It’s that time of year again, well almost, we’re perhaps a little bit early! Either way, every fan, analyst, and their dog is asking the same question, or is about to be! Who’s going to the Super Bowl? While some teams are already polishing their playoff resumes, others are just starting to convince us they’re the real deal. Let’s take a look at the serious early contenders and why we think they’re in with a shout.
Philadelphia Eagles
After last year’s Super Bowl heartbreak, the Eagles have been on a mission. Their latest win - a scrappy but oh-so-satisfying 37-34 overtime thriller against the Bills - proves they can handle the heat. Jalen Hurts? The guy practically has ice in his veins. He's been cool since college and been clutch in back-to-back games. It’s no wonder Philly fans can’t stop chanting his name!
And it would be incredibly rude to ignore the impressive defense. Sure, they’ve looked vulnerable at times, haven’t we all? But, they’re still top five in takeaways this season. Fun fact: the Eagles are - unbeaten - when they score first. Online betting site Betway has odds hovering around +350 at the moment, they’re the NFC favorites for a reason. My personal take? If they keep finding ways to win like this, they’re the team to beat.
San Francisco 49ers
There are few teams that are as balanced as the 49ers at the moment. After a midseason wobble, they’ve stormed back with a slew of wins, practically screaming “We’re still here!” That 31-13 demolition of the Seahawks on Thanksgiving? For the sake of Seahawks fans I won’t go into it too much… Brock Purdy was picking defenses apart, Christian McCaffrey was doing everything but cooking the turkey, and Geno Smith looked like he was playing on rookie mode!
In terms of players to look out for - Deebo Samuel is back to his explosive best, and Nick Bosa is reminding everyone why he was last year’s Defensive Player of the Year. Throw in the fact that the 49ers have won - every single - game this season where they’ve rushed for over 100 yards and there’s some betting value if nothing else! If they keep the ground game rolling, it wouldn’t be bold to pencil them in. Consider putting them in your pool too.
Kansas City Chiefs
Have you ever seen a Super Bowl predictions list that doesn’t include the Chiefs? No? There’s a reason for that. Sure, they’ve had their ‘only human’ moments lately (that loss to the Eagles in Week 11 was a reality check). But, then they bounced back with a comfortable win over the Raiders, where Patrick Mahomes casually threw for 298 yards (yes, two hundred and ninety-eight) like it was a walk in the park.
What makes them scary is their ability to win ugly. This isn’t the high-flying Chiefs of a few years ago - it’s a more balanced, gritty team, with a defense that’s quietly the best in the Mahomes era. And when you’ve got Travis Kelce catching passes (and possibly serenading Taylor Swift afterward), you’re never out of a game.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have been sneaky good this season, and it feels like no one’s talking about them enough. Lamar Jackson is doing Lamar things - scrambling like his life depends on it one play and dropping dimes the next. Their 20-10 win over the Chargers last week wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient, and that’s what playoff football is all about.
Did you know they lead the league in average time of possession? When you’re keeping the ball out of your opponent’s hands, it makes sense that good things happen for you! So, with their defense holding opponents to under 16 points per game, Baltimore could very well be the AFC’s dark horse. And let’s not forget: when Lamar’s healthy, the Ravens are 15-1 against non-divisional opponents. Personally? I wouldn’t be betting against them.
Miami Dolphins
If football games were decided on pure entertainment value, the Dolphins would already have their Super Bowl rings! Their 34-13 win over the Jets last week was another reminder that Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle are an absolute nightmare to defend. Tyreek, by the way, is on pace for 2,000 receiving yards - something no receiver has ever done in NFL history. But here’s the thing: Miami’s been feasting on weaker teams. Against playoff-caliber opponents? Not so much. They round out my picks, but they’re certainly the team I’m least sure of.
