# Ralph Vacchiano: 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. **Claimed:** Sep 9, 2026 **Pundit:** Ralph Vacchiano — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/ralph-vacchiano **Outlet:** Fox Sports — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fox-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-super-bowl-predictions-picks 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 bet. 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. > If he can just have a little better luck and health, no one in the AFC will beat them. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl** - Kind: Super Bowl Picks · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chicago Bears to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denver Broncos 31 — Bears 24** - Kind: Score Predictions · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bears ## What others said about the same people - Mike Moraitis on Ozzy Trapilo: Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cdfe5f0f-6783-4730-b9bb-d942e28b037a (scored 0) - Pete Martuneac on Ozzy Trapilo: After Trapilo's activation from the PUP list roughly seven months after rupturing his patellar tendon, Martuneac says the Bears' left tackle competition is over and Trapilo will be starting at left tackle early in the 2026 season, even if not by Week 1. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d42f10ad-a71c-4ea9-95e8-2b53fde77971 (scored 0) - Jared Dubin on Denver Broncos: Dubin picks Denver to win narrowly in Kansas City, 21-20. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b4339e96-6ced-44c2-88e9-b490d027df7b (scored 2.38) - Tyler Sullivan on Denver Broncos: Sullivan picks Denver to beat Kansas City 24-20. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d8636e57-b6d8-471a-a98a-75871c7ee5bf (scored 9.52) - Jordan Dajani on Denver Broncos: Dajani picks the Broncos over the Chiefs, 17-14. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/12e23aa9-d2ca-4db3-bfb0-25c09e63b1eb (scored 7.14) - John Breech on Denver Broncos: In the Pick Six newsletter, Breech picks the Broncos to upset the Chiefs on Monday night, 23-21. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/31f3511a-a211-46e0-a6dd-d2cfb70ee207 (scored 4.76) ## More conference champions The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Chris Brockman on Seattle Seahawks: Brockman argues the Seahawks are at the start of a dynasty, predicting they will win multiple Super Bowls over the next five years, and that they are set up to return to the Super Bowl the following season in Los Angeles. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7755a3be-efa7-417e-aefe-47d37d5fb067 (scored 100) - Damonza Byrd on Seattle Seahawks: The co-host picks the Seahawks to beat the Rams in the NFC Championship game, and says he believes New England will win in Denver even though he is taking the Broncos with the points. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c59694cc-b2ff-401f-ae64-3313b822cd5a (scored 100) - Nick Wright on New England Patriots: 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; he also picks New England to win in Denver despite taking the Broncos with the points, and says Stafford is winning MVP. He calls Sean McVay the second-best coach in the NFL. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5d16f975-ba4e-46f4-8717-8962b81c5bdf (scored 100) - AJ Hawk on Los Angeles Rams: Hawk picked the Patriots to win in Denver despite liking Stidham and the Broncos defense, and in the NFC he stuck with the Rams, saying Stafford gets to the Super Bowl. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70ca2972-53a1-4559-bd03-94c5fede2f4e (scored 50) - Derek Murphy on Seattle Seahawks: 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a5f623b2-e1e6-4687-b345-df2d9f35641f (scored 100) - Connor "Boston Connor" Campbell on New England Patriots: Connor expects a tight first half in Denver before New England pulls away in the second half and advances to the Super Bowl. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c31dff9f-7c0a-422d-9df1-e7423b9edcc8 (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=ralph-vacchiano