Surprising Super Bowl Team Scale

I sent a text to my brothers yesterday asking them to rank the teams in the playoffs on from who would surprise us the most to win the Super Bowl to who would surprise us the least.

What wasn’t surprising was the most shocking of the lists came from Jack. He likes to have you looking one way and BOOM, he’s over here now. Three AFC teams before ranking the 49ers? He had Patrick Mahomes as his fantasy QB all year and still has the Chiefs second most-likely to win on his list.

So here is our list from most shocking Super Bowl winner to least shocking.

Pittsburgh Steelers – I think this is a big time happy to be here team. Mason Rudolph leading the offense. No TJ Watt on defense. But, Mike Tomlin was above .500 again.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Someone had to win the NFC South, right? That said I would have loved if Baker Mayfield was the Patriots’ QB this year.
Houston Texans – The most surprising team to make the field I think. CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. instantly making their 2023 draft an all-timer. Not to mention Tank Dell.
Miami Dolphins – Jack had the Dolphins ranked 13th out of the 14 teams. Not as crazy as you would think considering their top two edge rushers are out. Their top two receivers are banged up. Their top running back is hurt. On top of all that, they struggled against good teams all year.
Green Bay Packers – Another situation where someone had to win the division but the Pack seems a little bit stronger than the Bucs.
Los Angeles Rams – Sometimes you have to watch out for the hottest team heading into the playoffs and the Rams may just be that. Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua make the best receiving tandem in the playoffs with the Eagles receivers limping around.
Cleveland Browns – Defense can win you a championship. Just look at the two redacted Super Bowl winners from 2007 and 2011 or the 2015 Broncos. Depends on if Joe Flacco can limit his mistakes.
Detroit Lions – Maybe the team most non-playoff fan-bases are rooting for. Hopefully the injuries they suffered in Week 18 aren’t too much for them to overcome.
Philadelphia Eagles – Ask us about this list in November the Eagles are probably the number 1 team. But injuries and Matt Patricia have us thinking otherwise.
Buffalo Bills/ Dallas Cowboys – When we averaged things out these two teams tied. How fitting. Both have recent playoff baggage. Both have QBs who can win you a game or literally throw it away. Both are rolling into the playoffs now with a lot to prove.
See above.
Kansas City Chiefs – You’re the top dog until someone knocks you off. Patrick Mahomes can’t be lower than third until he loses. Tom Brady isn’t around to disrupt KC’s playoff hopes so someone else will have to do it. (P.S. It is hysterical the NFL let Peacock buy an exclusive game and it works out to be the one with Patrick Mahomes and Taylor Swift)
San Fransisco 49ers – Tom and Tim had the Niners as their top team but they dropped because Jack had them below KC and Buffalo. Simply said, if everyone stays healthy no one in the NFC can stop this team.
Baltimore Ravens – Jack’s top team. The team with the guy who will most likely win the MVP. The top DVOA team (4th on offense, 1st on defense).