Excitement is beginning to mount in advance of the forthcoming NFL season. The training camps are over, the draft is done and there has been considerable movement of players.
Looking forward, already the favorites to win Super Bowl LIX have emerged in the NFL standings. It looks like the Chiefs are set to make it yet anoyher victory, but the 49ers and the Ravens are also in with a shout – in the opinions of the sportsbooks at least.
But there are also at least five clear underdogs who are emerging, all of whom are more than capable of causing a major upset.
It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. The NFL has a long history of surprising results – and any one of the following could possibly pull off a remarkable feat or two in the 2024-25 season.
Carolina Panthers
There’s no doubt that the panthers’ quarterback Bryce Young dramatically under-performed last season, mainly because of lackluster support of the rest of the team around him. The stats tend to speak for themselves. He threw for a total of 2,877 yards with 11 touchdowns against ten interceptions. He also completed just under 60% of his passes. In terms of receivers, the pick of them was the ageing Adam Thielen with the top running back being Chuba Hubbard.
But even though they finished with the NFL’s worst record there’s a real feeling that this could be season they could really start to fire on all cylinders and, at the very least, make it into the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The last time that the Pittsburgh Steelers were division champions was back in 2020. But there’s a real groundswell of opinion that they could head the AFC North again this season.
They only just made it into the wild card playoffs last season on the back of an offense that could only muster 25th place in the NFL. They then proceeded to be obliterated by the Buffalo Bills 31-17.
But they have made a couple of significant signings in the off-season in an attempt to bolster the squad including signing the highly-experienced quarterback Russell Wilson. Head coach Mike Tomlin is placing total faith in Hilson and has been reported as saying his role will be to lead the team as well as bringing on the skills of Justin Fields.
New England Patriots
There’s no doubting the fact that the Patriots have a number of mountains to climb if they are to escape their underdog status this season.
It will be the first one since 1999 when long-serving coach Bill Belichick won’t be in charge. But after last season’s disastrous 4-13 record it was clear that his time was up. Instead, the new head coach Jerod Mayo will have to step into the breech.
There will also be a great deal of weight on the inexperienced shoulders of rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Whether he sinks or swims remains to be seen but the Patriots will be hoping that he quickly starts to deliver on his four years $36 million contract.
Chicago Bears
Another team that is pinning its hopes on a rookie quarterback are the Bears. In signing Caleb Williams general manager Ryan Poles believes that there is already the set-up around the young player to make for success.
There are also a number of new signings to help this to become a reality including wide receiver D.J. Moore and tight-end Cole Kmet. Running back D’Andre Swift and wide receiver Rome Odunze are also new additions.
In defense Montez Sweat has already proved himself to be a valuable asset. The team has already come a long way from two years ago when the Bears had the worst record in the NFL. This season they should be looking at an 11-6 or 10-7 win/loss record, and a clear run into the post-season.
Detroit Lions
They may never have won the Super Bowl before, but this really could be the season for the team from Motown to hit it big.
They nearly made it last year, tripped at the final hurdle by the 49ers. But they are coming back bigger and better since the off-season when they have spent hugely on improving their roster with players like Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St.Brown.
It’s these two who are determined to repay the faith that’s been shown in them and they both agree that the surest way to do this will be to claim the Vince Lombardi trophy next February. Aiding and abetting them will be the as-yet under-rated quarterback Jared Goff.
So it’s all eyes on these five over the season to see if they really are underdogs whose bark is just as effective as their bite.
