By Nour Hatoum
It seems as though the NFL has gotten used to a lower seeded team winning the Lombardi Trophy. In 2006, the Steelers took home the hardware as a #6 seed, the Giants won it all in ’07 as the NFC’s #5 seed, and the Packers won as a #6 seed in 2010. There has been a #4 seed or lower make the Big Game six out of the last eight seasons, and in five of those six, the lower-seeded team has won. Maybe the seed doesn’t matter all that much? Maybe, what matters is how you finish the season, and not what your record is come playoff time.
That’s why I’m leaving my Super Bowl prediction up for grabs. There are too many good teams this year, and this season could take even more twists and turns. With that, I’ve got a few teams in mind that can make a serious run at the Lombardi Trophy who wouldn’t typically come to mind.
1. Cincinnati Bengals
Okay, maybe the Bengals aren’t necessarily a dark horse, considering they are 1st in the AFC North. But the Bengals don’t have the same aura as some of the other division leaders. Two of their three losses have come by a combined five points, and their third loss came to Cleveland, which, quite frankly, I don’t understand. The Bengals could have a better record, but they do not, but I don’t see that as a problem for Cincy. They’re good enough to win on the road in January, which they will have to do en route to a Super Bowl birth. This team could be 8-1 right now if they won their close games, but maybe those losses will help them out in the long run and give them an easier playoff schedule. The one thing they must fix: their inconsistency. They have to win the games they should in order to make a playoff run. The inconsistency will give them an 11-5 record, but they’re better than 11-5 at heart.
2. Carolina Panthers
I’ve been raving about the Panthers since the preseason. The Panthers were the only part of my NFC South preseason prediction that has turned out to be true. Granted, I said this was the best division in football, which couldn’t be more false at this stage in the season. The Panthers’ defense has been spectacular in 2013, allowing only 79.1 yards/game on the ground, good for 2nd in the NFL. Cam Newton is playing great football when it counts. Despite only having one touchdown all season long, DeAngelo Williams has emerged as the premier running back in Carolina. But, the defense is carrying the Panthers. If the Panthers want to play past January, the offense has to carry some of the load off the defense. My prediction: 9-7 for Cam Newton’s bunch.
3. Detroit Lions
I was unsure about the Lions, but then I saw the end of the Dallas game week 8. I then knew I was looking at a contender. Matthew Stafford led a remarkable late-game drive and proved that he is one of the league’s best quarterbacks. Not to mention, Calvin Johnson had one of the greatest performances in NFL history. This offense simply cannot be stopped. Johnson and Stafford are both on their way to phenomenal seasons once again, but this time they’ve got their help on the ground in Reggie Bush. The running game has been somewhat inconsistent, which has hurt Detroit at times. Against the pass, the defense has been subpar as well. Despite the discrepancies between the pass game and all other facets of their game, the Lions have a great chance of winning the NFC North with Aaron Rodgers out in Green Bay. With an easy schedule coming up, the Lions could end up playing their best once the playoffs begin. If they take advantage of their easy route and maximize their potential for the remainder of the season, the Lions could threaten the Saints, Seahawks, and 49ers for a spot in Super Bowl XLVIII. With the easy schedule, I see Detroit finishing 12-4.
Bears fans: 12-4 for the Lions?! Are you serious, Nour?!
Me: Yes, I am serious. It’s difficult to fathom, but they’ll win the division.
4. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are another example of a potent offense. Like the Bengals, they have been plagued by close losses, with three of their four losses coming by a combined five points. Despite allowing 305.2 yard/game through the air on defense, which is 2nd worst in the NFL, I see many positives for the Cowboys. Mainly, Tony Romo is quietly having one his best seasons. Dez Bryant is catching touchdowns by the minute, which has been great for my fantasy team. But, they should have beaten Detroit, Dallas, and Kansas City. An 8-1 record is too good for Dallas, so let’s say they should have beaten Dallas and Detroit, since those games were nearly in the bag. 7-2 at this point in the season screams “bye week” for America’s team. But on the outside, they are merely a slightly above .500 team on the outside. On the inside, however, they’re a winning team. This is the team that Jerry Jones has been dying to see since the early 90’s dynasty. No one can say they competed against the almighty Broncos like Dallas can. With that, they have a level of confidence that goes unmatched among the other playoff contenders. Going forward, they will win the NFC East with ease, and will surprise a higher seeded team in the playoffs. I’ve got 10-6 for Dallas.
Side note: Are you sensing a trend among these teams? They haven’t won the close games. The good part is that they have experience in close games, and if that scenario arises in January, they will know how to deal with the late-game stress, unlike some of the other playoff teams.
5. Tennessee Titans
I put the Titans down here because I think they’ll get the #6 seed in the AFC, and you can never count out the #6 seed. Their first half schedule was about as tough as a Ford F-150, with three straight games against Kansas City, Seattle, and San Francisco. The only bad loss they have is against Houston, and that came in overtime. The Titans deserve some recognition for their play. Their defense is playing stellar, and CJ2K is coming off his best game of the year. I believe Johnson will finish the season strong against a relatively easy schedule. 9-7 sounds about right for Tennessee.
Beneath The Helmet 