The arrival of training camp around the NFL comes with great hope. Every team has a blank slate going into the preseason in a league known for big turnarounds.
For some teams, the hype is real this year. They should feel confident about their playoff chances with wider eyes looking toward contending for Super Bowl 56. Other teams need to accept they will go through a transition or rebuild that won’t manifest into enough win-loss success in 2021.
After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV, and managed to keep their entire core of starters together in free agency, it looks like the Bucs have a legitimate chance to repeat.
But who could catch Tom Brady and Tampa Bay? Plenty of teams were aggressive during free agency, and thanks to the NFL Draft, there’s a real chance that certain teams could make enough improvements to challenge for the playoffs — and even the Lombardi Trophy — far quicker than anticipated. Who will comprise the 14 NFL playoff teams once the 2021 season is finished? Who will be the Super Bowl 2022 winner in the next calendar year?
2022 Super Bowl odds to win
Chiefs +525
Buccaneers +650
Bills +1300
Ravens +1400
Rams +1400
49ers +1400
Packers +1600
Browns +1800
Broncos +2000
Seahawks +2500
AFC Division Predictions
The AFC looks as though it will be dominated in 2021 by some familiar teams. Namely, the Kansas City Chiefs could make another strong run at the NFL championship game. Here’s a look at the probable winners of each division.
- AFC East – Buffalo Bills
- AFC South – Indianapolis Colts
- AFC North – Baltimore Ravens
- AFC West – Kansas City Chiefs
NFC Division Predictions
With several shake-ups affecting NFC teams in the off-season, a return to NFL normality in 2021 could be difficult. Familiar faces like Drew Brees will no longer be present under center, and teams like the New York Giants are rebuilding. Here are our predictions.
- NFC East – New York Giants
- NFC North – Green Bay Packers
- NFC South- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- NFC West- LA Rams
Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is the best professional athlete in the history of sports, and it is going to show in his 2021 showing. Even though they might barely miss the Super Bowl, I believe they will kick off the first 18 game season by going 17-0.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are probably not going to stick with TB12 in 2021, and that will leave lots of room for change in Tampa. This is going to slow down the Bucs quite a bit, but with Arians at the helm I would count on late breaking success from this talented team.
Buffalo Bills
No quarterback has improved each year more than Josh Allen, this defense has moved at an inordinately fast pace this year, and even though they have shown inconsistency against good teams, I believe another offseason will do the Bills a world of good. The Bills will be the team to challenge the Chiefs, and maybe, God willing, they will be the one to succeed.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have shown massive improvement down the stretch, especially considering their utilization of Lamar Jackson, Gus Edwards, and JK Dobbins. The Ravens also have a great defense that will be able to back up any mistakes the offense happens to make.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are stuck in a similar purgatory as the Raiders, Jared Goff is a bit of a progress stopper surrounded by a good team. They are going to be the next version of the Tennessee Titans.
San Francisco 49ers
Garoppolo has dealt with injuries the last three years, but I believe he is ready to recapture his elite play that he so briefly showed in 2017. The Boy Who Would be Brady will play very well in 2021, securing the NFC West and his job.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers will likely become a rich man’s Pittsburgh Steelers, effective offense and top 3 defense. The Packers have the Smith wall (Preston and ZaDarius), and Jaire Alexander who is really legitimizing himself as a shutdown cornerback.
Cleveland Browns
To be honest, I am a little amazed that the Browns have amassed double digit wins this year, with the Bengals on the upswing, and the Steelers and Ravens in the division, the Browns will have to regress at least a little bit. This, plus all of the Browns inconsistencies leads me to believe that a regression is at store.
Denver Broncos
To put some pressure on the slowly fading Drew Lock, the Broncos will bring in some good competition in Wentz. Unfortunately, as Lock fades away, Wentz will also fade off and post one of the worst statistical seasons in recent memory.
Seattle Seahawks
Russ has spent far too long carrying this offense on his back, and I think it is going to catch up to him, particularly in light of how poorly the defense has been playing. The Seahawks are going to embarrass next year with a losing record, and I would not be expecting an MVP season in 2021.
Super Bowl LVI Prediction – Tampa Bay Buccaneers VS. Kansas City Chiefs
We fully expect that Super Bowl LVI is going to look a lot like Super Bowl LV. We see another pitched battle between Mahomes and Brady, but this time we’re giving the edge to the young gun. Mahomes has been under the bright lights a few times now, and Brady can’t outrun Father Time forever.
OUR PREDICTION FOR THE SUPER BOWL WINNER: Kansas City Chiefs