NFL Experts Reveal 2026 Season Predictions: Broncos and Rams Lead Super Bowl LXI Forecast

As the 2026 NFL season prepares to kick off with a high-stakes Super Bowl LX rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, a panel of more than 60 league experts has provided their forecasts for the year ahead. The consensus among the analysts, writers, and commentators points toward a competitive landscape, with specific teams emerging as clear favorites to reach the pinnacle of the sport at SoFi Stadium on February 14, 2027.

The anticipation for Super Bowl LXI has sparked significant debate, but the collective opinion of the panel suggests a strong preference for the Los Angeles Rams. Out of the 60-plus experts polled, 37 selected the Rams as their pick to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. The Denver Broncos followed with eight votes, while the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and Houston Texans also received multiple nods from the panel.

The NFC landscape appears more top-heavy according to the experts, with the Los Angeles Rams receiving a commanding 42 votes to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. The Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Seattle Seahawks each earned four votes, while the Philadelphia Eagles received three. The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers also appeared in the projections.

Individual honors were also a major focus of the survey, with the race for the 2026 regular-season MVP award featuring a wide range of candidates. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow emerged as the frontrunner, earning 16 votes. Baltimore Ravens signal-caller Lamar Jackson followed with 11 votes, while Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen received eight. Other notable mentions included Jordan Love, Matthew Stafford, Caleb Williams, and defensive standout Myles Garrett, reflecting a diverse set of expectations for the league's top performers as the new campaign begins.