In the realm of professional football, the quest for Super Bowl glory is an unceasing journey, where dreams of championship glory fuel every season. As the NFL’s elite teams clash on the gridiron, one question emerges time and again: Who possesses the arsenal, the resilience, and the strategic prowess to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the grueling battle known as the Super Bowl?
5. Cincinnati Bengals
Current Vegas Odds: +1100
Why They Will: The experience of getting to the Super Bowl two years ago will help them navigate through their tough schedule, and Joe Burrow will most likely build upon the success he’s already had, and just reaching his prime years. This team is also stacked with talent with WRs Chase and Higgins and athletic RB Mixon, all three look to stay stay healthy all year after hitting setbacks last season.
Why They Won’t: As mentioned before, their schedule is brutal this season. Being in the AFC North- the Bengals are arguably in the leagues toughest division, as Browns, Steelers, and Ravens all look improved from last season. Burrow has also suffered a calf strain in the preseason and still leaves questions to whether he will start week 1, and if it turns into something long term, the Bengals could be in for a long season.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Current Vegas Odds: +1000
Why They Will: The 49ers talent on both sides of the ball- arguable the best offensive and defensive player in the league that isn’t a quarterback in Christain McCaffrey and Nick Bosa, as well as other skilled weapons all around, Shanahan’s team operates almost independently of quarterback play. That said, Brock Purdy became a seventh round Cinderella coming off the bench last year and leading the 49ers to the NFC championship game for the third time in four years.
Why They Won’t: Injuries constantly plague this roster, culminating in the NFC title game the year previous, as Purdy had his arm whacked early on. Second year QBs can also have a tough go when defensive coordinators learn what you like, and more importantly what you don’t. In addition, currently Bosa is in contract negotiations and may miss time, which could cost the team victories and playoff seeding.
3. Buffalo Bills
Current Vegas Odds: +900
Why They Will: Everyone’s back. Stephon Diggs and Josh Allen keep their offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey which will no doubt help with consistency. This combined with their chance to maintain a top end defense should put the Bills in a successful position once again this season.
Why They Won’t: New DC Eric Washington will have to adjust to Von Miller’s questionable injury status after suffering an ACL tear last season, and the AFC East looks more formidable since McDermot and Allen’s tandem era began. The Jets acquiring Aaron Rodgers and Dalvin Cook to a top flight defense that already beat the Bills last year puts the division championship in question.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Current Vegas Odds: +800
Why They Will: After a breakout year last year for Hurts, Smith and Brown, all three are young (Brown is the oldest at 26) and a powerhouse defense that led the league in sacks last year, the Eagles have every reason to believe they could win it all this year. A top offensive line led by veteran center Jason Kelce, an unstoppable running game is crucial to wining cold playoff games in January.
Why They Won’t: Losing your coordinators can’t be a good thing, right? Combine that fact with improvements by Washington and New York AND Dallas, their division looks like the toughest in the conference. Also, Super Bowl runners up don’t have the best track record of winning it the next year: only the 1971 Cowboys, the 1972 Dolphins and the 2018 Patriots have done it- not exactly good odds.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Current Vegas Odds: +600
Why They Will: In a word? Transcendence. Mahomes is a game changing generational player just hitting his prime that took a jumbled WR room after trading Tyreek Hill before last season and won regular season and Super Bowl MVP for the first time since 1999 (Kurt Warner). The defense also started several roookies last season and the team had one of the youngest rosters in the league last season. With a returning pass magnet Travis Kelce, The Chiefs look primed to run it back with the best odds to do so in recent memory
Why They Wont: Top Defensive Tackle Chris Jones is currently in a contract negotiaion with the team and my hold out as long as week 8, as well as newly acquired Charles Omenhiu is suspended for the first 6 weeks, and having a rough opponent schedule may have the Chiefs behind the 8-ball in the standings by the time their defense is whole. This combined with starting WR Kadarius Toney and starting RB Isaiah Pacheco are coming off injuries, the health status of the offense is in question going into the season.
