Image via USA Today Sports/Kevin Jairaj
In August, every NFL team thinks they can win the Super Bowl. At least, that's what they're telling fans. In reality, only a handful of teams can actually win the Super Bowl and there's a good amount of luck that goes into it. Sure, the Patriots are perennial favorites to win it all, but they're the exception, not the rule. Championship windows usually aren't open that long and surely nothing is guaranteed.
Look no further than the Colts and Andrew Luck's sudden retirement, which moved them from one of the best teams in the AFC to a state of uncertainty. Teams turn from contenders to pretenders and vice versa quicker than ever in the NFL these days and sometimes, you just never know when it will be a certain teams year. With the NFL season set to begin in just over a week, the Complex Sports team broke down the 10 teams that can realistically win a Super Bowl this season.
New England Patriots
Super Bowl Odds: 7/1
Where else could we even start? The Patriots are Super Bowl contenders until further notice, even with Tom Brady at 42-years-old. I will say, losing Gronk might be a bigger deal than we think, but they still have an elite defense and Brady is still the most clutch QB in the NFL. We saw last season that the Pats just need to get to the playoffs and they can turn it on and make a run. I just hope we don't turn them into underdogs again, because they literally aren't.
Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl Odds: 8/1
The Chiefs remain loaded and with Patrick Mahomes having more experience under his belt, the sky is the limit. Their defense will still be a question mark, but if you remember, they were one offsides play last season from reaching the Super Bowl. With the way the Chiefs offense plays, they can afford to have a mediocre to ok defense. Additions of Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu gives their defense more playmakers than last year, which could be enough to put them over the top. Did we mention the offense will still be really good, too? I'm not sure anyone would be surprised if Mahomes went out and won MVP again this season. He's that good.
New Orleans Saints
Super Bowl Odds: 9/1
How mad are the Saints heading into this season? With the way the NFC Championship ended, you would assume they're hungry to finish the job this year. Drew Brees is a year older and even though he slowed down a bit last season, he was still playing on an MVP level. The real question is if he can keep that up for another full season at his age or if we're going to finally see him hit a wall. The Saints are stacked outside of Brees, but he'll be the one who carries them to the promised land.
Los Angeles Rams
Super Bowl Odds: 11/1
The Rams are still a loaded team, but it's hard for last year's Super Bowl to not leave a sour taste in your mouth when it comes to the team's prospects going forward. There are major questions about Todd Gurley's health and you have to wonder how much of their success is based on Sean McVay's system and how much is due to Jared Goff. If it's the latter, that seems like a big issue going forward for the Rams. Goff is a fine QB, but he still has a lot to prove going forward, notably that he can thrive alongside McVay's system and not just because of it.
Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowl Odds: 14/1
In my opinion, the Eagles should be the favorites in the NFC. Yes, Carson Wentz's health is a concern, but this is the deepest team in the NFC and maybe the NFL. They're solid on both lines and have maybe the deepest RB group in the league. They also added DeSean Jackson to an already stacked WR room, which will only help Wentz throughout the season. Like we said, Wentz's health is the most important thing, but if he stays healthy, the Eagles will be a real force this season.
Los Angeles Chargers
Super Bowl Odds: 15/1
The Chargers always seem to be on these lists but have never been able to bring home the trophy. Philip Rivers is getting older, which means the Chargers need to take advantage sooner rather than later. However, the Chargers Super Bowl run is already off to a shaky start, with an injury to Pro Bowl safety Derwin James that will keep him out for most of the season and Melvin Gordon's holdout that has no end in sight. This season could quickly go left quickly for the Chargers.
Cleveland Browns
Super Bowl Odds: 15/1
And here we are. The Cleveland Browns. A team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2002 seems like a legit Super Bowl contender. With a world of expectations on their shoulders, the Browns will be the must-watch team for the entire NFL season. Baker Mayfield, OBJ, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, and Myles Garrett. That's some serious star power that puts them in the Super Bowl conversation. Of course, we have to see how it fits on the field, but for the first time in years, the Cleveland Browns are the focus on the NFL world.
Chicago Bears
Super Bowl Odds: 19/1
The Bears were one of the best teams in the NFL last season and should duplicate that success this year. Of course, they lost in the Wild Card round last season on a missed field goal and still haven't fully figured out the kicking situation in camp, which could bring on lingering issues. On paper, this might be the best defense in the NFL, despite the loss of Vic Fangio to the Denver Broncos. No matter how you feel about Mitch Trubisky, the offense just needs to be good enough with a such a strong defense behind them. The Bears will be a true contender in the NFC this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl Odds: 19/1
Antonio Browna and LeVeon Bell are officially out of Pittsburgh, but the Steelers remain one of the better teams in the NFL. Why is that? Well, Ben Roethlisberger is still very good, even though we don't know how well he'll do without AB. The Steelers will be one of the most interesting teams to watch this season because they could either be really good or it could all be a disaster without AB. We'll have the popcorn ready either way.
Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl Odds: 25/1
Is this the year that the Cowboys finally break through? Well, they need to figure out this Zeke contract situation, because no matter what Jerry Jones says, they need him to win. Dak Prescott continues to improve every season and the defense should be very good, but Zeke is the motor that keeps this team moving. Without him the entire offense will take a hit that I'm not sure they can recover from.