Another year passes, and a new NFL season begins once again. We’ve seen roster changes through the NFL Draft, waivers and the signings of free agents. There have been numerous changes to the way game days operate following safety measures introduced due to the impact of COVID-19. And preseason games are finally over, which means we can look forward to the action finally starting.
And this time round, after a shortened campaign last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, we finally have a full 17-game regular season back. But of the 32 teams involved in the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC), who are the teams likely to be able to make it all the way this season?
The main favorites
They made the Super Bowl last season, and they’re hotly tipped to make it all the way again this season with Patrick Mahomes pulling the strings. It is of course the Kansas City Chiefs, who arguably have the best QB in the NFL right now. He may not be as decorated as the aging Tom Brady, but he has a long time to catch up with Brady’s seven Super Bowl rings.
If you take a look at NFL Futures odds or ask any pundit around the NFL, they’ll have the Chiefs as the team to beat this year. And rightly so with a top side full of talent. One of the reasons they lost the last Super Bowl was because the Buccaneers protected Brady better than the Chiefs protected Mahomes. The offensive line just didn’t do its job on the day and failed to protect their QB.
But this season, there are numerous changes to the roster and the Chiefs will hope they’ve done enough to strengthen. If their offensive line holds out, and can better protect Mahomes when he receives the ball, he’ll no doubt be throwing for major gains and numerous touchdowns. And that will carry them to another successive Super Bowl fixture, and could be enough to help them win it.
Source: https://www.thephuketnews.com/comeback-king-mahomes-sparks-chiefs-to-super-bowl-win-74651.php
The top challengers
Of the remaining 31 teams left in the NFL, there are a select few we think COULD potentially make the Super Bowl. First up, last year’s winners, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The reason they won it last year was Tom Brady carried that team. At the start of the season they had no right to lift that trophy, but Brady pulled it out of the bag all season. I mean, we know he’s a great player, a living legend of the game, but he is getting on, it’s just somehow he can’t stop winning.
The key to their win last year was purely because their defense just tore through the Chiefs’ offensive line. And this year, their young line-up (minus Brady) have an extra year of experience, they have the taste of success on their tongues, and they’ll be wanting to repeat their success again to collect another Super Bowl ring. And if the defensive players can do their duty and protect their talisman QB, they’ll be in with a great shout.
The next likely team to make it, is a team who have never won a Super Bowl before, having failed at every attempt when they’ve made the final. That team of course is the Buffalo Bills. However, they have been building a decent roster of players over the years, and now have the impressive Josh Allen proving himself at QB. Combine that with some other solid foundations in the team, they’ve been improving season on season, and this is probably their best chance for some time to make it all the way to the big game.
The next favorite to challenge for the Super Bowl according to top sportsbooks are the San Francisco 49ers. As it stands, it could be existing QB Jimmy Garoppolo who starts, or rookie first-rounder Trey Lance. Even preseason hasn’t given us any ideas about who could be the main man this season. But this could work out in one of two ways.
It causes a lack of confidence in the side, because they don’t know who is calling the plays, and things are chopping and changing all the time. Possibly leading to the 49ers having issues with leadership in the team and eventually tearing them apart. Or, the rookie can learn from the senior player, they can work together and have two great options at QB. Allowing them to mix things up to make their plays a little less predictable and take advantage of their opponents.
If they go down the first path, they don’t even make the playoffs. Follow the second though, and they’re possibly on their way to a Super bowl.
And there you have it, the top four teams that are predicted to win/make the Super bowl final. There are plenty of other teams too that could also be in with a chance. But as it stands these are statistically the favorites amongst pundits and sportsbooks. However, every underdog has its day, and odds are not guaranteed, so we could see a few surprises in this upcoming NFL season.
San Francisco 49ers… Will it be Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback or rookie first-rounder Trey Lance? It could end up being a combination of both. Either will benefit from Kyle Shanahan’s excellent scheming and the fit-again Niners look good for a return to the playoffs.
