The Kansas City Chiefs have done a pretty good job the last few years making a mockery of the parity that the NFL likes to tout… but generally speaking—the league can be a complete crapshoot from year to year. One year, your favorite team is up—and contending for a playoff spot… or even making a deep run toward the Super Bowl.
And the next… they are down in the dumps! Every year, without fail, we see some major surprises! Let’s take a look around the league and see if we can pick out eight potential Darkhorse teams that could shock the world by winning Super Bowl 59.
Aside from the well-known contenders, which under-the-radar teams are capable of winning Super Bowl LIX?
Green Bay Packers
While there are a lot of people high on the Chicago Bears—let’s face it—there are still a lot of unknowns in the Windy City… and with the Vikings in a transitional phase—that only leaves the Lions as a relatively “sure thing” in terms of contenders.
But again… This is the Detroit Lions, so who is to say that the carriage doesn’t turn back into a pumpkin overnight?
In any case, The NFC North is wide open, and the Packers proved last year that they are ready to contend post-Aaron Rodgers.
Jordan Love really came into his own down the stretch of the season—and if he can play smart, mistake-free football, the Packers could find themselves in the thick of the playoff race—and beyond.
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They have great leadership under Matt LaFleur—and the defense continues to shine with stars like Jair Alexander leading the way.
This really could be the year in Green Bay.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entering 2024 in a much different position than they did in 2023, but it is still more than fair to call them a dark horse in the broader NFL landscape.
There isn’t the massive question mark at quarterback that there was heading into last year with the way that Baker Mayfield rallied the troops last year, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely out of the woods.
Yes… he has certainly earned the reins—and the nice payday that came with it thanks to the flashes of brilliance he showed last year, ushing in a calmness following Tom Brady’s retirement, but let’s face it—he has been an extremely streaky player his entire career.
Under the right circumstances, he can play well enough to give this team a chance. Mayfield isn’t expected to carry the team; rather, he’ll be expected to manage games and let the defense do the heavy lifting.
Fortunately for Baker—the Bucs do still have an extremely formidable defense when healthy, as it is anchored by veteran stars Lavonte David and Vita Vea.
And their head coach, Todd Bowles, is still one of the league’s premier defensive coaches in the game.
He may do his work in stunning silence… but he is still highly capable of scheming up ways to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.
The good news doesn’t stop there for Baker and the Bucs. The path to the playoffs in the NFC South is wide open again this year—meaning that the Bucs just need to take care of business in their division and grind out a couple of additional wins in the regular season, and they can get into the postseason again with a guaranteed home game.
And with Vita Vea expected to be back at full strength, once again, they will have the kind of defense that can make a run.
They’re not the favorites by any means, but don’t be surprised if Tampa Bay is still standing in February and playing at Super Bowl 59.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The second half of last season was a disaster for the Jaguars—as they tripped, stumbled, and lost a huge lead in the AFC South—and ended up missing the postseason entirely…
But not all was lost!
When healthy—that is the key… because he was extremely banged up when things went south for Jacksonville… but again, when healthy— Lawrence showed that he’s ready to take the leap into the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks.
His chemistry with wide receiver Christian Kirk, along with the steady production of running back Travis Etienne, makes the Jaguars’ offense one of the most explosive in the league. Calvin Ridley’s departure does hurt, but it always seemed like he favored Kirk anyway.
Defensively, the Jaguars are loaded with young talent. Travon Walker, their number 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, had a breakout season in year 2—and looks poised to emerge as one of the most dominant forces off the edge across from his running mate, Josh Allen, who provides a reliable pass rush from the other side.
The secondary, led by Tyson Campbell, is young but promising, and the group as a whole should take another step forward this season with some more experience under their belt.
Thanks to the combination of head coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars have the potential to be a legitimate contender in the AFC. Lawrence is on the precipice of establishing himself among the game’s best—and Pederson has always known how to win.
Don’t be surprised if Jacksonville makes a deep playoff run—and maybe even shocks the world by winning Super Bowl LIX.
Denver Broncos
Last season was a nightmare for Denver, as Russell Wilson struggled mightily in his second and final year with the team. The offense was a disaster—even with the arrival of the highly regarded offensive genius Sean Payton.
Payton has a history of getting the most out of his quarterbacks—and while he wasn’t able to work his magic with Wilson—there’s still new hope in the Mile High City, as the Broncos have turned the page from the struggling vet—and turned their attention to their first-round draft pick out of Oregon, Bo Nix.
Nix had a bit of a rollercoaster college career, starting at Auburn, before he really made his name at Oregon, and is now going to be thrust into the spotlight as the Broncos’ starting quarterback.
With a team in transition and an ego-mad head coach who has staked his name on the rookie’s ability—there is a lot riding on Nix’s shoulders.
The good news for Nix and the Broncos is that the young quarterback’s playstyle at Oregon should mesh well with what Sean Payton wants to do with this Denver offense.
In college, Nix thrived on quick decisions and a clean pocket—and you can bet that the Broncos will be looking to get the ball out of his hands fast, with quick reads to the likes of Courtland Sutton on the outside—or Javonte Williams on a checkdown.
Denver’s defense, on the other hand, is a lot more well-established. Patrick Surtain II is the definition of a shutdown corner, and the front seven got some much-needed depth this offseason with the addition of Malcolm Roach, which should help keep the d-line fresh.
If the offense can do its part, the Broncos have the potential to be one of the most well-rounded teams in the league. Obviously, the AFC West is tough, but if Denver can pull off some key divisional wins and build momentum, they could be a dangerous team in the playoffs with Payton at the helm and the team riding the magic of an inspired rookie QB.
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Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that should never be counted out, especially not under head coach Mike Tomlin’s leadership…
After all, since he took over from Bill Cower, the Steelers have been a model of consistency.
And now that Pittsburgh has cleansed its soul of Kenny Pickett—and has two very intriguing options at quarterback with Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, this could be a year where they shock everyone and make a serious run at the Super Bowl.
That offense has a solid group of playmakers, including running back Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, who make a fearsome duo out of the backfield capable of carrying the load on the ground and snagging passes in the flats.
And wide receiver George Pickens is a bonafide star in the making… he just needs someone to throw him the damn ball!
But the real strength of this team lies on the defensive side of the ball. T.J. Watt is one of the players in the game regardless of position.
Amongst pass rushers—he is second to none! And as long as he’s healthy, the Steelers defense is a force to be reckoned with… I mean, the guy has the ability to put the team on his back like few defensive players the league has ever seen.
The addition of Patrick Queen as a linebacker only makes this unit stronger.
Between those two studs and Minkah Fitzpatrick patrolling the secondary, this defense has the potential to be one of the best in the league.
The AFC North will still be a battle, but between Tomlin and that defense—all Pittsburgh needs is some competence at quarterback, and they have a real shot.
Los Angeles Chargers
Now that Jim Harbaugh is sitting on the throne in the Los Angeles Chargers facilities—anything is possible for this otherwise eternally under achieving team!
On the defensive side of the ball, the Chargers are absolutely loaded.
Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack are two of the most feared pass rushers in the league, and their ability to get after the quarterback can change the complexion of any game. It will be fascinating to see how they look like with Harbaugh dialing up the defense in the way that he’s often done throughout his professional and college coaching career.
Especially when you factor in the support they have on the back end with that secondary, led by the dynamic Derwin James.
Oh… And did we mention Justin Herbert? He is one of the most talented young signal callers in the game. Who is just waiting for the right coach to unlock him?
It will be a big transitional year for the Chargers… no doubt… but sometimes, these things change faster than people expect.
And with Harbaugh’s commitment to winning and the changes that they have made around Herbert to better protect him and fit the system they want to play—this Chargers Team might do the unthinkable and make a run at the Super Bowl and win the Lombardi Trophy!
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams might seem like a long shot with the retirement of Aaron Donald… But think about how they rebounded from a disappointing 2022 season last year.
That solidified to many that Sean McVay is still amongst the very best head coaches in the game…
And that this is still a team with a lot of talent—and, lest we forget, a championship pedigree.
Injuries decimated the Rams last year, and they still almost managed to make a deep playoff run.
If they can stay healthy… more specifically—if they can keep their veteran signal caller, Matthew Stafford healthy, they have the pieces to make a deep playoff run in 2024.
Stafford is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he has two superstars to throw to, Cooper Kupp and now Puka Nacua.
And remember…
Kupp was also sidelined for much of last season, but he’s expected to be back at full strength in 2024—this could end up being one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the NFL… Especially with Kyren Williams to keep the opposing defenses honest with his rushing ability.
The Rams have shocked the world with their Super Bowl runs before… who is to say they won’t do it again this year?!
Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson is the linchpin for the Browns. After a rocky start to his Browns career coming off his massive off-field scandal, Watson is looking to prove he’s still one of the league’s elite quarterbacks.
He has all the weapons he needs to succeed with wide receiver Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku, which serve as reliable and explosive options in the passing game—and a potentially dominant running game led by Nick Chubb once he returns from injury.
If he can find any semblance of his former self, the Browns could have one of the most balanced offenses in the NFL.
Cleveland’s real strength, however, is the defense.
Myles Garrett is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and with the addition of Za’Darius Smith, Cleveland boasts one of the scariest pass-rushing duos in the league.
Their secondary, led by Denzel Ward, is also shaping up to look like one of the better ones in the AFC.
With the pieces they have in place, Cleveland has a slim, but legitimate chance to break their long-standing championship drought and shock the NFL world by winning Super Bowl 59.
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