Each fan base needs to see its workforce in a Tremendous Bowl, however some fan bases would merely be happy with a successful season. (We’re observing you, New York Giants trustworthy.)
Forward of Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox), Yardbarker NFL writers price the Tremendous Bowl angst of every NFC fan base on a scale of “1” (We’re good. We’re good.) to “5” (Sense of impending doom).
2024 regular-season information are in parentheses.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS (7-10) | Ranking: 5 | Dallas hasn’t performed in a Tremendous Bowl since SB XXX (1995 season), when the halftime act included Diana Ross and the typical worth for a ticket was $275. Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones just lately raised his fingers to make air quotes when describing the workforce’s championship drought, however followers have one other digit they’d like to indicate him.
NEW YORK GIANTS (3-14) | Ranking: 3 | With no high quality beginning QB to guide an offense that scored the second-fewest points per game (16.1) in the course of the 2024 common season, the Giants aren’t more likely to attain the large recreation any time quickly. However what number of anticipated QB Eli Manning to guide New York to a Tremendous Bowl title over Invoice Belichick’s undefeated Patriots in the course of the 2007 season after which once more in the course of the 2012 season?
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (14-3) | Ranking: 1 | It has been seven years since Philadelphia upset New England in Tremendous Bowl LII and simply two years for the reason that workforce misplaced to Kansas Metropolis in Tremendous Bowl LVII. Even in defeat, Eagles followers noticed a record-breaking efficiency from QB Jalen Hurts in that recreation, and after a near-record-setting season from operating again Saquon Barkley, the workforce has little to fret about past three-time Tremendous Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes on Sunday.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (12-5) | Ranking: 2 | It’s practically unimaginable to win a championship with no franchise QB, and Washington narrowly missed this season’s Tremendous Bowl with rookie QB Jayden Daniels, who led the workforce to its first NFC Championship Recreation for the reason that 1991 season. After watching the Commanders common 19.7 factors per recreation beneath Ron Rivera, followers ought to be thrilled to see the team score 28.5 points per contest in 2024, the fifth-best mark within the NFL. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-9) | Ranking: 4 | The Cardinals are one of many 12 groups within the NFL that has by no means skilled the enjoyment of successful a Tremendous Bowl. Arizona has not even been to 1 for the reason that 2008 season, when the workforce misplaced to the Steelers in SB XLIII. The Cardinals are caught in a rebuild, so a Tremendous Bowl look appears a great distance off.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-7) | Ranking: 2 | When your workforce wins a Tremendous Bowl, because the Rams did in the course of the 2022 season, that ought to give your franchise no less than a five-year grace interval earlier than you begin to get mad about your workforce not successful one other one.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-11) | Ranking: 5 | The 49ers have made three Tremendous Bowls since 2013, however they haven’t received one for the reason that 1994 season. These shut calls are infuriating for Niners followers, particularly contemplating how shut the workforce has come just lately and the way gifted the roster has been throughout HC Kyle Shanahan’s period.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-7) | Ranking: 3 | The Seahawks are a decade faraway from their back-to-back Tremendous Bowl appearances (and first championship) in the course of the Russell Wilson period, so the fandom is beginning to attain that angsty section. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS (5-12) | Ranking: 4 | Chicago’s lone Tremendous Bowl victory got here in 1985, and it has reached the SB solely as soon as since then (2006 season). The Bears are extra centered on simply making the postseason contemplating they’ve simply two playoff appearances previously 14 years, however QB Caleb Williams and HC Ben Johnson could be the duo that may make it occur.
DETROIT LIONS (15-2) | Ranking: 5 | The Lions are one of many 4 NFL franchises with no Tremendous Bowl appearances of their historical past, which is why it was so heartbreaking for Detroit followers to look at their 15-2 squad fizzle out within the divisional spherical in opposition to Washington this season. HC Dan Campbell would turn out to be an instantaneous Motor Metropolis legend if he leads the Lions someplace nobody has earlier than.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-6) | Ranking: 2 | The Packers, with their 4 Tremendous Bowl wins, have 80 % of the Tremendous Bowl rings within the NFC North. Though Inexperienced Bay hasn’t received a SB title for the reason that 2010 season, it’s exhausting to really feel unhealthy for a franchise with a lot playoff success.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-3) | Ranking: 5 | Minnesota’s playoff historical past is one stuffed with heartbreak, because the franchise has reached the postseason 32 instances and the Tremendous Bowl 4 instances with no championships to indicate for it. Vikings followers are ravenous for a title, however the workforce has allow them to down time and time once more. — Jack Dougherty
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS (8-9) | Ranking: 5 | The Falcons may by no means stay down their Tremendous Bowl LI collapse in opposition to the New England Patriots, after they blew a 28-3 lead, however lastly successful a championship could be a begin. And for a franchise that hasn’t reached the playoffs for the reason that 2017 season (and has suffered seven consecutive dropping seasons), persistence is operating skinny for Falcons trustworthy.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-12) | Ranking: 3 | Proprietor David Tepper is the supply of a lot of the followers’ angst. Below his possession, which started in 2018, the Panthers have been one of many league’s worst franchises, far faraway from the Tremendous Bowl dialog.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-12) | Ranking: 4 | The “Minneapolis Miracle” and “NOLA No Call” are etched into the psyches of Saints followers, and contemplating the workforce’s downward pattern in latest seasons, it’s going to possible be awhile earlier than New Orleans makes new, higher playoff reminiscences. That’s of little solace to Saints followers who’ve watched GM Mickey Loomis cling to the final vestiges of the workforce’s 2009 championship peak on the expense of the longer term.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-7) | Ranking: 1 | The Bucs are the newest Tremendous Bowl champions within the NFC South, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy following the 2020 season. With that triumph nonetheless recent on the minds of Bucs followers, they don’t have a lot to complain about coming into the offseason. — Eric Smithling
