams could disappoint. Disappointing doesn't necessarily mean bad. Sometimes it just means not living up to what everybody expects. Now, there are three teams that, for very different reasons, I think are going to give their fans a lot to be excited about this season. And maybe even surprise a few people along the way. So let's start with the Baltimore Ravens. Why am I buying them? They're going to be much better than that very disappointing 8-9 record last year. And yes, a lot of that has to do with injuries. I get it. How can you not be optimistic with a healthier Lamar Jackson, though? He is one of the best Russian quarterbacks in the NFL. If not, maybe the best. And with the addition of Trey Hedrickson, plus a new voice on the sideline with head coach Jesse Minter, I think Baltimore is going to be much stronger this year. I expect them right back at the AFC North fight. And then there's the Denver Broncos. And here's the funny thing about Denver. They could actually have a worse record and still be a better football team. So why do I think they're going to be better this year? Well, just because you had a great record doesn't mean you can't improve. I think they have. The addition of Jalen Waddell gives them a true elite wide receiver. And don't forget about Kirtlin Sutton, who's just a physical force, along with some good young death in Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims. And I love their coach Sean Payton. For me, he's still one of the brightest offensive minds in football. And what he did for that Saints franchise, well, that might be worth another episode someday. Now give Payton a second-year quarterback in Bo Mix with a full season under his belt. And I think this team is going to be a fourth to be reckoned with. And then there are the New York Giants. And I'm going to call them my dark horse. Out of these three teams, the Giants are probably the one I'm taking the biggest chance on. But I believe they're going to be a lot better than that 4-13 team we saw last year. The hype around John Harbaugh is real. With him running things and Matt Nagy as their new offensive coordinator, I expect a much more disciplined football team. And drafting Francis Manoa, God, I hope I said his name right, gives Jackson Dart some much needed protection. And protecting Dart was a real problem last year. I'm gonna put it out there. I think the Giants can get to 500 this year. And I'll go one further. John Harbaugh is my early pick of coach of the year. There, I said it.
Quarterbacks Under Most Pressure
SueBut with potential comes expectations, and with expectations comes pressure. And for these next three quarterbacks, there's going to be plenty of it this season. So let's start with Jill and Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles. And honestly, I think Hertz might be sitting on the hottest seat of the three. He's got his sixth offensive coordinator in seven years coming in. That's a lot of change for any quarterback. But here's where I'm looking at Hertz and saying, at some point, the excuses have to stop, right? AJ Brown is gone. The roster around him has changed, and there are still people questioning whether Hurts can consistently beat teams with his arm from the pocket. To me, this is the year where he has to answer some of those questions. I'm not saying Jalen Hurts suddenly isn't a good quarterback, because he is. But when you're the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, being good isn't enough. And if things don't go well this year, you know those Philly fans aren't exactly known for being patient. Then there's CJ Stroud in Houston. And this one is interesting to me because we've already seen how good Stroud can be. But last year wasn't his best. Now he's approaching the point where Houston has to start thinking about his long-term future and potentially a very big contract. And look at the team around him. Houston has built a roster that should be competing for something bigger than just making the playoffs. That's where the pressure comes in for me. If you're going to be the guy in Houston and eventually get paid like the guy, then this is the year I want to see you take the next step. Especially now with the injury to Jaden Higgins, things aren't necessarily going to get easier for him. I'm not ready to say Houston should start looking somewhere else if he struggles. That's way too far for me. But I do think this is an important season for Stroud. And then Josh Allen. Yeah, you knew I was getting here eventually. And this one is different for me because I'm a Bills fan. Allen has already won an MVP. He's in the conversation almost every year, right? He's proven he's one of the best quarterbacks in football. So what's left? We all know the answer. Win the damn thing. That's the pressure now. Because fair or not, when you're this good, eventually people stop talking about regular season numbers and individual words. They start talking about what happens in January. And we had the heartbreak. We've watched Buffalo get so close. We've watched those playoff runs and when we thought maybe this was finally the year. But here's why I'm excited about Allen this season. He's got James Cook. Buffalo added DJ Moore. And if Dalton Kincaid stays healthy, Allen has weapons around him. No, Josh Allen doesn't have to prove to me that he's a great quarterback, but there is one thing left for him to prove that he can lead the Buffalo Bills all the
Players to Watch in 2026
Sueway. Okay, okay, enough pressure. Let's talk about something a little more fun. The players I'm really excited to watch this season. First up, O'Marion Hampton with the LA Chargers. And honestly, this one's pretty simple for me. I think this kid is ready to take the next step. His rookie season was interrupted by injury, but when he was out there, you could see how explosive he can be. Now he's healthy. He's got a year of NFL experience behind him, and he's running behind what should be a much healthier offensive line. I'm not gonna sit here and predict exactly how many yards he's gonna rush for. That's not my thing. I just think we're going to hear O'Marion Hampton's name a lot more this season. Then there's Luther Burden in Chicago. And this one really caught my attention because a DJ Moore is gone from the Bears. That's a pretty big hole in that Bears offense. And somebody has to step into it. And I really think Burden can be that guy. He's explosive. He's dangerous once he gets the ball in his hands. And now he's going to have an even bigger opportunity with Caleb Williams. He's dealing with that groin injury right now, so obviously that's something I'm watching heading into week one. But if he's healthy, I really want to see what this kid does with a bigger role. And finally, yep, we're going back to Buffalo. But I'm actually putting two guys together here, DJ Moore and Dalton Kincaid. Because I'm really excited about what these two could mean together for Josh Allen. DJ Moore is exactly the kind of receiver I think Buffalo needed. He's experienced, he's explosive, and I love that he already has that connection with Joe Brady from their time together in Carolina. But don't forget about Dalton Kincaid. Again, if Kincaid can stay healthy, I still believe there's another level there. And that's what excites me about putting these two together. Defense have to worry about more. They have to worry about Kincaid. And you still got James Cook. And oh yeah, Josh Allen is the guy throwing them the football. I love the possibilities here. I'm not saying more and Kincaid are suddenly going to become the greatest receiving combination in football. I'm saying these are two guys I'm going to have my eye on every Sunday. And yes, being a Bills fan probably has something to do with that.
Rookies & New Faces to Watch
SueOne of my favorite things about the start of a new season is all the new faces. Rookies coming into the league, big name players wearing completely different uniforms, new coaches taking over. And there are a few I'm really interested in watching this year. So let's start with the rookies. Ruben Bain Jr. in Tampa Bay. Here's what I like about Bain. I think he's coming into the NFL with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. He dropped to 15th in the draft. And now Tampa gets pass rusher who I think can make an immediate impact on that defense. Sometimes falling a little further than you expect isn't the worst motivation to have. Then there's Jeremiah Love in Arizona. The Cardinals took him third overall, so let's be honest, the expectations are huge. But he's also explosive. He can run the ball, he can catch it, and Arizona can move him around and find different ways to get the ball in his hands. I want to see how quickly that translates in the NFL. And Caleb Downs in Dallas. The Cowboys traded up to get him, and I think he could make an immediate difference in that secondary. He can cover, he can come up and help against the run. And everything either I've seen or heard tells me he's got a great football IQ. And obviously, Dallas believes he's ready to play right now. Now let's get to some names we know wearing completely different uniforms. AJ Brown in New England. This is a huge addition for Drake May. The Patriots needed a legitimate number one receiving threat, and I think they got one. I'm really interested to see what those two can do together. Then there's Dexter Lawrence in Cincinnati. The Bengals gave up their number 10 pick to get him. That tells me everything I need to know about how badly they wanted to improve that defense. He's a three-time pro bowler and one of the most imposing defensive linemen in football. I really like this move for the Bengals. Their defense needed help, and Lawrence gives them a huge piece right in the middle of it. And Jalen Waddle in Denver. Another huge trade. Denver gave up a package that included a first round pick, and Bo Knicks gets a legitimate big play receiver. I already told you I'm high on Denver this year, and Waddle is one of the reasons why. And finally, we got the guys calling the shots. There are a lot of new head coaches around the NFL this season. But four really stands out to me. Joe Brady in Buffalo. Obviously, I'm watching this one closely. He's only 36, he's a first-time head coach, and he's taken over a team where the expectation isn't just to make the playoffs anymore, it's to win the Super Bowl. But I really like that Josh Allen doesn't have to start over with somebody completely new. Brady already knows Allen, he knows their offense, and now we get to find out whether he can take the next step as the guy running the whole team. You got John Harbaugh with the Giants. This is almost the complete opposite of Brady. You're getting an experienced championship-winning coach to come in and try to change the culture of a franchise that's been struggling. And you already know I'm buying into it a little bit. I pick Harbaugh as my early coach of the year. There's Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh, another experienced coach, and now he's got Aaron Rodgers. Pittsburgh doesn't change coaches very often, so when they do, I'm paying attention. I'm really curious to see what McCarthy can get out of this team and out of Rogers at this stage of his career. And finally, Kevin Stavansky in Atlanta. This isn't some complete rebuild. Allanta went eight and nine last year. Stvansky's a two-time coach of the year, so my question is pretty simple. Can he be the guy who takes almost their team and get them over the hump? And that's really what I love about all these changes. Some of these guys are going to make an immediate impact, and some probably won't. And there's almost certainly somebody I haven't even mentioned who's going to come out of nowhere and have a huge season because there always is.
The Team I'm Buying This Year
SueOkay, I've talked about a few teams I think could take another step, but there's one team I'm really buying this year: Detroit. I believe this team is going to have the ultimate bounce back season. Last year they went 9-8, they missed the playoffs, and their season officially ended on Christmas Day against Minnesota. And if I'm one of those Lions players or a Lions fan, that still leaves a pretty awful taste in my mouth. You don't forget that. With guys like St. Brown and Williams, and having something to prove, I'm buying them. Actually, I believe they're making the playoffs. Dare I say, I know they're making the playoffs. There I said it. And here's one other little thing working in their favor. Because Detroit finished fourth in the NFC North last year, their schedule gets some fourth place matchups instead of facing quite as many division winners. So now that doesn't mean anything is going to be handed to them. You still have to show up. You still have to play. And you can't take anybody lightly in the NFL. But I think Detroit's going to be a much better team this year. And I'm not just buying them to sneak into the playoffs. I think they could do some real damage once they get
My Uh-OH Prediction
Suethere. Okay, here's the prediction I'm probably going to regret saying out loud. The Cincinnati Bengals. And I'm just saying it, I'm not buying the hype. I know, I know. Joe Burrow is healthy. And when Burrow is healthy, this is a completely different football team. I'm not arguing that at all. But I feel like everybody sees healthy Joe Burrow and suddenly Cincinnati is automatically right back near the top of the AFC. I'm not there. And honestly, maybe part of it's because I just don't like the Bengals. Hey, I said these were my opinions. But there are football reasons too. That defense has gone through a lot of change. They had some really good pieces. Dexter Lawrence is a huge addition. But they also lost Trey Henderson. Logan Wilson retired. And there are a lot of new faces that have to figure out how to play together. And then there's Burrow. Yes, he's healthy now, but I'm still looking at that offensive line and wondering: can you keep him healthy? Because we've seen what happens when he's under pressure. And there are some nasty pass rushes waiting for him in the AFC. And really, that's my biggest problem with Cincinnati. Look at the AFC. Buffalo, KC, Baltimore, the Chargers, Denver, Houston. I'm not saying every single one of those teams is going to be better than Cincinnati, but I'm asking, where exactly are the Bengals separating themselves from that group? Because right now, I don't see it. Maybe they'll prove me completely wrong. Maybe Burrell stays healthy. That new defense comes together immediately, and Cincinnati has a huge year. But if you're asking me today, I'm selling the Bengals. And look, this is called my uh oh prediction for a reason. I could be sitting here halfway through the season wondering why the hell I said this out loud. Okay, so before I get into my playoff predictions, there is one individual word I'm going to predict MVP. And come on, you know where I'm going with this. Josh Allen, my man. Yes, I'm a huge Bills fan. Yes, I'm probably a little biased, but I genuinely believe he's going to have an MVP type season. Okay, there's my one individual word prediction.
NFL Playoff Predictions
SueNow let's get into the playoffs. I'm not going to predict every wildcard game or every round because honestly, we'll be here forever. So I'm gonna go straight into my final four AFC Championships. LA Chargers at Buffalo Bills. And tell me this wouldn't be fun. Justin Herbert against Josh Allen with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Two incredible talented quarterbacks, two teams with huge expectations, and the Chargers having to come into Buffalo in January. Cold, maybe snow. Bill's mafia absolutely losing their minds. Yeah, give me that game. And funny enough, we're actually going to get a little preview with the Chargers come to Buffalo in week three. But if they meet again in January with everything on the line, I'm taking Buffalo. Yes, I know. Shocking. Okay, NFC Championships. I got Detroit Lions at LA Rams. And remember when I told you I was buying Detroit? Well, I meant it. I've got them going all the way to the NFC Championship. And I would love, love this matchup because the story practically writes itself. Jared Goff against Matthew Stafford. Goff going back to LA trying to knock out his former team. Stafford facing the franchise where he spent so much of his career. And then you got two teams that I think could be incredibly entertaining this year. There's also Miles Garrett now on the Rams defense, which is one of the reasons I'm so high on LA. Detroit absolutely can win this game. But I'm taking the Rams, which means my Super Bowl is set. Buffalo Bills versus Los Angeles Rams. And I think everybody listening already knows where I'm going with that one. And we'll get there.
Super Bowl Prediction
SueAlright, my Super Bowl prediction. I told you we'll get here. I got the Buffalo Bills versus Los Angeles Rams. And my winner, come on, you know, the Buffalo Bills. Finally. And yes, obviously I'm a Bills fan. There's absolutely some heart involved in this pick. I'm not even going to pretend there isn't. But this would be such a fun Super Bowl, too. You got two elite quarterbacks, two offensives that can score, and so much firepower on both sides. I just can't see this being some boring, low-scoring game. But here's the difference for Buffalo this year, at least for me. I believe in this defense. We've seen playoff games in the past where Josh Allen and that offense have done enough to win, and then the defense just couldn't make that one stop when Buffalo desperately needs it. I think this year can be different. If that defense can keep Buffalo in the game and give Allen opportunities, so you got Josh Allen, James Cook, DJ Moore, and a healthy Dalton Kincaid. So go do your thing, boys. Get it done. And I'm planting my flag right now. Buffalo Bills, Super Bowl 61 champions. There I said it. This is the year.
Is the NFL Preseason Too Long?
SueAll right, there's one thing about the start of the NFL season that I struggle with every single year. And that's preseason injuries. And before anybody says it, yes, yes, I understand why we have training camp and preseason. I get it. Rookies need opportunities to prove they belong. Guys are fighting for jobs. Coaches have to figure out who's making the roster. Players need rep, teams need to work on timing, and you can't just show up week one and expect everybody ready to go. I understand all of that. I get it. But here's the part I hate. These athletes aren't showing up to train camp after sitting on the couch for six months. They've been training, they've been working out, they're coming in ready to compete. And then somebody gets hurt in a friggin' preseason game. A game that doesn't even count. And suddenly everything changes. Maybe that player misses the beginning of the season. Maybe they're out for months. And sometimes their entire season is over before week one even gets here. And it's not just a player, it can change everything for the team. You spent an entire off-season building your roster and thinking about what this season could look like. Then one flipping injury happens and suddenly you're changing the game plan. Somebody else has to step into a role they weren't expecting, and the whole team has to refocus. We've already seen it in this preseason. Jaden Higgins is gone for the season. Tyler Biades is gone for the season. And there have been plenty of other injuries and scares around the league. Week one is just around the corner, and some teams are already being tested. And that's where I struggle with it. Because I don't want to eliminate preseason. I think you need it. Especially for the rookies and the players fighting to make a team. For some of those guys, preseason might be the only opportunity they get to show an NFL team what they can do. I don't want to take that away from them. But when more and more teams don't even want their star players on the field because they're afraid they're going to get hurt, doesn't that tell us something? And then you've got joint practices where teams can get work against another opponent. Although apparently Dallas and New Orleans decide to turn theirs into WrestleMania. So maybe that's not completely safe either. I know why preseason exists, I know players need it, and I don't have the magic solution. But as a fan, I hate watching meaningful seasons potentially change because of a meaningless game. That's the part I struggle with. I understand why they need a preseason. I'm just not convinced they need this much of it. So I'm curious what you think. How much preseason football do NFL players actually need? Because if the games don't count, I'm really questioning how much risk is worth it.
Sue's True Moment
SueI've been a Buffalo Bills fan for a long time. And if you're a Bills fan, you already know that comes with a little bit of a heartbreak. Okay, so maybe a lot of heartbreak. I still remember the first Super Bowl uh in 1991. I was so excited, I was over the moon. It was the Bills' first Super Bowl ever. I thought we were going to win. And I was sitting at home watching every second of it. And then wide right. Scott Norwood misses the field goal with only seconds left. And the Bills lose 20 to 19 to the New York Giants. And yes, more than 35 years later, I still have that little distaste for the Giants because of it. The next year against Washington wasn't even the same kind of heartbreak. They were just better than us. I sat on my couch watching it and feeling sad, disappointed. And then came Dallas. For the third Super Bowl, I thought maybe I'll change things up. I went to the local pub with some friends to watch the game. Apparently, changing where I watch wasn't the answer. Dallas destroyed us 52 to 17. And then came number four. Dallas again. But this one was different. I believed. I mean, come on. We couldn't possibly lose four Super Bowls in a row, right? And Thurman Thomas was my favorite player. My best friend had even given me a Thurman Thomas jersey for Christmas that year. So in my mind, it had to be our year. And at halftime, Buffalo was winning. There was hope. Then early in the third quarter, Thurman fumbled. Dallas took advantage. Buffalo never scored again. And we lost our fourth straight Super Bowl. I was shocked. And honestly, thank goodness I was home alone. I didn't want to talk to anybody. I didn't want to see anybody. I just want to sit there and be miserable by myself. And here's the funny thing about being a sports fan. After all that, I never stopped believing. And now we got this era with Josh Allen. Year after year, Buffalo gets into the playoffs, and especially these last few seasons, I've thought maybe this is finally it. We've had some incredible teams standing in the way. We've had more playoff heartbreaks. And every time it happens, you tell yourself you're not going to get your hopes up quite as much next year. At least I do. And then the next season comes and I believe it all over again. And this year, I don't know. There's something about this team. I've already told you why I like what Buffalo has done. I've already picked Josh Allen as my MVP. And yes, I've already put the Bills on the spot and picked them to win the Super Bowl. Maybe I'm foolish. Maybe I'm just an internal optimist. Or maybe I'm simply a Bills forever girl. Honestly, it's probably a little bit of all three. But after four straight Super Bowl losses, and after all the years that followed, and after all the recent playoff heartbreak, I'm still here. Still cheering, still believing, and still willing to let this team break my heart one more time. Because maybe, just maybe, this is the year.
TFTO Outro
SueThanks so much for listening to another episode of True Fan True Opinions. If you enjoyed today's conversation, I really appreciate it if you follow the show, leave a review, and share it with another sports fan. And don't forget, I want to hear your thoughts. Did you agree with my takes? Did I miss something? Let me know in the comments or on social media. Until next time, keep sharing, keep believing, and remember chin up, don't give up. I'm rooting for you.