Super Bowls have rarely been as dramatic as the one we’ve seen in 2020, with Kansas making a late dash for the finish line (or end zone), crushing the 49ers, who for some reason were incapable of running down the clock and achieving a famous victory.
With the NFL season scheduled to evade the worst of ongoing world events, everything looks set for gridiron to be nice and ready when the regular season kicks off in September.
Here are some of the teams that could be major contenders for Super Bowl LV, which will be hosted this year by Tampa. Who will you put your money on?
The 49ers Are Fancied to Right the Wrongs of 2020
Capitulating as they did in the fourth quarter against the Chiefs was tough on this young roster, although it’s too early to say whether there has been any lasting damage to the morale.
Youth is most certainly on their side and should help propel 49ers close to making another Super Bowl attempt. However, the competition will be fierce this term in the NFC West, with the likes of the Cardinals and Rams making efforts to fortify their teams in the off-season. The loss of DeForest Buckner to the Colts for some much-needed draft capital may be their Achilles’ heel, but it would be lunacy to discount Kyle Shanahan’s charges.
The 49ers start their regular season against Denver and should be counted on as part of any week 1 parlay bet to get the job done.
Can the Chiefs Pull Off A Repeat?
Once you know how to get the job done, and that you have the best quarterback in the league, those around you will push till the very last second of a game. Chiefs have become one hell of a hard team to play against, and they seem to be nearly invincible.
That’s at least what KC fans will be hoping for when Super Bowl 2021 comes around. With the franchise excited about the new acquisitions of Clyde Edwards-Helaire on offense and Mike Danna on defense, the future looks bright for the reigning champs.
Can the Ravens Fly Past the Chiefs on Their Way to Glory?
Another team that may well have their fans prepping a Super Bowl party in February is Baltimore, who many bettors and fans alike fancy to upset the Kansas apple cart.
The Titans surprisingly brought their title charge to an end last season. But the Ravens have learned from that and will make an even stronger challenge this time around, led by their unbelievably talented MVP Lamar Jackson. With their running game bolstered even further with the inclusion of J.K. Dobbins, they will be a very difficult team to stop.
Cowboys Look to Lasso Themselves the Lombardi Trophy
It is always interesting to keep an eye on odds lines before and after the NFL draft, to see which teams the bookmakers think have had the best of the frantic trading period.
If the odds are to be believed, Dallas had a whale of a time in the draft, with surprise additions such as CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs meaning their odds were slashed. All in all, what was expected to be one of the toughest trading periods in the franchise’s history actually turned out to be an unmitigated success, one that makes them a strong outside chance to claim the Super Bowl.
The Best of the Rest
Other dark horses that could be worth keeping an eye on are the Browns – who flattered to deceive last season but could come good at the second time of asking – and the Buccaneers, who might squeeze one last great season from Tom Brady and play the biggest game on earth in front of their home fans.