So, the question on everyone’s mind right now is basically some version of "Who is playing in the Super Bowl?"
If you’re looking for two specific team names to circle on your calendar for February 8, 2026, I’ve got some news: we aren't quite there yet. But honestly, we’ve never been closer. We are currently right in the thick of the NFL Divisional Round, which is the weekend where the pretenders get sent home and the real contenders start smelling the grass at Levi’s Stadium.
As of Sunday, January 18, 2026, the field has narrowed down to just six teams. Two of them already punched their tickets to the Conference Championships yesterday. The other four are fighting for their lives today.
What happened on Saturday?
Saturday was a total rollercoaster. First off, the Denver Broncos managed to survive a heart-attack of a game against the Buffalo Bills. It went into overtime, and Wil Lutz eventually iced it with a 23-yard field goal. Final score: 33-30.
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The bad news for Denver fans? Their star second-year QB, Bo Nix, broke his ankle on the final series. He’s out. Coach Sean Payton is turning to Jarrett Stidham for the AFC Championship. That is a massive blow for a team that finished the season 15-3 and held the No. 1 seed.
Over in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks absolutely dismantled the San Francisco 49ers. It wasn’t even a contest. Rashid Shaheed opened the game with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown and Seattle never looked back, winning 41-6. Sam Darnold looked efficient, but it’s that Seattle defense—allowing only 236 yards to Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey—that has everyone thinking they might be the favorites to win the whole thing.
Today’s high-stakes matchups
Right now, the final spots for the "final four" are being decided.
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- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: This is the AFC clash everyone is watching. Drake Maye has the Patriots looking like a dynasty-in-the-making again, but C.J. Stroud and the Texans are arguably the most dangerous "young" team left. The winner of this game travels to Denver next week to face a Nix-less Broncos team.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: This is the nightcap. Matthew Stafford is 37 and playing some of the best football of his career. On the other side, Caleb Williams and the Bears are trying to prove that the "New Chicago" is ready for the big stage. Whoever wins this heads to Seattle next Sunday.
Who is playing in the Super Bowl? The favorites
If you look at the betting odds and the "expert" brackets from places like CBS Sports and Fox Sports, the sentiment is shifting fast. Before the Nix injury, Denver was the heavy favorite. Now? A lot of people are eyeing a Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots matchup or even a Seattle Seahawks vs. Houston Texans showdown.
Seattle is the only team that looks truly "complete" right now. Their defense is playing at a historic level, reminiscent of the "Legion of Boom" days.
The halftime show and the vibe
Even if we don't know the teams yet, we know the party. Super Bowl LX is going to be in Santa Clara (the Bay Area). Bad Bunny is headlining the halftime show, which has already caused a fair amount of internet drama—people either love him or they’re complaining it’s not a rock band.
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Pregame performances include Charlie Puth and Brandi Carlile. If you’re heading to the Bay Area, the fan zones are popping up at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco and the San Jose Convention Center.
What happens next?
The road to figuring out who is playing in the Super Bowl follows a very strict schedule from here on out:
- Conference Championships: Sunday, January 25, 2026. The AFC game kicks off at 3:05 p.m. ET on CBS, and the NFC game follows at 6:40 p.m. ET on Fox.
- The Big Game: Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.
If you’re trying to plan a party or place a bet, keep a close eye on the injury reports for the Broncos and the outcome of the Rams-Bears game tonight. The NFC looks like it’s Seattle’s to lose, but the AFC is a total toss-up now that Denver is down to their backup quarterback.
Check the final scores tonight. By Monday morning, we will be down to the final four teams, and the "Who is playing in the Super Bowl" question will only have four possible answers.