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The San Francisco 49ers had a 15-game winning streak before entering Week 6, and their young quarterback, Brock Purdy, made the game look easy. However, they suffered a 19-17 defeat at Cleveland, injuries to key players, and had a few question marks appear for the first time this season.
The previously unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles also had an ugly loss on Sunday. This edition of the Pick Six column addresses the key questions facing Super Bowl favorites with one-third of the regular season complete.
This season, the Miami Dolphins set NFL records for offense but lost by four touchdowns against a true contender. The Kansas City Chiefs have won games with their defense despite struggling on offense. The Buffalo Bills have dealt with devastating injuries. In this column, we will discuss the 10 teams with the shortest Super Bowl odds and what I think, as well as insights from NFL insiders.
Here are the topics covered in this week’s Pick Six:
1. Unanswered questions for contenders
2. When “playing to win” goes too far
3. Championship roster, rookie kicker
4. Do they make wristbands for coaches?
5. Giants, Vikings, and winning too soon
6. Two-minute drill: Wackiest win in a while
We will address key questions facing the Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers, Bills, Bengals, Cowboys, Ravens, Lions, Dolphins, and Jaguars. You can check out the latest Super Bowl future odds from BetMGM below.
Let’s dive into some of the questions and discuss the insights:
1. San Francisco 49ers: What do they have in Purdy?
Based on my analysis, the 49ers don’t have a quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger who can handle adverse weather conditions and overpower defensive linemen. However, they have a good, young quarterback who is well-suited for their offensive system. According to an NFL executive, if the 49ers provide Purdy with the right supporting cast, he can excel. But injuries to key players have affected their performance.
2. Kansas City Chiefs: Is the explosive passing game gone for good?
The Chiefs have been scoring fewer points on offense this season compared to previous seasons with Patrick Mahomes. However, their defense has improved, resulting in larger average point differentials. While I believe the pass offense will become slightly more explosive as Mahomes builds chemistry with his receivers, the Chiefs’ adaptability has contributed to their success.
3. Philadelphia Eagles: Has Jalen Hurts regressed? Where are the explosive pass plays?
Explosive passing has declined across the league, including for the Eagles. They are gaining fewer than 15 yards on just 11% of pass plays, down from previous seasons. Hurts and the offense have been relying more on the run game and short passing. However, defensive adjustments may have impacted their explosive passing plays. The Eagles need to find a counterpunch.
4. Buffalo Bills: Are the defensive injuries too much to overcome?
While the Bills have suffered defensive injuries, the rest of the conference is also not at their peak performance. The Bills have already defeated the Dolphins, and other AFC teams like the Chiefs and Bengals are easier to defend this season. Despite their imperfections, the Bills can still have a successful season and make it to the playoffs.
5. Miami Dolphins: Has Tua Tagovailoa proven he’s built to last?
Tagovailoa’s physical well-being was a concern last season, but he has shown improvement this season. However, there might be games where defenses create turnovers and muddy the picture. The Dolphins’ explosive offense may struggle against teams that can move the ball through the air.
6. Dallas Cowboys: Is this team any better than previous Dallas teams that fell short?
It’s difficult to evaluate the Cowboys accurately due to their poor performance against San Francisco. There are doubts about their improvement, especially on offense. The team tends to enjoy success a little too much, which reflects their owner’s influence. The Cowboys’ run defense and defensive consistency are crucial to their success.
7. Detroit Lions: Have they fixed their defense?
The Lions’ defense has improved significantly from last season. They have seen an 11.3 EPA per game improvement, the second-largest gain for any team. However, the remaining schedule features weak offenses, so it’s uncertain how much better the defense truly is. Regardless, the Lions are predicted to win the NFC North and make the playoffs.
The full Pick Six column provides further analysis and insights into these teams and their Super Bowl chances.