2026 Super Bowl Predictions: Battle Of L.A.? Cowboys Win It All? Our Super Bowl LXI Picks

Finally, seven months after Super Bowl LX ended, the NFL is back. But who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy at SoFi Stadium this Valentine’s Day?

As the 2026 NFL regular season begins with a rematch of Super Bowl LX on Wednesday, we made our predictions for who will play in and win Super Bowl LXI. The Seattle Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champions, but we’re not too bullish on their chances to repeat. And we don’t think the New England Patriots will make it back to the Super Bowl this year.

So which two teams will go head-to-head in Los Angeles in February? There was only one team picked to win the Super Bowl twice among the seven of us, while one of us also predicted that the Dallas Cowboys will return to glory this season.

Here are our complete Super Bowl picks ahead of the start of the 2026 NFL season.

Henry McKenna:

Looking at the rosters as they are now, it’s impossible to convince me that the Rams aren’t the most logical and simple selection. There is no more complete team. There is no team that has a better and more proven coach. Their quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is top three. Their WR1, Puka Nacua, is top three. Their defensive line is no. 1. Their leading rusher, Myles Garrett, is the no. 1. And even looking past their superstars, there isn’t really a weakness on their depth chart.

So while I like to surprise some teams, including the Bengals (just by making it to the Super Bowl), I can’t convince myself that there is any team more likely to win the Super Bowl than the Rams. They are the runaway favourites, more so than any year I can remember since 2007; it’s not even close.

Prediction of results: Rams 26, Bengals 20

Ralph Vacchiano:

Ralph Vacchiano: Sean Payton is on a mission to right what once went wrong, and it’s probably best not to stand in his way. He had the best team in the AFC last season and home-field advantage in the AFC Championship Game, and had he not lost quarterback Bo Nix to a broken leg a week earlier, he almost certainly would have been coaching in his second Super Bowl. This year he has an even better team. If he can have a little better luck and health, no one in the AFL can beat him.

As for the Bears, their road will be busy as they must survive a bruising division and find a way past the loaded Rams and defending champion Seahawks. But the Seahawks aren’t what they used to be, and the Rams have age and travel issues to overcome. The Bears are an up-and-comer in the NFC. Their team, and quarterback Caleb Williams in particular, also made a remarkable turnaround in Year 1 of the Ben Johnson era. Now that they know what he’s doing, Year 2 could be off the charts.

Prediction of results: Broncos 31, Bears 24

Ben Arthur:

With all due respect to the Seahawks, who allowed the fewest points in the NFL last season, the Texans have the best defense in the league. They are the most feared, at least, with All-Pro and Pro Bowl talent at every level. It was a unit so good it could have dragged Houston to the Super Bowl last year despite offensive inconsistencies, but CJ Stroud’s disastrous four-interception performance in the divisional round against the eventual AFC champion Patriots was too much to overcome. Stroud may never reach rookie year heights again, but he should at least be an average starter this season (the one he was for most of 2025, by the way) — with a stronger game and plenty of motivation from his uncertain, long-term future.

A Texas team that stays on schedule on offense and maintains its dominance on defense could win the AFC and even knock off the mighty Rams, who are as hyped as any team we’ve seen in NFL history.

Prediction of results: Texas 24, Rams 21

Steven Ruiz:

If you’re picking against the Rams, you’re betting they won’t be at full strength by the time the playoffs begin. Given the age or usage of some of their key players, it’s not a bad bet. But on paper, Los Angeles has the league’s best roster, arguably the best coach and the reigning MVP at quarterback. The Seahawks have enough to push the Rams even if healthy — which is why I’m predicting another matchup between these teams in the NFC title game — but I can’t say the same for any other team in the league.

AFL is more difficult to predict. I’ll take the Bills, who have everything they need on offense and should improve defensively with new coordinator Jim Leonhard. They would beat Baltimore in a surprisingly low-scoring game to make their first Super Bowl in three decades, only to get blown out by the Rams two weeks later.

Prediction of results: Rams 38, Bills 17

Greg Auman:

Battle of Los Angeles! Both LA teams competing for a ring in their home stadium is the most in Los Angeles. The Rams have already won a championship there, but the Chargers have a chance to be the story of 2026, with offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel taking Justin Herbert to places he’s never been before.

The Rams will be the team to beat all season, so it won’t be easy to beat Matthew Stafford, Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald, but that’s what we’re calling it. The Chargers will need to stay healthy in a way they couldn’t last year, but watch for Omarion Hampton to return behind a dominant offensive line.

Prediction of results: Chargers 24, Rams 21

Eric D. Williams:

The national talk all season has been about the super team the Rams have built this year. And the Seahawks use that disrespect as motivation to repeat as champions for the first time since the Chiefs accomplished that feat in 2023.

Speaking of the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid bounced back from a disappointing season last year to reach their sixth Super Bowl together, but they don’t face Mike Macdonald’s aggressive defense.

Prediction of results: Seahawks 28, Chiefs 24

Bucky Brooks:

The Cowboys finally end their Super Bowl drought behind a dynamic offense and opportunistic defense. Dak Prescott closes out his regular season MVP with a spectacular performance that helps Team America secure the world title.

Prediction of results: Cowboys 31, Texas 24