Any event is dubbed as major based on the number of eyeballs it can attract.
But when it attracts about 144.44 million eyeballs (only second to the UEFA Champions League final as the most watched annual club sporting event worldwide) you know it is something special, especially considering the Commercial airtime broadcast – the most expensive all year round due to its high viewership.
The biggest sporting spectacle in North America, the Super Bowl, is the second-largest event for American food consumption, behind Thanksgiving dinner. A competition with a trophy named after the coach who won the first two Super Bowls, Vince Lombardi, the Super Bowl, remains a dream for anyone who loves the NFL; either a fan who wants his favourite team to win the “Big Game” or a football player who hopes to hoist the prestigious trophy someday. It’s the trophy of dreams, one which legends of the game – including the seven-time champion Tom Brady – have refused to wake up from. So much is the ecstasy and beauty that comes with the NFL, and the Super Bowl that it took the Tampa Buccaneers quarterback only 40 days to rescind his retirement and return for the 2022 season.
After 18 weeks of battle, only 14 of the 32 NFL teams can progress to the playoffs. The road to the Super Bowl begins there, with the opportunity for players and coaches to make history and build legacies. A handful of teams have recorded huge successes when it comes to the Super Bowl, but both the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers have stood out. With both sides tied for the most Super Bowls in history, each hoisting the Lombardi Trophy six times.
The 2023 edition of the Super Bowl slated for the 12th of February at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona will not be short on favorites. Quite a number of teams including the top seed from the American Football Conference (AFC) the Kansas City Chiefs have been tipped by many to lift the prestigious Vince Lombardi trophy. A host of other teams from the National Football Conference (NFC) including the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers are also being fancied for the title. In this piece, we will be unraveling the favourites for the Super Bowl and the chances each team has got.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
The Cincinnati Bengals, last year’s Super Bowl runners-up, are arguably the hottest team in the AFC right now, having wrapped up the season riding an eight-game winning streak. Reigning AFC Champions, the Bengals secured their second straight Division title, ending the season with an impressive record of 12-4. The franchise closed out the regular season with a convincing home victory versus the Ravens by a score of 27-16. Cincinnati and Baltimore square off once again on Sunday night in the Wild Card round as the Bengals begin the quest to return to the Super Bowl and go one better on last year’s outcome.
The key player for Cincinnati will undoubtedly be quarterback Joe Burrow. Former Heisman trophy winner, Burrow has excelled in the second half of this season, finishing the regular season campaign with 35 passing touchdowns – a new franchise record. He, alongside wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, will wreak havoc to any defense on their day, thus posing a scary prospect for any team. On the defensive end, the Bengals have proven to be a sturdy matchup for most sides in the league, allowing only 322 points this season (6th lowest points conceded by any team this season).
Burrow’s 3-0 record against Patrick Mahomes and the highly favored AFC rivals Kansas City Chiefs gives Cincinnati an additional edge. He has proven that not only can he go toe to toe with the best, but he outperforms them under the brightest lights. Many thought the Bengals fluked their way into the Super Bowl last year, but we might see them silence the doubters in this year’s campaign.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The Chiefs locked up the top seed in the AFC with a road win over the Raiders on Saturday, ending the season with a commanding 14-3 record, winning 10 of their last 11 games. As a result the franchise gets a bye for the opening week of the playoffs and will next be in action with a home game in the Divisional Round against either the LA Chargers or the Jacksonville Jaguars. Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a leading candidate for this year’s MVP award, deserves immense credit for the team’s success. The 2018 NFL MVP served up another historic season, ending the campaign with 5250 passing yards (career-high) to attain his 1st career passing title. He also threw 44 touchdowns with a 67% passing accuracy. The Chiefs ranked 1st in offensive points, passings and yards. All these feats achieved despite playing with a largely different cast of players on offense (notably without six-time pro bowler Tyreek Hill).
With Mahomes and his reliable weapon in Travis Kelce, the Chiefs arguably have both the best quarterback and tight end in the league thus will always be a threat. Kansas City has also gone to the AFC title game for the last four seasons, highlighting their presence in the Conference. Their defence has performed moderately well over the course of the regular season, ranking 3rd in sacks and 4th in pressures, but it is clear the offense will be the catalyst if the Super Bowl LIV Champions are to go all the way this year.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Led by Coach Sirianni, The Eagles finally locked up the top spot in the NFC with a win over the Giants on Sunday and an impressive 14-3 regular season record. The campaign started with huge promise, as fans dreamt of an unbeaten regular season finish following an 8-0 start. Quarterback Jalen Hurts appeared to be the frontrunner for the MVP until injury derailed his chances. Fortunately for Eagles fans, Hurts made his return to the lineup for the final game of the season after missing the last two weeks with a sprained shoulder. With 68% pass completion and a 22:3 touchdown to interception ratio, his accuracy was sorely missed, with Philadelphia losing both of the games in his absence. The Philly defence ranked 2nd in the league, with the likes of Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox contributing to a strong season. The Eagles, over the course of the season, have looked like the most complete football team in the NFL. They are the only team ranked in the top 5 for both offense and defence, with their dual threat likely to serve them well in tightly contested playoff matches.
The Philly franchise, like the Chiefs, gets this weekend off and will begin its playoff run with a home game in the Divisional Round against the winner of the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup. Despite such a resounding season, Hurts’ health will be a key factor to how far Philadelphia goes. Nick Sirianni’s boys set a new high for regular-season victories (14), passing their previous record set in 2004 & 2017. The Eagles made it to the Super Bowl in each of those campaigns and surely will hope 2023 is not an exception.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
San Francisco 49ers head into the playoffs as the most in-form team in the NFL, having notched their 10th consecutive victory on Sunday with a convincing win over the Cardinals. The franchise wraps up the regular season at 13-4 and is 1st in the league in point differential (at +173). They say ‘offense wins you games, but defence wins you championships.’ In that respect the 49ers should be clear Super Bowl favourites, as they lead in most defensive statistical categories for the season. The 49ers have conceded the fewest points per game (16.3) and the fewest yards per game (300.6) thus it is to little surprise that the 2022 Sack Title winner Nick Bosa (18.5) is odds on to win Defensive Player of the Year.
Aside from boasting the best defence in the league, the 49ers are blessed with an array of offensive weapons. Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk as well as new asset Christian McCaffrey are an unstoppable offense to slow down. Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy was thrown into the lineup following the injuries to both Jimmy Garropolo & Trey Lance and deputized perfectly, going unbeaten and leading San Francisco to 4th in offensive rankings. The team look to be firing on all cylinders and allaying any fears on Purdy’s lack of experience.
Aside from boasting the best defence in the league, the 49ers are blessed with an array of offensive weapons. Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk as well as new asset Christian McCaffrey are an unstoppable offense to slow down. Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy was thrown into the lineup following the injuries to both Jimmy Garropolo & Trey Lance and deputized perfectly, going unbeaten and leading San Francisco to 4th in offensive rankings. The team look to be firing on all cylinders and allaying any fears on Purdy’s lack of experience.
Moreover, the 49ers arguably have the best coach in football. Kyle Shanahan’s ability to adapt under grueling circumstances is admirable. The Coach of the Year candidate has had to navigate most of the regular season without his starter and back-up quarterbacks, yet the offense doesn’t seem to be slowing down. As the postseason commences, coaching plays will be as critical as ever, thus the 49ers having one of the best in the game gives further confidence to the franchise. San Francisco’s playoff journey begins with a home date versus the Seahawks on Saturday, with fans and pundits expecting a Super Bowl berth.
