The NFL playoffs are here, and the road to Super Bowl glory is paved with possibilities. This year, five teams have a shot at breaking their Super Bowl drought and lifting the Lombardi Trophy for the first time. Let’s rank these contenders and see who has the best chance to make history. But first, here’s a quick shoutout to the seven teams still stuck in drought-land who won’t be ending their misery this year because they missed the playoffs: Bengals, Browns, Cardinals, Falcons, Jaguars, Panthers, and Titans. Better luck next year!
Now, let’s get to our rankings of the five playoff teams chasing their first-ever Super Bowl win:
5. Houston Texans
Super Bowl appearances: Zero
The Texans are the NFL’s youngest franchise, debuting in 2002, so it’s no shock they haven’t sniffed a Super Bowl yet. They’ve never even reached an AFC Championship game, and this year doesn’t feel like their time. They’re set to face the Chargers in the wild-card round, and if they survive that, they’ll likely face the Chiefs next. That’s bad news for a team that went 1-5 against winning teams during the regular season. The Texans are improving, but their postseason inexperience and tough competition make their Super Bowl odds slim.
4. Los Angeles Chargers
Super Bowl appearances: One (1994)
The Chargers reached the Super Bowl once, way back in 1994, only to be steamrolled 49-26 by the 49ers. Since then, heartbreak has been their calling card. In 2022, they infamously blew a 27-0 lead to lose 31-30 to the Jaguars. This year, with Jim Harbaugh at the helm, they’re an intriguing dark horse. But the road ahead looks tough. They went 0-3 against the AFC’s top three playoff seeds, and consistency has been their Achilles’ heel. A deep run isn’t out of the question, but it’s hard to imagine them going all the way.
Five teams going for their first 🏆 #SBLIX pic.twitter.com/9meIHA97dZ
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2025
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3. Minnesota Vikings
Super Bowl appearances: Four
The Vikings have endured decades of postseason misery. They’ve lost all four Super Bowl appearances and have racked up some of the most gut-wrenching playoff defeats in NFL history. Heartbreak is practically their brand from Gary Anderson’s missed 38-yard field goal in the 1998 NFC Championship to Brett Favre’s ill-fated interception in the 2009 title game. This year’s 14-3 record shows they’re a strong team, but their playoff path is brutal. Potential matchups against the Rams and Lions- two teams they struggled with- make a Super Bowl run a tall order. They’re good, but it feels like history could repeat itself.
Also Read: Why Are The Minnesota Vikings A Stronger Super Bowl Contender Than The Detroit Lions?
2. Buffalo Bills
Super Bowl appearances: Four
After so many years, if anyone deserves a Super Bowl win, it’s the Bills. Their four straight Super Bowl losses in the early ’90s are the stuff of legend (and not in a good way). This year, they look like legitimate contenders- if they can get past their kryptonite, the Chiefs. In the playoffs since 2020, the Bills are 5-1 against everyone except the Chiefs, against whom they’re 0-3. Yes, they beat Kansas City in the regular season, but they’ve done that before and still faltered in the playoffs. With Josh Allen leading the way, this could finally be Buffalo’s year, but they’ll need to overcome their postseason demons.
NFL FUTURE
— The Juice Room (@thejuiceroom_) January 8, 2025
Buffalo Bills to win the Super Bowl (+600)
Buffalo will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs until they play at Kansas City.
The Bills have been the most dominant team in the NFL all season, handing Mahomes his only loss & taking down Dan Campbell’s… pic.twitter.com/Spi0AGeo8o
1. Detroit Lions
Super Bowl appearances: Zero
The Lions have waited 58 long years for a shot at glory, and this year might finally be their moment. They’ve already made history by earning the top seed in the NFC for the first time. With a bye into the divisional round, they’re just two wins away from their first Super Bowl appearance. The Lions have been the most consistent team in the NFC all season, dominating opponents with their balanced attack. If they keep playing at this level, they’re the most likely team to end their drought and bring the Lombardi Trophy to Detroit. Lions fans, get ready- the French Quarter might not know what’s coming!
Detroit Lions Dominate Top 10 Most Probable Matchups for Super Bowl LIX https://t.co/GEyJ34u1nl
— DetroitSportsNation (@detsportsnation) January 8, 2025
Final Thoughts
This postseason feels special. It’s only the second time in NFL history that three teams with zero SB titles (Lions, Bills, and Vikings) won at least 13 regular-season games to reach the playoffs. The last time this happened, in 1999, the Rams and Titans- two titleless teams at the time- faced off in the Super Bowl. Could we see history repeat itself? With so many strong contenders, anything’s possible. One thing’s for sure: the Super Bowl drought club might get a little smaller this year.
Also Read: Super Bowl History: All You Need To Know About NFL’s Annual League Championship Game
