Old Teams, Big Bets for Super Bowl | California News

0:00It's September 6th. Welcome in. This is California News Today, where local news meets AI. Alright, let's talk about teams that are going all in for the Super Bowl this year, the 2026 season. We're looking at franchises that are making big moves, pushing all their chips to the center of the table, because their window to win might be. Closing. Think about the Rams, who've loaded up with veteran talent, or teams built around MVP quarterbacks like the Bills and Ravens. These are the squads betting on right now, not necessarily building for a dynasty down the road. The Rams are the most obvious example. They've got Matthew Stafford, who's 38 and just 1 MVP, but everyone knows he's nearing retirement, especially if they win it all. Their defense is stacked with older stars too, like Aaron Donald coming out of retirement at 35. The problem is, they've traded away a lot of their future draft picks, and their young stars are nearing the end of their rookie deals. It's a clear win now situation for them.

1:00Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos are older than you might think, with an average starter age on offense around 29. Guys like Gara Bolas at left tackle are 34, and their defense isn't exactly young either. But despite the age, they're still a capable team, making it to the AFC Championship game last season and racking up a ton of sacks. They've added Jalen Waddle and Resigned Key defensive players, signaling another playoff push. Then you have the San Francisco 49ers, who boast the oldest starting offense in the league, with Trent Williams at 38 and Jeg Brendelad. 34, their defense is younger, but they're also projected to have very little cap space in the coming years. Quarterback Brock Purdy, however, is confident they can win it all this season. Finally, the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens are facing similar pressures. Both teams are tied against the salary cap for future years, meaning tough decisions are ahead. For the Bills, Quarterback Josh Allen, 30, is entering his ninth season, and they brought in reinforcements like DJ Moore and a new coach.

2:04The Ravens need to figure out a massive contract extension for Lamar Jackson, whose cap number is huge, and they've made significant defensive. Additions like Trey Hendrickson, the pressure is definitely on both these teams to make a Super Bowl run in 2026.