Who Will Win the Super Bowl? Our Writers Predict

Rams pass rusher Jared Verse in November 2025
Nov 30, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (8) looks on during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

The NFL playoffs will begin in six days, and for the first time in years, there is no clear-cut favorite to win the chip, mainly because the Kansas City Chiefs had a down year. So, we asked our writers to predict the Super Bowl winner before the postseason gets cracking.

We reveal staff Super Bowl picks in a season when no one can quite put a finger on a frontrunner to win it all.

The responses scattered across the board, ensuring an entertaining playoff tournament and highlighting parity in the sport.

Our Super Bowl Picks and the Reasoning Behind Them

Our writers weigh in on the victor of Super Bowl LX.

49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune on the field during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Super Bowl winner prediction.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune remains on the field during the fourth quarter on Oct. 19, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, as the defense closes out a late sequence against the Atlanta Falcons. The moment captured Bethune’s increased workload and situational role within a unit leaning on depth during a tightly managed second half. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images.

San Francisco 49ers
Predictor: Janik Eckardt

San Francisco’s offense has been unstoppable over the last month. Punter Thomas Morstead could’ve gone on a month-long vacation, and nobody would’ve known. The defense hasn’t been as good as it was in recent years due to injuries and the loss of some players in free agency, but excellent DC Robert Saleh will field a unit that can make a crucial stop or two when needed.

Seattle Seahawks
Predictor: Ted Schwerzler

The Super Bowl may sting Vikings fans when Sam Darnold beats Drake Maye.

Jacksonville Jaguars
Predictor: Wesley Johnson

Jacksonville checks the boxes that travel in January. They’re seventh in defensive DVOA and built to shorten games, steal some possessions, and win the snap-to-snap grind. Offensively, 15th in DVOA isn’t pretty, but it’s functional with a quarterback who can hit explosives when protections hold. Trevor Lawrence has also been hot as of late.

Contenders are often front-loaded; the Jaguars are balanced enough to survive ugly playoff scripts. That profile usually wins when margins tighten, especially on neutral fields, late.

Buffalo Bills
Predictor: Dustin Baker

The Bills feature the NFL’s fourth-best offense per EPA/Play and check in defensively at No. 12 in the same rankings. They’ve had ruts in 2025, notably Josh Allen’s missed game-winning touchdown pass last week that he usually hit.

Listen — it’s now or never for Buffalo. The playoffs probably won’t be sans Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and possibly Lamar Jackson in the next half-decade. If the Bills can’t get it done in 2025, they’re probably doomed.

It’s Josh Allen’s time. He’ll make it out of a “weak” AFC and slay the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.

Buffalo Bills
Predictor: Sean Borman

I’m a huge Drake Maye fan, but I’m going with my gut and picking Buffalo. I’m not convinced New England has a Super Bowl-caliber team just yet. Same with Denver. Houston’s defense has been a force, so they’re a team I like as well. In the NFC, I like the 49ers, who could host the Super Bowl at their home stadium.

The Bills don’t have a great defense, and they enter the show as a 7-seed, so the road will be tough, but the Josh Allen/James Cook combo has been extremely effective this year. With Mahomes out of the way, it feels like Buffalo could find a path to San Francisco and finally hoist the Lombardi trophy.

Houston Texans
Predictor: Josh Frey

Houston doesn’t have the most explosive offense in the world, but they do have a leader at quarterback in C.J. Stroud, a very talented receiving duo in Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz, and a ridiculously good defense. Houston has allowed more than 21 points just twice all season. They’ve also proven they belong in this field with wins over the 49ers, Jaguars, Ravens, Bills, and Chargers.

Houston Texans
Predictor: Kyle Joudry

Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during pregame introductions at NRG Stadium.
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is introduced to the crowd on Nov. 9, 2025, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, ahead of a matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The pregame scene reflected Al-Shaair’s leadership presence on a defense built around speed and physicality, with introductions marking his return to a prominent role in the lineup. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images.

The Texans win the Super Bowl because Danielle Hunter is Hercules in shoulder pads. That’s my guess.

Los Angeles Rams
Predictor: Ali Siddiqui

Matthew Stafford and the rest will bounce back and go on a nice run. His experience from 2021 will benefit him. The tough divisional games they’ve played will also make the postseason easier for them.

Los Angeles Rams
Predictor: Tony Schultz

I think the Rams have the best chance to win the Super Bowl. I specify chance because with the wacky outcomes all year, it’s hard to say which team is the best. The Broncos have been the most solid team and might be in the game, but they are in a weak division and have barely beaten lesser teams this year.

They just got blown out by the Jaguars. The Rams aren’t dominating any teams, but they seem to have the steadiest hand and balance. Stafford should be the league MVP this year. I don’t expect the playoffs to be any less unpredictable than the regular season.

Los Angeles Rams
Predictor: Cole Smith

I still think the Rams win it all. They lost winnable games against the Eagles and Seahawks. Their loss to the Falcons may look concerning, but it could be the wake-up call they need as the playoffs approach.

Los Angeles Rams
Predictor: Henrique Gucciardi

Rams defenders Kam Curl and Josh Wallace high-five during a second-quarter play at SoFi Stadium.
Los Angeles Rams safety Kam Curl and cornerback Josh Wallace exchange a high-five during the second quarter on Dec. 14, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, following a defensive stop against the Detroit Lions. The brief interaction highlighted communication and cohesion in the secondary as the Rams leaned on coverage execution during a critical midgame stretch. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.

They are arguably the best team in the NFL, have an elite coaching staff led by Sean McVay, and an MVP candidate in Matthew Stafford. If they are healthy in January, there’s no reason to believe they can’t win it all.

Los Angeles Rams
Predictor: Adam New

I just trust Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford to get it done in the playoffs over a lot of the other teams that will be there.


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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His debut thriller, The Motor Route , is out now. He ... More about Dustin Baker