The most recent long shot Super Bowl winner was probably the 2008 New York Giants. Beating Brady, Belichick, and the rest of that Patriots team was one of the biggest upsets in the history of the NFL. That Giants team sneaked into the playoffs with a 10-6 record, but there might be a few teams with a similar amount of wins this season.
It has been one of the most open NFL seasons in recent history, with preseason favorites, like the Ravens and Bills, enduring winless weeks, while even the current champs, the Eagles, have been criticized for their performances (even while they win their division with ease). The best NFL betting sites are continually having to re-evaluate their markets and who the favorite actually is.
With such an open field, it is a little difficult to identify what a long shot would be this year. But, if we move away from the likes of the Eagles and Rams for a moment, where might a surprise championship winner come from?
Kansas City Chiefs
Can the Chiefs really be considered a long shot for the Super Bowl? This is a team that has played in the championship game in five of the last six years and won three of them. Patrick Mahomes was expected to get his team back on track after losing to the Eagles last season, and Kansas City was one of the preseason favorites.
To be honest, the Chiefs still have some of the shortest odds to win Super Bowl LX, but are 5-5 at the time of writing and trail both the Broncos and the Chargers in the AFC West. There are plenty of teams with a similar number of wins in the AFC this year, however, and the next few games will be crucial. If the Chiefs come through them without losing, who’s to say that championship-winning muscle memory won’t kick back in?
Seattle Seahawks
When Sam Darnold stepped up to claim the starting QB role at the Vikings last year, most Minnesota fans thought that their season was already over. But, after largely bombing since being taken third overall by the Jets in the 2018 draft, he led the Vikes to a 14-3 record. It was enough for the Seahawks to go all in on him this year – and Darnold has largely delivered.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is becoming one of the most reliable receivers in the game, and now Rashid Shaheed will be another option for Darnold. The loss to the Rams will put off many from backing the Hawks, but there are still a lot of winnable games left – and more pivotal games against NFC West rivals. Could Sam Darnold complete one of the biggest turnarounds in sports and win the Super Bowl?
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are another team it feels strange tagging as a long shot. But any team that begins a season with a 1-5 record and is still even in contention by this time of the year has to be considered for the ultimate honor. Lamar Jackson has returned, and Baltimore seems like a completely different team.
It hasn’t just been the return of the superstar QB, however. The Ravens defense was virtually AWOL in September, but has now seemingly remembered how to play football. There are still a lot of divisional games coming up for Baltimore, so there is a good chance it can win that title as well as a high seed for the postseason. As long as the players stay focused, this is one team that could be hitting its stride at exactly the right time.
San Francisco 49ers
There are other teams in contention, like the Broncos, who will have been considered a long shot before a game was played this season. But Denver is looking so good – and riding high at the top of the AFC West and the conference – that it has now surpassed that status. The 49ers, on the other hand, are a team that might crash and burn over the next few weeks or begin a journey to what would be an unlikely championship-winning campaign.
The Niners have the added inspiration, if one were needed, of Super Bowl LX being played at Levi’s Stadium. Homefield advantage in the championship game comes around very rarely, and Kyle Shanahan’s team was already expected to vastly improve on last year’s 6-11 record. Injuries have been a massive problem all year – and yet the 49ers are still in contention. If the Rams and Seahawks both fall away, San Francisco has some easy-looking games coming up. Who knows what might happen in the playoffs?
