5 NFL teams that could make a surprise run for Super Bowl LVIII ft. Raiders and Broncos
It's never too early to start looking ahead to the next NFL season. The 2022 NFL season officially concluded when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. This means that next year will feature Super Bowl LVIII and two more teams facing off for the Vince Lombardi trophy.
While it's entirely possible that the Chiefs and Eagles will have a rematch next year in the Super Bowl, and it's also highly unlikely. The same two teams making it to the Super Bowl for a rematch the following season has only happened once in NFL history. This occurred in the 1990s when the Buffalo Bills were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys in two consecutive Super Bowls.
It's much more likely that a new team will appear in Super Bowl LVIII. Each NFL season is filled with surprises, including teams that far exceed or fail to meet their expectations entering the year. While the 2023 NFL offseason may have just begun, here are five teams that could potentially make a shocking run to the Super Bowl next year.
#1 Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars finished the 2021 NFL season with the worst overall record of any team. After replacing Urban Meyer with Doug Pederson as their head coach, it didn't take long to completely turn things around. They made an appearance in the NFL Playoffs for the 2022 season and recorded a postseason victory against the Los Angeles Chargers.
It's reasonable to believe that the Jaguars could take another step forward in the 2023 NFL season, especially if Trevor Lawrence continues to grow as a quarterback. The 23-year-old was one of the best players in the second half of last season. He was one of the highest-rated quarterback prospects ever to come out of college and is now starting to look the part.
#2 Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos were one of the biggest disappointments during the 2022 NFL season. Many around the league believed they were in line to be Super Bowl contenders after their massive trade with the Seattle Seahawks that landed them Russell Wilson. Things didn't go according to plan as they finished with just a 5-12 record.
Despite their frustrating 2022 season, the Broncos still possess an extremely talented roster. They also made another splash move this offseason by acquiring head coach Sean Payton to replace Nathaniel Hackett.
Russell Wilson should have a significantly better season under Payton. The 59-year-old helped the New Orleans Saints make nine postseason appearances in 16 years as their head coach.
#3 Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions finished the 2022 regular season as one of the hottest teams in the NFL, winning eight of their final ten games. While the Lions just barely missed out on making a postseason appearance, they appear to be heavily trending in the right direction.
Quarterback Jared Goff has already made one Super Bowl appearance during his career. He did so with the Los Angeles Rams and will now look to do the same with the Lions. The organization currently owns four picks in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft and nearly $14 million in cap space. They are in a prime position to make big moves next year.
#4 Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders were one of the most disappointing teams during the 2022 NFL season. After making it to the NFL Playoffs the year before, they failed to do so again. This is despite making major upgrades during the offseason, including adding superstars Davante Adams and Chandler Jones.
The disastrous season has resulted in the Raiders looking to move on from quarterback Derek Carr. If they do upgrade their quarterback position in 2023, they could potentially be Super Bowl contenders. They have recently been linked to many rumors involving Aaron Rodgers reuniting with Davante Adams in Las Vegas.
#5 New York Jets
The New York Jets are reportedly in the market to acquire a veteran quarterback for the 2023 NFL season. Jets are apparently dissatisfied with Zach Wilson and believe that an established performer can help them reach the playoffs. They barely missed out last year and their young roster should continue to develop.
The Jets appear to have the makings of a team that's just a quarterback away from being legitimate contenders. Sauce Gardner just won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, while both Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall were two of the best offensive rookies. The Jets also have more than $15 million in cap space to add even more talent to their already solid roster.