The NFL regular season doesn’t start until September, but it’s never too early to start thinking about Super Bowl 61.
Football’s ultimate game will be held at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium this year. It’ll mark the second time the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers will host the game.
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The Rams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy when Super Bowl 56 was played at their home stadium, and the team is positioned to make another Super Bowl run this year. According to BetMGM, the Rams (+500) have the best odds of winning Super Bowl 61, followed by the Buffalo Bills (+1,000). The Baltimore Ravens (+1,100). The defending champion Seattle Seahawks (+1,100) have the next best odds.
OTAs are underway and mandatory minicamps begin in June. Teams are already preparing to earn a trip to Super Bowl 61.
Who’s best equipped to stamp their ticket to the Super Bowl 61? Let’s have some fun with a way-too-early and way-too-specific Super Bowl 61 prediction:
AFC championship game prediction: Baltimore Ravens edge Buffalo Bills
Lamar Jackson will earn his first trip to the Super Bowl after a dynamic performance against Josh Allen and the Bills.
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In the face of past playoff misfortune, Jackson has an MVP-like performance as he throws two touchdowns and runs for another. However, Jesse Minter and Baltimore’s revamped defense is what gets the team over the hump.
Allen shoulders much of the Bills’ offensive load, but new Ravens edge rusher Trey Hendrickson produces a key strip sack and cornerback Nate Wiggins registers a game-altering interception. The two turnovers prove to be the difference as the Ravens win an AFC championship in Minter’s first year as head coach.
NFC championship game prediction: Los Angeles Rams outlast Philadelphia Eagles
A.J. Brown is in New England, but the Eagles offense is still centered around star running back Saquon Barkley.
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Barkley’s 1,500-yard rushing season helps the Eagles get to the NFC championship game. The Eagles are the Rams’ kryptonite, with Philly winning four straight games against the Rams since 2023 (including the playoffs), but the Rams finally get off the schneid in the NFC championship game.
The Rams key offseason additions of two-time defensive player of the year Myles Garrett and cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson help contain what’s already an inconsistent Eagles passing game. Barkley does what he can on the ground, but the Eagles have to abandon their rushing attack because they are playing from behind most of the contest. That allows Garrett to pin his ears back and create havoc.
Matthew Stafford tosses two touchdown passes to Davante Adams to lift the Rams over the Eagles as the veteran wideout finally advances to the Super Bowl after being 0-5 in NFC championship games.
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Myles Garrett acknowledges the Cleveland crowd during the first half of a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Feb. 24, 2026.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Myles Garrett acknowledges the Cleveland crowd during the first half of a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Feb. 24, 2026.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Myles Garrett greets girlfriend Chloe Kim after the women’s halfpipe final during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics at Livigno Snow Park in Livigno, Italy on Feb. 12, 2026.
(Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Myles Garrett chats with girlfriend Chloe Kim after her second run in the women’s halfpipe final during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics at Livigno Snow Park in Livigno, Italy on Feb. 12, 2026.
(Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Myles Garrett puts on a shirt with a photo of his girlfriend, USA snowboarder Chloe Kim, while in attendance at the women’s halfpipe final during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics at Livigno Snow Park in Livigno, Italy on Feb. 12, 2026.
(Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Myles Garrett (center) poses with his father Lawrence Garrett (left) and mother Audrey Garrett on the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl 60 at Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on Feb. 5, 2026.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates with teammates following a sack against the Bengals during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Jan. 4, 2026. The sack set a new NFL single season record.
(Katie Stratman, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates with safety Donovan McMillon (31) following a sack against the Bengals during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Jan. 4, 2026. The sack set a new NFL single season record.
(Katie Stratman, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is all smiles as he jogs back inside before a game, Dec. 21, 2025, in Cleveland.
(Jeff Lange, Akron Beacon Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, left, and defensive tackle Shelby Harris walk off the field during training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea, Ohio on July 23, 2025.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates after sacking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (not pictured) during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Nov. 19, 2023
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) sacks Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Nov. 19, 2023.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) hits New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco (19) during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sep. 18, 2022.
(Scott Galvin, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) helps up Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sep. 26, 2021.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) hits Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) with his own helmet as offensive guard David DeCastro (66) tries to stop Garrett during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on Nov. 14, 2019.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) on the field warming up before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Aug. 17, 2019.
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates after the second half of a game against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sep. 20, 2018.
(David Dermer, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) high-fives fans after the game against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on Oct. 8, 2017.
(Scott Galvin, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) sacks New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown (15) during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on Oct. 8, 2017.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Cleveland Browns first round picks defensive lineman Myles Garrett and defensive back Jabrill Peppers and tight end David Njoku display their jerseys to the media at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Apr 28, 2017.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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Myles Garrett takes defensive prowess to LA after being traded to Rams
Myles Garrett is announced as the No. 1 overall pick to the Cleveland Browns during the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia on April 27, 2017.
(Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports)
Super Bowl 61 prediction: Rams complete mission, win another Super Bowl in LA
The home field magic works in the Rams’ favor once again.
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Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and the Rams’ high-powered offense shines in Super Bowl 61. Stafford throws for 255 yards and three touchdowns. While Nacua and Adams combined for 14 catches, 170 yards and three scores as the Rams ride the California love to a Super Bowl 61 title.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ season ends in disappointment, but it’s hard to fault the two-time MVP.
Jackson was superb in his first ever Super Bowl, passing for two touchdowns and running for another. However, the Ravens’ inability to consistently convert on third downs (6 for 16 on third downs) and a missed 46-yard field goal by Tyler Loop prevent Baltimore from lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
I predict the Rams win a second Super Bowl inside SoFi Stadium and their third in franchise history. Let’s check back in February.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Way-too-early Super Bowl 61 prediction for NFL favorites
