A window may surprisingly open for the Baltimore Ravens to win the Super Bowl this year.
After making the AFC Championship last year, the Ravens are considered borderline contenders this year. They still have an MVP in Lamar Jackson, plus elite defensive pieces, but they'll need to recover from some offseason losses.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs are considered the favorites to make it back to the Super Bowl and become the first NFL team to "threepeat."
However, in Sports Illustrated's NFL predictions piece, reporter and analyst Mitch Goldich argued that the weight and exhaustion of back-to-back Super Bowl runs could wear out the Chiefs, opening the window for the Ravens.
Goldich predicted the Ravens to beat the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.
Goldich writes:
"I think the Ravens are bound to break through and win one of these years with Lamar Jackson, so why not in a season when they may catch the Chiefs running on fumes as they try to complete the three-peat, a season after getting back to the Super Bowl was already such a slog? Despite some departures on defense, the Ravens are still as dangerous as any team. If the Bills take a step back and the Texans’ ascent to perennial contender status doesn’t lead to the Promised Land quite yet, Baltimore can again be atop the AFC as the No. 1 seed."
Goldich's argument runs counter to popular belief. There are many in the NFL world who believe the Ravens may take a step back this season after losses along the offensive line and pass rush. The Ravens are also thin at wide receiver, although they have elite offensive pieces at other positions, like running back Derrick Henry and tight end Mark Andrews. Two Sports Illustrated reporters and analysts predicted the Ravens wouldn't make the playoffs at all.
However, as Goldich notes, the Chiefs could wear out by season's end. Not only have they played longer seasons than anyone else in back-to-back years, there will be an element of a media circus following the Chiefs this year as they try to "threepeat."
There isn't another obvious AFC contender. As Goldich notes, the Buffalo Bills may take a step back after re-tooling. The Houston Texans are young and unproven. While the Cincinnati Bengals could contend, their defense and health are question marks.
Whereas some believe the tide has turned against the Ravens, thing may, in fact, be breaking right for them to win it all.
More Ravens news:
Nine bold predictions for the Baltimore Ravens season
NBA legend says Lamar Jackson would be more famous if he didn't play for Ravens
Derrick Henry fantasy outlook: Why Ravens running back could be poised for big season
