The Super Bowl is a long way off, and there is a ton of drama to unfold before we get there, but the early weeks of the season have already produced some new stars and shown some of the established elite at their best and their worst.
The Super Bowl odds indicate that this is the most open NFL season we’ve seen for several years and at this stage, it is impossible to predict with any degree of accuracy which two teams will be heading for State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona next February. However, we know what it takes to star in the Super Bowl and there are plenty of contenders out there with the potential to shine.
Patrick Mahomes
The 2020 Super Bowl MVP is a colossal talent and the leading contender to inherit the mantle of best quarterback in the NFL when Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers eventually retire. Mahomes has already been to two Super Bowls, and he may just be getting started.
The Chiefs’ star receiver Tyreek Hill was replaced with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and some analysts had speculated that this might make life harder for Mahomes, but it hasn’t worked out like that. Mahomes threw five touchdown passes in his first game of the season and with his proven record of producing 4,700 yards+ seasons – a mark that he has passed three times in the last four years – how many fans would want to bet against him starring in Arizona in February?
Josh Allen
Allen has surged to the top of the NFL MVP chances for the 2022–2023 season after developing into one of the game’s best young quarterbacks in just three years. His extraordinary ability to produce big passing numbers while also being his team’s most potent rusher makes him an incredibly valuable player with the potential to dominate opponents.
The Bills are off to a great start this season, with three wins in their first four games and Allen is already leading the way in passing and rushing, having claimed two rushing touchdowns so far. They face a strong challenge from Miami in the AFC East but appear to be the favorites to win the division. It would be no surprise to see Allen shine on the biggest football stage at the first attempt.
Jalen Hurts
The progression of Jalen Hurts at the Philadelphia Eagles has been remarkable and he is one of the big reasons why they have a 4-0 record after their first four games. The Eagles already had one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL, but this season it looks as though Hurts has also improved in his passing, with a much better completion rate, which has added a new dimension to his game and to the team.
The Eagles are up against the Cowboys in the NFC East, and that is going to be a fascinating battle over the next few weeks. However, after such a strong start, Philadelphia is in a great position and Hurts has the potential to make himself a Super Bowl hero.
Lamar Jackson
If there’s one quarterback in the NFL who hasn’t been given the praise he deserves, it is Lamar Jackson. His problem has been a patchy injury record, but when fit and healthy, there are few more electrifying performers in the NFL. Jackson’s arm may not be able to match those of Brady and Rogers, but he poses a deadly dual threat. When Baltimore is playing well, it is usually due to him.
Jackson was the season MVP in 2019 and he has started strongly again in 2022, recording over 300 yards rushing and 800 passing yards in four weeks as the Ravens appear locked in a three-way battle with the Browns and the Bengals in the AFC North.
Michah Parsons
Perhaps because the NFL has become such an offense-dominated league, the status of the very best defensive players has been elevated in recent years, and at the top of that list is Micah Parsons.
It isn’t easy for a defensive player to grab the headlines, but in his sophomore year, Parsons has continued to build on a stunning rookie season, registering four sacks throughout the first four weeks of the season. He is the star of a Dallas defense that is setting the agenda in the NFC, and if that strong defense can carry the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl, Parsons is sure to play a starring role.