Titles are not won in the preseason. As far as the NFL goes this is a golden rule. The season is lengthy, harsh, and unpredictable. One injury can derail an entire season for a team especially if a vital position such as QB or DE is compromised. While there's plenty of time to go before the playoffs brackets are formed and Super Bowl in February, it is an interesting task to rank the teams this early in the year, and see if we were right when the season ends.
We have a few days less than two months before the NFL season kicks off. In a few short weeks all Sundays will belong to football. Let's see our predictions on whose fans are going to be happy come the year end, and whose are going to have another year of heartbreak. Let's start with a team poised to dominate another football year in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are the best team in the NFL. Last year's Super Bowl winners are the hot Lombardi favourites this year too with their odds being set at 650+ this early in the year. While the franchise is decimated player wise compared to the last season, as it usually is the case with a team that plays well. Yet, the Philly team managed to retain the defensive centrepiece in Zack Baun, and to add Azeez Ojulari in the offseason. On paper their defence looks amazing, if health serves them well. Like in the years past, they've picked defensively in the first round of the draft and the Eagles fans are more than excited to see Jihaad Campbell in action come September. Offensively, Philly remains a juggernaut. Hurts, Goedert, Barkley, Smith, and Brown, when paired with the best O-line in football look as scary as ever. Early NFL Preseason Picks and Predictions have them lined up to be in the SB once again.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore franchise is the one lingering on the edge of generational success. With Lamar Jackson they've been one of the best regular season teams for years now. Yet, come January, and they fail to deliver. Jackson is the best dual threat QB in the league, and with him leading the way for the Flock they will be in contention for years to come. Jackson is once again in safe hands considering that Ronnie Stanley extended his stay in Maryland. In the offseason they boosted their WR room by adding experienced DeAndre Hopkins, and truth be told Lamar didn't have such an exceptional weapon in the past. First round pick Malaki Starks is looking like the right piece they've needed. Outside of the names mentioned there weren't any fundamental changes in the Ravens lineup making them SB favorites once again. Their odds are set at +700 and are worth looking at this early in the preseason.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills and Ravens are two similar teams. Both have generational QBs leading the franchise, with both failing to deliver on the big stage in the playoffs. For Bills, Josh Allen has been sensational for years now, with only one major flaw or should we call it the Bills kryptonite, Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. In the offseason the Bills added Joey Bosa and parted ways with Von Miller in what's seen as lateral move. As far as helping Josh Allen, the team now has Josh Palmer and Khalil Shakir being the main weapons, while the rest of the roster is on the same level. Considering last year's regular season, there's no reason not to rank the Bills high once again. The Buffalo franchise has their odds set at +700, and for every Bills fan out there, this feels as the year to break the Chiefs curse.
Kansas City Chiefs
This might sound funny, but the Chiefs are a dark horse to win the Super Bowl with their odds set at +800. All of their flaws were exposed last year in the SB. But, we should not forget that not every NFL team has as dominant defence and offense as the Eagles do. So if you plan to bet on NFL do not let the Kansas City Chiefs slip from your mind. The Chiefs did a slight retool to their O-line which was exposed in the Super Bowl. There's no more Joe Thuney, but Trey Smith was extended and the team brought in Jaylon Moore. Their first round pick at the draft was invested in Josh Simmons, and if the Chiefs remain healthy they will be pushing hard for January games. While opinions in the NFL change daily, there is no doubt in our minds that Patrick Mahomes is still the best QB in the league. He will be out there in 2025 to prove it to the world once again. Do not be surprised if an MVP campaign is on Mahomes' schedule from the first week. Also, let's not forget about the Big Red, who will not allow for another Super Bowl LIX to happen.
Detroit Lions
Roster wise Detroit Lions have one of the best teams in the league. With Dan Campbell at the helm they are in safe hands. So, why are their odds set at +800. Well, the Lions have lost both of their coordinators during the offseason. This could prove to be a massive hit to the way they play. D.J. Reed is a solid addition to the roster, and the Lions have had a solid draft. Resigning Levi Onwuzurike is seen as a great move, and with Jared Goff, Amon Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sewell, LaPort, and Glasgow, they are poised to make strides if everything clicks with their OC and DC. With Aidan Hutchinson poised to return next season the Lions look poised to remain on a winning trajectory in years to come, despite the coaching staff turnaround. Lions have their odds set at +1000.
Washington Commanders
Commanders are a great example on how you need to rejuvenate an NFL franchise. A new head coach needs to be paired with a young QB and you get a winning formula. Dan Quinn did a great job in his first year in Washington, built on it, and managed to get the best out of their first round pick, Jayden Daniels. With their odds set at +1800, Commanders are the real dark horses to get to the Super Bowl. Their offseason has been the best among all NFL franchises. Bobby Wagner and Zach Ertz have been retained. Amazing players and super important for the locker room. Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil are new additions; both are seasoned NFL veterans who bring plenty to the table. When you add Javon Kinlaw to the mix there's a roster in DC to be respected. These types of moves are always logical when a team is looking to surround its young QB on a rookie contract with experienced pieces for a win now scenario. Whether Commanders will succeed where Texans have failed last year? Well, let's wait a few months and see. At +1800 odds they're certainly worth the risk.
Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers are another franchise that has managed to alter its fortunes with an addition of a high quality head coach Jim Harbaugh. Jim has returned to the NFL as if he never left. Maybe the task was easier as he had Justin Herbert waiting for him. With +2800 odds to win the SB, they are high in NFL power rankings, but nowhere near the top teams. Joey Bosa is just one of a few players that have left LA to pursue their career in other places. One could argue that the Chargers are a team in need of a soft rebuild, but also one in a win now mode while Herbert is young and healthy. Herbert was the priority for Chargers during the offseason as they looked to add help to his O-line and that job was done by adding Andre James and Mekhi Becton. Draft was also a way to address their offensive woes and those are aimed to be resolved with Omarion Hampton and Tre Harris. Whether the Chargers manage to put themselves in the SB contention or not, they will be one of the most interesting teams to watch next season, we have no doubt about it.
Green Bay Packers
Slowly but safely we enter the list of teams that have an outside chance of reaching the Super Bowl. Historically great, the Packers have +2200 odds of reaching and winning the Super Bowl this season. We're sure only true Packers fans will go to Stake.com and cover the Green Bay franchise to win the Lombardi. At the end of the day, they were calm in the free agency bringing in only Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs. As is tradition, the Packers haven't spent big. Both men will serve to aid Jordan Love together with Matthew Golden who is WR draft addition to the offense of the Packers. The team is playing good football under Matt LaFleur every year, and they will take one step further any of these years. If you ask us, it could be this season, if the stars align of course.
Los Angeles Rams
Similarly to the Packers, the Rams are also led by an offensive genius. As long as Sean McVay is at the helm of the Los Angeles Rams they will be in contention. The team already took one and reached another SB under his reign, and each year since Sean took over in LA their fans are entering the season full of optimism. This year is no different. With their odds set at +2000, and with Matthew Stafford still slinging it in LA, you could make a bet for the Rams to go all the way. Cooper Kupp is no longer a Ram, but in his stead there's Davante Adams. What's best is that the Rams are no longer too reliant on their offense. Even without Aaron Donald, the LA franchise is a dangerous team on defence where some of the league's top young talents play. If this year's draft class settles in LA the way last year's did, they will be a team to look at in the NFC.
Houston Texans
The debut season for C.J. Stroud was one of the best in history as far as rookie QBs go, and since his rookie season, the Texans have been aspiring for high objectives. The reality quickly shut down the hopes of their fans, as Stroud and the boys haven't had the best of seasons last year. Yet, they will be looking to build on high hopes this year too. The goal is to maximize Stroud's rookie contract. The moment his extension kicks in, Texans will be in salary cap hell, and this might be their last chance to get far with their rookie contract QB. As the main reason why Stroud and the boys failed to make a mark last year is seen in the awful play of his O-line. Tunsil was traded away, while Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson, and Trent Brown were acquired in free agency. Also, the Texans have drafted Aireontae Ersery. Even with a slightly better O-line we expect ten times more from C.J. Stroud next season. With Texans odds set at +3500 why don't give them a go. After all, they will most certainly make the playoffs considering the state of their division. Once in the playoffs on game basis anything is possible.
These are the top ten teams that are closest to a Super Bowl appearance and winning it at the moment. We could put 49ers, Broncos, Buccaneers and Bengals to the mix, but with their odds, and state of the rosters, they are not at the level of the ten teams we've listed. We could see teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers with Aaron Rodgers making a run for it, or Vikings with their second year rookie QB doing it better than with Darnold. Of course, these power rankings will change as the season progresses, injuries kicks in, and teams gel more with the new draft class. At the moment, we see the league as it is written above.