Earlier this summer, Conor Orr at Sports Illustrated published his annual list of 12 teams that could realistically win the next Super Bowl this upcoming season.
Rather than a ranking, Orr’s list was published alphabetically by city name. To summarize a bit, however, his predicted Super Bowl matchup is the Buffalo Bills vs. the Philadelphia Eagles.
About the Eagles, last season’s Super Bowl champions, Orr says that while they lost some brainpower this offseason in OC Kellen Moore (who took the Saints’ top job) and had some departures on the defensive line, the team still has great talent. Including linebacker Zack Baun.
Most importantly, however, Orr says, Philadelphia has maintained the roster advantages that won them a title last year. To put it simply, they’re still too big and too strong for other teams to handle.
On the whole, Orr says he doesn’t see how the Eagles aren’t still the best team in the NFC—if they’re able to sustain their success from an ego standpoint. Meaning that, for example, receiver A.J. Brown is still willing to accept diminished targets and block with gusto. And the offense as a whole is still eager to be, in essence, conducted by quarterback Jalen Hurts before the snap in order to put the group into better run situations.
About the Bills, who lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in last year’s AFC Championship, Orr says he’s less impressed that they added edge rusher Joey Bosa than he is about the team having real competition at almost every defensive line position. Because depth is key.
That sort of depth is how the Eagles demolished teams last year, Orr says. As evidenced by the fact that defensive tackle Milton Williams, a complementary player, got a $104 million contract from the Patriots this offseason.
The growth of young players such as wide receiver Khalil Shakir emboldened Bills GM also Brandon Beane to focus on the defense in the draft, Orr says. This was crucial because last year Buffalo was suspect against the pass and merely solid against the run. If the defense improves and quarterback Josh Allen is again in MVP form, watch out.
Other teams mentioned by Orr included the AFC’s Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers in addition to the Chiefs. And from the NFC, the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders.
With the NFL Preseason wrapping up this weekend, the regular season will kick off on Thursday, September 4 with a matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
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Charlie Curnow 