By Aidan Mastandrea, Joseph Caruso and Tyler Morello
Signal Sports Staff
With winter break at the College quickly approaching, The Signal’s sports staff put together their predictions for the Super Bowl Champion and League MVP as the season progresses.
Super Bowl Predictions
Joe: Detroit Lions
Now in his fourth season as head coach of the Detroit Lions, Dan Campbell has completely transformed a Detroit team that had previously been the laughing stock of football for decades prior.
Along with their fiery coach, the Lions undoubtedly have the best roster in the league. Superstars on both sides of the field with players like Brian Branch, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Aidan Hutchinson and Penei Sewell along with plenty of others, this Detroit squad is the deepest team the league has seen in years. Although Jared Goff is not the best quarterback in the world, he has been perfect within offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s system.
With a league-best 11-1 record, the Lions are dismantling teams week after week, averaging the most points per game, and allowing the second least. However, the biggest question mark for Detroit is Goff. As the playoffs approach and competition gets stiffer, the Lions will need Goff to make big-time plays — something that he has struggled to do in the past.
With that being said, the Lions rushing attack and defense alone are enough to make them the unquestioned favorite in the NFC, as they look to punch their ticket to the Caesars Superdome for Super Bowl LIX.
Aidan: Buffalo Bills
This story has been told before. The Buffalo Bills and quarterback Josh Allen have beaten the Kansas City Chiefs during the regular season multiple times, creating a facade that they are a better team. Ultimately, they have fallen short each and every year in the playoffs.
This year, however, has a different feel. Before the season, many “experts” were critical of the Bills because of the loss of star Stefon Diggs and more, but they have looked as good as ever. Allen is currently playing the best football of his career and the team feels suited for the postseason.
The Chiefs look vulnerable, and if Allen keeps up this level of quarterback play, the Bills can beat anyone. The team is built for the cold weather of the playoffs and will have no fear against whoever is in their way. This could be the year that Bills Mafia can finally celebrate their team winning the Super Bowl.
Tyler: Kansas City Chiefs
It’s looking like there may finally be a different Super Bowl champion this year with many new squads breaking out. Josh Allen and the Bills have gathered a lot of momentum and are sitting at 10-2.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens each are well-coached teams that are looking to get over the hump of previous seasons, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Lions seem to be quiet threats with how dominant their running games are. However, one of the best quarterbacks of all time is looking to lead his team to a third consecutive Super Bowl victory. Despite the Chiefs looking shaky at times and cutting it close in many of their games, there is no one better to trust in a playoff setting than Patrick Mahomes. Even though the Chiefs are 11-1, they are without a doubt one of the weaker Mahomes-led teams in recent memory. The defense is still one of the best in the league, and while the offense doesn’t have the firepower fans are used to, Mahomes and coach Andy Reid will be able to manage down the stretch.
MVP Predictions
Joe: Lamar Jackson
Now a two-time NFL AP Most Valuable Player, the Baltimore Ravens signal-caller is having his best season yet. Jackson ranks second in passing yards and second in passing touchdowns, all while having just three interceptions. Along with his career-best pace in the air, the dual-threat quarterback leads the position in rushing with 678 yards.
Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills has a compelling argument as well, leading the seemingly undermanned Bills to a 10-2 record, and handing the Kansas City Chiefs their lone loss.
However, Allen ranks outside of the top 12 in passing yards, and outside the top five in passing touchdowns. Although Jackson’s Ravens are just 8-5, they have scored more touchdowns than any team in football this season, a testament to the impact of Lamar Jackson. Assuming Baltimore doesn’t fall on their face in December, Jackson will have a case to take home his second consecutive MVP award.
Aidan: Saquon Barkley
In recent years, the running back position has been scrutinized greatly. Many pundits believed that a great running back was not crucial to a team's success. Saquon Barkley has flipped that narrative.
The Eagles added Barkley to a talented roster and have looked nearly unstoppable as of late. Barkley has already accumulated over 1700 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns. The Eagles are 10-2 and poised for a top seed in the NFC East. If they finish the season strong and Barkley continues to rack up the yards, he will be in a great spot to be the first running back to be MVP since LaDanian Tomlinson in 2006.
Tyler: Lamar Jackson
The Baltimore Ravens have had one of the most efficient offenses of recent memory, with some thinking it's because of the offseason addition of Derrick Henry. While you could make an argument for that, the real reason is that Lamar Jackson continues to develop his game year after year.
He is second in passing yards while also placing 22nd in rushing yards as a quarterback. He’s also on pace for a career-high in passing yards and passing touchdowns. The Ravens have had some puzzling losses this year to inferior teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns, but their defense has regressed tremendously from last season.
They are near the bottom of the pack in points allowed per game and yards allowed per game, and have given up the most passing yards in the entire league. The reason the Ravens have been successful is because of the other-worldly play of Lamar Jackson, who should win his third MVP award.
