2026 NFL predictions: Super Bowl LXI picks, MVP candidates - ESPN

With the Seattle Seahawks triumphing as Super Bowl LX champions, the 2026 NFL offseason is now underway. There's a lot to be determined between now and the start of the 2026 season with free agency and the draft looming, but it's never too early to look ahead.

We asked 11 of our NFL experts — Matt Bowen, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Pamela Maldonado, Eric Moody, Jason Reid, Aaron Schatz, Ben Solak, Mike Tannenbaum, Seth Walder and Field Yates — to make predictions for next season's Super Bowl matchup and MVP winner. They also each made one big prediction about the offseason and/or upcoming season.

Are the Seahawks bound for a repeat, or will another franchise hoist the Lombardi trophy in 12 months? Who could be the next MVP? Let's get into our early predictions, starting with who will be the next Super Bowl LXI champion.

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Super Bowl LXI picks
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Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: Bears over Bills. Chicago needs to add pass rushers, but the foundational players are there on offense under coach Ben Johnson. With quarterback Caleb Williams' playmaking ability, the Bears will beat Josh Allen and Joe Brady's Bills to win Super Bowl LXI.

Jeremy Fowler, national NFL reporter: Rams over Broncos. Los Angeles matched up with Seattle as well as anyone last season and will be back to finish the job. The Matthew Stafford-Sean McVay connection is improving with age. The secondary was a weakness late in the season, so expect the Rams to address that issue for roster balance.

Dan Graziano, national NFL reporter: Chiefs over Packers. One down season and a torn ACL isn't enough to scare me off quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid. Mahomes recovers, along with the Kansas City offense, and the Chiefs claim