The NFL finally returns Wednesday as the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks face off against the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl LX rematch. To celebrate the start of the season, theScore's football staff is sharing their playoff, Super Bowl, and awards predictions with a panel that includes Alex Chippin, Brenden Deeg, Caio Miari, Eric Patterson, Daniel Valente, Matt Washington, and Adam Stites.
AFC
Despite New England winning the AFC in 2025, only two panelists picked the Patriots to be postseason-bound in 2026. On the flip side, five of us believe Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes will get the train back on the tracks in Kansas City following last year's 6-11 disaster. Our entire crew has the Bengals snapping their three-year playoff drought ... surely that won't backfire, right?
NFC
We might have egg on our faces at the end of the season: only one of us has the Seahawks repeating as division winners. The rest of the panel bought non-refundable tickets to the Rams' bandwagon - can you blame us? We have scattered opinions about the NFC North, where all four teams finished above .500 a year ago. Two of our panelists see the NFC South sending two squads to the postseason despite the division being a train wreck in 2025.
AFC Championship Game
Five different teams come out of the AFC in our predictions, up from three last year when our group stuck to the Bills, Ravens, and Chiefs. The Jaguars are the most eye-popping call on this table: a trip to the Super Bowl would be their first in franchise history.
NFC Championship Game
We're more in agreement on our NFC picks, with five of us taking the Rams to emerge from the conference and the remaining two siding with the Eagles. Notably, only one panelist penciled the defending champion Seahawks into the NFC title game.
Super Bowl LXI
Four of us have the Rams winning it all, two of us believe this is finally going to be the Bills' year, and one of us foresees the Eagles back under the confetti.
Team drafting No. 1 overall
The cupboards are bare in Miami, so the Dolphins are a popular and safe pick. The Titans spent big in the offseason, but one of our voters isn't buying the hype, to say the least.
1st head coach fired
All of these coaches are in the hot seat, but Bowles, the longest-tenured among them, might be under the most pressure to get off to a good start. Although he's entering his fifth campaign in Tampa Bay with three division titles, he's only posted a mediocre 35-33 record.
Offseason acquisitions
There are plenty of big names to take in here, but let's focus on the outlier for a moment. Mitchell, a newcomer to the Chargers, struggled with durability throughout his Ravens tenure, but his blazing speed makes him an intriguing fit for Mike McDaniel's scheme.
Brown's numbers with the Eagles tailed off over the last two seasons, and two of our panelists aren't ready to chalk up the decline to the internal discord in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, two others don't see Walker moving the needle much in Kansas City.
MVP
Allen and Jackson are the top two betting favorites, so it's no surprise that four of us picked one of them to win the award. Lawrence represents the longest shot on this board, as he's listed at +1500 on theScore Bet.
Players of the Year
No surprises in the Offensive Player of the Year balloting, as Nacua, Chase, Gibbs, and Cook are all studs who could win in any given year. Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba took home the award last season with a league-high 1,793 receiving yards.
We're all looking at the defensive line with our Defensive Player of the Year predictions. Hunter stands out the most: he's been highly productive throughout his career but is generally perceived as second fiddle to Anderson on the Texans.
Coach of the Year
The Ravens and Saints have clear paths to improved records, making Minter and Moore logical selections for an award that usually boils down to year-over-year win differential. Coen won 13 games in 2025 and will warrant consideration if he can repeat that feat with the Jaguars.
Rookies of the Year
Price, Love, and Tate are the safe guesses on offense, but how about the off-the-board picks for Lane and Stribling? Both Day 2 wideouts could be in line for significant roles with the Ravens and 49ers, respectively, after strong showings in training camp and the preseason.
Downs is a popular pick on the defensive side. If the Cowboys manage to turn around a defense that struggled mightily last season, the former Ohio State safety will almost certainly be one of the biggest reasons why.
Comeback Player of the Year
You might be wondering where Donald's name is. This award is intended for players who overcome injury, illness, or other adversity, so coming out of retirement doesn't quite fit. As a result, most of us picked a quarterback who fell on tough times last season.
US: Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET; Hope is here. Call (800)-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support (MA); Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).
CA: Please play responsibly. AB (18+) & ON (19+) only. If gambling is affecting your mental health or well-being, 211 Alberta is here to help. Call or text 211 or visit ab.211.ca (AB). Call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600. Text us at 247247 or chat with us at www.connexontario.ca (ON).
