The Super Bowl is an annual football game which determines the NFL champion. It is a global sporting event which draws hundreds of millions of viewers.
It is considered one of the most exciting games in American sports. Many people look forward to watching the Super Bowl every year.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have been a dominant team in the AFC for decades. Their success has been largely attributed to the great quarterback Dan Marino. During his 17-year career, he set major NFL passing records and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He also led the Dolphins to three straight AFC championships and two Super Bowl victories. In Super Bowl VII, he led the Dolphins to a win over the Washington Redskins, and in Super Bowl VIII he took the Dolphins to the championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In 1972, the Dolphins went undefeated and were crowned champions of the NFL with a 13-3 record. This was the first time a team had ever gone undefeated in a season, and it remains an all-time mark.
During the early 1970s, the Dolphins suffered a few losing seasons before the arrival of coach Don Shula. He helped turn the franchise around and was able to lead the team to an AFC wild-card playoff berth in 1970 and back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 1971 and 1972.
From 1970 to 1974, Miami had a total of five consecutive winning seasons. They also had three straight AFC titles and a Super Bowl victory in 1973.
As a result of their successes, the Dolphins were able to secure a berth in the 2021 NFL draft. They also opened a new 135 million training complex in Miami Gardens next to Hard Rock Stadium.
The team has also drafted a number of top-notch offensive linemen in the past few years, including tackles Jonathan Martin and Shaq Lawson. They have also developed a good defensive front, led by middle linebackers Nick Buoniconti and Michael Thomas, as well as the likes of linebacker Kiko Alonso.
However, a lack of consistent play from the team’s starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, has been a major detriment this season. Getting him healthy and ready for the divisional round is essential, as the Dolphins are a very talented team that can defeat anyone in the AFC.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are one of the oldest franchises in the NFL. They began playing in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and were part of the AFL-NFL merger that occurred in 1970. They have played in six Super Bowls and have four wins to their credit.
The Bills began their long and successful run in the mid-1960s with back-to-back AFL championship teams under head coach Lou Saban through 1965; and Joe Collier in 1966. This period featured a strong defensive core led by linebacker Tom Stratton, cornerback Butch Byrd, tackle Tom Sestak, and end Ron McDole; along with an impressive rushing attack anchored by Ernie Davis, Jack Kemp, and Cookie Gilchrist.
In 1964, the Bills compiled a 10-3-1 record and won their first AFL Eastern Division title under coach Saban; then defeated San Diego in a close, controversial AFL championship game that came down to a last-second field goal. This victory set the stage for a rematch with the Chargers in the 1966 AFL title game and a second straight AFL Eastern Division crown, which was also won by the Bills.
During this era, the Bills made several key acquisitions that would lead to sustained success for the franchise in the years to come. They drafted running back O. J. Simpson in 1969 and he was an immediate hit, breaking the NFL’s single-season rushing record in 1973.
Other players who helped the Bills build their reputation during this time include quarterback Dennis Shaw, wide receivers Glenn Bass and Elbert (Golden Wheels) Dubenion, and a powerful rushing attack that included Jack Kemp, Max Anderson, and Cookie Gilchrist.
Another major player who was a big part of the team’s success in the mid-1960s was Pete Gogolak, who introduced “soccer style” kicking to the NFL. He wore the number 22 during this era and was also a key member of the AFL’s first winning team in 1965.
The Bills’ defense also benefited from the addition of linebacker Kenny Bingham, who played in the 1967 AFL title game and was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in that season. Moreover, Buffalo’s defense held the high-flying Seattle Seahawks to their lowest point total in the league and registered five sacks in that game. This was the foundation for a dominant defensive performance that saw the Bills hold San Diego to only nine points in the AFL championship game, a performance that earned them their third AFL Eastern Division title and their first-ever playoff berth.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are an American football team that competes in the National Football League (NFL). They are based in the city of Houston, Texas and play their home games at NRG Stadium. The Texans are members of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division.
The Texans have never played in the Super Bowl, but they did make an appearance in the playoffs in 2019. This marks their only postseason appearance since 2002.
They are a young team that should be able to challenge for the division title in 2023. However, the Texans will need to improve their quarterback position if they are to make a deep run in the playoffs.
In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Texans traded up to the 12th overall selection to select Clemson star quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson had an impressive rookie season, going 3-3 and completing 63% of his passes for a career-high 35 touchdowns.
He suffered a devastating injury to his left knee in Week 8 and was forced to miss the remainder of the season. This hampered the Texans and resulted in their worst record in franchise history at 2-14.
The Texans have made several moves this offseason to improve their offense and defense. They signed a veteran quarterback in Demeco Ryans and drafted a pair of top QB prospects in Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud.
Despite this, the Texans are still a very young team that needs to continue improving. They will need to invest in both the free agency and draft if they hope to improve their chances of making the playoffs.
They have a number of talented players that they can build around, including quarterback Matt Schaub and receiver Andre Johnson. They have also made a significant investment in their offensive line. They have one of the best centers in the league in Scott Quessennberry and a strong, dependable left tackle in Brian Cushing.
The Texans have plenty of depth behind their starters, especially at running back. They have Steve Slaton and Chris Henry, both of whom are young but incredibly promising. The Texans also have several other backs that can provide them with some serious production, including Jeremiah Johnson and Dameon Pierce.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have a long history in the NFL, but they’ve never made it past the postseason. They’ve won 30 playoff games but have never been able to translate their success into Super Bowl victories.
This season, the team finished 13-4 with standout performances from QB Kirk Cousins and WR Justin Jefferson. They also proved a lot of doubters wrong, which could give them the boost they need to win the Super Bowl in 2023.
They’ve also been involved in some close, one-score games this year that may prove to be a big advantage in the playoffs. However, they will need to be able to stay healthy in order to achieve their goals.
The Vikings haven’t won the Super Bowl since 1976, and it seems like they’re going to be a tough team to beat this year. They have a very strong record, and they’ve also won the NFC North this year.
Despite this, they still have a lot of questions. They’re also not considered a very good bet at odds of +4000 for this year, and they’ve been on a downward trajectory for several years now.
This will be their first season under Kevin O’Connell as the head coach, and he’s been known for cultivating a feel-good culture. He’s also been very patient with his young quarterback Kirk Cousins, which is a great thing for him and the rest of the team.
If he can help the team overcome some of their inconsistency issues, they might be able to make it to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. But they’ll need to get better at finding a balance between their offense and defense, which has been a struggle in recent years.
In addition, they’ll need to keep their chemistry healthy as well. They’ve lost a lot of key players this year, and if they don’t find the right pieces in the offseason, they could face a tough battle on the road. They’ll have to fight off teams that are very good on both sides of the ball, and they’ll need to make sure they have a lot of depth at all positions.
