Which NFL workforce can be essentially the most enjoyable Super Bowl winner?

Sports are enjoyable.

At least, they’re alleged to be.

With the 2023 NFL Playoffs about to get underway, we thought it was a superb second to throw the deep evaluation outdoors, and ask this straightforward query:

What workforce can be essentially the most enjoyable to see win the Super Bowl?

Full disclosure, there was a basic consensus amongst us as to the right reply to this query, however worry not! We made a case for plenty of completely different groups, even some that is likely to be a bit shocking.

Putting apart the ideas of what Tom Brady profitable his eighth Super Bowl would do for his legacy — and for any ideas he might need of retirement — however the Tampa Bay Buccaneers profitable the Super Bowl this season can be unimaginable because of this:

They would grow to be the primary time that completed the common season with a dropping file to win the Super Bowl.

The closest we now have come to a Super Bowl-winning workforce with a dropping file within the common season got here again through the 2011-2012 season, when the fourth seed within the NFC completed with a 9-7 file. However, that workforce caught hearth over the playoffs, profitable three-straight video games — together with the NFC Championship Game in time beyond regulation — to advance to the Super Bowl.

That is when the 9-7 New York Giants defeated Tom Brady and the New England Patriots for the Super Bowl for the second time in 5 years.

Seeing the primary NFL workforce to win a Super Bowl regardless of ending the common season with a dropping file seems like enjoyable to me. — Mark Schofield

Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

The 49ers are the most popular workforce within the league heading into the playoffs and so they carry loads of leisure on each side of the ball. Kyle Shanahan has designed an offense that may be unstoppable when it’s on a roll, and it’s paired with a ferocious protection.

But the actual motive it will be enjoyable to see the 49ers win Super Bowl 57 may be summed up in two phrases: Brock Purdy.

No Super Bowl champion has had a rookie beginning quarterback. More importantly, previous to Purdy, no Mr. Irrelevant quarterback had accomplished a ahead move in an everyday season recreation! There have been seven QBs drafted with the ultimate choose within the draft, with Chad Kelly being the latest. Kicker Ryan Succop is essentially the most adorned Mr. Irrelevant, remaining lively since 2009 and being constantly one of many higher kickers within the league.

But if Purdy and the 49ers win the Super Bowl, he’d be able to stake his declare as the very best Mr. Irrelevant ever. No offense to Succop and kickers, however the studying curve for QB is drastically completely different than that of kicker. The incontrovertible fact that Purdy would have come off the bench and helped information the 49ers to a Super Bowl would converse volumes. — David Fucillo

Do we actually want to clarify this one? Before this season ever started the Bills had been a lot of the nation’s second workforce. Older followers bear in mind their crushing three-peat Super Bowl losses from 91-93 — punctuated by “wide right,” essentially the most notorious subject purpose miss in NFL historical past. Younger followers solely know the Bills because the lovable losers swallowed alive by twenty years of Patriots’ greatness and wild followers prepared to throw themselves via flaming tables.

A Bills win would have been the final word underdog comeback story, finishing this workforce’s rebuild and ascension years within the making. Now we now have Damar Hamlin’s unimaginable story so as to add to the tapestry of this season. Hamlin collapsing on the sphere won’t ever be forgotten for many who watched it reside. Waking up from a coma and asking whether or not the Bills received solely added to the story. Now he’s recovering there’s completely nothing that will be higher than seeing Buffalo hoist the Lombardi Trophy and win a hoop for Damar.

The emotion, the drama, and the story make the Bills the final word enjoyable story to shut out the 2022 season. — James Dator

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Smart NFL analysts have spent this season attempting to persuade the general public that the Vikings aren’t almost pretty much as good as their file. Minnesota pulled off the almost not possible feat of ending 13-4 total however nonetheless getting out-scored by their opponents. Quarterback Kirk Cousins continues to place up strong statistical seasons, however typically looks like his subsequent back-breaking mistake is simply across the nook. The Vikings’ protection was additionally a disappointment, giving up the fifth most factors within the league.

Still, Minnesota simply discovered a approach win nearly each week, even when it required the most important comeback in NFL historical past. Somehow, the Vikings stored pulling Ws out of skinny air, and it largely simply made everybody mad. Now think about how baffled the general public can be if the horseshoe up Minnesota’s behind led all of them the way in which to the Super Bowl.

I’m saying this is able to be essentially the most enjoyable final result as a result of it will be the one that will make individuals essentially the most upset. And hey, if we get some cool Justin Jefferson performs sprinkled in, that’s even higher. The Vikings really feel much more prone to lose within the first spherical to the Giants than to win the entire thing, however I can’t think about an final result that will be extra puzzling to the very brilliant individuals overlaying this sport on the each day foundation. — Ricky O’Donnell

Some males simply wish to watch North Florida burn.

I don’t suppose that anybody is ready for what would occur if the Jacksonville Jaguars made received the Super Bowl. Not solely would it not be essentially the most unimaginable rebound story within the historical past of the NFL, making Urban Meyer appear like a complete fraud within the course of — however we’d get to witness Duval social gathering prefer it by no means has earlier than.

That’s … really terrifying.

The greatest approach I can think about a Jacksonville Super Bowl can be these scenes from Woodstock ‘99 when everybody misplaced it and began setting fires in all places simply because they might. You know what began all that? Limp Bizkit. Know the place Fred Durst is from?

Everyone has their very own definition of “fun,” however I want to see what the hell would occur if the Jags handle to tug this off after nearly twenty years of pent up rage and frustration. — James Dator