Right now, if you walk into any sports bar from Buffalo to Seattle, people are arguing about the same thing: who is in the Superbowl. It’s the question that defines January. But honestly, most of the chatter you’re hearing on social media or in the breakroom is probably wrong. People get caught up in the hype of last year's stats or what happened in November.
The reality is way more chaotic.
We are currently sitting in the middle of the 2026 NFL Divisional Round. The bracket has been slashed. The pretenders were sent home during Wild Card weekend. As of today, January 16, 2026, we don't have the two final names for the marquee at Levi’s Stadium yet. Anyone telling you "it’s definitely the Bills vs. the Seahawks" is just guessing—even if the betting odds at FanDuel say they’re the favorites.
The AFC Chaos: Why the Path to Santa Clara is Wide Open
The AFC is a total madhouse this year. Usually, we’re all just waiting for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to show up and ruin everyone’s fun. Not this time. Kansas City is out. The Baltimore Ravens? Also gone. It’s weird.
Instead, we’ve got the Denver Broncos sitting at the No. 1 seed with a 14-3 record. Bo Nix has basically turned into a machine under Sean Payton’s system. They’ve had a week off to rest their legs, and they’re waiting to face the Buffalo Bills tomorrow, January 17.
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The Bills are the team nobody wants to play right now. Josh Allen is playing like a guy who finally realized he’s the strongest person on the field. They just handled Jacksonville in the Wild Card round, winning 27-24. It wasn't perfect, but Allen found a way. If the Bills can survive the thin air in Denver, they’re one step closer to the AFC Championship.
Then you have the New England Patriots. Yeah, they’re back. It feels like a glitch in the matrix, but Drake Maye has them looking like a powerhouse again. They just suffocated the Chargers, holding them to 3 points. They’ll be hosting the Houston Texans on Sunday. C.J. Stroud and that Texans defense are no joke—they absolutely demolished Pittsburgh 30-6 last week.
The NFC Power Struggle: Can the Underdogs Hold On?
Over in the NFC, it’s a battle of the West and some surprising North energy. The Seattle Seahawks are the team to beat. They locked up the No. 1 seed with a 14-3 record, and Sam Darnold’s career resurgence is basically the biggest story in the league. They’re facing their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, on Saturday.
The 49ers are the ultimate "zombie" team. You think they’re dead because of all their injuries, and then Kyle Shanahan finds some tight end nobody has heard of to catch three touchdowns. They just bounced Philadelphia out of the playoffs with a 23-19 win.
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But don't sleep on the Chicago Bears. Seeing them as the No. 2 seed feels like a fever dream for most of us. They beat the Packers 31-27 in a game that probably took five years off every Bears fan's life. They have to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Matthew Stafford is 37 now, but he’s throwing the ball like he’s 22. The Rams offense is averaging huge numbers on the ground, which might be the secret weapon that gets them to the Super Bowl.
What Really Matters for Super Bowl LX
When you ask who is in the Superbowl, you’re really asking which of these eight teams has the "it" factor. Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is hosting the big game on February 8, 2026.
Here is the current breakdown of the remaining contenders:
- AFC Remaining: Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Houston Texans.
- NFC Remaining: Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams.
The odds-on favorite right now is a Seattle vs. Buffalo or Seattle vs. New England matchup. But the NFL is never that clean. The Texans are a dark horse that everyone is scared of because their defense doesn't make mistakes.
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If you're planning a party or looking to book a flight to California, you need to wait until the Conference Championships on January 25. That’s when the AFC and NFC winners will officially be crowned.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve and actually know who is in the Superbowl before your friends do, keep an eye on these specific things over the next 48 hours:
- Watch the Denver Weather: If it’s snowing or windy tomorrow, the Bills' passing game might struggle, giving the Broncos a huge advantage at home.
- Monitor the Rams' Injury Report: Their rushing attack is their engine. If Kyren Williams or the offensive line has any last-minute setbacks, the Bears' defense will feast.
- Check the 49ers' QB Status: Brock Purdy has been the steady hand, but Seattle knows how to rattle him. See if San Francisco adjusts their protection schemes early in the first quarter.
- Wait for January 25: This is the big day. The AFC Championship kicks off at 3:00 PM ET, followed by the NFC at 6:30 PM ET. By the end of that night, the Super Bowl LX matchup will be official.
The road to February 8 is narrowing fast. Whether it's a veteran like Stafford or a newcomer like Maye under center, the 2026 Super Bowl is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable matchups we've seen in a decade.