Seahawks, Jaguars and Vikings headline CBS Sports playoff simulation

The Seattle Seahawks would defend their title at Super Bowl LXI if the 2026 NFL season unfolds the way a new CBS Sports projection suggests. Using a computer model run by analytics expert Stephen Oh, the outlet simulated all 208 remaining regular-season games and 13 playoff contests to build out a full 14-team postseason bracket.

Chiefs and Seahawks lead conferences, surprise runs for Jaguars and Vikings

In the AFC, the simulation slots the Kansas City Chiefs as the top seed, followed by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens as division winners. The Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots round out the wild-card entrants. In this scenario, New England edges the Cincinnati Bengals for the final spot on a tiebreaker, a result that could put added scrutiny on head coach Zac Taylor if it ever comes to pass.

Despite strong early records, the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns do not make the projected field. A difficult upcoming schedule is cited as a key obstacle for the Raiders, while the Browns are forecast to reach only a win total that leaves them short of a playoff berth.

On the NFC side, the Seahawks are projected to win the West in a division that also sends the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams to the postseason. The Minnesota Vikings are pegged as NFC North champions, the Philadelphia Eagles are forecast to reclaim the East, and the Atlanta Falcons emerge as surprise winners of the South. The Chicago Bears grab the final wild-card position.

Model sets up Chiefs-Seahawks Super Bowl, hints at budding dynasty

CBS Sports’ bracket has Jacksonville validating its preseason buzz by making it to the AFC Championship Game. The projected path includes a wild-card win over the Patriots and a measure of revenge against the Bills before the Jaguars fall short on the road against Kansas City, denying Trevor Lawrence a first Super Bowl appearance.

In the NFC, the Vikings ride what the projection describes as one of the league’s best defenses to a divisional-round win over the 49ers. Their push for a first Super Bowl trip in decades ends in Seattle, where the Seahawks contain an offense led by Kyler Murray and advance with a one-score victory in the conference title game.

The simulation ultimately pits the Chiefs against the Seahawks for the Lombardi Trophy. Backed by a defense that has taken off since Mike Macdonald became head coach in 2024, Seattle is projected to edge Patrick Mahomes and a Kansas City attack that features running back Kenneth Walker. A narrow win would give the Seahawks back-to-back championships, celebrated this time in the Rams’ home stadium after last season’s triumph in the 49ers’ building, and would further fuel talk of a budding NFC powerhouse in the Pacific Northwest.