NFL playoff predictions: Who will win Super Bowl LIX?
The NFL playoffs start this weekend, with wild-card action kicking off Saturday. Our football editors offer their predictions for every round of the postseason through Super Bowl LIX.
AFC wild-card round
Our editors see the AFC's wild-card round almost identically, with the exception of one Steelers win over the Ravens. That one pick is a bit of a surprise considering how those clubs have looked lately, but the Bills sweeping the Broncos isn't a shocker. Neither is the Chargers downing the Texans given Houston's recent issues.
NFC wild-card round
The Eagles' status as an NFC juggernaut remains solidified among our crew, but the Packers are likely to keep that contest close. The other two NFC wild-card games are significantly more intriguing. The Commanders, Buccaneers, Rams, and Vikings each received at least four picks.
AFC divisional round
One of the Chiefs and Chargers will appear in each of our AFC championship picks thanks to the AFC West foes matching up in almost all of our divisional-round predictions. Kansas City is the more popular choice, but don't sleep on Jim Harbaugh's squad. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen seem poised to duel in one of the postseason's best matchups in the conference's second contest of this round, with the Ravens holding a narrow lead over the Bills in win selections.
NFC divisional round
Rejoice Lions fans: Detroit appears destined to host the NFC Championship Game for the first time in team history after a clean sweep over four potential opponents. The Eagles are also unsurprisingly a prominent pick, though the Rams earned a conference championship appearance with a lone win over the Buccaneers.
AFC Championship Game
Death, taxes, and Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs appearing in the AFC championship: Kansas City has made the conference title game every season since Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback, and that trend continues in the majority of our predictions. However, most of our editors see them falling short of another Super Bowl berth. The Ravens are our favorite to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LIX, with the Bills a close second.
NFC Championship Game
Not only have the Lions never hosted the NFC championship, but they've also never won a conference title. That changes according to most of our editors' selections. Don't count out the Eagles to make their second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons.
Super Bowl LIX
Our Super Bowl forecasts see two picks for the Chiefs, three selections each for the Bills and Lions, and four Ravens predictions. None of our choices are shocking, with each team ranking among the NFL's most impressive this season. A Super Bowl LIX victory would represent the first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history for the Lions and Bills, a third for the Ravens, and the Chiefs' fifth.