The 2026 NFL season is finally here, and the race for Super Bowl LXI is already generating plenty of excitement. With the regular season beginning this week, teams across the league have their eyes on a championship run, while early projections are starting to identify the strongest contenders.
One preseason prediction has the Buffalo Bills defeating the Los Angeles Rams 27-24 in Super Bowl LXI, giving Buffalo its first Lombardi Trophy. At the same time, current Super Bowl odds have the Rams sitting at the top of the board, making them one of the most intriguing teams to watch throughout the 2026 season.
Super Bowl 2026: Bills vs. Rams Prediction
The boldest projection for Super Bowl 2026 sends the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams to the championship game.
According to the prediction, Buffalo would defeat the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game before facing Los Angeles in the Super Bowl. The Rams, meanwhile, would eliminate the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC Championship matchup.
The projected result is Bills 27, Rams 24, with Josh Allen finally leading Buffalo over the top after years of playoff disappointment.
It would be a major moment for Allen and the Bills, who have consistently been among the AFC’s strongest teams but have struggled to complete their postseason journey.
Rams Enter 2026 as Super Bowl Favorites
The Rams have emerged as the early favorite in the latest Super Bowl LXI odds, listed at +550 entering the 2026-27 NFL regular season.
Buffalo follows at +1000, while the Seattle Seahawks are at +1100. The Baltimore Ravens are next at +1300, followed by the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs at +1600.
The early odds underline how competitive the championship race could become. Several established contenders are separated by relatively small margins, meaning the picture could change dramatically once the regular season begins.
Buffalo Bills Look Ready for Another Deep Run
The Bills are projected to finish first in the AFC East with an 11-win season. Josh Allen is also the preseason MVP pick in the prediction, highlighting the importance of his performance to Buffalo’s championship hopes.
The projection has Buffalo earning the No. 2 seed in the AFC before defeating the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers in the postseason.
That path would eventually lead to a showdown with Baltimore. The Ravens are projected to win the AFC North and reach the conference championship game as the No. 5 seed.
A Bills-Ravens playoff meeting would feature two of the conference’s most dynamic quarterbacks, with Buffalo ultimately getting the edge.
Rams Lead a Powerful NFC
Los Angeles is projected to finish with the best record in the NFC at 12-5.
The Rams are expected to win the NFC West, with the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals all competing in a difficult division.
The projected NFC playoff field also includes the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings and Seahawks.
In the prediction, Los Angeles would defeat Minnesota in the divisional round before beating Seattle in the NFC Championship Game.
That would set up a Super Bowl matchup against Buffalo and give the Rams an opportunity to turn their strong regular-season projection into another championship appearance.
Seahawks Could Be a Dangerous Underdog
Seattle is another team receiving significant attention ahead of Super Bowl 2026.
The Seahawks are projected to enter the playoffs as the No. 7 seed but make an impressive run through the NFC bracket. Their projected postseason journey includes an upset over the No. 2-seeded Lions and a victory against the Dallas Cowboys.
Although the Rams are ultimately predicted to stop Seattle, the Seahawks’ projected run demonstrates why lower-seeded teams can become dangerous once the postseason begins.
Seattle also opens the season against New England in a rematch of the previous Super Bowl, adding another layer of intrigue to Week 1.
AFC Race Could Come Down to Bills and Ravens
The AFC is expected to feature several contenders capable of making a Super Bowl run.
The Cincinnati Bengals are projected to win the AFC North, narrowly finishing ahead of Baltimore. The Bills are expected to claim the AFC East, while the Chargers are projected to win the AFC West.
The Houston Texans are picked to finish first in the AFC South.
The projected AFC playoff teams are:
- Bengals
- Bills
- Chargers
- Texans
- Ravens
- Chiefs
- Broncos
Despite Cincinnati earning the conference’s top seed in the prediction, the Bengals would fall to Baltimore in the divisional round.
Buffalo would then defeat the Chargers to reach the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl LXI Odds Entering the Season
The early Super Bowl odds listed in the supplied projection rank the leading contenders as follows:
- Los Angeles Rams — +550
- Buffalo Bills — +1000
- Seattle Seahawks — +1100
- Baltimore Ravens — +1300
- Los Angeles Chargers — +1600
- Kansas City Chiefs — +1600
- New England Patriots — +1700
- Houston Texans — +1700
- Philadelphia Eagles — +1800
- San Francisco 49ers — +1800
The Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys are each listed at +1900, while the Cincinnati Bengals are at +2000.
These are preseason numbers and can shift substantially during the year based on injuries, team performance and other developments.
Josh Allen Is the Early MVP Pick
Josh Allen is not only projected to win the Super Bowl but also to claim the 2026 NFL MVP award.
That combination would make for a remarkable season for the Bills quarterback. The prediction is based on the expectation that Allen can guide Buffalo through another challenging AFC playoff field and finally deliver the franchise its first Super Bowl championship.
Other projected major award winners include Ja’Marr Chase as Offensive Player of the Year and Rams defensive star Myles Garrett as Defensive Player of the Year.
Fernando Mendoza is projected to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Giants defender Arvell Reese is the defensive rookie pick.
Other 2026 NFL Award Predictions
The preseason predictions also identify several notable candidates for individual honors:
- MVP: Josh Allen, Bills
- Offensive Player of the Year: Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals
- Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett, Rams
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: Fernando Mendoza, Raiders
- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Arvell Reese, Giants
- Coach of the Year: Kellen Moore, Saints
- Comeback Player of the Year: Kyler Murray, Vikings
What to Watch in the 2026 NFL Season
The Super Bowl 2026 race should be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with several teams entering the season carrying legitimate championship expectations.
The Rams currently sit atop the early Super Bowl odds, but the Bills have a compelling quarterback-led case. Seattle could become a dangerous postseason opponent, while the Ravens, Chiefs, Chargers, Bengals, Lions and 49ers are all capable of changing the championship picture.
Ultimately, the prediction favors Buffalo to overcome its postseason struggles and defeat Los Angeles in a close Super Bowl LXI thriller.
If that projection becomes reality, Super Bowl 2026 would end with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills celebrating the first Super Bowl title in franchise history.
Odds and predictions are preseason projections and are subject to change as the 2026 NFL season progresses.
Leave a Reply