It was another year to forget for the New England Patriots and their fans, as they failed miserably at getting to the postseason.
Having made the Wild Card Round last season, many will have hoped the team would have been able to achieve that as the bare minimum once again. However, this season saw them repeat their 2020 campaign which saw them fail to reach the playoffs.
2022 New England Patriots Season Review
The disappointment in missing the playoffs has started to become the norm around Massachusetts since the departure of Tom Brady. The 2022 NFL season was the second time in three years in which Bill Belichick’s team had missed out on competing for the Super Bowl.
While Mac Jones has been touted as the potential successor for TB12, the young second-year quarterback could only help guide his team to an 8-9 record which was only good enough for the Patriots to finish 3rd in the AFC East. Of course, Jones was unavailable for a number of weeks through injury, so he was not to blame.
Whether the team will be able to put the last season behind them will all depend on what they do in the offseason. However, for now, they will have to sit back and continue to watch on. With the Patriots on the sidelines, who could become NFL royalty this season and become the newest Super Bowl champions?
Super Bowl LVII 2023 Contenders
The 2023 NFL season is getting ever closer to Super Bowl 2023. There are just two games left that will decide which two teams will go to Glendale, Arizona, and play at the State Farm Stadium. Many are already speculating about who could be set to join Rihanna as she will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show.
We already know that the AFC will be represented by the Kansas City Chiefs or the Cincinnati Bengals, whereas the San Francisco 49ers or the Philadelphia Eagles will represent the NFC. Each side will compete in the Championship Games on Sunday, 29 January, for their place at the showpiece.
However, with that in mind, which teams are most likely to go on and compete for the trophy on February 13, 2023? Even if you’re a Patriots fan and rooted for them this season you are still able to take advantage of the numerous betting bonuses from sportsbooks in Massachusetts to bet on your next favorite contender. So, let’s take a look!
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have been continuing their quest to seek retribution and return to the Super Bowl at the first time of asking this season. Indeed, they have come a long way in recent years and have subsequently become one of the NFL’s most improved teams as Joe Burrow was unable to lead his team to the title at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams.
Nonetheless, the Bengals have come back strongly as they managed to defeat the Baltimore Ravens (24-17) in the Wild Card Game before beating the Buffalo Bills (27-10) while on the road in snowy conditions.
And, they may feel confident about reaching the main event once again as they will face the Kansas City Chiefs in a repeat of the 2022 AFC Championship Game; a match that they won 27-24 in overtime.
Kansas City Chiefs
However, there is no doubt that Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and co. will be very keen to avoid a recurrence. The AFC Championship Game has become normal for the Arrowhead side, as they have made it five times in a row, where they have had home-field advantage in each game. Only New England’s Gillette Stadium has hosted more Championship Games in the league’s history (seven) that is still in use.
There is plenty of backing for the Chiefs regarding their odds for Super Bowl LVII, too. When looking at the latest markets, there are a number of operators who believe the Missouri-based team is the favorite.
The Chiefs managed to overcome the Jacksonville Jaguars (27-20) in their only game of the postseason thus far, having secured themselves a bye in the first round as the No. 1 AFC seed.
Philadelphia Eagles
When thinking of a team that has one of the better chances of winning the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles are certainly among the favorites, too. The No. 1 seed in the NFC has been impressive throughout the campaign, which has caught the attention of those that set odds throughout the betting markets.
Nick Sirianni’s side has managed to blow a number of teams out of the water with their performances, with Jalen Hurts being a potential MVP candidate with his displays on the gridiron.
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He managed to put in another accomplished performance in the NFC Divisional Round when they swept the floor with the New York Giants a third time with a 38-7 victory; something that many Patriots fans will undoubtedly have enjoyed due to the rivalry they have with Big Blue.
San Francisco 49ers
However, standing in the way of the Eagles are the San Francisco 49ers. The NFC West side have been equally as impressive as their counterparts this season, with the team going 13-4; one worse than the Eagles’ 14-3.
Brock Purdy has seemingly come out of nowhere for Kyle Shanahan’s franchise in recent weeks and has made himself a star within the NFL. His status will have further been elevated after he helped guide the 49ers to a 19-12 victory after he played an efficient game.
He and the rest of the 49ers would have to be at their very best when they head to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday if they are to win. However, anything can happen in the NFL, and there will be many that will be cheering the team on.
Who would the Patriots prefer to win Super Bowl LVII?
With the Patriots out of the competition, there may be some fans that will perhaps be considering rooting for another side. Of course, not many would like to admit that they will be supporting another team, but it would not be a surprise if they did not want another team to win.
Thankfully, teams like the Giants, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, and the Baltimore Ravens are not involved, either. These teams are known rivals or are typically disliked by the Pats. However, some may argue that they do not want to see either the Eagles or the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII, either.
Perhaps it would be better to see a Bengals-49ers final for those who support the Massachusetts-based franchise? One of these teams winning might just be more acceptable for fans.
