Two rounds of NFL soccer for 2023 are within the books, and we’re formally right down to 4 groups left within the race for the subsequent Lombardi Trophy. Fourteen contenders opened the postseason hoping to get pleasure from confetti, however after this weekend’s motion, the place heads outweigh Jaguarthe the Eagles trampled giantsthe Bengals Steering Invoices and the 49ers escaped from CowboysSolely two video games left till Tremendous Bowl LVII.
Which means there are solely 4 doable Tremendous Bowl matchups on the desk. Here is how we ranked them:
4. Chiefs vs. 49ers
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We simply noticed this in 2019, when Patrick Mahomes received his first residence run at 24. However quite a bit has additionally modified since then: Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers QB on the time, is now sidelined in favor of Brock Purdy, although there’s an opportunity he’ll recuperate Jimmy G himself recovered from damage to function a backup to Birdie for the massive recreation of the 12 months.
The revenge issue is the driving power right here, as Kyle Shanahan was actually desirous to make up for his 31-20 defeat in Tremendous Bowl LIV. However there are many different storylines, too: Purdy’s likelihood to take down the NFL’s greatest QB on the largest stage as “Mr. Irelevant,” Nick Bosa’s likelihood to disrupt Andy Reid’s offense as hacker He did so within the 2020 title recreation, tight finish Travis Kelsey-George Keitel battle.
3. Bengals vs. Eagles
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In case your important precedence is staff bragging on the QB, leap this one excessive. Maybe no two sign callers have extra pure charisma than Joe Burrow and Galen Hurts, who every have championship expertise from their primetime school days at LSU and Alabama, respectively.
Cincinnati was eyeing its first Lombardi Trophy in opposition to a franchise that simply bought its first ring in 5 years, whereas the mixed star energy of broad receiver – Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for the Bengals and AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith for the Eagles – It might be price watching alone. Usually, these groups have been extremely balanced and particularly the clutch over the course of the season, making certain a battle for the buzzer.
2. Bengals vs. 49ers
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This recreation is for historical past buffs – a candy conflict of old-school franchises that includes new-school expertise. This may not be a rematch of each Tremendous Bowl XVI (1981) and XXIII (1988), when Joe Montana’s 49ers beat Cincy each occasions, however barring damage, it possible means both Joe Burrow, solely the third time. . NFL season or Brock Purdy, San Francisco’s unlikely rookie QB, will come out on prime.
Burrow has survived conflicted offensive strains earlier than, however his imaginative and prescient and fast capturing can be an actual problem in opposition to the fierce DeMeco Ryans entrance, as he seems to avenge his Tremendous Bowl 2021 defeat in opposition to one other NFC West opponent on the massive stage. From the perspective of X and O, this can be essentially the most equal and practically equitable rivalry doable.
1. Heads vs. Eagles
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The Tremendous Bowl is all concerning the spectacle: explosive performs, flashy halftime exhibits, and dramatic finishes. And in that regard, no pairing is extra baffling than this one. Sure, it depends upon Patrick Mahomes’ ankle stabilizing effectively sufficient for No. 15 to be his free self. And sure, there could also be a contact of Chiefs fatigue growing now that Liverpool have reached the AFC Championship in 5 consecutive seasons. However no one complains after they truly are Watch The Chiefs play soccer, and on all cylinders the Eagles have come near matching, if not eclipsing, their offensive manufacturing this 12 months. The duel between the unwavering Mahomes and Jalen Hurts can be a sight to behold.
Then there’s the Andy Reed issue, because the KC coach is on the lookout for his second ring in opposition to the staff he constructed his profession with. Standing in his method on the alternative sideline: Nick Siriani, who’s trying to comply with in Doug Pederson’s footsteps as a sophomore Tremendous Bowl winner. The final time these two groups met, in 2021, they scored a mixed 72 factors, and that was earlier than the Hurts had been MVP candidates on AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. If this one involves fruition, there are positive to be fireworks.