League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

49ers, Bills, and Chiefs emerge as Super Bowl LXI contenders

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 24, 2026, 4:00 PM

Last updated Oct 24, 2026

49ers, Bills, and Chiefs emerge as Super Bowl LXI contenders

Summary

The San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs are emerging as strong contenders for Super Bowl LXI. San Francisco has opened the season with six consecutive wins, bolstered by quarterback Brock Purdy's performance, which includes 1,460 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. Buffalo relies on Josh Allen’s dual-threat ability, highlighted by 1,504 passing yards and impressive rushing stats. Kansas City, with Patrick Mahomes at the helm, maintains a 5-0 start, showcasing their capacity to compete in high-stakes games. The playoff picture remains fluid, influenced by injuries and competition from other teams. Each franchise has favorable reasons to believe they can reach the championship in Inglewood, California.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•49ers lead the league with 6 straight wins
•Bills quarterback Josh Allen has over 1,500 passing yards
•Chiefs are undefeated at 5-0 this season
•Purdy, Allen, and Mahomes highlight each team's unique strengths
•Injuries and defensive consistency will impact playoff outcomes

Latest Updates

4:00 PMYahoo Sports — 49ers, Bills and Chiefs emerge as top Super Bowl 61 contenders

What they're saying

"
The San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are emerging as leading contenders for Super Bowl LXI. Brock Purdy, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes give their teams different strengths, but defensive consistency, injuries and competition from other NFL challengers could determine which franchise ultimately reaches the championship game.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Buffalo Bills Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers NFL Football