Eleven NFL experts offer early predictions for Super Bowl LXI champions, MVP winners and one major offseason or season outcome each. Picks vary: Jeremy Fowler projects the Rams over the Broncos, citing the Stafford–McVay connection and a need to shore up the secondary; Pamela Maldonado predicts the 49ers over the Bills, pointing to the team's resilience despite injuries to Bosa, Warner and Kittle; Eric Moody favors the Broncos over the Seahawks, noting Denver's underappreciated regular-season success and the difficulty of repeating as champions. Common themes include roster health, defensive strength and offseason roster adjustments.
"What's your early Super Bowl LXI pick? 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."
"Pamela Maldonado, sports betting analyst: 49ers over Bills. The 2025 season was a grind, with multiple injuries to key players such as edge rusher Joey Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner and tight end George Kittle. Yet the 49ers still piled up 12 wins and won a playoff game. A roster that's already battle tested under that level of adversity should be a contending team once its health stabilizes."
Read at ESPN.com
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