The big game is almost here.
While some teams are firing head coaches and processing serious disappointment, the NFL’s best are plotting a path to the Superdome.
The second after Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Kansas City won the latest Super Bowl, the countdown began to LIX in New Orleans.
The NFL is the league that never stops, and there are serious contenders hoping to prevent the Chiefs from becoming the first franchise in history to pull off a Super Bowl trophy three-peat.
Here is talkSPORT’s look at the 14 remaining Super Bowl contenders.
We’ll be back every week on the long road to the Superdome on February 9.
14. Denver Broncos (10-7, last week: unranked)
Bo Nix has been a rookie revelation.
Even with Russell Wilson pushing the Pittsburgh Steelers into the playoffs, Sean Payton clearly was onto something by investing so much in a college quarterback who bounced from Auburn to Oregon.
A late-season slide was discouraging for the Broncos.
But there’s normally one team every playoffs that makes a surprise run.
Winning at Buffalo will take everything that Denver has as 2025 begins, and some old-fashioned luck.
Quarterback: Bo Nix
Head coach: Sean Payton
Division: AFC West, third place
Super Bowl wins: 3
Bo Nix is hoping to add to his rookie name in the playoffs13. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, last week: unranked)
George Pickens is screaming at fans and Mike Tomlin is publicly challenging the Steelers.
What else is new in Pittsburgh?
The full 18-week season was too much for Tomlin’s crew this year, as they blew a commanding AFC North lead.
The Steelers need a recharge in the postseason.
Quarterback: Russell Wilson
Head coach: Mike Tomlin
Division: AFC North, second place
Super Bowl wins: 6
12. Houston Texans (10-7, last week: unranked)
It’s been a chaotic year for the preseason Super Bowl contender.
No one will be shocked if the Texans are knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.
But it also wouldn’t be stunning to see C.J. Stroud rediscover his 2023 magic just in time for a memorable run to cap off the 2024 season.
The biggest issues for the Texans are injuries and an inconsistent offense, and those should prevent a rebuilt franchise from reaching its first AFC Championship game for another year.
Quarterback: C.J. Stroud
Head coach: DeMeco Ryans
Division: AFC South champions
Super Bowl wins: 0
11. Green Bay Packers (11-6, last week: 10th)
The good news is that the Pack didn’t completely ruin their season by playing Jordan Love in a mostly meaningless Week 18 contest.
The other news is that Christian Watson went down and Green Bay now has an even tougher mountain to climb on the way to New Orleans.
It’s been hard to read the Packers this year as a true contender.
They’ll have to be better than Detroit and Minnesota when it matters to reach the Superdome.
Quarterback: Jordan Love
Head coach: Matt LaFleur
Division: NFC North, third place
Super Bowl wins: 4
10. Los Angeles Rams (10-7, last week: 8th)
If you have money to burn, this is the team to bet on.
The Rams were almost sellers at the trade deadline.
Now they’re the ‘smart’ choice to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Knocking the Vikings out of the wild-card round would be a huge first step toward achieving that once-implausible scenario.
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford
Head coach: Sean McVay
Division: NFC West champions
Super Bowl wins: 2
Stafford (right) won a Super Bowl with the Rams after leaving the Lions in 2021Getty9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7, last week: unranked)
The back-to-back-to-back-to-back NFC South champs are a tough out.
Baker Mayfield refuses to quit, while Mike Evans is in Jerry Rice territory.
Throw in a plus 117-point differential and the Bucs could surprise in the postseason.
Quarterback: Baker Mayfield
Head coach: Todd Bowles
Division: NFC South champions
Super Bowl wins: 2
8. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, last week: 9th)
Another ‘smart’ pick to advance to the Divisional Round.
Thanks to Kansas City’s annual dominance, the Chargers were overlooked in 2024.
But Jim Harbaugh deserves serious Coach of the Year consideration, while the Chargers’ 6-3 road record is proof that Los Angeles belongs near the top of the AFC.
Quarterback: Justin Herbert
Head coach: Jim Harbaugh
Division: AFC West, second place
Super Bowl wins: 0
Jim Harbaugh has turned around the Chargers in one yearGetty7. Washington Commanders (12-5, last week: 7th)
Just imagine the buzz in Washington if Jayden Daniels wins a couple playoff games.
The Commanders deserved better than the No. 6 seed.
Take down the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay, and Washington will continue a season-long renaissance behind the expected Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Quarterback: Jayden Daniels
Head coach: Dan Quinn
Division: NFC East, second place
Super Bowl wins: 3
6. Minnesota Vikings (14-3, last week: 3rd)
The Vikings also deserved much better than the No. 5 seed.
One of the NFC’s best teams since Week 1 has Super Bowl potential on both sides of the ball and the sideline.
A real big game threat would calmly toss aside the Rams.
Brian Flores can make his mark in Los Angeles by attacking Matthew Stafford for four quarters.
Quarterback: Sam Darnold
Head coach: Kevin O’Connell
Division: NFC North, second place
Super Bowl wins: 0
GettySam Darnold is ready to prove himself again in the postseason[/caption]5. Baltimore Ravens (12-5, last week: 6th)
Erase a few bad losses, and this the most lethal team in the playoffs.
Lamar Jackson had the best statistical season of his career.
Derrick Henry was the perfect answer for Jackson’s revamped backfield.
The Ravens can get revenge against the Steelers and return to the Divisional Round again.
Quarterback: Lamar Jackson
Head coach: John Harbaugh
Division: AFC North champions
Super Bowl wins: 2
4. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3, last week: 5th)
The Eagles eliminating the Packers might be the safest pick of the opening week.
It’s hard to imagine Philly falling to beat a beat-up Green Bay team that finished third in its division.
Jalen Hurts and Co. have too much talent and too much to prove.
Playing a playoff game in always friendly Philadelphia also doesn’t hurt.
Quarterback: Jalen Hurts
Head coach: Nick Sirianni
Division: NFC East champions
Super Bowl wins: 1
Jalen Hurts hopes to inspire Philly in January3. Buffalo Bills (13-4, last week: 4th)
Bills vs Lions in the big game is the dream matchup.
Beating Denver in Buffalo shouldn’t be a problem.
But Josh Allen, who spent 2024 battling Lamar Jackson as the NFL’s MVP, now must win three games just to reach the Superdome.
It’s never been easy for Buffalo or the Bills Mafia.
This is their best chance since 1993 to win it all for the first time.
Quarterback: Josh Allen
Head coach: Sean McDermott
Division: AFC East champions
Super Bowl wins: 0
2. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2, last week: 1st)
The second-best 15-2 team in the NFL.
Kansas City gets a week off to prepare for another huge test.
This season, the Chiefs have evolved from the luckiest team in league history to a rising force at the perfect time.
All that’s missing is a first-class ticket to New Orleans and a shot at becoming the greatest dynasty in NFL history.
Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes
Head coach: Andy Reid
Division: AFC West champions
Super Bowl wins: 4
Mahomes has been at his best in the playoffs1. Detroit Lions (15-2, last week: 2nd)
It’s the perfect year for a franchise breakthrough.
The Lions can truly became America’s Team by lifting up the Super Bowl trophy in New Orleans.
Jared Goff, Dan Campbell, Aaron Glenn and Jahmyr Gibbs kept winning in 2024 despite an avalanche of injuries.
Can Detroit keep holding on long enough to conquer the Superdome and win its first Super Bowl?
Quarterback: Jared Goff
Head coach: Dan Campbell
Division: NFC North champions
Super Bowl wins: 0
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