Heading into the NFL postseason, there are a select few teams that have emerged as frontrunners in the race for the Lombardi. At the top of the list is the San Francisco 49ers, who have claimed the coveted spot as the NFC top seeds and +180 favorites. Boasting a dynamic offensive arsenal led by the former Mr. Irrelevant himself, Brock Purdy, and the unstoppable force that is running back Christian McCaffrey, they will undoubtedly certainly prove to be a daunting task for any opposing team hoping to thwart their pursuit of triumph.
The AFC’s top seed is the Baltimore Ravens, and they too are among the frontrunners. Considered the second favorite with betting odds of +330, the team’s ranking is mainly attributed to the remarkable performances of their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson. At 27 years old, the former Louisville Cardinal has returned to his exceptional form, reminiscent of his unanimous MVP win in 2020, making him only the second player in history to achieve such an honor.
But it isn’t just the contenders that have been on the lips of pundits on ESPN Sports Center. No, instead, three underdogs are looking to emerge from their turbulent ghosts of postseason past to emerge victorious.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have long endured a reputation as the NFL’s perennial underachievers. However, the 2023 season marks a turning point for this franchise, as they secured a playoff spot for only the fourth time in the past thirty years. With their impressive regular-season record of 11-6, their best finish since 1994, the Ohio outfit has emerged as a legitimate contender. Super Bowl betting odds do consider them an outsider, pricing them at odds as long as +2500. But that won’t bother them one bit.
During the course of this season, the team has seen a revolving door of five quarterbacks taking the field. However, amid the chaos, legendary veteran Joe Flacco has emerged as a force to be reckoned with since being thrust into the limelight for the final five games of the campaign. At the age of 38, the journeyman QB has remarkably amassed over 1,600 yards and 13 touchdowns in just five games as a starter. With a coveted Super Bowl ring from his triumph with the Ravens back in 2013 already in his trophy cabinet, Flacco is now determined to bring home a second championship title.
The Browns had not tasted victory in a playoff game since 1994 until they achieved a surprising triumph against the Pittsburgh Steelers three years ago, and this year marks just their second foray into the postseason in the last two decades.
Alongside the iconic Flacco, they possess one of the league’s premier running backs, Kareem Hunt, who has consistently dominated opposing defenses throughout the season. Should those two come out firing, the Browns may very well continue to shock everyone and launch an all-out assault on the Lombardi.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have proven to be an even more disappointing team. The franchise has failed to secure a Super Bowl victory throughout its entire history, with one lonely solitary playoff win since 1957. And that lone triumph occurred way back in 1992. Their playoff drought has been painful, faltering in the opening game on each of their last nine attempts. However, there is a glimmer of hope this season as head coach Dan Campbell’s relentless dedication over the past three years is finally yielding positive results.
The team’s exceptionally talented quarterback, Jarred Goff, has been in exceptional form all year, showcasing 4,575 throwing yards, the second-highest tally in the entire league. With such impressive performances, the Lions have concluded the regular season with an identical record to the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys ranked second.
Consequently, they face a challenging path towards the Super Bowl, but their achievement of clinching the NFC North crown for the first time ever has already etched their names into the history books. Could further success be just around the corner?
Miami Dolphins
The man that Jarred is second to in terms of league-throwing yards this season is Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins. The former University of Alabama standout enjoyed a breakout year last term as the Floridians had a blistering start to the campaign. They would ultimately falter, and their first trip to the postseason in six years ended in the wildcard round by the Buffalo Bills. The two teams have long been rivals in the AFC East and it looked as though it would be the Dolphins that would finally get the better of their New York State-based rivals.
However, Tua and Co. capitulated in recent weeks, losing their final two games – the latter of which came against Buffalo – to hand divisional honors to the Bills. They head into the playoffs without a postseason victory since December 2000, and a wildcard round test against the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs promises to be a difficult task. However, the Missouri side has also been inconsistent this term and is certainly beatable.