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

With the highest parity in the NFL, some unlikely clubs may have the best chance of getting a ring

As the NFL season approaches, predictions are being made about who could win the Super Bowl in February, and there’s still plenty of time to see if those views pan out. The majority of those views probably have what could be called average contenders: the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens top the list in the AFC, while the Philadelphia Eagles (the defending champions), Washington Commanders, and Detroit Lions garnered the majority of the votes from the NFC. Once determined, the next question centers on which teams can declare themselves a threat. The Houston Texans (who went home after the divisional round the last two seasons) are a trendy pick, but have been disappointing so far. The Green Bay Packers, especially after they acquired quarterback/defender Micah Parsons in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, became the team everyone was chasing, but there were still many questions about whether they could win the NFC North (let alone make a championship run). One thing (and perhaps the only thing) we learned is that there are no standout teams playing right now. As a result, three squads that are not considered serious contenders may have just as much chance of emerging as the top teams.

The first of this trio is the Indianapolis Colts. It will be interesting to see if the biggest Colts fans living in the Indianapolis city limits have this on their bingo cards, but the team has the best record in the league at 5-1. Somewhere, it was forgotten how good Jonathan Taylor was as a defender. Taylor reminds everyone to this day, as he leads the NFL in rushing yards (603) and touchdowns (seven). Combine that with the efficient play of quarterback Daniel Jones (yes, the guy who once played with the New York Giants), and the offense is at a level that makes them hard to stop. The Colts’ defense is good enough to bend, but not completely penetrate, and they have committed nine turnovers in their six games. Complementary football has been a strength for Indy, and Shane Steichen has quieted talk of being on the hot seat to lose his job as head coach. In other words, the Colts have the ingredients to stay in contention for a while.

Second on the list is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are tied with Indy for best league record. The Buccaneers could at least be 2-4 if one or two games don’t go their way, but they’ve found ways to make those plays, and the scary thing about this squad is that they can get a lot better as the season goes on. If there’s one reason why Tampa Bay is where they are, it probably starts and ends with QB Baker Mayfield, who would probably be the MVP if the season ended today. Mayfield has been the definition of clutch, as he has been the architect of several game-winning drives. It’s even more remarkable considering Mayfield is playing at this level without the team’s top two receivers (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr.). There was little talk of the Bucs as a contender entering this season, but the combination of how good they are and the contested league they are in could make them the favorites in the near future.

Finally, the Denver Broncos are on the list of teams that can win the title this season. With the Broncos appearing as a wild card last year, the general thought was that they could continue their ascent, and perhaps, knock the Chiefs off the top of the AFC West. The main reason is their defense, led by cornerback Pat Surtain II (2024 defensive player of the year) and linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper. Most people would say Denver’s defense is at championship level, but what could make or break their vision is whether quarterback Bo Nix can consistently stay on the same page as coach Sean Payton, and make his offense nearly equal on the other side of the ball. Throughout the year, Nix has been hit or miss in his play execution. If he can deliver more of his good version, the Broncos could be on the cusp of the Rocky Mountains.

There are other teams that could make this list (among them the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers, and New England Patriots), but right now, the Colts, Buccaneers, and Broncos seem to favor them continuing their upward trend. Of course, things can escalate quickly in the NFL, and what looks good one week may not look so good the next, and vice versa. Who knows? The teams listed as favorites will probably end up there in January. The beautiful thing about sports is that games will be played, and everyone will know when they happen. What we do know is that the gap between contenders and pretenders doesn’t appear to be very wide, and if this continues to be the case, don’t be surprised if the winner of this year’s Super Bowl is someone who wasn’t on the radar to begin with.