NFL playoff picks, predictions for AFC, NFC brackets and Super Bowl 60 originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Buckle up, folks — it’s playoff season in the NFL. The 2025 season was an abnormal one, and the postseason bracket exemplifies that. Both No. 1 seeds from last year — the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions — failed to make the playoffs, and the AFC is without Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.Teams such as the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears and New England Patriots all took major leaps forward this year. The Seahawks and Broncos have the byes in each conference to the divisional round, with their defense propelling them to the top of the standings. Below are Sporting News’ predictions for the 2026 NFL playoffs, complete with updated Super Bowl 60 picks. Our NFL experts break down the brackets and project which players will break out, which contenders will break down, and which teams will break through during the postseason. MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFFS:Full NFL playoff scheduleUpdated NFL playoff bracketWild-card picks, predictionsNFL playoff power rankings, 1-14NFL playoff picks, predictions 2026Which wild-card team is the biggest threat to win it all?Bill Bender: Buffalo Bills. Kansas City isn’t in the way this year. Josh Allen is 7-2 against everybody else in the playoffs – but the only thing holding us back is that Buffalo will have to prove it on the road. Allen is 0-4 on the road in the postseason and the path starts at Jacksonville. The Jaguars have allowed more than 20 points one time through a seven-game win streak. Daniel Chavkin: The Houston Texans. The Texans are the hottest team in the NFL with a stifling defense and an offense that has found a rhythm. Quietly, Houston has won a playoff game in back-to-back seasons, giving them experience at the biggest stage that the top of this year’s AFC field doesn’t possess. If CJ Stroud plays to an efficient level, this team has the formula to win anywhere in January.Vinnie Iyer: Los Angeles Rams. This might be rather obvious but they have a rejuvenated MVP-caliber Matthew Stafford at QB with Sean McVay as their coach, the combination that helped them win Super Bowl 56 with similar support from the receiving corps, defense and running game. They were also smart to drive for the No. 5 seed so they get the easiest road game early, before a potential toss-up rematch with the SeahawksDaniel Mader: The Buffalo Bills. The AFC bracket is loaded with up-and-coming, yet unproven quarterbacks — this is the best chance Josh Allen has ever had to reach the Super Bowl, even as a No. 6 seed. Buffalo’s five-loss record doesn’t concern me much, nor does the lack of a true WR1 or a defense that has struggled at times. With Allen, the Bills are capable of beating any team in the AFC.Teddy Ricketson: The Los Angeles Rams remain one of the most well-rounded teams in the NFL. A strong run game and the efforts of Davante Adams and Puka Nacua as wide receivers carry the offense. Adams missed the end of the regular season so that he could help up for the playoffs, and he is expected to be back. Los Angeles goes on the road to take on the Carolina Panthers in the first round, where the Rams lost 31-28 in Week 13. Still, the Rams are set up for an easy first-round matchup and should go on a deep run as long as they don’t completely look past the Panthers in the first round. David Suggs: The Los AngelesRams. Special mention for the 49ers, Texans, Patriots, Jaguars, Bills and Eagles, all of whom could easily contend for a Super Bowl crown. But Los Angeles is a well-rounded unit that has gamers on both sides of the ball. The Rams are the NFL’s most explosive offense and have enjoyed a fair few shutdown showings on defense. Ed Williams: Los Angeles Rams. This team checks all of the boxes of a true Super Bowl threat. First and foremost, the Rams defeated the Bengals in Super Bowl 56 just a few years ago. While some key names like Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald are missing from that squad, younger playmakers like Puka Nacua and Jared Verse have risen to prominence since then. Matthew Stafford is an MVP favorite, and Davante Adams as emerged as a favorite red zone target. And Sean McVay is widely considered one of the best coaches in the league. The defense can give up yards and points, but they’re also dynamic and capable of forcing turnovers at any time. As far as wild-card teams go, no one is looking forward to the Rams coming to town. Which 1-3 seed is most likely to be upset? Bill Bender: Philadelphia Eagles. The Jaguars are an underdog and the Bears line against the Packers will be short either way. Those are not upsets. The 49ers – despite all the injuries – still have a defense that ranked 11th against the run. Brock Purdy had a 111 passer rating on the road. Philadelphia finished 5-3 at home this season – and that included a 1-2 record against playoff teams. Will the Super Bowl champions be an early exit? Daniel Chavkin: Philadelphia Eagles. The defending champions have had a rocky season, winning the NFC East on the backs of a strong defense. But the offensive issues have persisted throughout the season and remain a problem entering the playoffs. While the defense is one of the best, the Eagles will have to find a way to score consistently in order to make it back to the Super Bowl. With a tough 49ers team on tap first, the Eagles offensive concerns could send them home quickly.Vinnie Iyer: Chicago Bears. They’ve been living on the edge with some low-scoring games and fourth-quarter comebacks. It’s been a massive breakthrough season all around with Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, but they can be in trouble right away vs. the Packers if they don’t get the turnovers to bounce in their favor.Daniel Mader: The Chicago Bears. Ben Johnson has clearly elevated this franchise in every way it hoped he would, and this has been a terrific Bears season that offers plenty of hope for the future. But I do think some one-score luck played a big role in Chicago’s 11-6 record, and I question how sustainable it is. Anything can happen in divisional games. I buy the Packers’ playoff experience over the Bears.Teddy Ricketson: No disrespect to the Jacksonville Jaguars; they have had an incredible bounce-back season. Looking at the first-round matchups for the top teams, though, Jacksonville will have to host Buffalo. The Bills went 12-5 this season and that was playing well below their potential. Yes, Buffalo has to hit the road, but if it all comes together for them as it can and Josh Allen looks like the player who won the MVP Award last season, it could easily be an early postseason exit for the Jaguars. David Suggs: The Denver Broncos. Denver enjoyed a wondrous campaign under Sean Payton and its defense is arguably the NFL’s best, surrendering the third-fewest points in the league. But there’s reason to believe the Broncos’ luck could be running out. They were 11-2 in one-score games this season, a record that, while impressive, could be hard to maintain against the AFC’s best sides. Bo Nix still leaves something to be desired and the Broncos’ toils against teams like the Jets, Giants, Raiders and Commanders suggests they’re not quite the juggernaut their record would initially indicate.Ed Williams: Jacksonville Jaguars. The turnaround Liam Coen has pulled off in Jacksonville is impressive, and he probably should be getting more attention for Coach of the Year. But unfortunately for them, they draw Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Some of the game’s biggest names at QB will be missing from the postseason this year like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, but the reigning MVP is back as a 12-5 No. 6 seed. While his receiving weapons won’t instill fear into opposing defenses themselves, Allen’s ability to take over a game at any moment certainly can cause sleepless nights. And on top of that, James Cook was the league’s leading rusher and gives them another threat to break off chunk plays. Trevor Lawrence will have to keep his hot streak going to keep pace with Allen, and the much-improved Jags defense will need to prove this isn’t the same old Jags. It’s not an impossible task, but the Jags likely would have preferred to see the Chargers or Texans.Who’s your pick for playoff MVP?Bill Bender: Bills QB Josh Allen. Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye are acceptable answers – and the potential for a third matchup between the Bills and Patriots could be in the cards. Allen has everything but a Super Bowl appearance on his resume at this point. It’s time to change that. Daniel Chavkin: Will Anderson: Ten years ago, Von Miller capped his incredible playoff run with a Super Bowl in San Francisco, providing a blueprint for Will Anderson. If it weren’t for Myles Garrett’s record-breaking season, Anderson would be among the favorites to win Defensive Player of the Year, as his career-high 12 sacks sparked the Texans defense to the top of the NFL. With a few of the top quarterbacks sitting at home, it will be a defensive player shining the brightest in January.Vinnie Iyer: Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence. There’s every reason to believe he will keep this hot streak groove in full command of Liam Coen’s balanced and explosive offense into the playoffs. The Bills’ defense has plenty of holes to exploit in the wild-card round and he’s already proved he can rip Denver’s defense. He will keep breaking out on delay as the No. 1 pick talent he was supposed to be, five years after he was drafted.Daniel Mader: The man who can still be considered the reigning league MVP, Josh Allen. Buffalo’s star quarterback seemed to get better as the regular season went on, and I think he’ll continue that trend into the postseason without any Patrick Mahomes-shaped ghosts to worry about. Allen can be considered the most dynamic individual talent in the 2026 playoffs.Teddy Ricketson: Drake Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel seem like the perfect marriage, poised to be a threat in the AFC for years to come. Just when the league got past the dominance of New England, this duo is bringing it back. Maye can run Vrabel’s offense, and the defensive-minded head coach can focus on what he knows best. Maye might miss out on the regular-season MVP Award, but he has a great chance to win playoff MVP because he likely won’t be benched in the third quarter because of huge leads. David Suggs:Puka Nacua. If the Rams are to win the Super Bowl, their third-year pass-catcher will be among the biggest reasons why. Nacua is as steady as they come, finding success against both man and zone coverages. I reckon he’ll keep the good times rolling during the playoffs.Ed Williams: Jalen Hurts. The Eagles offense has not exactly been a thing of beauty during the regular season, but Jalen Hurts has a habit of playing his best football when the lights are brightest. Passing game struggles were a common issue in 2024 as well, but when the playoffs came around, the Eagles seemed to flip a switch and were airing it out seemingly at will. Last year they also had a historic season from Saquon Barkley in the running game. That has not been the case in 2025, as the offensive line has struggled mightily. If the Eagles offense is going to flip a switch again, it’s likely going to have to be Jalen Hurts. The weapons are there with A.J. Brown, DeVonte Smith and Barkley, plus tight end Dallas Goedert has evolved into a deadly red zone target. The Eagles offense is at its best when Jalen Hurts is also hurting defenses with his legs, and now that they’re in the postseason and it’s win or go home, look for him to run more often than he did during the regular season. The playcalling and sequencing from rookie offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo hasn’t done Hurts any favors this season, but the reigning Super Bowl MVP can block out all the noise and silence his doubters once and for all if he can lead Philly back to the promised land.Which under-the-radar player is most likely to break out?Bill Bender: Rams defensive end Jared Verse. Verse had five pressures or more in each of Los Angeles’ last four games – and he has shown flashes of dominance in his first two seasons with the Rams. He did not have a huge impact in the regular-season loss to the Panthers. That will change in the wild-card round. Daniel Chavkin: RJ Harvey. Fantasy players know how talented RJ Harvey is, but it’s time for the rookie to break out in the biggest moment. The Broncos offense will need Harvey to provide a spark in the running game and give Bo Nix a reliable back, allowing them to make a run to the Super Bowl. Harvey didn’t surpass 75 yards in any game during his rookie season, but expect that to change once Denver takes the field in January.Vinnie Iyer: Patriots edge rusher Harold Landry. The former Titan has been more impactful down the stretch rushing the passer for Mike Vrabel and he can be a more disruptive defensive force the team needs against better QBs in the playoffs.Daniel Mader: I’ll throw out a pair of Jaguars offensive weapons here: wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange. While Jacksonville gets a tough first-round matchup against Buffalo, I’ve found it impressive how Trevor Lawrence has continued to thrive despite Brian Thomas Jr. not being the same talent as 2024 and Travis Hunter’s season ending early. Washington and Strange can make a bigger name for themselves if they help the Jags take down the Bills. Teddy Ricketson: Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV led Seattle with 126 total tackles on the year. He is a beast in coverage and it is hard for any runner to get past him when he goes to tackle them. Jones has had a phenomenal year when dropping into pass coverage too. He has seven passes defended and leads Seattle with an impressive five interceptions, the second-most by any player in the NFL this year. You’ve likely heard of rookie safety Nick Emmanwori for Seattle, but be ready to get to know Jones. David Suggs:Woody Marks. The Texans’ rookie numbers don’t necessarily pop off the page at first glance. But he established himself as Houston’s No. 1 tailback as the season wore on, tallying 15 or more carries in five of his last seven games. Marks is a gifted pass-catcher in space whose elusiveness figures to cause problems for opposition defenses. He should prove to be one of C.J. Stroud’s favorite safety blankets.Ed Williams: Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt spent three years at Cornell playing safety before transferring to Houston Christian University, where he transitioned to a linebacker/EDGE player. The Eagles drafted him in the third round at pick 94, which seemed like it might have been a reach at the time. But Hunt’s development in Vic Fangio’s system has been something to behold. He flashed some serious potential in his limited opportunities as a rookie, but after the Eagles let Josh Sweat walk in free agency and with Brandon Graham’s retirement and Nolan Smith’s triceps injury to start the season, Hunt was thrust into a starting role. Hunt was thrown right into the deep end, and he’s really excelled in the expanded role. He leads the team in pressures (55), QB hits (24), sacks (6.5) and interceptions (3). In fact, he leads all EDGE rushers in the NFL with three picks. His 21.2% pressure rate on third down is 8th among NFL EDGE rushers this year. He’s the only player in the history of the Eagles franchise to lead the team in both INTs and sacks. The Eagles can bring pressure in many ways, but Hunt just seems to get better and better the more he plays, and the scary thing is, he’s still relatively new to the position. Which offense do you trust the most?Bill Bender: Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford is playing at a MVP level, and they are good enough to make a run through the NFC. Sean McVay knows how to move the pieces with Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua. Davante Adams should return for the playoff run. The Seahawks were the only team in the NFC that limited Los Angeles to 21 points or less this season. Daniel Chavkin: Jacksonville Jaguars. Since Week 7, the Jaguars have scored at least 23 points in all 11 games, including seven games with at least 30 points. Head coach Liam Coen has Trevor Lawrence playing at a high level, which included dropping 34 points on the Denver Broncos in Week 16. Many of this year’s playoff teams are defense-first teams, but it was Jacksonville’s scorching-hot offense that led the Jaguars back to the playoffs.Vinnie Iyer: Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay get it done with so many skill players behind a strong offensive line. They can dominate with wide receivers or burn you with tight ends. They can also now field a 1-2 punch in the power running game. The Rams have a consistent floor and a high ceiling.Daniel Mader: The Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford had a career year, which says a lot at age 37. I think the Rams go as far as their young defense takes them, meaning I expect Stafford’s arm to continue thriving in the playoffs. I’m not confident the Seahawks, Eagles or any other team can slow down Puka Nacua and Davante Adams for 60 minutes.Teddy Ricketson: The Los Angeles Rams are getting healthy and that is going to be a problem for defenses. Even when Los Angeles didn’t have Davante Adams through the end of the season, tight end Tyler Higbee was activated off of IR and had 91 yards and a touchdown. Add in Adams to Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson and you’ve got one of the deeper offenses in the playoffs. Oh, and L.A. happened to score the most points per game (30.1) during the regular season. David Suggs: The Los Angeles Rams. They led the league in scoring and averaged 31.75 points across four matchups with the Seahawks and 49ers. Matthew Stafford was a revelation this year, while Los Angeles boasts perhaps the best pass-catching tandem in the sport in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. I think the points will keep on flowing in Tinseltown.Ed Williams: Los Angeles Rams. Sean McVay can get conservative at times, but when push comes to shove, give me Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, the Kyren Williams/Blake Corum duo at running back and the playcalling and offensive scheming of the head coach over any other team in the postseason. Josh Allen may be the most dynamic quarterback in the playoffs, but the Rams are the most complete offense. You can get pressure on Matthew Stafford, but he’s also capable of getting the ball out quickly and he can throw at weird angles to get around defenders in pursuit. If the defense isn’t finishing and bringing him down, the Rams could go all the way.Which defense do you trust the most?Bill Bender: Houston Texans. Houston hasn’t given up more than 21 points in a game since Week 10 – and they allowed an average of 15.4 points per game on the road this season. The Texans allowed 30 points in Week 18 – but we’re not worried about that. The tandem of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. can wreck a game plan – and that should bring more than enough confidence going into a matchup with the AFC North champions. Daniel Chavkin: Seattle Seahawks. It’s hard to hold the 49ers to three points in San Francisco, but that’s exactly what the Seahawks did on Saturday. Under second-year head coach Mike MacDonald, Seattle’s defense can match up against any offense, especially when they won’t have to leave Seattle for the rest of the NFC playoffs. Combine incredible talent with a high-level defensive play-caller, and you get the most trustworthy defense in the league.Vinnie Iyer: Seattle Seahawks. They have become super stingy against the pass with pressure and coverage clicking and they always have been tough to run against. In a season of big-time scoring, they held opponents to an average of 17.2 points per game.Daniel Mader: The Seattle Seahawks. Mike Macdonald looks like a home-run hire for Seattle, with a terrific blend of versatility, dominant pass rushing and overall disruptiveness on his defensive unit. The Seahawks are like an inverse Rams to me: I expect their defense to win games, but the bigger question is whether Sam Darnold is ready to take a leap toward playoff success.Teddy Ricketson: The Seattle Seahawks earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC partly due to having the league’s leading wide receiver, but also boasting one of the best defenses in the NFL. This feels the closest the Seahawks have been to re-capturing the Legion of Boom dominance as the unit finds itself in the top-10 for several defensive metrics. Seattle’s defense ranks 2nd in points against per game, fifth in first downs allowed, sixth in total yards allowed. The Seahawks have given up the 12th-fewest passing yards and third-fewest rushing yards per game. David Suggs: The Houston Texans. Houston’s defense has it all; tough tacklers are littered across the front seven, while the secondary is awash with starlight. DeMeco Ryans’ side conceded just 14 to the Rams, 15 to the 49ers, 17 to the Jaguars and 19 to the Bills. I’m expecting them to offer similar displays during postseason play.Ed Williams: Philadelphia Eagles. There have been a couple blips on the radar along the way, but the Eagles’ defense has really carried the team in 2025. While the offense has gone through highly-publicized struggles this season, one of the youngest defenses in the league has outperformed expectations. Quinyon Mitchell followed up his impressive rookie campaign by being the only cornerback in the league to be targeted 60+ times and not allow a TD (82 targets). He also allowed the lowest completion percentage among all cornerbacks. Cooper DeJean is already one of, if not the best nickel cornerbacks in the league, and the linebacker tandem of Zach Baun and Nakobe Dean might be the best in the league. The defensive front is stacked with Jalen Carter finally looking healthier after shoulder issues, Jordan Davis enjoying a career year, Nolan Smith rounding into form, Jalyx Hunt continuing to ascend and free agent acquisition Jaelan Phillips paying immediate dividends. But the X-factor is Vic Fangio who always seems to have an answer at the most important times. This defense can give up yards and production, but while they may bend, they don’t typically break and tighten things up in the red zone.Who’s your pick to win the AFC?Bill Bender: Buffalo Bills. Too much belief? Buffalo was 3-3 against teams that are in the postseason this year, but it’s time for the breakthrough. James Cook will keep the running game going. Buffalo has just one turnover in its last four games. Can they go through Jacksonville, New England and Denver to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993? Daniel Chavkin: Houston Texans. The Texans have never made it to the AFC Championship game, but that ends this year on their trip to the Super Bowl. Houston has a defense that can travel on the road and win anywhere, which will help carry the Texans to cold-weather cities in the dead of winter. Plus, DeMeco Ryans is already one of the best young coaches in the NFL, and he will show why with a deep playoff run.Vinnie Iyer: Jacksonville Jaguars. Their profile has fewer weaknesses by the passing week. Trevor Lawrence fills the elite AFC QB void left by no Patrick Mahomes and they suddenly look loaded there, playing off Travis Etienne and the running game. Their defense is also opportunistic in forcing takeaways in crucial game-changing moments.Daniel Mader: The Buffalo Bills. Part of my reasoning is that I simply can’t yet trust the crop of Bo Nix, Drake Maye, Trevor Lawrence or Justin Herbert until one of those quarterbacks breaks through and proves they can lead a team to multiple playoff wins. Until then, I won’t bet against Josh Allen, the most proven and dynamic quarterback in the playoffs. Down the stretch of close games, he’s who I think can lead a team through the bracket.Teddy Ricketson: The turnaround in one year has been impressive for the New England Patriots. The Patriots have a great quarterback and a pair of running backs that can help consistently get the offense down the field. As long as Stefon Diggs’ off-the-field issues don’t prevent him from playing in the playoffs, New England is in a prime position to get back to the Super Bowl, and will match up well no matter who the Patriots play in the postseason. David Suggs: The Jacksonville Jaguars. Call this one wishful thinking. But the Jaguars have been on a tear as of late, vanquishing eight straight sides to climb to the upper echelons of the AFC. Trevor Lawrence has looked every bit like the highly-touted talent he was suggested to be while in college. Jacksonville shone in wins over the Texans, 49ers, Chargers and Broncos. Liam Coen’s bunch will keep the good times rolling in the playoffs.Ed Williams: Buffalo Bills. Both the AFC and NFC are really wide open this year. The Bills are a 6-seed, so they’ll likely have to be on the road the entire postseason, but Josh Allen is the best quarterback in the postseason. Drake Maye has put together an MVP-caliber campaign in just his second year, but they also have had a relatively easy schedule. This will be his first taste of the postseason, while Allen is no stranger to the perils of postseason play. If the Bills are able to get by Jacksonville in the first round, barring a Chargers upset of the Patriots, they’ll get the Broncos in the divisional round. While the Broncos have a great defense, the two teams also met in the playoffs last year, and the Bills emerged with a convincing 31-7 victory. While it would likely be much closer this time around, I’ll take Josh Allen over Bo Nix any day of the week. Who’s your pick to win the NFC?Bill Bender: Los Angeles Rams. This is a tough pick because we believe they will have to go through the Seahawks to get there. Seattle is a real threat, and Sam Darnold has been on point all season. We think those teams will see each other in either the divisional round or the NFC championship game – and a rematch of the 38-37 thriller in Week 16 is in order. The Rams had 581 yards in that game. Daniel Chavkin: Seattle Seahawks. Getting home-field advantage was crucial for the Seahawks, as there is no tougher place to play in January than Seattle. With the NFC full of fierce opponents, the bye will help the Seahawks get healthy and prepare while their opponents battle on wild-card weekend. As long as Sam Darnold can protect the football, which he has done for most of the season, Seattle should be favored to make it out of the NFC.Vinnie Iyer: Seattle Seahawks. This is an odd feeling that they are back in a position to win a Super Bowl far removed from Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll days. Mike Macdonald has created a dominant defense that can win a championship with Sam Darnold just needing to protect the ball as a complementary QB.Daniel Mader: The Los Angeles Rams. Playing in a loaded NFC West was tough for L.A. after a strong start to the season, but I still think this is the most talented offense in football with a young defense that has stepped up plenty of times before. If the Rams can avoid their previous special teams issues, their path to the Super Bowl is there: beat an 8-9 Panthers team, take down a familiar Seahawks squad in the divisional round, then overcome the Eagles, 49ers, Packers or Bears, all of whom have their flaws, in the NFC Championship Game.Teddy Ricketson: I think the Los Angeles Rams beat the Carolina Panthers, but then benefit from the San Francisco 49ers beating the Philadelphia Eagles. This would allow Los Angeles to face the Chicago Bears before either the Seattle Seahawks or the Niners in the NFC Championship game. I think the Rams have the deepest offense and the second-best defense in the NFC playoff picture which should help them to win the NFC. David Suggs:The Los Angeles Rams. Losses to the Seahawks and Falcons scuppered what looked to be a push for the NFC’s No. 1 seed in Los Angeles. But Stafford has been the league’s best hurler and has a championship pedigree. Sean McVay will have the Rams ready for the winter, just as they were in 2019 and 2022. Los Angeles fell just short of the NFC Championship last year. It will do one better in 2025, beating all comers to punch its ticket for the Super Bowl.Ed Williams: Philadelphia Eagles. While it hasn’t been pretty at times, Philadelphia managed to avoid a true Super Bowl hangover and are not only back in the postseason, but broke the NFC East curse and won the division for the second straight year — the first time that feat has been accomplished since the Eagles won four straight division titles from 2001-2004. The defense has carried the team at times, but the talent on the offensive side of the ball cannot be discounted. Even though they’ve struggled with consistency, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Adams, Saquon Barkley and company are capable of beating any defense if they are all on the same page. Jalen Hurts has proven he doesn’t shrink in the spotlight, and that experience can help carry them through some tough matchups along the way. The two seeds above them in the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears do not boast much postseason experience, so it’s not out of the question that Eagles can gain more home-field advantage along the way, and The Linc is a difficult place to play, especially in the colder months. Who’s your pick to win the Super Bowl?Bill Bender: Buffalo Bills beat Los Angeles Rams. Two wild-card teams? It’s a risky pick, but this is a wide-open playoff. Defense matters, and the Rams had some late-season concerns. It’s not just about Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford, but in the playoffs, the QBs take center stage. Would Stafford win a second Super Bowl? Or will Buffalo finally win a Super Bowl? Allen finally gets it done. Daniel Chavkin: Houston Texans over Seattle Seahawks. It’s been a weird year in the NFL, so it’s only fitting that the Super Bowl champion is an unexpected victor. DeMeco Ryan and the Texans are on a nine-game winning streak entering the playoffs, and thanks to a strong defense and timely offense, will ride the winning streak four more games to a Super Bowl title in a low-scoring battle against Seattle.Vinnie Iyer: Jacksonville Jaguars over Seattle Seahawks. In the ultimate season of surprise, let’s go for a team that has never been to a Super Bowl to win a Super Bowl on its first try. Lawrence gives the Jaguars a QB equalizer or edge over most teams and the Jaguars match up well with the Seahawks as they excel at forcing takeaways and the Seahawks often have trouble with giveaways.Daniel Mader: The Los Angeles Rams. There are plenty of reasons to doubt L.A., as there are for every team in the bracket this season, but between the Rams’ head coach, terrific quarterback play, talented wide receiver duo and group of defensive playmakers, I still think they have another gear to reach. Give me the Rams’ second Super Bowl win in five years.Teddy Ricketson: It hurts taking the New England Patriots to win another Super Bowl after we had to deal with their recent dynasty, but no matter the matchup they face this postseason, they should be favored or at the very least match up well. If they had a more prolific WR2 in the offense, it feels like New England would be everyone’s favorite. I think the Patriots and Rams play each other in the Super Bowl, and New England is able to do just enough to win another ring. David Suggs:The Los Angeles Rams. I just think they’ve got a really balanced side that is capable of causing opposition sides problems in a number of ways. McVay, Stafford and Los Angeles beat the Jaguars to hoist their second Lombardi Trophy since returning to Hollywood.Ed Williams: Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles just outlasted the Bills a couple of weeks ago in Week 17 of the regular season, but that could have been just a preview of what we might see in the Super Bowl. While Levi’s Stadium is not a dome, it’s also not likely they’ll have to deal with monsoon freezing rain conditions like the two squads just dealt with in Buffalo. The offenses should be able to put more points on the board, but it’s the Eagles defense that will come up big in limiting Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts will silence his critics once again with another Super Bowl MVP award.
