As the NFL season enters its last few games, everyone’s thoughts are turning to the question of which teams will be competing in Super Bowl LVII.
The most important football game of the year is due to take place in Glendale, Arizona on February 12, 2023, but who will be playing at the State Farm Stadium on that date?
The Buffalo Bills
The defending AFC East champions made a spectacular start to this season, racking up big wins against the Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams, who won Super Bowl LVI. This impressive beginning has become a solid season as they look to win their first Super Bowl following four previous losing appearances.
The Bills have been among the favorites to win since the start of the season, according to PickBoss.com, and it’s easy to see why that’s the case.
By early December, the Bills had earned their fourth winning season in a row, with ten wins already gained. At the time of writing, Buffalo has a 10-3 record and can now look forward to the postseason. Can they improve on last season, when they lost in agonizing fashion to the Kansas City Chiefs?
Quarterback Josh Allen remains their key player but injury concerns have plagued him this season, and there are worries over the number of times he’s lost the ball in turnovers. Other players who need to perform for Buffalo to stand a chance include wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. They’ve also managed to make strong defensive performances despite being hit by a string of injuries.
The Kansas City Chiefs
Another of the franchises which the leading sportsbooks rate as having a strong chance of winning the next Super Bowl, the Chiefs will be looking to make it to their third Super Bowl in just four seasons. Last season, they had a 12-5 record but their attempt to reach three successive Super Bowls ended in disappointment when the Cincinnati Bengals beat them 27-24 in overtime in the conference championship.
The offseason saw them lose wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who went to the Miami Dolphins. Cornerback Trent McDuffie was their first pick in the first round of the NFL draft, followed by defensive end George Karlaftis.
It only took until week 12 for the Chiefs to confirm their 10th winning season in a row, as they beat the Rams for their ninth victory. This was a new franchise record and since then, the team has gone on to make a 10-3 record.
The Philadelphia Eagles
The chances of the Eagles winning the Super Bowl increased after an amazing 8-0 start to the season. This was the first time in the franchise’s history that they’d started a season with eight straight wins, which has now become 12-1 with just a few games remaining in the regular season.
The Eagles haven’t won the NFC East since 2019 but are in a strong position to do this as the Dallas Cowboys trail them with a 10-3 record. Last season’s 9-8 record has already been passed and they have clinched a playoff spot.
The arrival of A. J. Brown in the offseason was crucial, and the former Titan signed a four-year contract with a value of $100 million. While the loss of the wide receiver caused Tennessee’s form to slump, it has helped the Eagles as he immediately set a new franchise record for most receiving yards in a week one debut.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has also had a fantastic season so far and the progress he’s made since his rookie season suggests that he’s about to become one of the NFL’s best QBs. However, doubts remain since we’ve seen in the past that inexperienced QBs tend not to win Super Bowls.
