We’ve made it through Week 5 of the NFL’s 2020 regular season. We’ve seen some teams make it to 4-0, 4-1 or even 5-0 and look very impressive — while some other teams have made it that far, or perhaps to 3-2, without looking all that solid. So while a lot of these teams might be division leaders, or near the top, their records do not quite show the true quality of their play in terms of contending for a Super Bowl.
If you’re planning on including Super Bowl futures in your sports betting, don’t miss our look at the top teams in the standings.
NFL News: Super Bowl Contenders & Pretenders
Before we start talking about specific teams, here’s a trend to consider. Teams hit 30 or more points in a game 52 times so far, through the first four weeks of the season. Since the merger in 1970, the next-highest number has been 36, back in 2013. So while you might have thought offenses would suffer due to the lack of off-season preparation and the cancellation of all the pre-season games, it has been defenses that have suffered.
Contender:
Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs: Check the Odds to win the Super Bowl
Even with that surprising Week 5 loss to Las Vegas, the Chiefs are still in the catbird seat to draw the bye in the AFC. Why? They beat the Ravens in Week 3, and the Ravens are the other team likely to come out of the regular season with a bye-worthy record. It’s worth noting that the Chiefs did not score in the first quarter of either Week 1 or Week 2, and except for that win over the Ravens, they haven’t played a dominant game. However, they are making quality adjustments within games, and they are used to pressure situations.
Pretender:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucs: Check the Odds to win the Super Bowl
Yes, a lot of the preseason oddsmaking gave the Buccaneers elevated chances to win their division and even roll to Super Bowl LV. However, look at their loss to Chicago in Week 5, when their defense gave up drives to Nick Foles at the wrong time and their offense had to settle for too many field goals, and the Bears swiped a win. They have Green Bay, New Orleans, the Rams and Kansas City over their next seven weeks, and they already have two losses. The Bucs have already had a hard time stopping the pass, and that is likely to continue.
Contender:
Green Bay Packers
Packers: Check the Odds to win the Super Bowl
If you look at the Pack on paper, there’s no rational explanation of the fact that they have gone 17-3 in their last 20 contests. Even now, with wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard battling with injuries, the Packers are still scoring points in bunches. There are some issues, of course. On defense, the Packers permit 7.9 yards per play on first down, the second-highest number in the league after the Miami Dolphins, and they allow the most yards per running play (5.9) — a flaw that the 49ers exposed mercilessly in the NFC Championship last year. Aaron Rodgers is putting up huge numbers, with 13 touchdown passes and zero picks through four weeks, and a 128.4 combined passer rating. Rodgers keeps the Packers competitive, and as long as he’s in town, it’s hard to bet against him.
Pretender:
Chicago Bears (4-1)
Bears: Check the Odds to win the Super Bowl
The Bears have won four games by a combined 13 points. Those wins have come over Detroit (1-4), the Giants (0-5), the Falcons (0-5) and the Buccaneers (3-2). Their offense looks slightly better with Nick Foles at the helm, and their defense has a solid pass rush and can shut down the running game. However, their next five games are: at Carolina, at the Rams, at home against New Orleans, at Tennessee and at home against Minnesota. At that point, a 4-6 record is an excellent possibility.
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