Why the Buffalo Bills are Sporting News' pick to win Super Bowl 61 image
The Buffalo Bills haven't been to the Super Bowl in 33 seasons, when they lost their fourth consecutive appearance against the Cowboys after the 1993 season. The Bills' NFL existence without a ring, however, will end when they return and win Super Bowl 61 as the best overall team in 2026.
The Josh Allen Era, going back to his breakout second season as Buffalo's starting quarterback in 2019, has been fruitful. The Bills have been to the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons and their run of five straight AFC East titles ended last year to the eventual AFC champion Patriots.
Although those Bills playoff trips all have ended in losing disappointment — four times in the divisional round, twice in the AFC title game — those were with coach Sean McDermott. The Bills had gone 83-33 in the regular season since '19 and didn't have enough to show for it the postseason, prompting the team to fire McDermott and promote offensive coordinator Joe Brady to replace him.
So why is there renewed confidence to get to and win the Super Bowl after the '26 season, despite having a 36-year-old rookie head coach? There are good vibes that Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, will benefit from having a direct line to Brady, with whom he has a great relationship.
Why Bills will win Super Bowl 61
Between Allen and running back James Cook, the Bills can often field a dominant rushing attack. This year, the Bills also recognized they had been missing a veteran big-play wide receiver and traded for Moore, who exploded in Brady's offense when the pair was on the Panthers from 2020-2021. Having a No. 1 makes all the Bills' passing weapons better for Allen, especially working off the reliable running.
The Bills fielded the NFL's No. 1 pass defense last season. With that foundation, they made it a point to improve their sack and takeaway potential in a defense now under Jim Leonhard. Leonhard was hired from the Broncos, who led the league in sacks in 2025.
Buffalo will make more impact plays, up from 36 sacks and 13 interceptions. The team's pass-rush rotation already has shades of the Seahawks, who won Super Bowl 60. Versatile producers such as defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson are a hint at Leonhard bringing a championship-caliber attack mode.
Between Brady and Leonhard, only 43, the Bills are taking the right fresh approach without messing up what they have done so well with Allen.
The Bills' issues in not getting to a Super Bowl yet with Allen have been more about self-inflicted wounds and missed great opportunities than being outplayed by the Chiefs and other playoff teams. Buffalo made the bold move to bury some of that mentality, and it will pay off, big time.
2026 NFL POSITIONAL RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs
The team is set up well to remove its own obstacles and also take advantage of some downtime with the Chiefs, Ravens, Patriots, Broncos, and other AFC contenders in 2026. Once Allen and the Bills get through the AFC playoffs for the first time, they will be ready to take down the NFC winners.
Sporting News is picking the Bears to play the Bills. That also would be some good fortune not to play the more experienced Rams or Eagles when Allen plays in his first Super Bowl.
Allen has been too elite of a QB in this era not to have a ring. This is the year the Bills lift him up as much as he's lifted them in their recent playoff past.