Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions are historically bad franchises, both having franchise records below .500. Both franchises have also never played in the Super Bowl, something only four teams have never done. The Jaguars are 8-8 in the playoffs, while the Lions are 7-13. But, there is reason to believe that those historically bad seasons are behind both teams.

Both teams went 9-8 this season after abysmal 2021 seasons. Both teams started 2-6 and gained momentum in the second half of the season to finish strong. The Lions were eliminated from playoff contention minutes before their Week 18 game. The Jaguars clinched the division after an intense nail-biting Saturday night game against their hated rivals, the Tennessee Titans. The Jaguars went on to win their Wild Card playoff game in thrilling fashion against the Chargers, before finally losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams head into the NFL offseason poised to solidify championship-caliber teams.

The Lions and the Jaguars have electrifying offenses that are going to be problems for opposing defenses for years to come. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 in total offense for the 2022 season, with the Lions ranked 5th and the Jaguars ranked 10th. Both teams are also ranked in the top 10 in passing offense, with the Lions ranked 6th and the Jaguars ranked 10th. The Lions’ offense is spearheaded by veteran quarterback Jared Goff, young rising star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the consistently getting better veteran running back Jamaal Williams. Both Jared Goff and Amon-Ra were Pro Bowlers this year, along with T.J. Hockenson joining them from the Lions’ offense. The Lions were able to have multiple games where they scored 40 points or more, including one against the Jaguars. If the Lions continue having a high powered offense they can be tough to catch.

The Jaguars are spearheaded by their trio of young stars: quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne, and receiver Christian Kirk. Everyone in this trio had career years. Trevor threw for over 4,000 yards and showed to the league why he was picked first overall. Travis Etienne ran for over 1,000 yards, cementing himself as one of the league’s top rushers. Christian Kirk rejuvenated his career with over 1,000 receiving yards, silencing his critics. Trevor Lawrence got his first Pro Bowl nod and it’s safe to say that this won’t be his last.

The analysis of both defenses emphasizes why they say that “defenses win championships”. The Lions gave up the most yards on defense, with the Jaguars giving up the 9th most. Both teams were ranked in the bottom five for passing defense. The Jaguars were ranked 12th in rushing defense, but the Lions were ranked 29th. Even though both teams drafted young stars with the first two picks in 2022 draft, Travon Walker for the Jaguars and Aidan Hutchinson for the Lions, it wasn’t enough to consistently stop NFL offenses. Both teams have stellar offenses, but they both need some work on defense in order to have a team that can compete with the top teams in the NFL.

The Lions and the Jaguars are both young teams that have potential, especially on the offensive side of the ball. However, you have to be able to stop opposing teams from scoring to win games and that is something that both teams need to work on. And once both teams create a stellar team on both sides of the ball, it will be sooner, rather than later, that one of these teams will be competing for the Lombardi Trophy.

The post The Jaguars and Lions are Guaranteed Future Super Bowl Contenders appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The 2022 NFL season is mightily approaching and it’s nearly time for Carrie Underwood to deliver an intense preview for Sunday Night Football. Each NFL team has a clean slate in pre-season and every NFL ring leader wants to inject their team with an aspiration of reaching the Super Bowl. Although, there are undoubtedly many NFL squads that are superior to other NFL teams. With that stated, I’m going to untwine the 10 best Super Bowl contenders in 2022.

Buffalo Bills

Let’s be honest – the Buffalo Bills are the most well-rounded NFL team in the league. The Bills have a Thor-like figure at QB with Josh Allen, as he possesses an unusual combination of arm talent and running ability. The Bills GM Brandon Beane also nicely brought in RB James Cook and TE O.J. Howard to aid Allen.

Of course, the Bills pass rush will really shine with the future Hall of Famer Von Miller – who picked up his second Super Bowl ring last season. I trust that Ed Oliver and Gregory Rousseau will take the next step in the upcoming season, too.

According to The Lines, the Bills carry the best odds of winning Super Bowl LVII.

Los Angeles Rams

It’s true that many NFL fans would find it boring to picture the Los Angeles Rams winning their second-straight Super Bowl ring. Nonetheless, Sean McVay and Les Snead found a way to maintain a stunning, Super Bowl-contending roster this off-season. As widely enunciated, the Rams brought in the mythical Bobby Wagner and the athletic freak Allen Robinson. Barring an illogical late-game comeback from TB12, I foresee the Rams representing the NFC in Super Bowl LVII.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The GOAT of athletes, Tom Brady, is most likely gearing up for his last ride in 2022. The Bucs still showcase fantastic weaponry for Brady — as they have Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Playoff Lenny, Rachaad White, Russell Gage, and the ole-reliable Cameron Brate. The Bucs defense carries an intimidating, top-tier front seven – which is led by Lavonte David and Shaq Barrett. The Bucs also brought in Akiem Hicks (3.5 sacks, 9 QB hits in 9 games last season. Ray Lewis once commanded that his squad would leave everything out on the line in his final playoff gauntlet & I anticipate Brady’s brotherhood also leaving everything out on the field for him in the 2022 playoff tournament.

Los Angeles Chargers

I feel an infinite amount of passion for the Los Angeles Chargers direction. I expect the Chargers QB Justin Herbert, who has impressively climbed the ladder over the past two seasons, to have his best single-season output in 2022. I would be shocked if the Chargers don’t have one of the best pass defenses in football after they inked J.C. Jackson and highly gifted pass rusher Khalil Mack in the recent free agency period. After the Cincinnati Bengals surprised the NFL world last season, I believe the Chargers will turn heads in the 2022-2023 season.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals had an under-dog, Rocky Balboa-like attitude in their journey to the Super Bowl last season. The Bengals rightfully upgraded their offensive line for Joe Burrow – as they brought in La’el Collins and Alex Cappa. I imagine that Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase will take care of their part in the passing game. On the flip-side, I have confidence in the Bengals ability to make life miserable for opposing passing offenses. The former Saints DE Trey Hendrickson unleashed 14 sacks in 2021 – after unveiling 13.5 sacks in 2020. It won’t be easy for the Bengals to return to the Super Bowl, but they have more beef than last season and unlimited potential on offense.

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints have a healthy Michael Thomas, a likely un-suspended Alvin Kamara in 2022, and potentially a Top-3 defense in the NFL. The Saints also know how to defeat the ageless wonder in Brady better than any other club. Most impressively, the Saints have the faces on defense (Tyrann Mathieu, Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Marshon Lattimore) that can make life hell for opposing QBs in the pivotal playoff contents.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs always have a chance to win the Super Bowl with Patrick Mahomes at QB. The Chiefs don’t only display Mahomes, but they also yield the Top-3 TE Travis Kelce and the shiny and illustrious WR JuJu Smith-Schuster on offense. On defense, the Chiefs will ask their three-time Pro Bowl DT Chris Jones and three-time Pro Bowl DE Frank Clark to constantly harass opposing signal-callers.

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have their John Lennon-like QB Aaron Rodgers, but they shipped away their two-time All-Pro WR Davante Adams. I may have expressed more confidence in Mahomes after KC traded away Hill. Although, the Chiefs weapons are still more potent than the Packers receiving weapons. The Packers will likely have growing pains at the WR spot, but A-Rod should find ways to make his magic work in big moments. The Packers secondary (led by Jaire Alexander) will be a force to be reckoned with moving forward.

Indianapolis Colts

I am a big fan of the Indianapolis Colts new look from a season ago. Matty Ice has a ton of gas left in the tank and his friend Jonathan Taylor will also stride for his second-straight All-Pro season. The Colts defense leveled up this off-season with the additions of Yannick Ngakouye and Stephon Gilmore. The Colts may not have a young QB with a rocket launcher arm, but they are quite well-rounded and I believe they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos can break down opponents by a thousand cuts with their dual-threat QB Russell Wilson and their superb RB duo (Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams). The Broncos WR group isn’t less than dangerous after Tim Patrick’s ACL injury. DEN portrays Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and the electric wideout KJ Hamler. The Broncos defense wasn’t able to reunite with Von Miller, but the Broncos defense can still lean on the first-year Bronco and speed rusher, Randy Gregory, and veteran edge-rusher Bradley Chubb to bury opposing signal-callers in the dirt.

The post Ranking the 10 best Super Bowl contenders in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Seattle Seahawks have been very underlooked this offseason. The Seahawks boast arguably a Top 3 quarterback in the league, an elite wideout in D.K. Metcalf, and two players near the top of their position on the defensive side of the ball (Bobby Wagner, Jamal Adams). 

Pete Carroll’s Seahawks are clearly coming off a successful 2020 season with 12 victories, they are holding together an elite QB and high-end roster, and vengeance is on the horizon. Yet, many reputable analysts and outlets are placing the Seahawks Super Bowl chances and team ranking behind other elite teams in the AFC and NFC. 

Odds Shark just placed the 12th man at number 12 in odds of winning the Super Bowl. In front of the Hawks were the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, and multiple NFC West squads (LA Rams, SF 49ers). 

CBS Sports just put out an NFL Super Bowl odds that also places the Hawks at number 12. There were many questionable choices ahead of the Seahawks, including the Brees-less Saints in the NFC. 

I believe the outlook on Seattle’s Super Bowl chances is whacky and blatantly false. The Seahawks didn’t only win the division by two games in 2020, but only six other teams had 12+ wins last year. 

In the second half of the Seahawks season, the defense also turned the tide and evolved into an above average unit. Over the past ten weeks of the regular season, the Seahawks defense led the NFL in sacks. Carlos Dunlap, who was the pass rusher that helped turn things around, reached a two year contract to return to the Seahawks. Jamal Adams, who was an absolute star in his first year in Seattle last season, will be aiming to take the next step in year two of the system.

I also believe it’s fair to say that the reigning, still elite NFC West champions won’t drop easily to the likes of the LA Rams and SF 49ers. The 49ers will either run out the shaky Jimmy G or they will be holding a rookie QB against the fiery Seahawks pass rush in their early Week 4 matchup. It will be a huge task for the regressed Garopollo or the rookie Lance, who has been viewed as a product QB, to come out and light up the scoreboard against SEA and fellow NFC West defenses.

The 49ers are largely getting so much praise because a couple stars at TE and DE are returning healthy, combined with a hyped up rookie QB (despite being a surprise pick). The 49ers should take a step up from last season, but they still don’t have the same defense as the team that reached the SB in 2020. 

The Rams appear to be a very serious threat to the Seahawks in the NFC West and playoff seed race, but Matthew Stafford has had his own durability issues and poor turnover habits. He could pose a problem to the Seahawks secondary, but the Hawks have the pass rush to force Stafford into erratic mistakes. Outside of Stafford, there isn’t a huge makeover on the Rams roster. The Seahawks and Rams should be tight down the wire for NFC West gold in my opinion, but I don’t see a sizable difference between the Rams and Hawks. 

Seahawks should at least be a step ahead of the 49ers in their divisional pre-season rankings until Lance shows a spark or Jimmy G shows something not seen in training camp/or pre-season. If Lance proves to be a difference maker and capable of running the offense early, the 49ers should deserve the praise that a talented roster with a talented QB carry. 

I don’t foresee the likes of the Colts, Patriots, Saints, or Broncos ahead of the Seahawks in the overall pursuit of Lombardi. The Saints team has sputtered in the past few years, but now they will have to be elite in the long season without the HOF QB and their best defensive player Trey Hendrickson (left in FA) from a season ago.

It will be hard to envision an “above average” QB performance from Cam Newton or the rookie Mac Jones amid a Patriots team that lost its historic defensive unit from years ago. The Colts QB situation is the biggest gamble in the league, while the Broncos still don’t have a quality signal caller running out of the tunnel next season. 

The Seahawks deserve to be recognized as a Top 6 team. They hold an MVP QB in Russell Wilson on a hungry, proven roster. Not to mention that the Hawks possess the most lethal home field advantage: The 12th man.

The post Why the Seahawks are really underlooked in the NFL appeared first on Pro Football Mania.