Early NFL Superbowl Contenders after Week 1
As we approach another year of exciting football, we look at divisions and conferences to see which teams will have a shot at the Lombardi trophy in February. Last season two four seeds were able to reach the big game. Cincinnati came out of nowhere and rode the emergence of Joe Burrow and Jamarr Chase all the way to the Super Bowl, and was just one play short of a ring. Los Angeles wanted redemption after losing to Tom Brady and the Patriots in their last Super Bowl appearance. It’s nearly impossible to imagine a coach as talented and connected as Sean McVay without a Super Bowl, and that was exactly what he got from his star-loaded roster last season. These two teams should be in the mix yet again but, let’s take a look at potential challengers from both conferences who can dethrone the Rams.
Looking at the AFC compared to last year is very interesting to say the least. The AFC West alone might have 4 super bowl contenders. The Chargers added JC Jackson and Khalil Mack which will no doubt boost a defense that kept Justin Herbert out of the playoffs last season. The Raiders signed DaVante Adams to a huge contract reuniting him with his college quarterback Derek Carr. The Chiefs lost Tyreek Hill but replaced him with Juju Smith Schuster and rookie Sky Moore which might need a few weeks of getting used to but should still challenge the rest of the division.
Miami and Indianapolis are both teams to keep an eye on that on paper should win their divisions. The Dolphins added Tyreek Hill giving Tua Tagovailoa may be the best weapon he’s ever played with. The Colts battled last year with Carson Wentz under center, and now will be led by a more experienced quarterback in Matt Ryan. The AFC North of all divisions will not be as deadly as it has been in the past. With Deshaun Watson's suspension and Lamar Jackson’s contract disputes, this division will really be up for grabs. If Pittsburgh can figure out their offensive line to allow Mitch Trubisky to play well they should be right in the thick of things at the end of the year. These are the teams I see competing in the AFC.
The NFC as a whole has a lot of teams who could sneak into the playoffs this season. The top four to five teams on the other hand are pretty set in stone. Tampa Bay, Green Bay, and Los Angeles will be the class of the conference. Followed by teams like San Francisco, Dallas, Arizona, and Philadelphia who all need big seasons out of their quarterbacks to really become a Super Bowl threat. The Saints and Vikings are too teams to view as dark horses in this conference. Jameis Winston seems to have finally found a good fit for home and will get his top wideout, Michael Thomas, back after missing last season. Justin Jefferson proved to be one of the league's best wideouts last season and will have the offense run through him in a new exciting pass-heavy system thanks to new head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Those are the NFC teams who will have a shot to play in February. For a team to stop Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Matthew Stafford they will most likely need an MVP candidate that completely breaks out. As for who I have coming out of the NFC, I’m going to pick the San Francisco 49ers. Kyle Shanahan should have a Super Bowl win under his resume and there is no doubt he thinks he can get that chance back with quarterback Trey Lance. If Lance makes the jump we have seen from quarterbacks like Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes the Niners will be an opponent nobody wants to play in the NFC playoffs.
As for the AFC, for Kansas City to get back to the title game without Hill will be a challenge. Buffalo went neck and neck with them last season in a game that no one will forget. That is who I’m going to take to win the conference this season. Josh Allen has proved he is one of the best players in the league and has built a culture that players want to play for. Von Miller will reach his second straight Super Bowl and Sean McDermott will finally get his big break.
-By: Sam Kirk