It's currently the middle of August. The NFL preseason started just a week ago, and the regular season is still three weeks away. Recent draftees have yet to be cut, players have yet to be traded, and stars have yet to be injured. Balls still need to be deflated, and suspensions carried out. Even so, it's never to early to predict who will be in this year's Super Bowl.
I've divided this year's possibilities into different groups: the incumbents, the favorites, the challenges and the underdogs. My analysis is divided between the two conferences and lists the Vegas odds for winning the Super Bowl next to the team name.
AFC:
Incumbent: New England Patriots 8/1
As most of America will regret to tell you, the New England Patriots are the reigning Super Bowl champions. Unfortunately for the Patriots, their star quarterback, Tom Brady, is suspended for the first four games of the upcoming season due to his involvement in Deflategate. The Patriots also lost two of their top defensive players to the Jets and Texans. While still certainly looking to repeat, they face a tougher road than they did last year.
Favorite: Indianapolis Colts 8/1
Technically, the Colts are tied for favorites with the Patriots, but I already did my analysis on the latter. The Colts finished second in the AFC last year, but look to improve. They added five-time Pro Bowler Frank Gore and seven-time Pro Bowler Andre Johnson, while also making additions to their offensive and defensive line. Andew Luck figures to improve as well, and the Colts figure to be one of the best.
Challenger: Denver Broncos 15/1
The AFC champions from a year ago, the Broncos lost to their quarterback's old team, the Colts. They lost their TE Julius Thomas, but replaced him with Owen Daniels. Without much improvement elsewhere, the Broncos have simply been overtaken by the Patriots and Colts.
Underdogs: New York Jets 70/1, Buffalo Bills 40/1, Kansas City Chiefs 30/1
As a Jets fan myself, it's hard to ever give up hope. This year though seems like the Jets might actually have a shot. With an improved defense through the addition of All-Pro cornerbacks Revis and Antonio Cromartie, a new quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick, and an improved receiving corps with Brandon Marshall, the Jets have high hopes for the coming season.
Opposition to the Jets in the AFC East, the Bills also have improved vastly this offseason. LeSean McCoy came over from the Eagles and Percy Harvin from the Jets; the now-dangerous offense will combine with their already stout offense to form a scary opponent.
The Chiefs took a step back last year, finishing 9-7 last year after an 11-5 season in 2013. This year, they welcome back 2010 first-round pick Eric Berry, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, as well as adding two Pro Bowlers in Jeremy Maclin and Ben Grubbs. With the Broncos not doing anything to solidify their position, the Chiefs will challenge for the division title and hope to go further.
NFC:
Incumbent: Seattle Seahawks 11/2
The Seahawks have played in two straight Super Bowls and don't show any signs of bucking that trend. They traded for the 2013 All-Pro TE in hopes of having someone to throw to in the red zone instead of giving the ball to Marshawn Lynch. Like they should have. Oh well.
Favorite: Green Bay Packers 11/2
Just as in the AFC, the top two teams have the same odds to win it all. The Packers haven't made many changes, but then again, the team didn't need many. Look for the Packers to compete again in 2015, and for Aaron Rodgers to continue appearing in bad State Farm commercials.
Challenger: Dallas Cowboys 15/1
If anyone can challenge Aaron Rodgers in the category of bad commercial making, it's Tony Romo for DirecTV. The Cowboys lost the top running back from last year, and trying to challenge for the title will probably not turn out well for America's team this year.
Underdogs: Arizona Cardinals 30/1, Minnesota Vikings 40/1, Philadelphia Eagles 28/1
The Cardinals made the playoffs last year but underwhelmed against the Panthers in the first round. With an improved line as well as the return of Carson Palmer from injury, the Cardinals go from a threatening defense to a team aiming to go far.
The Vikings choice might surprise some people after they finished 7-9 last year, but keep in mind that was with a rookie quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater is now back for his second year, Adrian Peterson is eligible to play again, and Mike Wallace was signed as a deep threat. If their defense can keep up, the Vikings could be dangerous.
Finally, the local Eagles team hopes to bounce back after missing the playoffs by one game last year. They added DeMarco Murray from the Cowboys, Sam Bradford from the Rams and Byron Maxwell from the Seahawks, all who had tremendous amounts of quality to the team. Watch out for the Eagles to win their division this year, although going all the way might prove difficult.
There you have it. Picking today, it's hard to choose anything other than a Colts-Seahawks Super Bowl. That is my pick as well as probably most of the analysts', but there's a reason the obvious things usually happen. I do think though that all of the teams listed here have a legitimate possibility of succeeding. I guess that's why they play the games.
