The 20 groups that may make Tremendous Bowl LX: Favorites, contenders and lengthy pictures

Ralph Vacchiano

NFL Reporter

The NFL spoiled followers with Cinderella tales close to the flip of the century. In 1999, the St. Louis Rams got here out of nowhere to win a Tremendous Bowl in Kurt Warner’s first season. In 2001, the New England Patriots did the identical when Tom Brady first arrived on the scene.

However over the previous 15 seasons, the glass slipper hasn’t been a lot of a match for groups simply attempting to win a convention title recreation. The Cincinnati Bengals wore it in 2021, reaching the Tremendous Bowl in Joe Burrow’s first wholesome season. And the Tremendous Bowl appearances of the 2015 Panthers, 2016 Falcons and 2019 49ers had been all notable surprises in comparison with preseason projections. The 2017 Eagles adopted up a fourth-place end from the 12 months prior and received all of it, regardless of dropping quarterback Carson Wentz to harm late within the season.

However for essentially the most half, it’s been straightforward to determine the true title contenders earlier than Week 1. So, who’re they this season?

Right here’s the FOX Sports activities have a look at how the race for Tremendous Bowl LX actually shapes up.

*Odds to make the Tremendous Bowl courtesy of DraftKings

TOP CONTENDERS

Groups so elite they’re nearly assured to be within the championship combine

Tremendous Bowl odds: +360

The defending champs misplaced a couple of items on protection, however they’ve acquired a conveyer belt of younger expertise to exchange what they misplaced. Additionally they nonetheless have Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and a strong offensive line. There are worries about how Barkley will reply to a career-high (by far) in touches, and Tremendous Bowl hangovers are usually actual. They’re additionally not getting any youthful on the road. However they’ve been an influence for 3 years operating. No cause to assume that’ll cease now.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +330

They’re returning all of the essential items from the NFL’s finest offense and a top-10 protection. And so long as Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry keep wholesome, they’ve an opportunity to steamroll their means by the AFC North and possibly even the complete convention. Yeah, the playoffs are at all times a little bit of a fear and the Chiefs and Payments have confirmed to be their postseason kryptonite. However they’re firmly entrenched as a part of the AFC’s Huge 3.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +400

In spite of everything their shut calls in the course of the common season final 12 months, many thought the league was lastly catching as much as them. Then they discovered their strategy to yet one more Tremendous Bowl. OK, they had been pounded there by the Eagles. However that simply ensures that this Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes dynasty, now coming into its eighth season, received’t be complacent. At this level, it’s safer to imagine they’re a championship contender till they really, sometime, present that they’re not.

Patrick Mahomes warms up previous to the NFL Preseason 2025 recreation between Chicago Bears and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. (Photograph by David Eulitt/Getty Photos)

Tremendous Bowl odds: +330

They’ve received a minimum of 10 video games and made the playoffs six straight years, ranked within the high three in offense in 5 of these years, had a top-10 protection in 4 of them, received a playoff recreation in every of the previous 5 years, and QB Josh Allen is the reigning NFL MVP. They might not be as loaded as some groups, however they nonetheless received 13 video games final season and pushed the Chiefs to the restrict within the AFC Championship Recreation. OK, sure, the Chiefs have knocked them out of the playoffs 4 occasions in 5 years. All these video games had been shut, although. They’re clearly proper up there with the very best of the very best.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +550

Their humiliating loss to the Washington Commanders within the divisional spherical however, the Lions are coming off a outstanding 15-win season and are returning nearly their total beginning lineup. They do must deal with the losses of each their coordinators — Ben Johnson on offense, Aaron Glenn on protection — and several other assistant coaches. However there’s no cause to imagine a significant regression. And so they’re nonetheless looking for that first Tremendous Bowl championship, so that they’re clearly as hungry as they’ve ever been. Dan Campbell will be sure of that.

ONE BREAK AWAY

Groups that may contend for a championship, if most the whole lot goes proper

Tremendous Bowl odds: +1800

Quarterback C.J. Stroud took a stunning step again final season, largely as a result of he was pounded behind an offensive line that acquired him sacked 52 occasions. They nonetheless received 10 video games and added one other victory within the playoffs, although, earlier than bowing out to the Chiefs. If they will really hold Stroud upright all 12 months, they’ve greater than sufficient expertise to make a run on the AFC’s elite. All the required elements are there.

C.J. Stroud takes the sector previous to the NFL Preseason 2025 recreation between Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photograph by Alex Slitz/Getty Photos)

Tremendous Bowl odds: +850

Apart from their meaningless regular-season finale in opposition to the Bears, their solely losses final season had been to the three finest groups within the NFC — the Eagles, Lions and Vikings (twice every). And 4 of these losses had been by 5 factors or much less. That’s actually all that’s standing between them and actual rivalry. Assuming Jordan Love continues to enhance and may minimize down on errors, they’re one small step away from becoming a member of the NFC’s elite.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +1200

They had been enjoying in addition to anybody late final season and would’ve been a troublesome out within the playoffs. However they killed their possibilities with yet one more sometimes sluggish begin. It additionally didn’t assist that they had been 2-7 in opposition to groups that did make the playoffs — 0-7, in reality, till they beat Denver and Pittsburgh within the ultimate two video games of the season. Perhaps a quicker begin will give them the momentum they should cling with the NFL’s elite. In the event that they get rolling late, they might be unattainable to cease.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +950

GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn thought they stabilized the franchise final season and began a rebuilding mission. However then quarterback Jayden Daniels was even higher than anybody imagined and turned the Commanders into on the spot Tremendous Bowl contenders. Now all they must do is show that final 12 months’s run to the NFC Championship wasn’t a fluke. It shouldn’t be exhausting, so long as Daniels doesn’t have a sophomore stoop. Washington’s protection, significantly up entrance, remains to be an Achilles heel. However the magic of a younger quarterback makes this a really harmful staff.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +1100

Baker Mayfield hasn’t simply resurrected his profession in Tampa. He’s additionally energized the Bucs’ offense. They’ll mild up the scoreboard sufficient to compete with nearly anyone, however they’ve acquired points on the opposite aspect of the ball. That’s speculated to be head coach Todd Bowles’ specialty, and his capacity to repair that would be the key to the season. If they will construct a top-10 protection to again up their top-five offense, they’ll contend within the NFC.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +1600

They went completely all-in on the 2025 season, nevertheless it all comes down to at least one factor: Can 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers keep wholesome and switch again the clock a couple of years. It’s so much to ask given how issues went for him the previous two seasons. However the Steelers assume they noticed sufficient from him in a misplaced 2024 season with the Jets to consider he’ll thrive in a greater state of affairs. They is perhaps proper, so long as his physique doesn’t betray him.

Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers appears to be like on in the course of the NFL Preseason 2025 recreation in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photograph by Joe Sargent/Getty Photos)

UP AND COMERS

Groups with numerous potential, however nonetheless one thing to show

Tremendous Bowl odds: +1100

They had been most likely final season’s largest shock with their 10-7 report, largely as a result of no one noticed rookie QB Bo Nix coming. He received’t sneak up on anybody this 12 months, however has the NFL already seen his finest? Constructing on his stellar rookie season received’t be straightforward as a result of he nonetheless doesn’t have a ton of offensive weapons round him. However he does have head coach Sean Payton and arguably the very best protection within the NFL, so the Broncos can definitely compete — possibly so much if Nix turns into a star.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +1300

The Chargers broke out of a cycle of mediocrity final season by profitable 11 video games in Jim Harbaugh’s first season, however then they had been crushed within the first spherical of the playoffs, reminding that they nonetheless have a protracted strategy to go. They nonetheless have elite QB Justin Herbert they usually appeared to assist him out by including veteran operating again Najee Harris and rookie operating again Omarion Hampton. The protection ought to nonetheless be robust, too. However there’s clearly a spot between them and the elite groups of the AFC. It would take some Harbaugh magic to get this forlorn franchise to exceed its limits.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +1100

A staff that went 14-3 final season and had a shot on the No. 1 seed within the NFC till the ultimate evening of the 2024 season most likely deserves a greater spot than this. However the actuality is Minnesota is breaking in a quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, who is basically a rookie. There’s numerous expertise round him, particularly on offense, however the Vikings had been contenders final season largely due to the outstanding efficiency of Sam Darnold. Can McCarthy, the tenth general decide of final 12 months’s draft, duplicate that? That can inform their story.

J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings appears to be like on earlier than the NFL Preseason 2025 recreation in opposition to the New England Patriots at U.S. Financial institution Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photograph by Stephen Maturen/Getty Photos)

ON THE FRINGE

Groups with a powerful core, however most likely want numerous assist

Tremendous Bowl odds: +1000

Sean McVay’s genius might be sufficient to maintain them in rivalry most years and this 12 months might be no totally different. Final 12 months felt like a slog, but they nonetheless managed to win 9 of their final 12 to get to 10-7 and into the playoffs, the place they pushed the Eagles exhausting in a divisional recreation in Philly within the snow. L.A.’s capacity to construct on that actually depends upon the well being of 37-year-old quarterback Matthew Stafford. Proper now, the membership is being awfully mysterious about his again harm, which is never a great signal. But when he’s OK, the Rams will probably be greater than OK, too.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +2500

It’s straightforward for the NFL to sleep on them after a 7-10 season, however that is perhaps an enormous mistake in the event that they get a full season out of QB Dak Prescott. Granted, they weren’t superb earlier than Prescott acquired harm final season. Additionally they nonetheless have questions at operating again, their protection was a catastrophe final season, and their finest defender, Micah Parsons, remains to be a holdout. However they’re proficient sufficient to problem numerous groups if Prescott will get sizzling, somebody can run the soccer, and one way or the other they will get their protection proper.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +950

It will be straightforward responsible their disastrous 6-11 season final 12 months on accidents, and even perhaps truthful. But it surely’s powerful to then overlook dropping eight starters in an offseason cost-cutting spree. They nonetheless have their franchise QB (Brock Purdy), their excellent head coach (Kyle Shanahan) and most of their offense intact. Extra importantly, they’re anticipating (and hopeful of) a full season from operating again Christian McCaffrey and left sort out Trent Williams, and an October return from receiver Brandon Aiyuk. In the event that they get that, possibly their rebuilding mission received’t be very lengthy in any respect.

POTENTIAL CINDERELLAS

Groups with simply sufficient expertise to dream large

Tremendous Bowl odds: +2500

They seemed like they had been getting ready to rivalry once they headed into their bye week with a 6-4 report final season. Then they torched their season with a 2-5 end. However alongside the best way, they acquired some good reminders of what a wholesome Kyler Murray can do. He has a powerful forged round him (WR Marvin Harrison Jr., TE Trey McBride, RB James Connor), and the Cardinals spent the offseason revamping the entrance of their protection. Boasting a positive schedule and enjoying in a division and not using a true favourite, the Cardinals might be primed for an enormous leap. And in the event that they take it, they might be a troublesome staff to oust within the playoffs.

Tremendous Bowl odds: +2000

It’s asking so much to consider in a staff that went 5-12 final 12 months and hasn’t had a profitable report since 2018, particularly when nobody is bound what to make of franchise QB Caleb Williams. However they went on a loopy offseason spree to present him the instruments to succeed, buying and selling for 2 Professional Bowl guards (Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson), utilizing their first two draft picks on weapons (TE Colston Loveland, WR Luther Burden), and, after all, hiring Lions offensive whiz Ben Johnson as their head coach. In the event that they’re proper about Williams, and he’s what they thought he’d be once they took him No. 1 general in 2024, they might be a risk even in one of many NFL’s hardest divisions this 12 months.

Caleb Williams appears to be like on in the course of the NFL Preseason 2025 recreation between the Buffalo Payments and the Chicago Bears at Soldier Subject on August 17, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photograph by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Photos)

Tremendous Bowl odds: +2800

This actually requires an enormous leap of religion, as a result of the Patriots are flawed and have numerous rosters spots with big query marks. However they appear to have gotten it proper on the two most essential positions, with franchise quarterback Drake Maye and new coach Mike Vrabel. They’ll must hope their reworked offensive line holds up, that they get a bounce-back season out of veteran receiver Stefon Diggs, and that Vrabel can maintain collectively a protection with a minimum of 5 new starters. He acquired the Titans to the AFC Championship Recreation in his second season, so he is aware of how you can construct contenders shortly. This can be a a lot greater carry, nevertheless it’s not unattainable for the Pats to sneak into the playoffs and past if Maye turns into the star they assume he’s.

Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent six years masking the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years masking the Giants and the NFL for the New York Day by day Information. Comply with him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

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