It was logical that the NFL chose the New England Patriots to play the Seattle Seahawks in the first game, since it is a Super Bowl clash.
The Super Bowl was also an interesting experience.
Advertisement
The Super Bowls have been competitive for the most part, but the last postseason saw the second consecutive blowout. From the beginning, it was clear that the Patriots would lose. Seahawks won 29-13, but the mismatch was much worse than that score would indicate. Seahawks’ defense shut down the Patriots who failed to score during the first three-quarters. New England scored a pointless touchdown in the last three minutes to bring Seahawks’ lead down to 29-7. Seattle’s performance was superior to New England on every level.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that a second match will be the same. Signing Romeo Doubs, and making the big A.J. Brown. Many players who have been on the team since the Super Bowl last year will recall being humiliated and wish to atone for that. They will, however, be missing a key player due to the ankle injury of running back TreVeyon.
Create or join a Yahoo Fantasy Football League for the NFL 2026 season
Seahawks also have motivation. The Seahawks have been overlooked as the Los Angeles Rams, their NFC West counterparts, grab all of the attention this offseason with their major roster changes. They have suffered some losses, including running back Kenneth Walker III, and their offensive coordinator Klint Kubica, but the Seahawks were still a champion, and they won’t be beaten by the Rams.
Advertisement
Smith-Njigba told Yahoo Sports Jori Epstein that Donald was a competitor in the division. He’s someone you need to be accountable for, and we will do everything to keep him in check and stop him. We’re up for the challenge. Each week we’ll accept the challenge, come up with an excellent game plan and then execute. This is something I truly believe.
We’ll be prepared for anything that comes our way.
Both teams have a lot to play for as the game was moved from Thursday to Wednesday to allow the 49ers and Rams to meet in Australia on that night. This game should be better than their last meeting.
Who has more need?
Super Bowl champs, the Seahawks are in a good position. It will be disappointing if they don’t perform as well this year, but at least they have a free pass. It was surprising that the 14-3 AFC champs were so harsh in their offseason after missing out on the Super Bowl. The Patriots were criticized for their soft schedule and how the team would regress. This narrative would be changed instantly if the Patriots won at Seattle in their season opener. With Mike Vrabel as head coach and Drake Maye as quarterback, this team should be able to stay together for some time.
Advertisement
Seahawks Jadarian price is a key player
In free agency, they let Kenneth Walker III leave the Seahawks for the Chiefs. Price was selected with the final first-round draft choice as part of a plan to replace Walker. Price was a gifted player, who just happened to have been behind Jeremiyah love at Notre Dame. Zach Charbonnet, a talented back, is out for at least four games as he heals an ACL tear. Price will be heavily relied upon by a team who like to run with the ball until September. Price can become an important player if he is able to thrive in a larger role when Charbonnet’s out.
Ben Fawkes, betting market watch
Seahawks-3.5 was the opening line for the Super Bowl 60 matchup, and unlike Super Bowl (which went up to 5-5) the line remained at that level. In some bookmakers it has even been lowered to Seahawks-3. Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots’ cornerback who is currently in a dispute over a contract, will suit up. RB TreVeyon is not available. Drake Maye can look even better when facing that Seattle defense. Super Bowl champions New England haven’t received much media coverage this off-season. They’ll wait to use that against them on the field. Seattle is favored by the betting public and I concur.
Advertisement
Yahoo Sports Betting Hub has more Ben’s works.
Seahawks vs Patriots will kick-off the 2026 NFL season on Wednesday, in a repeat of the noncompetitive Super Bowl from last year. Three fantasy angle to keep an eye on:
1. A.J. Is A.J.
Brown is a fantasy superstar despite seven years of playing on teams who ran the ball to the ground. Drake Maye comes into Brown’s world at the perfect time. However, Brown is dealing with chronic degenerative knee conditions. Brown was a logical second-round pick in this summer’s fantasy draft, but there are some concerns about the floor.
Advertisement
2. Jadarian price will he be able to hit the ground running when he starts?
Seahawks hope it is true, as Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III are both out for several weeks. Price was a bit of a stretch as an NFL 1st-round selection, but given the lackluster depth chart behind him, he may get 18-20 touches for the Seahawks’ opener.
3. Has Rashid Shaheed been unlocked by the Seahawks?
Seattle traded for Shaheed during the mid-season of 2025. He did not do much after that — only a 15-188-1 line in nine games. The organization believes in Shaheed and gave him a $31 million, three-year extension at the end of the year. Even though receivers are sometimes able to produce immediately after being traded in the middle of a season (see Jakobi Meyers from last year), slow integration is more likely. Shaheed could be an important fantasy depth player for 2026.

We already know the Super Bowl winner and who will make it to the playoffs in the NFL 2026 season.
We may have exaggerated a little, but our simulation of the 2026 football season was to determine who would win the Lombardi Trophy at the end of February. Stephen Oh, SportsLine’s resident data scientist, created the simulation. Oh, the work of Stephen Oh at SportsLine is something that I would like to call the AI equivalent for the human race.
Oh’s simulation suggests that we are in for an exciting season. This is especially true in the NFC West where there was a big surprise.
Even the Cleveland Browns have hope at the start of the new season. Each team has a fresh start and will all hope to finish the season in Los Angeles where Super Bowl LXI is being played.
Who will be playing the Valentine’s Day Super Bowl? Find out the results of our simulation.
AFC Playoff Projections
SportsLine provides you with the latest sports predictions.
1. Baltimore Ravens, AFC North Champion
Record projected: 11-6
In our simulation, the Ravens are on their way to winning the division in Jesse Minter’s first season. Ravens have a 60% chance to win the division, which is a lot more than the Bengals who only get 2%. The simulation shows that THREE AFC North Teams will finish with winning records in this year but only ONE of those teams makes the playoffs.
2. Houston Texans, AFC South champion
Record projected: 11-6
Jacksonville will not be able to repeat their AFC South title from last year. Houston is projected to be the winner of the division. The Jaguars and Colts are expected to come close behind. The Texans would win the AFC South for the third time in the last four years and would make their fourth consecutive playoff appearance.
3. Denver Broncos (AFC West champion)
Record projected: 10-7
The oddsmakers don’t think the Broncos are the favorites to win the AFC West. Our simulation disagrees with the view that Denver is the favorite to win the AFC West. Our projection shows that the Broncos have a better chance to win the AFC West than either the Chiefs or Chargers.
4. Buffalo Bills (AFC East champion)
Record projected: 10-7
It is predicted that the race for top position in the AFC East between the Patriots and Bills will be tight. Buffalo has a slight edge over the Patriots (41.5%) in our simulation, with a chance to win the AFC East of 52.4%. Our simulation shows that the Bills, who have won five division titles since 2020 and dominated the AFC East over the last decade, will be back at the top in Joe Brady’s first season as coach.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (Wild card 1)
Record projected: 10-7
Our simulation shows the Jaguars making it to the postseason, even though they don’t win the AFC South a second time. It would be a huge deal for the Jaguars to make it as a wildcard. They haven’t been in consecutive playoff seasons since 1998-1999.
6. Kansas City Chiefs Wild card 2
Record projected: 10-7
Patrick Mahomes’ return and his health are two reasons why the oddsmakers favor the Chiefs this year to win the AFC West. Our simulation does not think this will be enough to allow Kansas City overtake Denver as the AFC West division champion.
7. New England Patriots Wild Card 3
Record projected: 9-8
Our simulation suggests that Week 18 in the NFL will be a wild one. The Patriots will fight tooth and nail to win the last wild card slot in AFC, even though they are projected as this team. In our simulation, the Patriots are projected to finish 9-8, with New England having a chance on a tiebreaker.
Colts (55.5%); Bengals (52.4%); Chargers (47.1%); Browns (7.1%); Dolphins (6.5%); Jets (4.9%); Raiders (1.1%); Titans (0.1%).
NFC Playoff Projections
SportsLine provides you with the latest sports predictions.
1. Seattle Seahawks, champion of the NFC West
Record projected: 12-5
The SEAHAWKS are the winners of the NFC West division in our simulation. Seattle is favored by our simulation because the Rams are building an essentially super-team. Seattle’s chances of winning their division are 50.3%, while those for the Rams is 42.7%.
2. Detroit Lions (NFC North champion)
Record projected: 11-6
The Lions have officially returned! It’s still not official, but according to our simulation, the Lions are back! Our simulation has the Lions returning at the top of NFC North which will be expected to have the most difficult division this season. In our simulation, all four teams finish above.500. The Lions are the heavy favorites: they have a 44 percent chance to win the division. They’re followed by the Bears (21.9%), Vikings (18.1%), and Packers (18.1%).
3. Philadelphia, champion of the NFC East
Record projected: 10-7
Our computer predicts the NFC East will finally end its 20-year drought of winning three consecutive division titles this year. In our simulation, the Eagles are a clear winner in the NFC East. Philadelphia is the favorite to win the championship, with a 65.4% probability. The Cowboys are second (15.5%), followed by Commanders (11.4%) and Giants (7.7%).
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South champion)
Record projected: 9-8
We saw zero NFC South teams finish the season with a winning mark. Our computer predicts that the Buccaneers will win this division with a record of 9-8 if they can achieve a finish over.500. The Buccaneers are one of only two teams that have a chance to win the division. They’re at 44.2%. Next come the Falcons, Panthers, and Saints.
5. Los Angeles Rams (Wild card 1)
Record projected: 12-5
Our simulation shows that the Rams would finish with a 12-5 record, which is tied with the Seahawks for the NFL’s best. Our computer has the Rams tied with the Seahawks. Seattle will win the tiebreaker.
6. Chicago Bears Wild card 2
Record projected: 9-8
Bears’ strength of schedule is the toughest in NFL and as a result, it is expected that they will take a slight step backwards in their win total after finishing at 11-6 in last season. The computer predicts that they will finish 9-8. This won’t be enough for them to win the NFC North but should put them into the playoffs again.
7. Minnesota Vikings Wild card 3
Record projected: 9-8
Our computer seems to love Kyler Murray because the Vikings are stealing the final NFC playoff slot from the Packers and 49ers. When trying to determine which team should win the final spot, the computer nearly malfunctioned. Minnesota is RIGHT BEHIND the Packers at 48.1%, with a 48.3% shot of reaching the playoffs.
The following teams have a chance to make the NFC playoffs: Packers (48.1%), 49ers (44.9%), Falcons (26.7%), Cowboys (25.4%), Panthers (23.7%), Commanders (19.4%), Saints (15.9%), Giants (13.2%), Cardinals (0.8%).
Wild card matchups
NFC
Lions win over Vikings
Three Eagles take on six Bears
Rams (5) over Buccaneers (4)
Seahawks are out
AFC
(7) Patriots at (2 Texans
Chiefs (6) at Broncos (3)
Five Jaguars against four Bills
Bye: Ravens
There are no surprises in the WILD CARD BREAKDOWN. The home team won five out of six games. Rams is the only team that won on the road, and it’s no surprise.
Matches in the divisional rounds
NFC
Rams (5) over Seahawks (1)
Two Lions over three Eagles
AFC
(1) Ravens over (4) Bills
Broncos lose to (2) Texans
DIVISIONAL BREAKING DOWN: Our first surprise in the playoffs is here! The computer predicts the Rams to be the NFC’s overall favorites, despite the Seahawks being the NFC West winners. Rams has a 26.03 % chance to reach the Super Bowl through the NFC while Seahawks is at 24.14 %.
Here’s the second twist in your NFC West: the Seahawks will win their division but the Rams will go further in the playoffs.
In the AFC, home teams have won all games in the AFC Playoffs thus far. This trend will continue here.
AFC Championship and NFC Championship Games
AFC: (1) Ravens over (2) Texans
NFC: Rams (5) over Lions (2)
Our simulation predicts that we will get Jared Goff for the ultimate revenge match. Goff, the Lions and Matthew Stafford would host the Rams in a Super Bowl LXI game. Goff would get a trip to Los Angeles for free if the Lions won. He’d play a Super Bowl at the Rams’ stadium in Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Our simulation shows the Rams as the winners.
In the AFC we see the unstoppable power going against an immovable object. Lamar Jackson is facing Houston’s defense, which should be among the top in the NFL for this season. It’s because of this unstoppable power that Jackson and the Ravens are moving forward in the simulation.
Super Bowl LXI is at SoFi Stadium
(5) Rams over (1) Ravens
SUPER BOWL RECAP: Our simulation tells us that Rams will win the Super Bowl. The computer predicted that the Seahawks will win the NFC West. However, in the end the Rams took the Super Bowl at their SoFi Stadium home field.
The Rams’ defensive talents are able to stop Lamar Jackson.

Fans of college football in America still can’t believe how Michigan won 13-12 against Western Michigan at Ann Arbor for their first game. When the Broncos’ clock stopped on an incomplete throw, they thought that they were in for a major upset. In a bizarre turn of events the replay officials added one second to the clock of the game, giving Michigan a last-ditch chance to win.
Kirk Herbstreit, a veteran college football expert who was addressing the elephant in the living room when fans demanded answers as to why the broadcast timer showed that the game had ended, addressed the issue while frustrated viewers were asking questions. The ESPN commentator revealed something surprising to even the most ardent fans on his Nonstop show with co-host Joey Galloway.
Advertisement
Herbstreit admitted that despite covering sports from the pressbox for over 30 years, he was unaware the television clock does not match the clock used on the playing field. Herbstreit and co-host Joey Galloway admitted, “I didn’t know that the regulation clock was not in sync with the broadcast clock.” I’m going talk to Billy Benell our producer and ask him, “How is it that the broadcast clock doesn’t match the official field clock? ‘… No, I also don’t. But I will find out. “I’ll let you know.”
The visual chaos was a sham for fans, he said. Everyone at home depends on the TV scores bug to keep track of what is happening. The score bug is a visual mess. We’re going jump to conclusions. Millions of people will jump to conclusions based on this. They should, of course! “This is what they only see.”
Michigan’s controversial and close finishes define the season. Subscribe to more stories.
Advertisement
This bizarre situation resulted from a mismatch in the technical equipment. NBC broadcast graphics hit zero just before the ball was kicked out of bounds by the defender. The Big Ten’s replay booth, however, relies solely on an internal camera that is focused on the venue clock in the stadium. These two systems are separate, so the TV viewers saw a game that was dead while officials looked at a clock which had one second remaining.
This disconnect in modern broadcasting is a major cause of distrust among viewers. The television scorebug is the source of ultimate truth for fans watching from home during high-stakes, tight endings. The official protocol for replays is seriously undermined when a booth in a stadium makes an important game-changing call that contradicts what the millions of viewers saw on screen.
All of the controversy stems from those final seconds in regulation. Bryce Underwood, the Michigan quarterback, launched a long desperate pass as the television clock was running out. Western Michigan started to celebrate a historic win, but officials stopped the game in order to see if the Broncos’ defender had touched the ball when stepping outside of bounds. This would stop the clock according NCAA rules.
Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s quarterback, made sure to make the most out of the opportunity when officials reinstated that one second on the stadium clock. Underwood threw an incredible 47-yard Hail Mary pass to JJ Bucanan, giving Michigan the 13-12 win.
Advertisement
This ending led quickly to the accusation that Michigan was treated differently because it took place in the Big Ten. Mid-American Conference accepted this explanation at first, but changed their position later and made a formal request to the FBS Oversight Committee.
MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher argued Big Ten replay officials shouldn’t have used a different internal camera system in place of the television broadcast timer.
Now, the NCAA is also involved in this controversy. Ron Snodgrass’ memo, the National Coordinator of Officials, has reportedly stated that future adjustments to the replay clock must be made using the time shown on the broadcast.
The NCAA has confirmed that it won’t retroactively reverse Michigan’s victory. However, under this new rule, if the match had taken place today, then the review would have been illegal, and Western Michigan could not claim the historic win.
Advertisement
Kirk Herbstreit will have his say when he finds out the truth.
Latest Articles
Ole Miss fan shares wild DMs with ESPN camera zoom-in forcing her to take action
Deion Sands Gives Shilo A Brutal Reality check About Shilo’s Football Career During Bankruptcy Struggles
MAC demands to strip Michigan of its controversial win after AP voters denounce Kyle Whittingham & co.
LSU Legend Blames Lane Kiffin for turning Alma Mater into ‘Clickbait.’
Michigan’s Kyle Whittingham Cancels Practice & Spends Sleepless night Before Naming Bryce Underwood as Replacement

The 2026 NFL season is finally here! Before the Seahawks and Patriots kick things off with a special Wednesday night season opener and then the Rams and 49ers face off on the other side of the world, it’s time for our staff to spoil all the fun of the next 23 weeks and tell you how the season will play out.
Check below for our predicted award winners and full playoff brackets, including Super Bowl champions and MVPs. Plus, each of our writers and editors has one bold prediction, covering everything from a defensive MVP to rescheduled playoff games to a 70-yard field goal.
Here’s who we have making predictions this season:
Albert Breer, senior writer
Conor Orr, senior writer
Gilberto Manzano, staff writer
Matt Verderame, staff writer
John Pluym, managing editor
Mitch Goldich, senior editor
Mike Kadlick, senior news writer
Eva Geitheim, news writer
Albert Breer
Super Bowl: Rams 23, Broncos 17; Matthew Stafford MVP
MVP: Joe Burrow
OPOY: Jahmyr Gibbs
DPOY: Will Anderson Jr.
OROY: Jadarian Price
DROY: Rueben Bain Jr.
Protector: Penei Sewell
Comeback: Patrick Mahomes
Coach: Dan Campbell
As you can see, I’m going big on the Lions. I see Detroit coming away with 13 or 14 wins, and the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, Protector of the Year and Coach of the Year. Why? As I always say, these things often come down to storylines. And the Lions have fallen out of the headlines after a tough 2025. But let’s put that year in perspective: They lost Ben Johnson, the offensive line that had defined the team crumbled after Frank Ragnow’s summer retirement, injuries plagued the defense, and they still finished 9–8, giving them a fourth consecutive winning season for the first time since Joe Schmidt was the coach in 1972. A year later, Drew Petzing has been brought in to fix the offense, the line’s been restocked and the defense’s health is improving (Brian Branch will be back soon). Add it all up, and I think we’ll all remember how sturdy what Campbell and Brad Holmes have built is. Then, they’ll run into the Rams’ freight train …
As for my Super Bowl pick, yeah, it’s boring; it’s chalk. But I think every time the Rams are in this sort of spot—with the spotlight hot—they deliver. And they were four points away, as I see it, from another Lombardi last year, and have added Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, Aaron Donald and Jaylen Watson to their defense since (imagine reading that sentence seven months ago). The Broncos, to me, are similarly situated, with a deep, balanced roster coming back, a top-notch coaching staff and a really good addition (Jaylen Waddle) to show for their offseason.
Bold prediction: Joe Burrow’s top challenger for MVP will be … Sam Darnold. I have Rams-Seahawks in the divisional round, and I think it’ll have the same feel as last year’s NFC title game, which felt like a Super Bowl. And, yes, I have the Rams taking the division and that game, but I think the Seahawks are going to be really, really good. Part of that will be Darnold playing the way he did in that title game win—like one of the best players in football. I love the way Darnold has ascended the past three years; I love what’s around him in Seattle, I love the hire of Brian Fleury, and I love that, finally, he’s got a team that’s his own. I think all of it’s going to come together, and he’ll thrive in 2026.
Conor Orr
Super Bowl: Texans 24, Seahawks 21; MVP C.J. Stroud
MVP: Will Anderson Jr.
OPOY: Jahmyr Gibbs
DPOY: Myles Garrett
OROY: Jadarian Price
DROY: Rueben Bain Jr.
Protector: Lane Johnson
Comeback: Jayden Daniels
Coach: Jesse Minter
As you can tell by the look of our football preview issue cover, I’m pretty high on the Texans. Optimism is eternal this time of year, and injuries are still not the story that will define the season altogether. However, Houston played incredible football last year, punching one-handed thanks to an offense that was hamstrung by a thin offensive line and a lack of depth at running back. Enter David Montgomery, a few Band-Aid veterans up front and a new C.J. Stroud, who’ll come alive in Year 2 of the Nick Caley offense and win Super Bowl MVP with a pair of touchdown passes in the season finale. Last year, I correctly called Christian McCaffrey as the world’s most obvious Comeback Player of the Year candidate and view Jayden Daniels in a similar category, assuming he can stay healthy. The new offense should be explosive, and Daniels will be big-play hunting all season. Jesse Minter will win Coach of the Year by virtue of being the one new hire who takes a non-playoff team from the year before the deepest into the postseason. While there is no Mike Vrabel–like candidate emerging from this year’s hefty class, Minter will take the Harbaugh spirit and evolve the Ravens once again.
Bold prediction: Part of me thinks something wild is going to happen. Maybe it’s not bad wild. Maybe it is. But I think we’ll miss at least 11 NFL games this season. They simply won’t happen. Some teams will just not finish with incomplete records. Years later, when we’re sitting with our grandchildren, they’ll ask why the 2026 Titans only played 15 games. “I don’t know,” you’ll say, rubbing your temples and trying to remember what happened after the flashes of lightning and the piercing, high-pitched noise. The fog that rolled over the hills and the strange dreams we had about multiple Gods; mythical creatures that looked like well-groomed Labradors with the voice of James Earl Jones. When we came to, the NFL season was simply complete. There was no press conference. There was no explanation. Mike Tirico will sidle up next to Cris Collinsworth in mid-January and ask his partner in the booth if he’s ready for some playoff football. Cris will say yes. We’ll all say yes, too. Like happy dogs, we’ll wave our invisible tails and hope we’ve been good enough for a treat.
Gilberto Manzano
Super Bowl: Rams 27, Bills 24; Kyren Williams MVP
MVP: Jahmyr Gibbs
OPOY: Ja’Marr Chase
DPOY: Myles Garrett
OROY: Carnell Tate
DROY: Arvell Reese
Protector: Penei Sewell
Comeback: Aaron Donald
Coach: Sean McVay
It’s a personal requirement of mine to have at least five playoff teams that didn’t make it the year before. For 2026, I landed on six teams: the Lions, Vikings, Cowboys, Saints, Ravens and Bengals.
The Saints and Vikings might be my most surprising teams from this group. Coach Kellen Moore has New Orleans on the right track after his players showed plenty of improvement throughout his first season, and I believe Tyler Shough will do better than his 2025 draft-mates, Jaxson Dart and Cam Ward. As for the Vikings, coach Kevin O’Connell could be feeling some heat after how poorly it went in Minnesota last year. Look for O’Connell to right the ship in Minnesota with new starting quarterback Kyler Murray, who also has plenty of motivation for a bounce-back season.
Now, let’s discuss the real contenders. It feels a bit wrong, as a strong supporter of underdogs, to go with the Rams as my Super Bowl pick. But this team might have the league’s best coach, quarterback, wide receiver and defensive player, along with a handful of players who are considered top-10 at their position. Perhaps only injuries can get in the way of the Rams in 2026. Still, it won’t be a cakewalk for Los Angeles, with Seattle still loaded with depth and emerging players.
I’ll bet on Justin Herbert and the Chargers to finally win a playoff game, but they usually burn me. The Texans and Broncos will be tough outs with their dominant defenses. I’m just not sure if their offenses will do enough to get either one to the Super Bowl. Yes, I’m well aware of Josh Allen’s postseason history. But he’s too talented not to get to the big game at least once in his career. Why not this season? Perhaps new coach Joe Brady will make the necessary adjustments. This could be a special first season in the Bills’ new stadium.
Bold prediction: Recently, a friend asked me this question: How long until Sean Payton takes play-calling duties from his offensive coordinator Davis Webb and does it himself? At the time, I was returning from my training camp visit with the Broncos, and all I heard was how great Webb has been for the offense. So, I told my friend, I don’t see that happening at all. But for the sake of being bold, I’ll say Payton will call plays for at least one game this season and then hand the job back to Webb. Head coaches have a lot of pride, and it’s not easy for them to give up play-calling.
Matt Verderame
Super Bowl: Rams 23, Texans 20; Matthew Stafford MVP
MVP: Dak Prescott
OPOY: Bijan Robinson
DPOY: Will Anderson Jr.
OROY: Carnell Tate
DROY: David Bailey
Protector: Penei Sewell
Comeback: Patrick Mahomes
Coach: John Harbaugh
It was easy picking the Rams to win the Super Bowl. They’re the best team on paper, they have the reigning MVP at quarterback and the league’s top coach. Do they have flaws? Yes. Do they have fewer than anybody else, and more ways to win than any other team? Yes and yes. As for the AFC, I could have easily picked six other teams to make it to Super Bowl LXI, but chose the Texans because they have the most dominant unit in football with their defense. That said, if C.J. Stroud doesn’t pick it up after a pair of lackluster seasons, teams like the Bills, Chiefs, Broncos or Patriots could all get there with a chance to win it all.
For some, the biggest takeaway from my bracket was the teams not in there. I don’t believe in the Ravens or Chargers. Both have major questions along the offensive line. Both have one receiver and questions galore with the rest of the room (although Ravens rookie Ja’Kobi Lane could be a stud). Baltimore is also aging and Lamar Jackson has missed significant time in three of the past five seasons. As for Justin Herbert, what’s his signature moment in the league? It’s either losing a 27–0 lead in the playoffs … or throwing four interceptions in a playoff loss. Not great. In the NFC, do the Eagles have enough firepower to be dangerous? Can the Lions stop anybody? Will the 49ers be able to field a team by December? I have my doubts on all fronts, though San Francisco will be a wild-card team.
As for the award section, I love the Cowboys’ offense. It’s the best in football. Don’t be surprised when Prescott throws for 4,700 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Bold prediction: We’ll start having a serious discussion about whether Jim Harbaugh is the right coach to get the Chargers to the next level after they miss the playoffs. Yes, Harbaugh won a national championship at Michigan. He’s a quirky person with a ring on his finger and sported a 44-19-1 record with the 49ers from 2011 to ’14. Here’s the other reality: That was a lifetime ago in NFL years. Harbaugh’s approach to winning is pounding the ball and occasionally throwing it. In 2026, even with the pendulum swinging back toward the running game, that’s a tough way to win it all unless you have a lights-out defense. The Chargers have a good defense, but it’s no Legion of Boom. And at Michigan, Harbaugh won a single bowl game (the Citrus Bowl) before winning it all in 2023. He’s a good coach, but is he a great one at this juncture?
John Pluym
Super Bowl: Rams 17, Texans 14; Myles Garrett MVP
MVP: Myles Garrett
OPOY: Jahmyr Gibbs
DPOY: Christian Gonzalez
OROY: Carnell Tate
DROY: Sonny Styles
Protector: Penei Sewell
Comeback: Aaron Donald
Coach: DeMeco Ryans
Only four NFL teams (Browns, Jaguars, Lions and Texans) have yet to appear in a Super Bowl, and that number will drop to three this year.
The Texans are loaded defensively, especially at the edge position with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. I’ve loved Hunter since he was the No. 88 pick in the third round by the Vikings in the 2015 draft. The amazing number with Hunter: He had only 4.5 sacks at LSU. In the NFL, he has 114.5. That’s an average of 10-plus sacks per season. But Anderson is even more talented at rushing the passer than Hunter, which is saying something. Anderson has 30 sacks in three seasons but could challenge Myles Garrett as the best defensive player in the AFC. Ultimately, the success of Houston’s season will come down to quarterback C.J. Stroud. If Stroud can avoid turnovers (he had only 10 in the regular season but seven in the playoffs last year), Houston has a chance to have a historic season and advance to its first Super Bowl.
In the NFC, it’s all about the Rams, who are loaded offensively and defensively. They have MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford. They also have two of the best wide receivers in the game, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Plus, Kyren Williams is one of the best all-around running backs in the league. On defense, they’ve added Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald returns, and they also shored up their secondary by trading for cornerback Trent McDuffie and signing Jaylen Watson in free agency.
So, I like the Texans and the Rams to meet in the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium, which will essentially be a home game for L.A. But the game will come down to the most important position in professional sports: quarterback. And that’s where the Rams have a huge advantage over the Texans.
Bold prediction: Myles Garrett will win MVP. There have been only two defensive MVPs in NFL history: Alan Page on the 1971 Vikings and Lawrence Taylor on the 1986 Giants. Was there a bigger story this offseason than the Browns trading Garrett to the Rams? No. Garrett is the best player in the league and will finally have the opportunity to play on a winner after several frustrating years in Cleveland. Garrett had an NFL-record 23 sacks in 2025, and I’m going to predict 25-plus sacks for him this season and a Super Bowl ring.
Mitch Goldich
Super Bowl: Rams 30, Chargers 24; Matthew Stafford MVP
MVP: Justin Herbert
OPOY: Jahmyr Gibbs
DPOY: Will Anderson Jr.
OROY: Ja’Kobi Lane
DROY: Caleb Downs
Protector: Tristan Wirfs
Comeback: Patrick Mahomes
Coach: Jim Harbaugh
I am well aware there’s a decade-long-running joke about how much the media hypes up the Chargers every preseason, but I don’t believe I’m a repeat offender of falling into that trap. (I’m guilty of picking the Ravens the past few years and watching them let me down.) I’m a big Mike McDaniel fan, and I’m really excited to see what he does with the Chargers’ offense this season if the tackles can stay healthy. I am the guy trying to nab Ladd McConkey and even Keaton Mitchell in every fantasy draft this offseason. I gave Jim Harbaugh my Coach of the Year vote, though it’ll be interesting to see how much credit McDaniel gets for their season, as people talk about him landing a head coaching job for 2027. I do think the AFC will see the regular contenders mostly return to form after such a topsy-turvy 2025 in that conference. I have the Bills and Ravens winning their divisions and the Chiefs sneaking into the playoffs behind a Comeback Player of the Year season from Patrick Mahomes.
In the NFC, I have the showdown everyone wants with a Rams-Seahawks conference title game. I made Seattle do it the hard way with a pair of road wins to get there. But give me the Rams to topple their division rivals and then go on to win the Super Bowl for the same reasons so many other people are picking them, which I barely feel the need to elaborate on. If the Rams earn the top seed in the NFC, they can stay home for the entire postseason run, which is even cushier than the last time they won a Super Bowl at SoFi, when they at least had to visit Tampa for the divisional round. This year, it’s all linine up for them.
Bold prediction: The NFC championship game will be played on a Monday. Not only do I have the two Los Angeles teams meeting in the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium, but my playoff bracket also created the NFL’s worst nightmare. It’s a perfect storm where both L.A. teams need to host the conference title game on the same day, delaying the league’s ability to begin prepping the Super Bowl field! In years past, the league has said that such a conflict in L.A. (or MetLife Stadium, hold for laughter) would result in pushing a game to Monday, and I think the league will have no choice but to relent in this unfortunate year to do it. I spent more time than I care to admit thinking about which game would get bumped a day (I tend to obsess over these types of schedule items), knowing the league would probably love to have strong TV ratings for the Monday experiment. In the end, I think because the Rams and Seahawks are both on the West Coast, it would be more fair to delay that game an extra day, rather than risk the Bills having to fly in for the AFC title game, then go home and have to fly back across the country with one less day of rest. Even though a Chargers win makes it a moot point.
Mike Kadlick
Super Bowl: Rams 27, Bills 21; Matthew Stafford MVP
MVP: Jordan Love
OPOY: Ja’Marr Chase
DPOY: Myles Garrett
OROY: Jadarian Price
DROY: Mansoor Delane
Protector: Penei Sewell
Comeback: Kyler Murray
Coach: Jesse Minter
2026 is going to be the year of the Packers. That is, until they meet the Rams in the NFC championship game. Green Bay has a franchise quarterback in Jordan Love—my pick to win NFL MVP—and one of the league’s top defenders in Micah Parsons, who is targeting an early-to-midseason return. I’m excited to see where Matt LaFleur can take this club in his eighth season at the helm.
In the AFC, the Bills will bounce back after failing to win the division for the first time since 2019, earn the No. 2 seed and finally get Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs off their postseason backs. Then, Josh Allen will meet Drake Maye and the Patriots for the third time after two regular-season matchups and send Buffalo back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1993 season.
Love will be dubbed the best player in the sport after leading the NFL in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage. Ja’Marr Chase will earn his first Offensive Player of the Year award while the Seahawks’ lead back, Jadarian Price, will win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Mansoor Delane, meanwhile, will prove to be worth the Chiefs trading up three spots for him, becoming Kansas City’s first Defensive Rookie of the Year since Marcus Peters in 2015.
Elsewhere, Kyler Murray is headed to the Kevin O’Connell School of Quarterbacking, where he’ll revive his career, win Comeback Player of the Year and set himself up for a massive contract in 2027. Jesse Minter will take Baltimore’s loaded roster to 12-plus wins, an AFC North title and Coach of the Year honors, and Penei Sewell will win the league’s second annual Protector of the Year award.
And, of course, Myles Garrett will win his third Defensive Player of the Year award after being traded to a stacked Los Angeles defense that ranked second in the NFL in pressure rate in 2025.
The result? The Rams win Super Bowl LXI, beating Buffalo 27–21 behind Garrett and Matthew Stafford, capturing their second Lombardi Trophy at SoFi Stadium since 2021.
Bold prediction: There won’t be a midseason coach firing for the first time since 2012. All things considered, the state of coaching in the NFL is actually pretty good right now. Ten of 32 teams have a new man in charge heading into 2026, which all but takes them out of the midseason change category. As for the coaches on the hot seat—mainly Todd Bowles, Aaron Glenn and Zac Taylor—their rosters have enough talent to avoid a total meltdown. Barring any abhorrent early-season disasters, it’s feasible that no coaching changes will be made until after the 2026 season.
Eva Geitheim
Super Bowl: Texans 24, Rams 16; Will Anderson Jr. MVP
MVP: Joe Burrow
OPOY: Bijan Robinson
DPOY: Will Anderson Jr.
OROY: Denzel Boston
DROY: Rueben Bain Jr.
Protector: Tristan Wirfs
Comeback: Kyler Murray
Coach: Jesse Minter
I’m all in on the Texans this year—and not just because they fabulously graced the cover of SI’s 2026 NFL preview issue. The Bengals and Ravens will return to the playoffs behind strong performances from two star quarterbacks, with Joe Burrow leading the Bengals back to postseason action with his first MVP campaign. Burrow won’t be able to follow through on his lofty Super Bowl aspirations, however, because the Texans’ defense will be the story of the postseason. The Texans’ defense is already the best in the league, and could be even better after retaining all of its key pieces and adding promising second-round pick Kayden McDonald. So long as C.J. Stroud doesn’t replicate his turnover-littered performance from last January, the Texans’ defense—led by a DPOY campaign from Will Anderson Jr.—should be able to lift them to their first AFC title game, where I see them taking on the Bills. Houston has been Josh Allen’s kryptonite throughout his career, and will stunt the 2024 MVP winner from reaching the Super Bowl.
Over in the NFC, the NFC West will remain the league’s best division with three teams making the playoffs again while the NFC North falls short of expectations. I see the Cowboys beating out the Eagles for the NFC East, but failing to end their NFC championship game drought. The Rams, after adding Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie to an already star-studded roster this offseason, will follow through on preseason expectations by reaching the Super Bowl. The game will spotlight the league’s best offense and best defense, with a pass-rush showdown as Anderson and Garrett face off. Ultimately, the Texans will prevail behind a stout defensive effort that overwhelms Matthew Stafford and the Sean McVay offense on the way to lifting the Lombardi Trophy.

Ben Shelton, Carlos Alcaraz and the U.S. Open have shown that there are two types of lateness.
In the most recent finish ever at the tournament the American star outdueled defending champion, in a thriller which didn’t end until 3:33 am in front of an raucous New York audience.
Shelton will now face his fellow American Francis Tiafoe in the semi-finals.
There will be an American player in the final on Sunday, as they hope to break a streak of American men who have not won a Grand Slam tournament since Andy Roddick’s win in New York 2003.
Shelton is the eighth seed. In a match lasting 4 hours and 28 minutes, the No. 8 seed ended Alcaraz’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak. The Spaniard was seen at one time vomiting in a towel.
After a marathon day at Flushing Meadows, the quarterfinals were played in darkness.
Shelton won the third and second sets of the match after losing the opening set on tie-break.
No. The No. 2 seed Alcaraz won the 4th set with 6-1, after missing most of the year due to a wrist injury. This set the stage for a tough final set.
Shelton eventually won the 10-7 tiebreaker in the final set after both players traded blows.
This epic is now the most recent finish of the tournament, which has become increasingly famous for its duels that take place overnight.
This honor was previously held by another Alcaraz game, in which he played his top-ranked rival Jannik Sinner at 2:50 am, during the quarterfinals of 2022. This victory paved the way for Alcaraz to win his first U.S. Open.
Now he’ll focus on getting back to the top form which made him a sporting star.
Aryna Sablalenka beat Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the first quarterfinal match of Tuesday. This kept her hope of winning a U.S. singles title for a third time.
Tiafoe, who had been beaten by fellow American Alex Michelsen in the first round of play-offs against Shelton before that, won the second and third rounds with a series of comebacks.
The Arthur Ashe Stadium was packed with thousands of supporters who stayed until the end to watch Shelton, and popular entertainer Alcaraz.
Shelton declared, “It is incredible.” “I say this is the best sports city and stadium in the entire world. “I’m hoping my best friend over there and my sister don’t need to go to work at 6 am in just three hours.”