The NFL season is off to a raucous start, and as usual, it’s as unpredictable as ever. Most of the preseason predictions have been flipped on their heads, and a wave of new contenders are putting their stamp on the 2022 season.
We’ve seen perennial bottom feeders like the New York Jets and New York Giants skyrocket up the rankings, while postseason constants like the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots have stumbled with subpar performances.
Let’s take a look at this year’s top five favorites to win Super Bowl 57.
Buffalo Bills
One prediction that the sportsbooks got right so far is that the Buffalo Bills are the best team in the NFL. The Bills were favored to win the Super Bowl before the season started, and they’ve only strengthened their case so far this year.
Josh Allen has looked superhuman, and his supporting cast has also been on another level. Stefon Diggs has proven to be one of the best receivers in the league, and Gabe Davis has put the league on notice with his deep-threat ability.
Buffalo leads the league in most offensive categories, and its defense is no slouch either, thanks to some key offseason signings. At this point, it looks like the path to the Super Bowl will be going through Buffalo.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have been a revelation this season. Everyone and their dog had predicted the Dallas Cowboys to win the division, with the Eagles a distant afterthought. While both teams have played great, it’s the Eagles that still sit undefeated and are a top favorite to win the Super Bowl, according to most major sportsbooks.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has put up an MVP-caliber season so far, and newly acquired A.J. Brown has been popping the top off of defenses all year long. The Birds have one of the best offensive lines in the game and have trampled opponents with a ferocious run game since Week 1. It would be no surprise to see the Eagles as the NFC’s representation at this year’s big dance.
Kansas City Chiefs
A lot of people are feeling silly for doubting the Kansas City Chiefs right about now. When the Chiefs lost superstar wideout Tyreek Hill in the offseason, many fans and analysts thought the sky was falling. It turns out the sky is still the limit for Kansas City, and that’s because they still have Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes has sliced up opposing defenses all season, and he’s done it using a bevy of receivers. Of course, he still has old faithful Travis Kelce, but newcomers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have also made solid contributions. Andy Reid is one of the best coaches in the league, and you can rest assured his team will be one of the last ones standing this year.
San Francisco 49ers
It’s been a wacky year in San Francisco. The 49ers had all but shipped quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo out the door and handed the keys to first-round draft pick Tre Lance. Lucky for them, they didn’t. Lance went down with a season-ending injury, and now Jimmy G is in charge again.
This team has all the tools to win now, and its situation has only improved since it acquired Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers. San Fran’s defense is beastly, led by the likes of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, and the 9ers will be in any game they play because of it.
Minnesota Vikings
People love to hate on Kirk Cousins, but the veteran quarterback has played great this year and has his team in a solid position to win the NFC North. The Packers were heavy favorites to win the division before the season started, but were spanked in Week 1 by the Vikings, and it’s only gotten worse for them from there.
Minnesota has a new offensive-minded coach who has been a breath of fresh air, and the Vikes have been firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball. Justin Jefferson continues to cut through defenses like a hot knife through butter and has yet to find anyone that can guard him. Look for Minnesota to make some noise come playoff time.
Final Word
The Super Bowl is still months away, but with the rise of legal online sports betting, NFL fans across the nation are already thinking about what team they’ll wager on in the big game. There are over 30 states and counting with legal betting, but unfortunately, California, the country’s most populous state, is still waiting for the gambling green light. When the day comes, folks in the Golden State will have access to a host of California betting apps to help them get in on the action.
