File this one under "Things I didn't expect to read today." A national NFL reporter is predicting the San Francisco 49ers to be the NFC's top team in 2026. And although it may be a tad early for such a prediction, 49ers fans will undoubtedly enjoy this one.

Henry McKenna, of Fox Sports, published his "2026 NFL Schedule Release: Playoff Predictions From Wild-Card Round To Super Bowl LXI" piece on Thursday (H/t 49ers Hive). In it, he shared his predictions for the AFC and NFC playoffs. And he has the 49ers doing well in January.


"As for the seeding order, the NFC West is about as hard to predict as can be," McKenna wrote. "The 49ers get the edge because they have a weak schedule and they put together a solid free-agency class, which includes veteran receiver Mike Evans. But the NFC's top seed could just as easily be the Rams or Seahawks (again)."

The NFC West will be brutal in 2026, just as it was in 2025. The Seattle Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl Champions (I still hate writing that) and easily handled the 49ers in the Divisional Playoff Round last January. The Los Angeles Rams are the only NFC West team that received a better offseason grade in a recent NFL Offseason Report Card. They look very good on paper.

If the 49ers can manage to win the NFC West, they have an excellent shot at being the top seed. Last year, the 49ers and Seahawks played for that spot. Ultimately, it went to Seattle. The Rams could have easily been in that game, as well. A similar scenario could happen this season.

But McKenna didn't stop there. He has the 49ers knocking out the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round by a score of 35-24. It looks like another shootout between Brock Purdy and Caleb Williams.

And the excitement for the Bay Area doesn't end there. McKenna has the 49ers slipping by the Rams 31-30 in the NFC Championship to earn their ninth trip to the Super Bowl. Take that, Rams fans. All three of you!


"The Rams can't quite make good on their second chance in the conference title game," McKenna wrote. "Instead, Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford watch as the 49ers eke out a win in San Francisco, in part because they have home-field advantage and in part because they earned the NFC bye. The 49ers are a deep team. They have elite players at premium positions. They have a relatively easy schedule outside their division. This could be their year."

Unfortunately for the 49ers, their magical season doesn't end with a sixth Lombardi trophy. This Fox News article predicts the 49ers falling to the Denver Broncos 29-28 in Super Bowl LXI. John Elway's team finally gets revenge for that 55-10 beatdown in Super Bowl XXIV.

McKenna added, "What a strange matchup of quarterbacks: [Bo] Nix and Brock Purdy. What a logical matchup of coaches: Sean Payton and Kyle Shanahan. What an excellent matchup of defenses. It feels like Payton and Nix are only coming to understand each other better. It feels like Broncos OC Davis Webb will be the hot head coaching candidate next offseason. And it feels like former Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle is the perfect addition to the Denver offense. (Don't sleep on rookie tight end Justin Joly either!)

"That offensive unit proves to be too much against the 49ers, whose age might start to show at this point in the postseason. Running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, and receiver Mike Evans might all be among the best at their positions, but they have plenty of wear and tear. That's how the Broncos find their advantage, with their young and fast defense taking care of Purdy & Co.

"Payton gets his second Super Bowl victory. And he does it by making Nix look a little bit like Saints legend Drew Brees, including on the game-winning drive when the Broncos convert a two-pointer, rather than settling for a tie (and, likely, overtime)."


I don't know, Mr. McKenna. If the 49ers make it to the final defensive drive of the Super Bowl, they're not letting another quarterback march down the field and win this one. If they make it to Inglewood, it's going to be different this time.

Written By:

Marc Adams


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