Two ESPN experts pick Rams to reach Super Bowl next season

Two of ESPN’s 11 experts picked the Rams to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl next season, though both have them losing in the big game

All indications last offseason were that the Los Angeles Rams would go through a multi-year rebuild after shedding expensive contracts for players such as Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, Bobby Wagner and Allen Robinson. However, the reconstruction of the Rams’ roster happened much more quickly than anticipated because they went 10-7 and reached the playoffs in a year when few people saw them winning more than six or seven games.

There’s a lot of work still to do this offseason before the 2024 campaign begins but the Rams are in great shape moving forward. Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp will all be back, and the Rams are equipped with not only a first-round pick, but also plenty of cap space to use in free agency.

Expectations are already higher for the Rams now than they were this time last year, and two ESPN experts even believe they can make a run to the Super Bowl. ESPN polled 11 experts for their 2024 predictions and Jeremy Fowler and Field Yates picked the Rams to go to the Super Bowl (and lose).

Fowler picked the Bills to beat the Rams in the Super Bowl, while Yates took the Chiefs to threepeat with a win over the Rams in the big game.

Jeremy Fowler, national NFL writer:Bills over Rams. Although Buffalo was a better team than Kansas City in the 2023 divisional round, it found a way to lose. The Bills will break through, and this might be the last season to do it because of looming roster/cap constraints. The Rams are trending up on offense and finally have the cap space and draft capital to improve their defense for one more run.

Field Yates, NFL analyst:Chiefs over Rams. The Chiefs hardly need an explanation here, while the Rams are poised for a significant step forward, as Los Angeles is equipped with draft capital (the team hasn’t made a first-round pick since 2016 but has one this year) and is armed with cap space after operating almost exclusively around the margins an offseason ago.

The Rams were close to upsetting the Lions in the wild-card round and were one of the hottest teams in the NFL entering the playoffs, but they came up just short in a thrilling game against Detroit.

The NFC West is still going to be a gauntlet in 2024 so securing a playoff spot won’t be easy, but with Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua likely to get even better, the Rams’ roster will be one of the best in the conference.

Super Bowl Expert Picks Predictions Odds MVP Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl expert picks and predictions for Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl expert picks, predictions, and thoughts on a few of the key prop bets.


Super Bowl Expert Picks Predictions

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* next to the pick means the team will win, but not cover.
Click on each game for the game preview and CFN Prediction

Super Bowl: Chiefs vs Eagles

Line: Philadelphia -1.5

Evan Bredeson, CornhuskersWire.com: Eagles
Jeff Feyerer, CFN: Eagles
Pete Fiutak, CFN: Eagles
Cami Griffin, LonghornsWire.com: Chiefs
Phil Harrison, BuckeyesWire.com: Chiefs
Jeremy Mauss, MWwire.com Chiefs
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN Chiefs
E, CFN Eagles
Tyler Nettuno, LSUTigerswire.com Eagles
Zack Pearson, TarHeelswire.com Chiefs
Nick Shepkowski, FightingIrishWire.com: Chiefs
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners.com: Eagles
Clucko the Chicken (a coin flip), CFN: Eagles
CONSENSUS PICK: Eagles

Super Bowl Experts Predictions
Chiefs vs Eagles | Chiefs vs Eagles Point Total
Super Bowl MVP | Super Bowl 1st TD Scored
Super Bowl Coin FlipResults So Far
First Round Mock Draft

NEXT: Super Bowl: Chiefs at Eagles Point Total Expert Picks Predictions

Super Bowl LVI predictions from all 32 NFL Wire editors

Editors from all 32 NFL Wire sites make their predictions for Super Bowl LVI. Does our team favor the Bengals or Rams? Or is it an even split?

The staff at Touchdown Wire made their picks for Super Bowl LVI. Now, it’s time for all 32 editors within the NFL Wires to predict Sunday’s winner between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams.

Will Joe Burrow and the Bengals complete a magical season and win the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy? Or will Sean McVay’s Rams finish the deal and win a title in their home city of Los Angeles?

Here’s how the NFL Wire editors are picking Super Bowl LVI:

Super Bowl LVI Predictions: Seahawks Wire staff split between Bengals and Rams

Here are our picks for who wins and why plus Super Bowl MVP.

Sunday’s game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams should be one of the most interesting Super Bowl matchups in recent memory. While LA is favored and has the home field advantage, there’s something undeniably special about this Cincinnati team – even if it’s just dumb luck being on their side so far in the playoffs. It’s not hard to imagine the Rams blowing them out, but we’re anticipating a tight game.

Our Seahawks Wire staff is split on who’s going to come out on top. Here are our picks for who wins and why plus Super Bowl MVP.

Tampa Bay vs Kansas City Super Bowl Prediction, Game Preview

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl prediction, game preview.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl prediction, game preview.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers Broadcast

Date: Sunday, February 7
Game Time: 6:30 ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Network: CBS

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All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Super Bowl: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14-5) vs Kansas City Chiefs (16-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM


Why Tampa Bay Will Win The Super Bowl

The defense has taken things to another level at just the right time.

It was terrific throughout the season and outstanding against the run throughout, but with the pressure on down the stretch, the D has improved, it continues to be a takeaway machine, and it was able to stuff New Orleans and Green Bay on the road to get the first ever home Super Bowl.

Don’t blow off how important it is that this is in Tampa Bay. Not only is this Super Bowl without all meaningless overblown hoo-ha of normal, but the teams are taking very different paths.

Kansas City is preparing at home – almost like it’s a regular road game – while the Buccaneers are practicing in their normal surroundings, they’re staying in their own beds, and in a year when the home field advantage crowd-wise doesn’t really matter, they’re able to truly make this like it’s a pumped up Sunday night Week 11 game.

On the field, Kansas City isn’t going to run much against the No. 1 run defense in the NFL, it’s not going to get its normal passing game going against one of the best teams in the league at preventing the big play, and then there’s that guy on the other side.

Don’t just assume the Tampa Bay offense is going to move because Tom Brady is in a Super Bowl, but it’s not a bad thing. He threw two picks in the first meeting against the two, but he also threw three interceptions in the NFC Championship win over Green Bay. The team was able to overcome the mistakes because of, again …

The defense.

This is where having two weeks off should help. In the first game – a 27-24 KC win, by the way – it was the end of a 12-game run before the Bucs got their bye week. The team was leaking oil with two losses in a row before getting the time off, and it hasn’t lost since.

Kansas City was a week removed from its bye.

But about that Tampa Bay defense …

Why Kansas City Will Win
What’s Going To Happen, Who’ll Win

NEXT: Why Kansas City Will Win The Super Bowl

Tampa Bay vs Kansas City Expert Picks, Predictions, Prop Bets

NFL expert picks, predictions, prop bets: Super Bowl, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Kansas City Chiefs

NFL expert picks, predictions, prop bets: Super Bowl, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Kansas City Chiefs


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* next to the pick means the team will win, but not cover.

Sunday, February 7

Super Bowl: Tampa Bay vs Kansas City

7:30 CBS
Line: Kansas City -3
– Bet on this at BetMGM

Gill Alexander, VSIN: Kansas City
Patrick Conn, Longhorns Wire: COMING
Jeff Feyerer, Fighting Irish Wire: Tampa Bay
Pete Fiutak, CFN: Tampa Bay
Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire: Kansas City
Jeremy Mauss, MW Wire: Kansas City
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN: Kansas City
Nick Shepkowski, Fighting Irish Wire: Kansas City
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners: COMING
Keith Stewart, WinnersandWhiners: Kansas City
Brian Stultz, Auburn Wire: Kansas City
Clucko the Chicken, CFN: Tampa Bay
CONSENSUS PICK: Kansas City

Over/Under | MVP Prediction
Mahomes & Brady to throw 300+
Player to score first TD

NEXT: Over/Under Prediction

Super Bowl First Thought Prediction, Line: Kansas City vs Tampa Bay

The first prediction, early lines, and quick analysis of all the 2021 NFL playoff games – Super Bowl version.

The first prediction, early lines, and quick analysis of all the 2021 NFL playoff games – Super Bowl version.


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Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

We did this already.

Kansas City beat Tampa Bay 27-24 in Week 12 when Tyreek Hill went wacky with 13 catches for 269 yards and three scores. The Chiefs held a 27-10 lead before Tom Brady hit Mike Evans for two scores in the fourth quarter to make it interesting, but it was too little too late.

It was wild, both star quarterbacks threw for a bazillion yards, and …

Can we have that again?

Without doing any research or giving it any real thought, here’s the knee-jerk thoughts and prediction for your Super Bowl LV. The actual line is added after the thing is written and predicted.

As always, this can and will change over the next two weeks when our game preview comes out, but until then …

Always go with your first answer.

2021 NFL Playoffs: Super Bowl LV

5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs 1 Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday, February 7th
CBS 6:30
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Maybe you watched the fabulous HBO documentary on Tiger Woods, and you surely saw the phenomenal series ‘The Last Dance’ on Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

As amazing as they were, they were so, so bittersweet – who didn’t want to go back in time and relive the greatness at an all-time level?

Here you go. You’re getting Tom Brady in his tenth Super Bowl.

Best of all, this isn’t like Peyton Manning taking home Super Bowl 50 in a last gasp, along for the ride sort of way. This is Brady still playing as well as any quarterback in the NFL, even if he’s off just a wee bit.

Here you go. You’re getting Patrick Mahomes in his second Super Bowl, and almost certainly not his last.

There obviously weren’t any issues against Buffalo after the concussion suffered against Cleveland, and the toe problem didn’t slow him down a bit, but getting two weeks off to rest up isn’t going to hurt.

Getting two weeks off to rest up isn’t going to be a bad thing for the 43-year-old guy, either.

The home field side of this for Tampa Bay doesn’t make a difference. It’s the Super Bowl – it’s not going to feel like anything like normal for the Buccaneers.

What will make a difference, though, is the Tampa Bay pass rush that managed to harass Aaron Rodgers for a full 60 minutes, and a run defense that’s the best in the NFL.

Watch out for a reverse of the first meeting in styles.

Kansas City wasn’t able to run all that well, and Mahomes was protected, but the offense still held on to the ball for almost 37 minutes to go along with the tremendous day from Hill and the passing game.

Brady threw a few picks, and the offense couldn’t move the chains, but this time around, it’s going to be pound, pound, pound as the Bucs go against type and try controlling the clock and the tempo.

Of course it’s all going to be about Brady vs. Mahomes, but Leonard Fournette will be every bit as important. Tampa Bay was able to get away with Green Bay having the ball for almost ten minutes longer in the NFC Championship, but in this, expect the Bucs to try doing everything possible to grind this down to a stop early – that’s where Fournette comes in.

And then the Kansas City defense will step up.

2021 Mock Draft from the college perspective: January Version

The two weeks off will allow the two coaching staffs time to figure out how to take out the opposing main men. That will last for a while for the Bucs, but eventually the dam will break, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill will start to get going in the third quarter, and Mahomes will find his groove.

Brady will be fantastic right up until a key interception early in the fourth quarter turns the game completely around. Boom, boom, boom – three plays later, Kansas City gets into the end zone and takes control of the game.

It’ll be fascinating. It’ll be history. It’ll be the greats going at it before the documentaries come out.

Enjoy this.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Kansas City 33, Tampa Bay 27
Early Line No-Look Guess: Kansas City -4
Actual BetMGM Line: Kansas City -3.5 o/u: 57.5

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2020 Super Bowl picks, scores and MVP predictions

Predicting the winner and score of Super Bowl 54, including the 2020 Super Bowl MVP.

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At the start of September, 32 NFL teams and their respective fan bases had a dream: To play in and win Super Bowl LIV. Fast forward to Sunday, Feb. 2, and it’s down to the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers duking it out to be the 2020 Super Bowl Champion.

One team will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl LIV Champions. The other will begin planning for next season.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve covered Super Bowl LIV odds, lines, spreads and many, many prop bets. Now we get to the fun part: SportsbookWire’s staff predicting who will win the 2020 Super Bowl.

Super Bowl 54 Picks and Predictions

Esten McLaren predicts the 49ers will beat the Chiefs 32-29 to win this season’s championship.

Sticking with the 49ers’ theme, Cameron DaSilva is also all about San Francisco, predicting a super-tight game with the 49ers beating the Chiefs by just one point, 28-27.

Pete Fiutak, from CollegeFootballNews.com, has the 49ers as 30-23 victors, the largest margin among the 49ers’ predicted wins.

Starting to see a trend? Geoff Clark is also on the 49ers’ side of the battle, projecting a 37-34 victory over Kansas City to capture the Lombardi Trophy.

Jess Root is on the other side of the fence, but he’s not thinking it’ll be a wide-open game any more than most of SportsbookWire’s scribes. Root has the Chiefs beating the 49ers 34-31.

Sticking with the Chiefs’ winning theme – and a quickly divided group of SportsbookWire analysts – Brian Rudd has a lower-scoring game overall, but he also likes the Chiefs to win 27-24.

Johnny Parlay is also siding with Kansas City to win. Unlike other SBW writers, Parlay is expecting a rather sound victory, putting the Chiefs as 10-point victors over the 49ers, 38-28.

Our Ryan R. Bonini has gone back-and-forth all week, finally settling in on a 31-27 victory for San Francisco over Kansas City.

For those keeping track at home, we have five votes for the 49ers and three for the Chiefs.


Special sports betting line for the big game

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2020 Super Bowl MVP Picks & Predictions

On the 49ers’ side of the equation, our staff is all over the place. That just goes to show you how wide-open this year’s Super Bowl actually is – there isn’t a true favorite.

McLaren has a feeling it’s going to the defensive side, naming 49ers CB Richard Sherman as the game’s MVP. The same goes for DaSilva, but he’s expecting that 49ers defender to be edge-rusher Nick Bosa. Clark, on the 49ers, likes quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to be the MVP, as does Fiutak. Bonini is going back to the running game, which has led the 49ers much of the year, choosing the unheralded Raheem Mostert as his MVP.

Root is on board with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes as Super Bowl LIV MVP; Parlay is in the same boat, expecting the third-year quarterback to be the standout player. Rudd, on the Chiefs’ side of the championship, took a different route, naming wide receiver Tyreek Hill as his projected MVP.

Tune into FOX at 6:30 p.m. ET when Super Bowl LIV begins to catch all of the action. In the meantime, if you’re looking to place a sports wager on the big game, head over to BetMGM and bet now!

Also see:

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Fighting Irish Wire: Staff Super Bowl Picks

So what happens Sunday when Kansas City tries to end their 50 year title drought and San Francisco tries to join the Steelers and Patriots as the only teams with six Super Bowls?

What happens Sunday evening in the final football game we get until late August?

Alright, that’s said an no offense is meant to the XFL or fans/players of any other league but you catch my drift.

So what happens Sunday when Kansas City tries to end their 50 year title drought and San Francisco tries to join the Steelers and Patriots as the only teams with six Super Bowls?

Here is how the Fighting Irish Wire Staff sees Super Bowl Sunday going:

Mike Chen: Chiefs 35, 49ers 24

Pat Mahomes is just too damn good and proves to be too much for the 49ers to handle.

Geoffrey Clark: Chiefs 35, 49ers 17

Mahomes is built for moments like this and when the lights shine brightest he won’t disappoint. Not exactly a reach but he’s easily the MVP come 10 pm Sunday.

Jeff Feyerer: Chiefs 27, 49ers 23

The Chiefs just have so many weapons I don’t know how you stop them. Sure the 49ers have a great running game but I trust the KC game plan and secondary to both be better against that running game than the Packers were.

Nick Shepkowski: Chiefs 27, 49ers 24

Oddity of this game is that the stats don’t match the narrative. The 49ers actually allowed more points than the Chiefs did this year while the Niners also out-scored Kansas City in 2019. Defense wins championships, right?! Chiefs in a classic.

Chiefs or 49ers? Panthers Wire Super Bowl LIV staff picks

We’re expecting a classic championship game. Here’s who our staff is picking.

Super Bowl LIV promises to be a far more compelling matchup than last year’s dud between the Rams and the Patriots. The 49ers have the most ferocious defense in the NFL, a brilliant play-caller and a potent rushing attack. The Chiefs have a generational quarterback, the fastest player in football, a great offensive mind of their own and a defense that has radically improved since last year.

We’re expecting a classic championship game. Here’s who our staff is picking.

Bill Riccette

Ultimately this game will come down to the quarterbacks and as much as I like Jimmy Garoppolo, Patrick Mahomes is simply going to be too much and the Chiefs’ offense just has more firepower. The Chiefs will dare Jimmy G to win this game for the 49ers as they’ll keep a close tab on the rushing attack, namely Raheem Mostert. The 49ers won’t be able to stop Mahomes from finishing the job. Andy Reid finally wins the big one.

Chiefs 34, 49ers 27

Anthony Rizzuti

Kansas City cannot afford a third straight struggle out of the gate, as San Francisco won’t be as forgiving as Houston and Tennessee were in their previous two outings. For that not to occur, especially against the most formidable mix of offense and defense the league has to offer, the sport’s brightest star may have to turn in one of the greatest performances in Super Bowl history. But when it comes to Patrick Mahomes and his extraordinary ability to create, that’s not a bad bet.

Kansas City 37, San Francisco 28

Lucas Ewing

This Super Bowl matchup between one of the top defenses in points allowed in the Kansas City Chiefs and the second-highest scoring offense in the San Francisco 49ers should be one for the ages. Both sides feature some high-profile players on defense, but I’m expecting this to become an offensive shootout and the highest-scoring Super Bowl of all time.

49ers 48, Chiefs 37

Gerald Huggins

This contest will boil down to whether or not the Chiefs’ defense can slow down the rushing attack of the 49ers, who have been averaging 144.1 yards rushing per game this year. The Niners will not win if Jimmy Garrappolo has to throw too much. However, if Kyle Shanahan can call a game equal to the one he called against the Packers they will be tough to beat. Even though history says the better defense wins a majority of the time, I believe Eric Bieniemy and Patrick Mahomes will find a way to run up the score.

Chiefs 31, 49ers 24

Tim Weaver

The 49ers defense has been undeniably impressive this season, especially their pass rush. The question is does defense even matter when you’re facing Patrick Mahomes and the absurd talents Kansas City has at the skill positions? If the Chiefs can effectively neutralize Nick Bosa and the other Niners game-wreckers up front, the Niners will be in trouble. Getting an early lead will also be critical for San Francisco’s chances, as they can’t rely on Jimmy Garoppolo to bring them back from a big deficit the way Kansas City can with Mahomes.

Chiefs 38, 49ers 34

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