This could be the year to win the Super Bowl for these three teams – BOFA Sports

With parity higher than ever in the NFL, a few unlikely clubs might have their best chance at rings

As the NFL season approaches, predictions have been made about who could win the Super Bowl in February, and there’s still plenty of time to see if those opinions come to fruition. The majority of those opinions probably concerned what you might call the usual contenders: the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens topped the AFC seed, while the Philadelphia Eagles (defending champions), Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions garnered the majority of the NFC votes. With that determined, the next question focuses on which teams can emerge as a threat in their own right. The Houston Texans (who returned home after the divisional round each of the last two seasons) were a hot pick, but have been disappointing thus far. The Green Bay Packers, especially after acquiring linebacker/defensive end Micah Parsons in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, have become the team everyone is supposed to be chasing, but many questions remain if they can even win the NFC North (let alone win a championship). One thing (and perhaps the only thing) we have learned is that there is no team that stands out right now. As a result, three teams that weren’t considered serious contenders might have a better chance than ever of becoming the best.

The first of this trio is the Indianapolis Colts. It would be interesting to see if even the biggest Colts fan living within the city limits of Indianapolis had this on their bingo card, but this team is tied for the best record in the league at 5-1. Somehow we forgot how good running back Jonathan Taylor was and still is. Taylor reminds everyone of that so far, as he leads the NFL in rushing yards (603) and touchdowns (seven). Combine that with the efficient play of quarterback Daniel Jones (yes, that guy who caught fire with the New York Giants), and the offense is at a level that makes them tough to stop. The Colts’ defense has been good enough to bend, but not completely break, and they’ve forced nine turnovers in six games. Complementary football has been a strength for Indy, and Shane Steichen dampened rumors that he was in line to lose his head coaching job. In other words, the Colts have the ingredients to stay in contention for a while.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are second on the list, the team tied with Indy for the best record in the league. The Buccaneers could be at least 2-4 if a game or two doesn’t go their way, but they’ve found a way to make those plays, and the scary thing about this team is that they can get much better as the season progresses. If there’s a reason why Tampa Bay is where they are, it probably starts and ends with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who would likely be the MVP if the season ended today. Mayfield has been the definition of clutch, as he has been the architect of some game-winning drives. This is even more remarkable when you consider that Mayfield is playing at this level without the team’s two best receivers (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr.). There has been some talk about the Bucs being a contender early in the season, but the combination of their quality and the league up for grabs could see them become a favorite before too long.

Finally, the Denver Broncos find themselves on the list of teams that could reach a championship this season. As the Broncos were coming off a wild card appearance last year, the prevailing thought was that they could continue to climb the ladder and perhaps knock the Chiefs off the top of the AFC West. The main reason is their defense, led by cornerback Pat Surtain II (the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year) and linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper. Most people would say Denver’s defense is championship level, but what could make or break their views is whether or not quarterback Bo Nix can consistently stay on the same page with coach Sean Payton and bring the offense on par with the other side of the ball. Throughout the year, Nix experienced difficulties in the execution of his plays. If he can provide more of the right version, the Broncos could be on the cusp of a peak in the Rocky Mountains.

There are other teams that could have made this list (among them the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots), but right now the Colts, Buccaneers and Broncos appear to have more in their favor to continue the upward trend. Of course, things can escalate quickly in the NFL, and what seems good one week might not be so the next, and vice versa. Who knows? The teams listed as favorites could ultimately find themselves there in January. The beautiful thing about sports is that games will be played and everyone will be able to experience it as they go. What we do know is that the gap between contenders and pretenders doesn’t seem that big, and if that continues to be the case, don’t be surprised if this year’s Super Bowl winner isn’t exactly on the radar from the start.