Wait. Stop scrolling. If you came here looking for the final two team names for Super Bowl LX, I’ve gotta be the one to tell you: they aren’t official yet.
Actually, it's pretty chaotic right now. We are currently sitting in that high-stakes window between the Wild Card round and the Divisional matchups. The field is narrowing, but the "who" is still a moving target.
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Super Bowl LX is scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. But before we get to the Bay Area, eight teams have to beat the life out of each other this weekend. If you’re trying to figure out who is in the Super Bowl conversation, you have to look at the survivors of a brutal Wild Card weekend that just saw the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles get tossed out by the 49ers.
The Eight Teams Left Standing
Right now, the "Super Bowl" is basically a guest list of eight. By Monday morning, it’ll be four.
In the AFC, the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are the big dogs. They spent last weekend on their couches because they earned those coveted No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. Joining them are the Buffalo Bills, who just narrowly escaped Jacksonville with a 27-24 win, and the Houston Texans, who absolutely dismantled the Steelers 30-6.
The NFC is just as top-heavy. The Seattle Seahawks are the No. 1 seed and, honestly, the betting favorites to win the whole thing. They’ll be dealing with a San Francisco 49ers squad that just regained its swagger after beating Philly. Then you’ve got the Chicago Bears—yes, the Bears—who took down Green Bay, and the Los Angeles Rams, who survived a 34-31 shootout against the Panthers.
The Divisional Round Matchups (The "Quarterfinals")
If you want to know who will actually be on that field in Santa Clara, these are the games that decide the final four:
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: Bo Nix vs. Josh Allen. Denver has home-field advantage and a defense that’s been playing out of its mind.
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: C.J. Stroud is heading into Foxborough. Drake Maye and the Pats are favored, but Houston’s defense hasn't allowed a touchdown in eight quarters.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: A classic NFC West bloodbath. Seattle won the division, but the Niners are 7-1 in their last eight games.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: Matthew Stafford is 37 and still slinging it like he’s 22. Caleb Williams is the young gun trying to bring Chicago its first Super Bowl since the '80s.
Why the Seattle Seahawks are the Team to Beat
Kinda feels like 2013 all over again in the Pacific Northwest, doesn't it? The Seahawks finished the regular season 14-3. They haven’t lost a game since mid-November.
Experts like Mike Barner are already pointing to the Seahawks as the "clear" favorite for Super Bowl LX. They have a first-round bye, which is huge for recovery, and they get to play at Lumen Field where the noise is basically a 12th man on the roster. If Seattle wins this weekend, they stay home for the NFC Championship. That path is about as smooth as it gets in the NFL.
But here's the catch: they likely have to beat the 49ers and then potentially the Rams. It's basically like having to win the NFC West three times in one season.
The AFC’s Power Vacuum
The biggest shocker of 2026? No Kansas City Chiefs. No Baltimore Ravens.
For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the AFC is wide open. This has created a massive opportunity for the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen has been the "almost" guy for years. With the Chiefs out of the picture, the path to the Super Bowl for Buffalo is the clearest it has ever been.
However, don't sleep on the Denver Broncos. They’ve quietly put together a 14-3 season. While everyone was talking about Houston's offense, Denver was just methodically suffocating opponents. If the Broncos beat Buffalo this Saturday, the AFC Championship goes through the thin air of Mile High.
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Betting Odds: Who the Money Likes
If you look at the Vegas lines from FanDuel and DraftKings as of January 13, the oddsmakers are leaning heavily toward a West Coast representative.
- Seattle Seahawks (+270): The favorites.
- Los Angeles Rams (+320): Most "complete" team according to many analysts.
- New England Patriots (+600): The Drake Maye era is arriving faster than expected.
- Buffalo Bills (+650): The perennial contenders.
It’s worth noting that the Houston Texans at +850 are the "dark horse" everyone is terrified of. C.J. Stroud has playoff experience now, and that defense is playing "angry football."
What Really Matters for Super Bowl LX
When people ask "who is in the Super Bowl," they usually ignore the logistics, but the venue matters. This year it's Levi's Stadium. That means a grass surface, potentially chilly (but not freezing) NorCal weather, and a massive home-state advantage if the 49ers or Rams make it.
The halftime show is already set, too. Bad Bunny is headlining. Whether you love him or hate him, that’s going to draw a massive global audience that probably doesn't even know what a "nickel defense" is.
Honestly, the most likely matchup right now looks like Seahawks vs. Broncos or Rams vs. Bills. But as we saw with the Eagles getting bounced early, "likely" doesn't mean much in January.
Your Playoff Survival Guide
If you're trying to keep track of the final results, keep these dates on your calendar:
- January 17-18: Divisional Round (Fields narrowed from 8 to 4).
- January 25: Conference Championships (This is when we officially know who is in the Super Bowl).
- February 8: Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.
Check the injury reports for Matthew Stafford’s thumb and Josh Allen’s shoulder before placing any bets. Those two veterans are carrying a lot of weight right now.
To stay ahead of the curve, watch the Texans vs. Patriots game closely. The winner of that game likely has the defensive momentum to frustrate whoever comes out of the Broncos/Bills matchup. If you're looking for a specific next step, set a notification for the end of the Seahawks/49ers game on Saturday night; that result will immediately shift the betting lines for the entire NFC.