Ranking 2023 NFL Super Bowl contenders: 49ers, Cowboys headline top 10 teams with title aspirations

Super Bowl LVIII is still two months away, which means there’s a lot of time for the playoff picture to take shape and unfold. Some teams already look like legit contenders. Still others are in the midst of an identity crisis. And then there’s the mass of clubs on the fringe of the postseason standings, still hoping for a miracle run in the final four weeks of action.

As we say goodbye to Week 14 and look ahead to Week 15, which clubs are the most likely to actually compete for a Lombardi Trophy? Here’s our current roundup of the top candidates:

Just missed

The Rams (6-7) can score with Matthew Stafford back to slinging it, but Sean McVay’s game management hasn’t always been helpful. The Texans (7-6) have the gunslinger to play spoiler in C.J. Stroud, but now he’s banged up and they’ve struggled to give him run support. The Packers (6-7) feel like a year away from truly surrounding Jordan Love with a playoff-ready lineup. The Bengals (7-6) need Jake Browning to keep overachieving. And the Saints (6-7) are far too dependent on defensive domination.

Record: 8-5 | Point Differential: +22 (10th)

Trevor Lawrence
Getty Images

There’s been a relatively glaring disparity between player/coaching talent and actual results here, with Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence too often letting miscommunications muddy up their return to the playoffs. The defense has also become an absolute sieve against the pass. But in a meh division, with plenty of spirit, they still have time to rebuild momentum.

Record: 8-5 | Point Differential: +17 (12th)

Joe Flacco and David Njoku
Getty Images

Wait, the team with 38-year-old Joe Flacco under center? Yes, that team….


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Author : Cody Benjamin

Publish date : 2023-12-12 13:41:19

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