In what seems to be one of the fastest-moving NFL seasons in recent memory, we already find ourselves at the coveted final stretch of the regular season.
This is a chance for teams to prove to fans and themselves alike that they have what it truly takes to raise the Vince Lombardi trophy. We have seen recent runs of incredible regular-season teams die slowly in the playoffs because they cannot win pressure football games.
Let’s examine some of the teams that truly have a chance of winning the Super Bowl vs. some that would be lucky to make it out of the wild card round this year.
Super Bowl LIX Contender #1: Kansas City Chiefs
In what seems to be a pretty hectic NFL season full of injuries and surprises, one thing has remained constant, just like it has since Patrick Mahomes lost his first AFC Championship to Tom Brady in 2018 in Arrowhead.
This Chiefs team was shaky coming into the year, especially after Rashee Rice went down in Week 3 in LA. The verdict on the Chiefs has yet to be made, but the defense has turned around. They now have some all-pro caliber players on that side of the ball, and they can win games differently, which is not on the back of Mahomes.
After a slow start, Travis Kelce has turned his season around, and while Isaiah Pacheco was hurt for a couple of weeks, they got lucky enough that Kareem Hunt fell in their laps to take over. With a record of 15-1 and no signs of slowing down, this team remains at the top of the list of Super Bowl favorites year after year for good reason.
If there is any team to be confident in backing, this is it.
Contender #2: Pittsburgh Steelers
It is pretty wild to see a team completely make a change at QB mid-season and then still be able to utilize both of them in a way that helps the team win.
The Steelers’ defense has been at the forefront of the league for years, but the offense is now stepping into high gear with star players like George Pickens. Pickens and Wilson have found a newfound love for each other, and when on the field, he is one of the best receivers in the league. It is also a given that when you have a defensive player like TJ Watt on your team, you will be in pretty good shape to win football games.
Being top ten in yards per game allowed, touchdowns allowed, defensive scoring, rushing defense & overall defense, this team with a mix of a steady veteran QB showing he still can throw the pigskin is all the City of Steel needs to revitalize this team.
Contender #3: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles started the year in the shadows of Jayden Daniels‘ masterclasses and were second in the NFC East for a few weeks.
Things all changed when Saquon Barkley started having one of the best running back seasons in NFL history, and Jalen Hurts limited his turnover bug and started playing like an MVP candidate again. This defense has also been outstanding— elite, as some would say. They lead the league in fewest yards per game allowed with 281 per contest, and have only allowed 31 touchdowns on the season.
With receivers like AJ Brown and Devonta Smith and a balanced offensive attack that is proven to work, this Eagles team can beat any team, both NFC & AFC, en route to a Super Bowl victory.
Super Bowl LIX Pretender #1: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have only shown the NFL one thing in the years Lamar Jackson has been under center: their inability to win big, important games when they truly matter.
The case remains the same this year. A couple of games have gone their way towards the end, but with losses to the Browns and other close wins, this team remains unable to prove their ability to win the Super Bowl. Although they have the best rushing attack in the NFL, the receivers remain inconsistent, and with the failed Diontae Johnson experiment lingering, this team will have to win games fully on the ground.
That sure makes it harder for this team to win the Super Bowl.
Pretender #2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers might win the NFC South in a year that was kind of up in the air for the division.
But with a record of 8-7, this team remains unable to prove they can consistently win games. Drafting Bucky Irving helped supplement Rachaad White in the backfield, and they started with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans dominating with Baker Mayfield under center.
Godwin, unfortunately, went down with a torn ACL and was ruled out for the rest of the season, hurting their offensive attack dramatically. The common theme of this article has been the inability to play defense or how a good defense can completely change a season. The Bucs rank 27th in overall defensive yards and TD allowed per game, not letting them have a good matchup in the playoffs with any NFC team that can rock & roll the ball on offense.
The Lions, Eagles, Rams, Packers, and Commanders all have really good offenses that the Bucs will have trouble stopping. There are too many questions surrounding Baker’s ability to prove himself in a big game scenario at the pro level, which, even for a division-winning team that loves to score the ball, will not be enough to make a difference in the playoffs.
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