Sure, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are the prohibitive favorites to win the Super Bowl this coming season and rightfully so, after their masterpiece of a campaign that saw them win it all in 2016. However, outside of Brady and the perennially powerful Patriots, which teams really have the best chance of winning this season’s coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy? Let’s just forget what the NFL betting odds say for a moment. If you really want to know which teams outside of the Pats could bag this season’s Super Bowl 52 bling, I’ve got answers.
Analyzing Who Can Really Win Super Bowl 52 in 2017
Seattle Seahawks
For me, I’m still a believer in the Seattle Seahawks (10-5-1 SU, 8-8 ATS) and for good reason. First and foremost, the Seahawks still are as good as they come defensively. Seattle finished the 2016 season ranked a stellar fifth in total defense (318.7 ypg), eighth against the pass (225.8 ypg), seventh against the run (92.9 ypg) and third in points allowed (18.2 ppg). Not only that, but Seattle has an elite, Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Russell Wilson that is just now entering the prime years of his career. Wilson was limited to a modest 21 TD passes while tossing 11 interceptions,but he completed a stellar 64.7 percent of his passes for 4,219 yards all while battling lower extremity injuries.Who Else Will Benefit the Team This Season?
Last but not least, I like the fact that the Seahawks added a hungry Eddie Lacy and will have a healthier Thomas Rawls in the backfield in 2017 to help them recreate the powerful rushing attack they had when Marshawn Lynch was at his ‘Beast Mode’ best a few years ago. If defense wins championships (It does) Seattle will have as good of a shot as any team in the league in 2017.Green Bay Packers
Look, the bottom line for Green Bay (10-6 SU, 9-6-1 ATS) is that, any time you have a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, then you’re going to have a very legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl 52 as long as you play any sort of competent defense. Thanks mostly to the phenomenal play of their future Hall of Fame signal-caller, the Packers ranked eighth in total offense (368.8 ypg) and seventh in passing (262.4 ypg). Despite being hampered by a rushing attack that finished 20th (106.3 ypg), Green Bay finished a stellar fourth in scoring (27.0 ppg).How Well Did Rodgers Do Last Season?
Rodgers completed a blistering 65.7 percent of his passes for 4,428 yards with a whopping 40 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions while leading the Packers to six straight wins to close out the regular season before beating Dallas in the divisional round and falling to Atlanta in the NFC title tilt. I do have some concerns about Green Bay’s defense, which ranked 22nd overall, a pitiful 31st against the pass and 21st in points allowed, but again, when you’ve got Aaron Rodgers on your side, you’ve always got a chance.New York Giants +2200
The Giants aren’t viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl 52 contender by many, but I think they are, mostly because…again, defense wins championships. The G-Men ranked 10th in total defense (339.7 ypg), fourth against the run (88.6 ypg) and despite ranking 23rd against the pass (251.1 ypg), the Giants finished the 2016 campaign ranked a stellar second in points allowed (17.8 ppg).Can Manning and Company Pull Off a Good Season With the Giants?
While the Giants and Eli Manning clearly need to improve offensively after ranking 25th in total offense (330.7 ypg) and 26th in scoring (19.4 ppg), let’s not forget, not only has Manning and the Giants pulled off one Super Bowl ‘upset’ over Brady and the Patriots, but they’ve done it twice. Personally, I say if new York plays defense at a really high level again in 2017, anything could happen, like another victory for Super Bowl 52, no matter how improbable it may seem.
Most Likely and Unlikely Super Bowl LII Betting Matchups
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are one of the few teams in the AFC that appear capable of dethroning the Patriots even though they’ve come up short of their own expectations the last few seasons, mostly because of really untimely injuries. Still, Pittsburgh has an explosive offense that ranked seventh overall (372.6 ypg) sixth in passing (282.6 ypg) and a respectable 14th in rushing (110.0 ypg) while finishing 11th in scoring (24.9 ppg).How Well Did the Defense Do Last Season?
The Steelers also finished 12th in total defense (342.6 ypg) and 10th in points allowed (20.4 ppg) and have arguably the best offensive trio in the league today in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell. If they can stay healthy late in the season, I believe the Steelers could beat anyone.Kansas City Chiefs
Just like last season, I like the Kansas City Chiefs just a little bit bit more than their AFC West division rivals, if only because they have a far superior defense to the Oakland Raiders. I know the Chiefs have a modest offense and a quarterback that can’t throw the deep ball in veteran Alex Smith, but they did finish seventh in points allowed last season (19.4 ppg) and did manage to finish a respectable 13th in scoring (24.3 ppg).What Can the Chiefs Do to Improve in 2017?
With a bit of improved health on the defensive side of the ball, I believe Kansas City could be even better than they were in 2016 and if head Coach Andy Reid ever decides to open up his offense a bit more, it could happen for Kansas City. The Chiefs have arguably the best cornerback in the game today in Marcus Peters, a game-breaking star in fleet-footed Tyreek Hill, a superstar tight end in Travis Kelce and a quartet of Pro Bowl caliber defensive stars in nose tackle Dontari Poe, linebackers Justin Houston and Dee Ford and arguably the best safety in the league in Eric Berry. Reid guided Philadelphia to one Super Bowl appearance back in the day and it could happen again for him before he decides to call it quits.Oakland Raiders
Everyone is high on the Oakland Raiders to win Super Bowl 52 and I can see why, even if I do like the Chiefs a bit better. Oakland can put points on the board with anyone these days after finishing sixth in total offense last season (373.3 ypg), 13th in passing (253.2 ypg), sixth in rushing (120.1 ypg) and seventh in scoring (26.0 ppg). Unfortunately, they finished in the bottom third in every meaningful defensive statistical category, including points allowed 924.1 ppg, 20th). Still, the Raiders have a blossoming superstar at quarterback, an elite wide receiver in Amari Cooper (1,153 yds) and added veteran running back Marshawn Lynch to pair with the powerful Latavius Murray (788 yds). If the Raiders improve their defense in 2017, it could happen!Latest Super Bowl 52 Betting Odds
- Arizona Cardinals: +1600
- Atlanta Falcons: +1100
- Baltimore Ravens: +2800
- Carolina Panthers: +1800
- Chicago Bears: +8000
- Cincinnati Bengals: +3300
- Cleveland Browns: +10000
- Dallas Cowboys: +750
- Denver Broncos: +1300
- Detroit Lions: +4000
- Green Bay Packers: +800
- Houston Texans: +1800
- Indianapolis Colts: +3300
- Jacksonville Jaguars: +5500
- Kansas City Chiefs: +1500
- LA Chargers: +5500
- LA Rams: +8000
- Miami Dolphins: +4000
- Minnesota Vikings: +2000
- New England Patriots: +400
- New Orleans Saints: +3300
- NY Giants: +2000
- NY Jets: +8000
- Oakland Raiders: +1500
- Philadelphia Eagles: +3300
- Pittsburgh Steelers: +900
- San Francisco 49ers: +10000
- Seattle Seahawks: +750
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +3300
- Tennessee Titans: +4000
- Washington Redskins: +4000
