SAN FRANCISCO — Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Pick Six newsletter!

I don’t know how it happened, but the Super Bowl is now only three days away — at least, that’s what I’ve been told. I actually have no idea how far away it is because I’ve lost all sense of time out here in San Francisco. If I’ve learned one thing this week, it’s that nothing about the Pacific Time Zone makes sense. I never know what time it is. I wake up at odd hours and never know when to go to bed.

If you’re wondering what I’ve been up to over the past 24 hours, I got to go down to Levi’s Stadium on Wednesday and sample EVERY piece of food that’s going to be served at the Super Bowl — and that includes oysters. Yup, they’re going to have oysters at the Super Bowl, and someone will even be shucking them.

Let’s stop talking about food, though, and start talking about football. In today’s newsletter, we’ll be making some predictions for the awards being handed out at NFL Honors. Plus, we’ve got some Super Bowl picks.

As always, here’s your reminder to tell all your friends to sign up for the newsletter. Let’s get to the rundown. 

1. NFL Honors is here: Here are our predictions

If there’s one thing that always seems to get lost in the shuffle during Super Bowl week, it’s the fact that the NFL hands out all of its major awards. That will be happening during the NFL Honors ceremony.

This year, that means if you want to know who’s going to win MVP, you’ll need to tune in to the NFL Honors show, which will air at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. During the two-hour ceremony, hosted by Jon Hamm, we’ll see every award handed out — from Coach of the Year to Offensive Player of the Year to Defensive Rookie of the Year and everything in between.

Here are all the details on how you can watch:

Show: 2026 NFL Honors
Date: Thursday, Feb. 5
Location: Palace of Fine Arts (San Francisco)
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: NBC

Before the awards get handed out, our NFL crew here at CBS Sports voted on each award. Several tight races will come to an end at the ceremony. There are five finalists for MVP, but that race feels like it’s down to Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye. Coach of the Year is also up for grabs, and it feels like that will probably go to Mike Vrabel, Mike Macdonald, Liam Coen or Ben Johnson.

So who did we vote for? Let’s check it out. 

We had 12 voters, and seven of them used their MVP vote on Maye while the other five voted for Stafford (I voted for Stafford). The Coach of the Year award was also a nail-biter, with Vrabel beating out Macdonald by two votes (6-4). The only other vote-getter was Kyle Shanahan, who received three votes. You can check out our full list of award winners here.

2. Super Bowl LX picks: We’re all taking the Seahawks

I’ve basically spent half my week tracking down everyone’s Super Bowl pick here at CBS Sports. Pete Prisco claims he’s in San Francisco, but it’s been three days and I still haven’t seen him. The good news for me is that I didn’t need to see him in person to get his pick because he wrote it for the website on Wednesday.

Anyway, I have four picks here, and we’re all taking the Seahawks, which seems like a giant jinx waiting to happen.

With that in mind, let’s get to the Super Bowl picks for a game where the Seahawks are currently favored by 4.5 points.

• Pete Prisco: Seahawks 27-10 over Patriots. “I don’t think Seattle’s offense will spend the game moving up and down the field, but the Seahawks will be able to feast on short fields given to them by the defense. I think Maye will turn it over a few times and the sacks will start to wear on him. This will be a day for the Seattle defense.” For a full explanation of Prisco’s Super Bowl pick, be sure to click here.
• Tyler Sullivan: Seahawks 30-17 over Patriots. “It’s hard to imagine Drake Maye and the Patriots’ offense suddenly turning the tide in this Super Bowl against a Seattle defense that was the No. 1 scoring defense this season. Moreover, the No. 1 scoring defenses that have squared off against All-Pro quarterbacks (like Maye) in the Super Bowl are 5-1 in the previous six matchups. Seattle wins this in a rather convincing fashion.” For a full explanation of Sullivan’s Super Bowl pick, be sure to click here. 
• Jordan Dajani: Seahawks 20-13 over Patriots. “This is the seventh Super Bowl since 1970 between an All-Pro quarterback (Maye) and the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense (Seattle). The No. 1 scoring defense is 5-1 in the previous six matchups. … They say defense wins championships, and I think that will be proven Sunday.” If you want to read Dajani’s full pick, be sure to click here.
• John Breech: Seahawks 34-20 over Patriots. “For me, the deciding factor in this game is going to be Mike Macdonald. Since being hired by the Seahawks in 2024, Macdonald has absolutely dominated young quarterbacks, and now he gets to face the second-youngest starting quarterback in the history of the Super Bowl (Drake Maye). In his two seasons on the job, Macdonald has coached six games against first- or second-year quarterbacks, and he’s gone 6-0 in those games. Those wins have come against good quarterbacks like Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams. Not only is he undefeated, but the six quarterbacks have averaged just 168.8 yards passing while throwing nine interceptions compared to just two touchdowns. If Macdonald forces Maye into a bad game, the Seahawks will likely win big.” For the rest of my pick, be sure to click here. 

For more playoff picks, you can check out our CBS Sports picks page here.

3. Super Bowl on Madden: We simulated Seahawks-Patriots and here’s what happened 

Alright, now that we’ve got the writer picks out of the way, let’s move on to the Madden simulation. We had Tyler Sullivan simulate the entire game on Madden — and yes, this means Sullivan got paid to play video games for two hours, and yes, I’m jealous — but the important thing here is that if his simulation turns out to be correct, then we now know who’s going to win the Super Bowl.

Here’s what happened:

• Sam Darnold takes a beating in the first half, but keeps Seahawks in the game. The Seahawks QB took a beating in the first half, getting sacked five times. Seattle’s offense sputtered for most of the half, but Darnold bounced back with a touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp late in the second quarter to tie the game at 10 heading into halftime.
• Drake Maye has the longest pass of the game. The second half opened with one of the biggest plays of the game when Maye hit Hunter Henry for a 64-yard touchdown pass to give the Patriots a 17-10 lead in the third quarter.
• The game comes down to a field goal. The Seahawks mounted a comeback thanks to Darnold and Kupp, who connected for a second touchdown in the fourth quarter. In the end, though, the game was decided on a Jason Myers field goal. The Seahawks kicker drilled a 20-yarder to give Seattle a 23-20 win.

This is the sixth year Sullivan has done a Super Bowl simulation, and the sim is 4-1 so far, which would seem to bode well for the Seahawks. Last year, the simulation predicted a three-point win by the Eagles, who ended up beating the Chiefs, 40-22.

If you want every detail on how the simulation played out, plus watch highlights from the game, then be sure to click here.

4. Super Bowl injury report: Seahawks could be missing a key player

There usually aren’t too many surprises on the injury report during Super Bowl week, but there was definitely one on Wednesday.

Here’s the latest on the health of both teams:

• Nick Emmanwori dealing with an ankle injury. The Seahawks rookie safety, who has been a key part of their pass defense this year, injured his ankle at practice while trying to defend a pass. Mike Macdonald didn’t offer many details. “He had an ankle today,” Macdonald said. “We brought him in to look at it, and we’ll kind of go from here and figure out what are the next steps.” On Wednesday night, video surfaced of Emmanwori returning to the team hotel, and the positive news for Seattle is that he wasn’t using crutches or wearing a boot. It’s still unclear if he’ll be able to play Sunday, so this will be a situation to monitor.
• Sam Darnold’s oblique feeling better. The Seahawks QB was listed as a limited participant Wednesday, but he sounds ready to go. “It feels really good,” he said. “Definitely the time off has helped a little bit. I’m always just going to take it one step at a time, do my rehab and do everything I need to do to make sure it feels great going into practice and the game.”
• Drake Maye’s shoulder improving. Maye was a full participant in practice, so the Patriots are confident in the health of his shoulder. He said Wednesday that it “feels great.” Maye was one of just five players on New England’s injury report. LB Robert Spillane (ankle) was the only player who didn’t practice.

If you want all the details on the injury report, we’ve got that here. 

5. Ranking all 59 Super Bowls: Two Giants wins are at the top

There have been 59 Super Bowls played in NFL history, and Bryan DeArdo decided to rank ALL of them this week. Since he took the time to rank every Super Bowl ever played, it only makes sense for us to take a look.

I don’t want to spoil the entire list, so here’s his top 10 — plus the game he ranked last:

1. Super Bowl XXV: Giants 20-19 over Bills
2. Super Bowl XLII: Giants 17-14 over Patriots 
3. Super Bowl LI: Patriots 34-28 over Falcons (OT) 
4. Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots 28-24 over Seahawks
5. Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers 27-23 over Cardinals 
6. Super Bowl XXXVI: Patriots 20-17 over Rams
7. Super Bowl XXXIV: Rams 23-16 over Titans
8. Super Bowl LVIII: Chiefs 25-22 over 49ers (OT)
9. Super Bowl XXXII: Broncos 31-24 over Packers
10. Super Bowl XXIII: 49ers 20-16 over Bengals 
…
59. Super Bowl XXXV: Raven 35-7 over Giants

With the Patriots and Seahawks set to meet again, we should probably cross our fingers for another classic. I absolutely agree with DeArdo that their first meeting was one of the five best Super Bowls of all time. It had everything, and of course, it gave us the longest-running NFL debate ever: Should the Seahawks have given the ball to Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line?

If you want to see where the other Super Bowls fall, be sure to click here.

6. Extra points: Most expensive ticket at the Super Bowl

It’s been a busy 24 hours in the NFL, and since it’s nearly impossible to keep track of everything, I put together a quick roundup for you.

• Super Bowl’s most expensive seat. I was inside Levi’s Stadium on Wednesday, so I decided to look up the most expensive ticket on the secondary market and check out the view. The priciest seat is going for $30,000, and if you want to know what the view looks like, I’ve got you covered here.
• 49ers will likely play an international game in 2026. The 49ers have only played one international game over the past 12 years, but that number could be going up in 2026. During an interview this week, owner Jed York said the team will likely be leaving the country for one game this year, and he already has a spot in mind for that game. “We will most likely give up a home game this season to play abroad, and Mexico is always No. 1 on my list,” York said. The NFL is playing a total of nine games abroad this year, and so far, we already know five teams who will be leaving the country (Rams, Saints, Commanders, Lions and Falcons). If York is right, the 49ers will soon be joining that group. 
• Lions fan files $100 million lawsuit against DK Metcalf and others. In Week 16, Metcalf got into it with a Lions fan while the Steelers were in Detroit, and now, that fan has filed a $100 million lawsuit against multiple parties, including Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ford Field Management LLC, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Shay Shay Media LLC and All Time Sports LLC. The man is seeking monetary damages because he claims he was physically harmed and that he was also falsely accused of making racist comments towards Metcalf. If you want the full details of the lawsuit, we’ve got those here. 
• Maxx Crosby might be ready to move on. There are always interesting rumors during Super Bowl week, and here’s one more: During an interview Wednesday, Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer was asked if he thought Crosby was done with the Raiders. His two-word answer: “I do.” That doesn’t mean a trade is imminent, but he’s certainly a player to watch this offseason.

Black Ops 7 Ranked Play is finally here with the release of Season 2. This highly competitive mode follows Call of Duty League (CDL) rules, and you need to compete against players of your same skill level. By winning matches, you can climb up the ranks.

Also, there are several rewards to look forward to. You need to reach certain win milestones, kill milestones, and rank milestones to earn various rewards.

In this article, we will cover all the rewards available in Black Ops 7 Ranked Play starting with Season 2. We will also include other important information like rules and restrictions, the SR (Skill Rating) mechanism, and more.

How to unlock all the Black Ops 7 Ranked Play rewards in Season 2

There are two types of Black Ops 7 Ranked Play rewards: Seasonal Rewards and Career Rewards.

Seasonal Rewards are different each season, and you must complete the requirements to earn them before that specific season ends.

Career Rewards are counted across all seasons of Ranked Play. These rewards won’t change with a new season; they remain available for the entirety of the mode’s existence in the game.

Black Ops 7 Ranked Play Seasonal Rewards: Season 2

These rewards are exclusive to Season 2 and must be earned before the season concludes.

• 10 Wins: “Pro Issue Dravec 45” SMG Blueprint (Dravec 45)
• 100 Wins: “100 Season 2 Wins” Large Decal
• Reach Silver Rank in Season 02: “Ranked Season 02 — Silver” Calling Card
• Reach Gold Rank in Season 02: “Ranked Season 02 — Gold” Calling Card, and “Ranked Season 02 — Gold” Weapon Camo (Universal).
• Reach Platinum Rank in Season 02: “Ranked Season 02 — Platinum” Calling Card, and “Ranked Season 02 — Platinum” Weapon Camo (Universal).
• Reach Diamond Rank in Season 02: “Ranked Season 02 — Diamond” Calling Card, and “Ranked Season 02 — Diamond” Weapon Camo (Universal).
• Reach Crimson Rank in Season 02: “Ranked Season 02 — Crimson” Calling Card, and “Ranked Season 02 — Crimson” Weapon Camo (Universal).
• Reach Iridescent Rank in Season 02: “Ranked Season 02 — Iridescent” Animated Calling Card, and “Ranked Season 02 — Iridescent” Weapon Camo (Animated, Universal).
• Finish Season 02 at the Top 250 Rank: “Ranked Season 02 — Top 250” Animated Calling Card, and “Ranked Season 02 — Top 250” Weapon Camo (Animated, Universal).
• Finish Season 02 at the Top 250 Rank: #1 Overall: “Ranked Season 02 – Top 250 Champion” Animated Calling Card.

Black Ops 7 Ranked Play Career Rewards: Win Challenges

These rewards are earned by accumulating wins throughout your entire Ranked Play career.

• 3 Wins: “2035 Competitor” Emblem
• 10 Wins: “BO7 Ranked Competitor” Operator Skins (four separate Skins, Home Male and Female, Away Male and Female).
• 20 Wins: “Pro Issue M15 MOD 0” Assault Rifle Blueprint
• 30 Wins: “Win & Streak Tracker” Gun Screen
• 40 Wins: “Main Stage” Loading Screen
• 50 Wins: “50 Ranked Wins” Weapon Camo
• 100 Wins: “100 Ranked Wins” Weapon Charm
• 250 Wins: “250 Ranked Wins” Large Decal
• 500 Wins: “500 Ranked Wins” Animated Calling Card
• 1000 Wins: “1000 Ranked Wins” Animated Emblem and “1000 Win Knife” Knife Blueprint

Black Ops 7 Ranked Play Career Rewards: Rank Skins

These Rank Skins are acquired once you reach the specific Rank milestones below. Once reached, you unlock four different skins per rank: Home Male, Home Female, Away Male, and Away Female.

• Reach Gold Rank: Gold Competitor (4x Skins)
• Reach Platinum Rank: Platinum Competitor (4x Skins)
• Reach Diamond Rank: Diamond Competitor (4x Skins)
• Reach Crimson Rank: Crimson Competitor (4x Skins)
• Reach Iridescent Rank: Iridescent Competitor (4x Skins)
• Finish a Season in the Top 250 Rank: Top 250 Competitor (4x Skins)
• Finish a Season at Top 250 #1 Overall: Top 250 Champion (4x Skins)

Black Ops 7 Ranked Play rules and restrictions

The first rule is that you need to win 50 matchmade Multiplayer matches to unlock the Black Ops 7 Ranked Play mode. After you unlock this competitive mode, you should know that there are certain rules and restrictions based on CDL rules and “Gentleman’s Agreements” (GAs).

• Friendly Fire: Friendly fire is enabled.
• If you are inactive, disconnect during matches, or shoot friendlies, you will face consequences like SR penalties or suspensions.
• Weapon restrictions: Only assault rifles, SMGs, pistols, and melee weapons are allowed in matches. Although you can use snipers in Search & Destroy, they are restricted in other modes like Hardpoint and Overload.
• Attachment restrictions: Many attachments are restricted and are not allowed to be used in Ranked matches.
• Scorestreak restrictions: Individual Loadout and Scorestreak item types are also restricted.
• Allowed Wildcard: Only the Perk Greed Wildcard is allowed in Ranked matches.
• Perk restrictions: Core and Hybrid Perk Specialties are restricted and cannot be activated in Ranked matches.
• Overclocks: Overclocks are also not available in Ranked Play.

Black Ops 7 Ranked Play Skill Rating (SR) mechanism

Skill Rating (SR) is the score that determines your skill and rank in the Ranked Play mode. You can earn SR by winning matches and eliminating opponents, and you lose SR by losing matches or being inactive or disconnected during matches. However, the SR calculation is not very straightforward and is calculated a bit differently, as explained below:

• Winning matches grants you SR: If you win a match, you will earn SR, but the amount will differ in every match. The amount of SR you earn is directly dependent on how you perform in the match, the skill levels of your opponents, and the margin of your victory.
• SR Calculation Mechanism: When you see a large amount of SR earned in a match, it usually means you have played against players of higher ranks, meaning the SR system determines that you are currently in a lower rank compared to your actual skill level (and is boosting you up).
• SR Losses: When you lose a match, you will lose SR.

Furthermore, this competitive mode also features the SR Forgiveness mechanism, which works as mentioned below:

• New Season Protection: When a new season arrives, your first three match losses won’t result in SR reduction.
• Rank Up Protection: When you climb up a higher rank, then your first three match losses wont have SR reduction.
• Daily Loss Protection: Each new day, you get one match loss where you don’t lose SR.
• Matchmade Teammate quit: If you are playing with randoms, and a matchmade teammate quits during an ongoing match, then there won’t be an SR reduction.
• Matchmade Teammate rejoined: If playing with randoms, and a Matchmade Teammate quits but later rejoins, and you lose the match, then your SR reduction is reduced, meaning you will lose less SR in that particular match.

Available maps and modes in Black Ops 7 Ranked Play Season 2

There are six maps and three modes available in Black Ops 7 Ranked Play Season 2, but not every mode is available on every map. So, check out the table below to know which maps have which modes:

Also read: Black Ops 7 Endgame Season 2: Everything we know

For the latest Call of Duty news and guides, be sure to check the links below: