The Super Bowl Picture Is Murky - and That’s What Makes It Fun
With Week 13 in the books, one thing is clear: the road to Super Bowl LX is anything but. The usual suspects are stumbling, dark horses are rising, and the playoff picture feels like a jigsaw puzzle missing a few corner pieces.
And honestly? That kind of chaos might be just what the NFL needed.
Let’s start with the defending champs. The Kansas City Chiefs, who’ve been the gold standard in the AFC for the better part of the last five years, are suddenly on the outside looking in.
Sitting at 6-6 after a tough 31-28 Thanksgiving loss to the Cowboys, the Chiefs are officially in scramble mode. This isn’t just a midseason slump - it’s a full-on identity crisis.
The offense isn’t clicking the way it used to, and the margin for error is razor-thin the rest of the way.
Then there’s Philadelphia. The Eagles came into the season with a target on their backs after last year’s Super Bowl win, but they’ve hit a rough patch at the wrong time.
A 24-15 loss to the Bears on Friday marked their second defeat in three games, and while they’re still in the playoff mix at 8-4, the momentum has clearly shifted. This isn’t the same team that steamrolled its way through the NFC last year.
The Rams, who hoisted the Lombardi Trophy just a few seasons ago, looked like they might reclaim their spot among the elite. But after dropping a 31-28 game to the Panthers, they’re now 9-3 and facing the same question marks as everyone else.
Solid? Yes.
Dominant? Not quite.
So, who’s stepping up?
Right now, three teams are trying to make their case: the Chicago Bears, the New England Patriots, and the Denver Broncos. All three have strong records - the Patriots at 10-2, the Bears and Broncos both sitting at 9-3 and 9-2, respectively - but each comes with a few asterisks.
Let’s talk New England. They’ve got the best record in the AFC, but there’s a catch: their schedule has been soft.
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, it’s been the easiest slate in the league so far. And with a matchup against the 2-10 Giants on deck, that narrative isn’t changing anytime soon.
The Patriots are doing what good teams are supposed to do - beat the teams in front of them - but we still don’t know how they’ll hold up against playoff-caliber competition.
Denver, on the other hand, is winning with defense. And not just good defense - elite defense.
Heading into their Sunday night clash with Washington, the Broncos ranked third in the league in points allowed (17.5 per game). That unit is keeping them in every game.
The concern lies on the other side of the ball. Second-year quarterback Bo Nix has had his moments, but the offense is still a work in progress.
They’re middle-of-the-pack in scoring (23.4 points per game), and that inconsistency could be their undoing come January.
And then there’s Chicago. The Bears are quietly putting together a strong season in what might be the toughest division in football.
The NFC North is stacked - Green Bay sits at 8-3-1, Detroit at 7-5 - and Chicago still has to face both teams down the stretch. That’s a gauntlet.
But if the Bears can survive it, they’ll be battle-tested and dangerous. The defense is physical, the offense is balanced, and the coaching staff has this group believing.
So where does that leave us?
With five weeks to go, there’s no clear-cut favorite. The league’s traditional powerhouses are wobbling, and the new contenders haven’t quite proven they can carry the weight.
That uncertainty might frustrate some fans, but for others, it’s a breath of fresh air. After years of watching the same teams dominate the postseason, the door is wide open for someone new to crash the party.
Super Bowl LX is still scheduled for February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. But who’s going to be there?
That’s anyone’s guess. And that’s what makes this stretch run so compelling.
Every week feels like a playoff game. Every win matters.
And every team still in the hunt knows: the path to the Lombardi Trophy has never been more up for grabs.