The 2021 NFL season is already ⅓ of the way complete, and the playoff races are starting to take form in each conference. With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at all off the teams and put them into a specific category.
Legitimate Contenders
Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Through six weeks there are six teams that have emerged as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. The Arizona Cardinals are the only undefeated team left in the league, but that doesn’t mean they are the title favorite.
It’s hard to imagine that a team from this group doesn’t ultimately win the Super Bowl, but stranger things have happened. This list could get smaller as the season moves along, but all six of these teams have the pieces in place to lift the Lombardi Trophy.
In the Hunt
Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans
Fans of the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys are probably screaming right now as their teams were left off of the contenders list. Both teams have played well to begin the season, but each team still has to prove themselves in the playoffs.
The other four teams on this list all do at least one thing really well, but still have some weak spots. If these teams keep winning then they could join the group of legitimate contenders before long.
Playoff Hopefuls
Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers
Making the playoffs is the first step to winning a Super Bowl, and this group of teams is in the hunt. All of the teams in this group have done enough to keep their fans optimistic, but they haven’t done enough to be considered a Super Bowl contender in any form or fashion.
Some of the teams in this group have positioned themselves well to make the playoffs this season, while others need to turn it on in a hurry. The next few weeks will likely see some changes made with this group of teams as some will be forced to focus on next season.
Try Again Next Year
Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Football Team
All five of these teams entered the 2021 NFL season with plenty of optimism, but things have not gone well. There is still some time to turn things around and go on a big run, but these teams should probably start focusing on the NFL Draft.
Hey, You Guys Stink
Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New York Jets
These teams stink in 2021 and the future doesn’t look bright for any of these teams either. If a similar list is made in 2022, it would include this same group of teams at the bottom.
