In any good present, the writers go away a handful of Easter eggs sprinkled all through this system for followers to find and attempt to decipher what they may imply going ahead. All through final yr, the “script” of the NFL season had been a viral sensation, a lot in order that the league itself even performed into the notion that they have been cooking up storylines to play out all year long in considered one of their season preview commercials coming into 2023. Properly, if the NFL have been scripted, the writers could also be leaving us one huge clue as to who’ll finally find yourself in Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII.
As the favored social media account “NFL Memes” beforehand identified, the final two Super Bowl logos had colours predominantly matching the groups that ended up enjoying within the massive recreation. For Tremendous Bowl LVI, the colours have been orange (Bengals) and yellow (Rams). As for final yr’s Tremendous Bowl, the brand was inexperienced (Eagles) and crimson (Chiefs). With that in thoughts, we must always take discover that this yr’s Tremendous Bowl emblem is crimson and purple.
As you would possibly anticipate, that is captured the eye of the soccer world, together with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. On Tuesday, he introduced this happenstance up on “The Pat McAfee Present” and famous that the Tremendous Bowl LIX emblem higher embrace inexperienced in it, particularly if this upcoming Tremendous Bowl consists of groups that sport this emblem’s colours.
“If the Tremendous Bowl is Baltimore and San Fran, then I inform you what that Tremendous Bowl LIX emblem higher have Jet inexperienced on it,” Rodgers mentioned.
Naturally, this has our heads spinning as to who could possibly be enjoying in Tremendous Bowl LVIII if this pattern continues. So, let’s rank the doable matchups primarily based on their crew colours and the chance of them profitable their convention.
That is the clear chief within the clubhouse and will very nicely be the matchup that we finally get within the Tremendous Bowl, fulfilling the brand prophecy. These two groups are the betting favorites to win their respective conferences and have already got secured the No. 1 seeds previous to Week 18. Heading into the ultimate week of the common season, the Ravens are the No. 1 crew in CBS Sports activities Senior NFL Analyst Pete Prisco’s energy rankings whereas the Niners are proper behind them at No. 2.
These two groups met each other again in Week 16 the place the Ravens have been in a position to enter Levi’s Stadium and trounce the 49ers, 33-19. Baltimore has continued to play at an elite stage, together with a 56-19 win over the Dolphins final Sunday to lock up the highest seed within the AFC and home-field benefit all through the playoffs. Lamar Jackson can also be the far-and-away favourite to win league MVP for the second time in his profession.
Whereas the Niners could have misplaced that head-to-head, they’re nonetheless the highest crew within the NFC. And when firing on all cylinders, are arguably the most effective crew within the NFL. They acquired Chase Younger on the commerce deadline, boosting their already deadly cross rush, and have the most effective assortment of skill-position gamers — Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel — within the league at Brock Purdy’s disposal.
We’ll look within the NFC South to discover a crimson crew considerably within the playoff image to doubtlessly go towards the Ravens on this shade head-to-head. The Bucs have crimson featured of their essential uniform, in order that they match the invoice right here and easily want a win over the Panthers on Sunday to clinch the NFC South title and maintain their hopes of profitable the Tremendous Bowl — and enjoying an element on this color-combo conspiracy — alive.
Tampa Bay had surged again into the playoff image because of a four-game profitable streak that was snapped in Week 17. Baker Mayfield had come on robust over that stretch, and would not it’s exceptional to see Mayfield lead the Bucs to a Tremendous Bowl look within the group’s first season following Tom Brady’s retirement? It might be one of many extra inconceivable runs to the massive recreation that we have seen in recent times.
If we need to persist with the Ravens as probably the most sensible purple crew to make it to the Tremendous Bowl, then we’ve to search for a crimson crew within the NFC. Exterior of the Niners and Bucs, one other red-based crew can be the Atlanta Falcons. They’ve an outdoor probability of nonetheless reaching the playoffs, regardless of sitting because the No. 12 seed within the convention. In the event that they beat the Saints on Sunday and the Buccaneers lose to the Panthers, they win the NFC South, so there’s a path for them to get into the postseason.
Head coach Arthur Smith has volleyed at quarterback between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke this season, but it surely seems to be like he’ll persist with the veteran Heinicke going ahead as long as well being permits. Whereas Atlanta does have extremely touted gamers on the talent positions, its utilization (or lack thereof) has been puzzling. If one thing flips, the Falcons have the expertise to place up factors. Defensively, the unit ranks twenty first within the league in DVOA. So if we did by some means get this as a Tremendous Bowl matchup, it is more likely to be a Ravens blowout.
The one different purple crew within the NFL is the Vikings, so we’ll should throw them within the combine right here. As issues stand coming into Week 18, Minnesota remains to be alive within the NFC wild card race, however barely. They’re the No. 10 seed and at 7-9 would wish to primarily have each crew in entrance of them that also hasn’t clinched to lose their Week 18 matchups to ensure that them to leapfrog into the postseason. So that you’re telling me there’s an opportunity?!?!
The Vikings have gone via a whirlwind at quarterback this season, notably after the year-ending Achilles tear of Kirk Cousins. They initially began Jaren Corridor, needed to flip to Joshua Dobbs attributable to harm, benched Dobbs attributable to poor efficiency rather than Nick Mullens, after which Mullens was benched for a now-healthy Corridor. And coming into Week 18, Corridor was benched for Mullens. Like I mentioned, WHIRLWIND. Nonetheless, they technically have a glimmer of hope for a Tremendous Bowl run and it will a completely bananas run in the event that they have been to by some means discover themselves in Las Vegas.
In fact, if we’re speaking about crimson groups, how can we not carry up the Chiefs? The defending champions are a legit candidate to signify that facet of the colour scheme, however their play as of late is a bit regarding. Whereas they’re locked in because the No. 3 seed within the AFC and have already clinched the division, Patrick Mahomes and the offense have struggled mightily, which has their probability of repeating in critical doubt. Nevertheless, it is arduous to totally depend somebody of Mahomes’ expertise out, particularly when the quarterback is enjoying with arguably the most effective protection of his profession.
You need chaos? HERE YOU GO! The NFL goes bananas and sees the Vikings by some means ascend out of the NFC with its rotation of quarterbacks whereas the Houston Texans shock the AFC and win the convention. Houston is presently the No. 8 seed heading into the ultimate week of the common season however may soar as excessive because the No. 4 seed and win the AFC South if issues break in the fitting path. The Texans would clinch a wild card spot just by beating the Colts on Saturday. If the Jaguars additionally lose or tie towards the Titans in Nashville, they’d win the division, so this risk is technically nonetheless alive on either side, albeit being an unprecedented lengthy shot.
Wish to understand how unlikely that is? In the event you have been to put a $10 wager on this to be the Tremendous Bowl LVIII matchup on FanDuel Sportsbook, it’d web you $50,000.
From the Houston facet of issues, C.J. Stroud does appear to be he has the expertise to sooner or later put his crew within the Tremendous Bowl dialog. The query is whether or not or not he can thrust them into it as a rookie. Bear in mind, there has NEVER been a rookie quarterback to steer his crew and win the Tremendous Bowl. However perhaps we should not temp the brand’s powers.
