Football is still one of the biggest sports in the USA and attracts a loyal following around the rest of the world. This sees millions of people tune into games and enjoy the action on offer. The new NFL campaign is set to kick-off and this will be the 102nd time the NFL has been contested. With a new 17-game regular season to enjoy, fans are eagerly anticipating the opener between the Cowboys and current champions Tampa.
It is not just the regular season that NFL fans will have on their mind. Come January 2022, the playoffs will start and then Super Bowl LVI will take place in California during February 2022. This means people are already looking ahead at which teams have realistic Super Bowl aspirations. Checking out the latest NFL Super Bowl odds is a good place to start if you also like to do this. This enables you to get a feel for who the bookmakers are singling out and which teams might be worth watching.
Of course, you could also ask your friends for their views and do a little research of your own around which sides got stronger in the off-season. If you need a helping hand, the sides mentioned below certainly look to be on for a viable Super Bowl run.
Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce has made countless great plays during his career. This one may top the list ? pic.twitter.com/nbAy65QqQ7
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 21, 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What a year it was for this side in 2020/21! Tampa’s Super Bowl LV victory against the Chiefs was headline news and they did it with a 43-year-old Tom Brady in his first season there. With Brady fit and ready to go again, there is every reason to think Tampa has a realistic chance of retaining their crown.
Another victory in Tampa Bay.
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 21, 2021
? #TBvsLAR 4:25 p.m. ET Sept 26 on FOX pic.twitter.com/eGydHYPlGw
With Brady’s leadership and passing plus the talents of a returning Vita Vea to protect him, the Bucs will not be easy to play against. They have also retained all 22 players who won the trophy last year and appear to have a pretty easy set of games to help them along in the regular season. Head Coach Bruce Arians also is likely to retain the same vertical passing tactics that worked so well last season.
Buffalo Bills
Last year’s AFC East winning campaign impressed everyone. When you also remember they only lost out on a Super Bowl appearance last year in the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs, it gets even better. It is not just past glories that seem to suggest another awesome campaign is on the way, though.
MOTORIN’ ?
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 19, 2021
? #BUFvsMIA: FOX pic.twitter.com/TSe4urVHlQ
They have a strong roster to call on, with players such as Josh Allen, Jordan Poyer, and Stefon Diggs all possessing plenty of talent. In addition, they have not lost many players in the off-season and this means they have the same settled team who did so well last year. With a 3-0 preseason record, expect them to be challenging.
Green Bay Packers
With top-level coach Matt LaFleur in charge, the Packers have a decent chance of finally making it to a Super Bowl in 2021/22. It should be remembered that LaFleur has almost taken the team there in his last two seasons and now has more experience to guide them all the way. Although there were no major free agency moves, the twin 13-3 regular seasons the current roster has posted show this might not be an issue. With top QB Aaron Rodgers possibly playing his final season for them, everyone at the Packers will be pushing to see him off in style.
Aaron Rodgers threw for 255 yards and surpassed John Elway for 10th all-time in passing yards with 51,633 as the Green Bay Packers seized control in the second half to beat the Detroit Lions 35-17 on Monday night. https://t.co/M0FqM1aHha
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 21, 2021
NFL teams with realistic Super Bowl aspirations
While looking at the top 2021 underdog predictions in the NFL is fun, it is always exciting to look at the other end of the scale. For football, this means trying to work out which sides might challenge for the Super Bowl. Although the campaign is only just beginning, it is still possible to run the rule over NFL teams and see which have the most realistic chances of doing this. Of course, as the action unfolds, this may change, but for now, those listed above look like sides whose aspirations of a Super Bowl run are sensible.
