Conference Championship
AFC
(6) Cincinnati Bengals @ (2) Houston Texans
The Bengals are in Houston to face one of the league’s best defenses, and if the Bengals do have to get past the Broncos and Texans in the playoffs en route to the Super Bowl, they’ll have to do it the same way, by making the pass rush disappear.
You do that by running the ball well and taking advantage of short, quick throws to not give the rush any time to get home. With the Bengals offensive line being a fine unit, and nothing more, Burrow isn’t going to be able to hang in the pocket very long to begin with.
He’d also likely be in the shotgun more times than not, but there is a clear path for this team to beat the Texans, and as I will continue to say, this team gives off Super Bowl vibes from the 2021 season. They’ll again take care of business on the road and slay some top teams on the way.
You’d definitely be lying to yourself if you said that you wouldn’t trust Burrow in the playoffs. He’s the main piece of this puzzle and will help Cincy reach the Super Bowl.
NFC
(3) Philadelphia Eagles @ (1) Los Angeles Rams
The Eagles have made the Super Bowl in the 2022 and 2024 seasons. Can they do it for a third even-numbered year in a row? Certainly. Philly is an interesting team with valid concerns, but they do seem to put it all together every other year, which is certainly a weird trend, but it’s there.
The Rams see their dream season come to a tragic end, as the Eagles go into their house and defeat the juggernauts.
Super Bowl LXI
Cincinnati Bengals @ Philadelphia Eagles
In Super Bowl LXI, we have the Bengals and the Eagles, and we have obviously seen these two teams in the Super Bowl in recent years. The Bengals would bring in the better QB and offense, likely, and the Eagles would bring in the better defense, a Super Bowl-winning pedigree, and perhaps a better roster.
This would certainly be a back-and-forth game, as both Cincy and Philly excel at multiple things. There really isn’t a clear coaching advantage, though, so when you split up what each team is good at, or better at than the other, it’s as close as close can be. With that said, when we’re this deep into the playoffs, the team with the better QB typically wins.
And in 2026 and prior years, Burrow is that guy. The Bengals finish up a magical season and win Super Bowl LXI in our predictions as the No. 6 playoff seed.
Prediction: Bengals win 30-24
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