The 2026 NFL season stands at its most critical point. Four teams remain in the hunt. Each squad sits just two wins away from lifting the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LX.
The championship game takes place on Sunday February 8 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara California. NBC broadcasts the matchup live starting at 6:30 PM Eastern Time. Bad Bunny performs at halftime as the first Latin male artist to headline a Super Bowl.
This guide breaks down the remaining contenders and delivers clear predictions for Conference Championship weekend and Super Bowl LX.
2026 NFL Playoffs Snapshot
The NFL Playoffs use a 14 team format. Seven teams from each conference make the cut. The top seed earns a first round bye. Every other matchup follows single elimination rules.
Conference Championship games happen on Sunday January 25. The AFC title game features New England at Denver with kickoff at 3:00 PM ET on CBS. The NFC championship pits Los Angeles at Seattle with kickoff at 6:30 PM ET on Fox.
Winners advance to Super Bowl LX on February 8.
How to Watch Super Bowl LX
NBC holds broadcast rights for Super Bowl LX. The network airs the game on Sunday February 8 2026 starting at 6:30 PM Eastern Time. West Coast viewers can tune in at 3:30 PM Pacific Time.
Peacock offers Super Bowl streaming coverage for subscribers at $7.99 per month. Telemundo provides Spanish language coverage. Fans without cable can use an over the air antenna to catch the NBC broadcast for free.
Teams Still Alive in the 2026 NFL Playoffs
Four teams battle for Super Bowl berths. Each brings unique strengths and faces specific challenges.
AFC Contenders
Denver Broncos
Denver enters the AFC Championship facing a major obstacle. Starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season ending fractured right ankle in overtime against Buffalo. The injury occurred on the second to last play before the game winning field goal.
Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham takes over for the biggest start of his career. The 29 year old veteran owns a 1-3 record in four career starts. Stidham last threw a pass in an NFL game during Week 18 of the 2023 season.
The Broncos defense ranks among the league’s best. The unit forced four turnovers from Josh Allen in the divisional round. Denver allowed just 18.3 points per game during the regular season. Home field at Mile High Stadium provides another advantage.
New England Patriots
New England advanced through disciplined football and defensive execution. The Patriots limit mistakes and capitalize on opponent errors.
Quarterback Drake Maye continues his impressive campaign. The second year signal caller threw three touchdowns in the divisional round win over Houston. Maye led New England to a 14-3 regular season record.
Ball security stands out as their greatest strength. The Patriots defense picked off C.J. Stroud four times in their divisional round victory. New England protects the football better than any team left.
NFC Contenders
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle brings the most balanced attack among the final four. The Seahawks demolished San Francisco 41-6 in the divisional round. The dominant performance showcased both offensive efficiency and defensive strength.
Quarterback Sam Darnold plays through an oblique injury suffered during practice before the divisional round. Darnold completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and one touchdown against the 49ers. He confirmed the injury will require management throughout the remaining playoff games.
Seattle averaged 27 points per game this season while allowing just 18 points per game at home. Home field at Lumen Field creates one of the toughest environments in football.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams arrive battle tested after surviving two close playoff games. Los Angeles needed a fourth quarter comeback to beat Carolina in the Wild Card round. They then edged Chicago 20-17 in overtime during the divisional round.
Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford guides the offense with playoff experience. The Rams feature elite weapons including Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
The Rams split their two regular season meetings with Seattle. Los Angeles won 21-19 in Week 11 before losing 38-37 in Week 16. The teams know each other well after three total matchups this season.
2026 NFL Playoffs Final Four Snapshot
| Team | Conference | Record | Main Strength | Key Concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks | NFC | 14-3 | Home defense | Darnold injury |
| Los Angeles Rams | NFC | Wild Card | Stafford experience | Road consistency |
| New England Patriots | AFC | 14-3 | Ball security | Road environment |
| Denver Broncos | AFC | 14-3 | Home field | Stidham inexperience |
Matchup History & Head-to-Head
New England and Denver have met twice in AFC Championship games over the past decade. The Patriots won both contests with disciplined play and fewer turnovers. Denver now faces an even tougher challenge with their backup quarterback making his first playoff start.
Seattle and Los Angeles faced each other three times this season. The Rams won 21-19 in Week 11. The Seahawks responded with a 38-37 victory in Week 16. Both teams kept games close with late scores deciding outcomes.
Past Super Bowl experience heavily favors certain teams. New England won three championships during the Tom Brady era. Seattle won Super Bowl XLVIII in February 2014 by defeating Denver 43-8. The Seahawks also lost Super Bowl XLIX to New England 28-24 one year later.
Key Factors That Decide Super Bowl LX
Smart quarterback decisions matter most at this stage. Protecting the football beats taking risky throws. Teams that value each possession control playoff games.
Defense and pass rush travel well in January. Creating pressure without heavy blitzing forces errors. The ability to generate turnovers separates winners from losers.
Turnovers flip championships. One mistake can shift momentum permanently. Denver must protect Jarrett Stidham from situations that lead to interceptions.
Health and depth show up in the fourth quarter. Fatigue appears late in playoff games. Seattle must manage Sam Darnold’s oblique injury carefully to keep him effective.
Coaching decisions carry more weight now. Clock management and situational awareness separate winners from losers. Sean Payton faces his biggest coaching challenge with a backup quarterback.
Super Bowl 2026 Early Favorites Power Ranking
1. Seattle Seahawks
Balance and home field strength put Seattle at the top. The offense scores efficiently. The defense finishes strong and creates turnovers. Home crowd energy provides another advantage.
2. New England Patriots
Discipline and playoff composure keep New England in the hunt. Ball security and defensive awareness provide a clear path. Drake Maye continues to develop as a playoff quarterback.
3. Denver Broncos
Home field makes Denver dangerous despite the quarterback situation. The defense creates problems for any offense. Jarrett Stidham remains the biggest unknown.
4. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams can upset anyone with Matthew Stafford leading the way. Championship experience helps in pressure moments. Road conditions create tighter margins.
Super Bowl 2026 Predictions by Conference
AFC Championship: Patriots at Broncos
This matchup pits defense against discipline with a major quarterback advantage. Denver relies on home field and crowd energy. New England counters with ball security and playoff experience.
The Patriots handle crowd noise better than most road teams. Drake Maye showed poise in difficult road environments all season. Denver needs the defense to force turnovers and create short fields.
Bo Nix’s absence changes everything. The Broncos lose their quarterback who threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns before the ankle injury. Stidham owns just four career starts. His last meaningful pass came nearly two full seasons ago.
New England’s defense will attack the inexperienced quarterback with pressure. The Patriots forced four interceptions from C.J. Stroud in the divisional round.
Predicted AFC Champion: New England Patriots 24 – Denver Broncos 17
Quarterback stability gives New England the edge.
NFC Championship: Rams at Seattle
Seattle hosts Los Angeles in their third meeting of the season. The Seahawks start fast and force opponents to chase. The Rams need to keep this game close into the fourth quarter.
Home field tilts this matchup significantly toward Seattle. Lumen Field creates one of the loudest environments in football. The Seahawks used that energy to demolish San Francisco 41-6 last week.
Sam Darnold’s oblique injury requires careful management. Seattle limited his throws to just 17 attempts in the divisional round. Kenneth Walker and the running game carried the offensive load.
Matthew Stafford brings championship experience and late game composure. Stafford completed clutch drives against Carolina and Chicago in the playoffs. He needs another near perfect performance to advance.
Predicted NFC Champion: Seattle Seahawks 30 – Los Angeles Rams 20
Home field advantage and defensive dominance carry Seattle to the Super Bowl.
Predicted Super Bowl LX Matchup
Seattle Seahawks vs New England Patriots
This matchup creates a potential Super Bowl XLIX rematch. The teams met in February 2015 with New England winning 28-24. Ten years later they could face off again for the championship.
The contrast in styles creates intrigue. Seattle seeks early separation through efficient offense. New England aims to control tempo through smart football. Both teams limit mistakes.
The Seahawks score quickly and defend with speed. Kenneth Walker provides a physical rushing attack. The defense creates turnovers and shuts down opposing offenses.
The Patriots grind out drives and protect leads. Drake Maye showed growth throughout his second season. The defense forces turnovers without giving up explosive plays.
Who Wins Super Bowl LX Final Prediction
Predicted Super Bowl Champion: Seattle Seahawks 27 – New England Patriots 23
Seattle brings the most complete profile among the remaining teams. The offense produces points without relying solely on the passing game. The defense creates turnovers and stops opposing units.
New England keeps this game tight into the fourth quarter. Ball security and smart decisions keep them within striking distance throughout.
Sam Darnold manages his oblique injury well enough to make key throws. Kenneth Walker provides the ground game that controls the clock. The Seattle defense gets one critical stop in the final minutes.
The Seahawks win their second Super Bowl championship. The victory comes 12 years after their dominant Super Bowl XLVIII performance. Seattle lifts the Lombardi Trophy at Levi’s Stadium.
Predicted MVP: Kenneth Walker III
The Seattle running back dominates with over 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Walker controls the tempo and protects Darnold from throwing too often.
Where to Buy Super Bowl 60 Tickets
Super Bowl LX tickets remain available through verified platforms. Current prices start around $6,000 for upper deck seats. Premium lower bowl locations range from $10,000 to $25,000.
StubHub lists over 500 ticket options. Ticketmaster’s NFL Ticket Exchange goes live closer to game day. Vivid Seats and SeatGeek offer verified tickets with buyer guarantees. On Location provides official NFL packages starting at $7,100 per person with pregame parties and exclusive experiences included.
FAQs Super Bowl 2026 Predictions
Who is favored to win Super Bowl 2026?
Seattle enters as the favorite based on balanced team strength and home field through the NFC playoffs. New England follows closely due to championship experience.
Has Seattle won a Super Bowl before?
Yes. Seattle won Super Bowl XLVIII in February 2014. The Seahawks defeated Denver 43-8. Seattle also appeared in Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIX but lost both games.
Which team has the most Super Bowl experience?
New England brings the deepest championship experience with three Super Bowl wins during the Tom Brady era.
What usually decides the Super Bowl winner?
Turnovers and red zone efficiency decide most Super Bowls. Smart quarterback decisions and ball security separate champions from runners up.
Who is performing at halftime?
Bad Bunny headlines the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. He becomes the first Latin male artist to headline a Super Bowl halftime performance.
What time does Super Bowl LX start?
Super Bowl LX Kickoff at 6:30 PM Eastern Time or 3:30 PM Pacific Time.
Conference Championship weekend on January 25 determines the Super Bowl LX matchup. The winners meet on February 8 for the championship. Discipline and execution will crown the 2026 NFL champion.
