Every off-season in the NFL, fans and media alike make claims and outlandish takes about which “dark horse” up-and-coming team can win the Super Bowl. Many teams have played the spoiler before on their way to a Super Bowl, such as the 2007 New York Giants. Here are the definitive four teams that have the highest chances of pulling off the impossible and winning a Lombardi next season.
Trevor Lawrence has a new weapon in town to bring the Jaguars back into the playoffs. That weapon is Travis Hunter, the former Colorado wide receiver and cornerback. Hunter’s ability to perform at an elite level on both sides of the ball gives the Jaguars an edge over every team in the league. Lawrence and Hunter’s chemistry this upcoming season is the most crucial development for the team.
Lawrence has shown he can win in primetime before, when he led a 27-point comeback against the Chargers in the 2022 playoffs. It’s on the Heisman winner, Hunter, to prove that he can succeed in the NFL as a full-time two-way player and support his QB.
If Hunter can live up to the hype, Jacksonville may be well on its way to carving up the league for its first championship.
The Steelers have experienced stagnation over the last few seasons. They have been consistent with making the playoffs and never having a losing season under coach Mike Tomlin’s tenure. The Steelers’ issue is winning in the playoffs. The last time the Steelers won a playoff game was in 2016, when they beat Kansas City in the divisional round.
Ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired, a rotating carousel of quarterbacks has been inserted into the lineup, with Justin Fields and Russell Wilson being the latest ones to suit up. The franchise hopes that their new signing, Packers legend and Jets mistake, Aaron Rodgers, can be the leader to bring the Steelers back to the promised land.
The quest for seven Super Bowls all depends on Rodgers’s ability to perform like his former self. The four-time MVP has a great team around him this time. TJ Watt holding down opposing offenses and DK Metcalf being the star receiver will give Rodgers enough chances and time to win games for the Steelers.
The upstart Denver Broncos are aiming to continue their successful 2024 campaign that saw the struggling franchise break an eight-year playoff drought. Bo Nix and Sean Payton have a full season under their belt together. Payton’s ability to understand what Nix needs to succeed is evident in recent signings for the Broncos. Former Jaguars TE Evan Engram and Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins are two new players who signed with the Broncos to bring them to championship heights.
Nix and the Broncos are in a great position to overtake Kansas City as the premier AFC West powerhouse. Denver’s powerful offense and rock-solid defense can work together to get the Broncos back to the Super Bowl.
Jayden Daniels shocked the NFL world last season when he won Rookie of the Year. Daniels finished last season with 3,568 passing yards, 891 rushing yards, and 31 total touchdowns.
Daniel’s sophomore season ending with a Super Bowl depends on his supporting cast. RB Austin Ekeler, WR Terry McLaurin, and first-round draft pick Josh Conerly Jr. are players that will be essential to Daniels and the rest of the Washington squad to win. The Washington QB is ready to take on the challenge and continue his hot start with a more refined team built around him.
The NFL has seen dark horse teams coming out of nowhere to pull off miracles in the playoffs. Some have even won the Super Bowl, like the 2010 Green Bay Packers. The Jaguars, Steelers, Broncos, and Commanders are the teams to watch out for this upcoming season. They all have the talent needed to win the Super Bowl and upset the big teams come January.
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