sports
January 9, 2026
NFL playoff predictions: who will seize a wide-open Super Bowl race?
The postseason kicks off on Saturday. Our writers pick the dark horses, players to watch and make their tips for the NFL’s championship game
TL;DR
- Teams that will be missed in the playoffs include the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, and Cincinnati Bengals.
- High-seeded teams at risk of going out early are the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, and Denver Broncos.
- Long shot teams with spoiler potential include the Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Key players for the postseason are identified as Josh Allen (QB, Bills), Lane Johnson (RT, Eagles), and Sam Darnold (QB, Seahawks).
- Predictions for the AFC Championship Game include Jaguars over Texans, Jaguars over Broncos, Broncos over Bills, and Patriots over Texans.
- Predictions for the NFC Championship Game include Rams over Eagles, Rams over Seahawks, Rams over Eagles, and Seahawks over Eagles.
- The projected Super Bowl champions are the Rams, Jaguars, or Patriots, with various justifications based on team strengths.
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