Super Bowl contenders ranked: Saquon Barkley is carrying the Eagles to New Orleans but Mahomes’ Chiefs in trouble
The second after the Kansas City Chiefs won another Super Bowl, the countdown began to LIX in New Orleans. The NFL is the league that never stops, and there are serious contenders throughout the AFC and NFC hoping to prevent Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid and the Chiefs from becoming the first franchise in history to pull off a Super Bowl trophy three-peat. GettySaquon Barkley is heating up the NFL MVP conversation[/caption] Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills got in the Chiefs’ way in Week 11, while Saquon Barkley has crashed the MVP debate. Here is talkSPORT’s look at the top 10 Super Bowl contenders on the long road to the Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans. We’ll be back every week … 10. Denver Broncos (7-5, last week: unranked) Move over, Jayden Daniels. The former LSU star was an early season lock for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. In Week 13, Washington is a flat 7-5, while Bo Nix has Denver feeling much more promising with the same record. Nix, who played at Auburn and Oregon, is making voters rethink their plans. Bo Nix could surpass Jayden Daniels as Offensive Rookie of the Year 9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3, last week: 5th) A snowy loss to Cleveland could haunt the Steelers for the rest of the season. Pittsburgh should be 9-2 and standing tall atop the AFC North. Instead, the Steelers are barely in first place and must keep winning to keep the Ravens away. 8. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4, last week: 7th) Someone had to lose the Harbaugh Bowl and it was the younger brother again. Jim has done wonders with the Chargers this season. But the big story for Los Angeles has annually been proving it in the playoffs. The younger Harbaugh still has big work to do to make a mark in the postseason this year. 7. Baltimore Ravens (8-4, last week: 9th) The most uneven contender in the top 10 looks like a serious contender again. Lamar Jackson rivals Josh Allen and Saquon Barkley as the NFL’s MVP through 12 games. John, the older Harbaugh brother, is 3-0 vs Jim and now needs to catch the Steelers in the tough AFC North. GettyLamar Jackson plays for the winning Harbaugh brother[/caption] 6. Green Bay Packers (8-3, last week: 8th) Green Bay is close to cracking the top five. Jordan Love’s crew has only lost once in the last seven games and should take down Miami on Thanksgiving. But the Pack are still third place in their loaded division. 5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2, last week: 5th) Credit to Sam Darnold for battling and hanging tough. The veteran QB has been the ideal answer for Minnesota in 2024, allowing Vikings fans to temporarily forget about J.J. McCarthy. Minnesota being 9-2 with Darnold is a tribute to the resilient vet and the Viks’ entire coaching staff. GettySam Darnold has reminded NFL fans that experience counts in 2024[/caption] 4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2, last week: 4th) While Barkley’s old team falls apart, the Eagles are soaring up this chart. Philly has won seven consecutive games and is only second to Detroit in the NFC. Nothing cures the blues like winning, and the Eagles have completely changed their story since October. 3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1, last week: 3rd) Patrick Mahomes is right: Kansas City is barely winning. It’s hard to argue with 10-1. But it’s also hard to imagine the Chiefs achieving a historic Super Bowl three-peat if they keep playing this way. At some point, Kansas City must start dominating or Andy Reid’s crew will burn out before the big game in the Superdome. GettyPatrick Mahomes knows the Chiefs must do more to repeat as champs again[/caption] 2. Buffalo Bills (9-2, last week: 2nd) If Buffalo is finally going to win a Super Bowl, the Bills must take care of business against a struggling San Francisco squad. The 49ers are in danger of missing the playoffs. With Josh Allen at the top of the MVP race and Buffalo trying to take over the AFC, it must be TCB at home this week. 1. Detroit Lions (10-1, last week: 1st) This time last year, the Lions were still proving themselves to the world. A frustrating 29-22 home loss to Green Bay on Thanksgiving followed. The Lions should hand Caleb Williams another loss and push Chicago closer to firing Matt Eberflus. talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, and you can stay up to date with all the latest from around the league via our dedicated ‘EndZone’ YouTube channel.
The second after the Kansas City Chiefs won another Super Bowl, the countdown began to LIX in New Orleans.
The NFL is the league that never stops, and there are serious contenders throughout the AFC and NFC hoping to prevent Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid and the Chiefs from becoming the first franchise in history to pull off a Super Bowl trophy three-peat.
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills got in the Chiefs’ way in Week 11, while Saquon Barkley has crashed the MVP debate.
Here is talkSPORT’s look at the top 10 Super Bowl contenders on the long road to the Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans.
We’ll be back every week …
10. Denver Broncos (7-5, last week: unranked)
Move over, Jayden Daniels.
The former LSU star was an early season lock for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
In Week 13, Washington is a flat 7-5, while Bo Nix has Denver feeling much more promising with the same record.
Nix, who played at Auburn and Oregon, is making voters rethink their plans.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3, last week: 5th)
A snowy loss to Cleveland could haunt the Steelers for the rest of the season.
Pittsburgh should be 9-2 and standing tall atop the AFC North.
Instead, the Steelers are barely in first place and must keep winning to keep the Ravens away.
8. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4, last week: 7th)
Someone had to lose the Harbaugh Bowl and it was the younger brother again.
Jim has done wonders with the Chargers this season.
But the big story for Los Angeles has annually been proving it in the playoffs.
The younger Harbaugh still has big work to do to make a mark in the postseason this year.
7. Baltimore Ravens (8-4, last week: 9th)
The most uneven contender in the top 10 looks like a serious contender again.
Lamar Jackson rivals Josh Allen and Saquon Barkley as the NFL’s MVP through 12 games.
John, the older Harbaugh brother, is 3-0 vs Jim and now needs to catch the Steelers in the tough AFC North.
6. Green Bay Packers (8-3, last week: 8th)
Green Bay is close to cracking the top five.
Jordan Love’s crew has only lost once in the last seven games and should take down Miami on Thanksgiving.
But the Pack are still third place in their loaded division.
5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2, last week: 5th)
Credit to Sam Darnold for battling and hanging tough.
The veteran QB has been the ideal answer for Minnesota in 2024, allowing Vikings fans to temporarily forget about J.J. McCarthy.
Minnesota being 9-2 with Darnold is a tribute to the resilient vet and the Viks’ entire coaching staff.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2, last week: 4th)
While Barkley’s old team falls apart, the Eagles are soaring up this chart.
Philly has won seven consecutive games and is only second to Detroit in the NFC.
Nothing cures the blues like winning, and the Eagles have completely changed their story since October.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1, last week: 3rd)
Patrick Mahomes is right: Kansas City is barely winning.
It’s hard to argue with 10-1.
But it’s also hard to imagine the Chiefs achieving a historic Super Bowl three-peat if they keep playing this way.
At some point, Kansas City must start dominating or Andy Reid’s crew will burn out before the big game in the Superdome.
2. Buffalo Bills (9-2, last week: 2nd)
If Buffalo is finally going to win a Super Bowl, the Bills must take care of business against a struggling San Francisco squad.
The 49ers are in danger of missing the playoffs.
With Josh Allen at the top of the MVP race and Buffalo trying to take over the AFC, it must be TCB at home this week.
1. Detroit Lions (10-1, last week: 1st)
This time last year, the Lions were still proving themselves to the world.
A frustrating 29-22 home loss to Green Bay on Thanksgiving followed.
The Lions should hand Caleb Williams another loss and push Chicago closer to firing Matt Eberflus.
talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, and you can stay up to date with all the latest from around the league via our dedicated ‘EndZone’ YouTube channel.
