The season is not yet finished, but fans are clamoring to know who will be playing in New Orleans when the big game gets underway. For those who are already looking ahead to the main event, let’s look at some of the teams that oddsmakers have pegged as the likeliest to be playing for it all this year.
Detroit Lions: The Detroit Lions haven’t just been beating teams this year, they’ve been steamrolling them. They have an elite offence with playmakers at every position. Quarterback Jared Goff has been very comfortable distributing to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta, while Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery make up the best running back tandem in the league. Their defence has held strong this year, though come playoffs, the unit will be tested.
Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs haven’t been dominant, but that doesn’t matter. They won nine straight games to start the year, and have won the previous two Super Bowls. Is anyone doubting a team with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback and Andy Reid at head coach? There is no reason to believe this team can’t threepeat, even if their wide receivers are iffy. The defence is super strong, and they have a championship pedigree.
Buffalo Bills: The Bills are the only team to beat Kansas City this year, and they’ll likely need to do it again to finally get their shot at a Super Bowl. Josh Allen has been lights out and is the current favourite for MVP, and he has a talented supporting cast now that Amari Cooper has been added. The defence, despite losing a lot of talent, has been phenomenal. For the Bills, everything will come down to beating their AFC competitors.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles suffered through a collapse last season, and many doubted the ability of coach Nick Siriani to get it done. However, they’ve righted the ship and have one of the best records in the NFL. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been efficient, and Saquon Barkley has transformed the run game. Most importantly, the defence has turned a corner, with an addition of young talent making them much more reliable.
Baltimore Ravens: The Baltimore Ravens have been somewhat inconsistent this year, with a few tough losses. But when they’re on, there might not be a better team. Lamar Jackson is authoring a better follow-up year to his MVP season and could bring the award back again. Derrick Henry has been everything the team could’ve hoped for and more, and the offence is a buzzsaw. The question remains, can Lamar win in January, and will a frustrating defence be able to hold up against the giants of the AFC?
San Francisco 49ers: Consider this placement by oddsmakers a show of faith in a 49ers team that has consistently performed well in the playoffs the past few years. Right now, the 49ers sit outside of a playoff spot and have looked very disjointed as they navigate injuries. But they are not far out of their division lead, and still have much of the same roster that led them to the brink of a Super Bowl victory last year. They will need to pick up momentum as the season continues.