It hasn’t even been a week since the 2026 schedule was released, and the conversation has already shifted to Super Bowl contenders, with a specific scenario involving quarterback Matthew Stafford’s retirement.

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky gave his prediction on Get Up. The former NFL quarterback predicted a Super Bowl matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams.

“I’m going Bengals-Rams,” Orlovsky said on May 15. “I feel passionate about the Cincinnati Bengals. This offensive line is going to slightly improve…Joe stays healthy. The best team in football last year, arguably, did not win the Super Bowl. I think we get Joe-Stafford; Stafford wins it, and retires.”

But if that happens, it's going to bring some bad memories for Burrow and company. In the 2021 season, the Bengals reached the Super Bowl LVI but lost to the Rams 23-20.

Stafford was their starting QB then, and if they reach the big game this year, then we get to see the same rematch again. But at 38, the buzz around Stafford hanging up his cleats has increased.

Earlier this year, Orlovsky also spoke about the veteran quarterback potentially stepping away from football if he wins another ring.

“I have absolutely no knowledge if that’s his reality,” Orlovsky said on Get Up in January. “But I think if he has that storybook with his family, that makes a lot of sense.”

According to SI’s Los Angeles Rams coverage, league executives believe that if Stafford decides to hang up his cleats, Rams GM Les Snead could make an aggressive trade push for Joe Burrow.

With expectations around Burrow continuing to rise, Cincinnati remains firm in early Super Bowl conversations heading into training camp.

Dan Orlovsky Backs the Bengals to Win the AFC North

Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Orlovsky backed Cincinnati to take the division based on their offseason moves and roster upgrades.

“[The Bengals] would be my pick to win the division,” Orlovsky said earlier this month. “I think it’s obviously a huge year for Cincinnati, for Joe Burrow. That’s why they made the trade for Dexter Lawrence. A bunch of new starters on defense that just have to pay off for them.”

Looking at their schedule for the 2026 season, the Bengals have the third-easiest schedule among the 32 teams, per ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore