Ralph VacchianoSep 9, 2026
Vacchiano picks the Broncos to beat the Bears 31-24 in Super Bowl LXI, with Denver dominating the AFC under Sean Payton and Chicago emerging in Year 2 under Ben Johnson.
Published in writing · Fox SportsRead the original
What Ralph Vacchiano said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromIf he can just have a little better luck and health, no one in the AFC will beat them.
- Where it was published
- Fox Sports
- The piece
- 2026 Super Bowl Predictions: Battle Of L.A.? Cowboys Win It All? Our Super Bowl LXI Picks
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl“Ralph Vacchiano: Broncos Defeat Bears”
- 2Denver Broncos 31 — Bears 24“Score prediction: Broncos 31, Bears 24”
- 3Chicago Bears to reach the Super Bowl“Ralph Vacchiano: Broncos Defeat Bears”
- 4Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl“Ralph Vacchiano: Broncos Defeat Bears”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl1 | Conference Champions | — | — | — | — | |
| Denver Broncos 31 — Bears 242 | Score Predictions | — | — | — | — | |
| Chicago Bears to reach the Super Bowl3 | Conference Champions | — | — | — | — | |
| Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl4 | Super Bowl Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 2 conference champions, 1 score prediction and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Their call against the record
Their call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
1Conference ChampionsDenver Broncos
Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Score PredictionsDenver Broncos
Denver Broncos 31 — Bears 24
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Conference ChampionsChicago Bears
Chicago Bears to reach the Super Bowl
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Super Bowl PicksDenver Broncos
Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Chicago Bears · Hit 98
DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score.
More conference champions
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Damonza Byrd · Conference Champions · Seattle Seahawks · Hit 100
The co-host picks the Seahawks to beat the Rams in the NFC Championship game, and says they believe New England will win in Denver even though they are taking the Broncos with the points.Nick Wright · Conference Champions · New England Patriots · Hit 100
The host picks the Rams to beat the Seahawks in the NFC Championship game and believes the winner of that game wins the Super Bowl, i.e. that this is the Rams' year; they also pick New England to win in Denver despite taking the Broncos with the points, and says Stafford is winning MVP. They call Sean McVay the second-best coach in the NFL.AJ Hawk · Conference Champions · Los Angeles Rams · Close 50
Hawk picked the Patriots to win in Denver despite liking Stidham and the Broncos defense, and in the NFC they stuck with the Rams, saying Stafford gets to the Super Bowl.Derek Murphy · Conference Champions · Seattle Seahawks · Hit 100
Bone said after watching film that Seattle will handle the Rams in the NFC Championship Game, and that the Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl.Connor "Boston Connor" Campbell · Conference Champions · New England Patriots · Hit 100
Connor expects a tight first half in Denver before New England pulls away in the second half and advances to the Super Bowl.