There were four after that. The Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions are the final four teams competing for a spot in Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024, following yet another difficult and thrilling regular season.
Since there is a good probability that these four teams were the best in the regular season, each has a fair chance of taking home the championship. But who will lift the Lombardi Trophy—there can only be one?
Who Will Win The 2024 Super Bowl? Who Will Make It There?
AFC Championship Game: Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs
A matchup between two of the top three or four quarterbacks in the world will determine who gets to play in the Super Bowl in 2024. It’s understandable why Patrick Mahomes has been regarded as the NFL’s top quarterback since taking over for Alex Smith in 2018. Because of the former first-round pick’s unparalleled arm power, athleticism, and consistency, it would be unfair to rival defenses to include him in Andy Reid’s scheme. This year, the offense hasn’t been quite as reliable, but the defense has more than fulfilled their half of the contract. Additionally, against Buffalo, Mahomes and Kelce appeared to be their old selves; if they bring that same intensity to Baltimore, they will be difficult to defeat.
The Ravens should be the front-runners to represent the AFC in the 2024 Super Bowl, even though the Chiefs won’t go down easily. Lamar Jackson defeated the Houston Texans in the opening round of the playoffs, demonstrating that he had finally overcome his demons. With a solid group of wide outs at his disposal, Jackson is the overwhelming favorite to win the MVP award for a reason. The quarterback has been unstoppable. His unrivaled ability to create plays combined with a strong offense, possibly the greatest defense, and football leave you looking at a formidable opponent. In the regular season, Baltimore outplayed every playoff club they encountered, and they should do the same in the AFC Championship Game.
NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers vs. Detroit Lions
Everybody outside of California is pulling for the Detroit Lions to win the Super Bowl in 2024 and pull off an upset. But the better team is the San Francisco 49ers. The lackluster defense in Detroit will make it difficult for them to contain Brock Purdy and his amazing offensive skill set, especially with Kyle Shanahan calling the plays. Even though Ben Johnson is an excellent playcaller, he will struggle to keep Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jared Goff up to speed with this system. Although they are not currently at the same level as San Francisco, Detroit has a bright future.
Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 Super Bowl (Projected)
When these two teams faced off last, Baltimore thrashed the 49ers 33-19 in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the score indicated. The outcome of the 2024 Super Bowl should remain the same, despite the fact that it will likely be more competitive. These teams are evenly balanced if the quarterback position is removed. Both squads have excellent playmakers, a superior offensive plan, and a very skilled defense. But the most crucial position is quarterback, and Purdy and Jackson’s skill differences will make the difference here.
This isn’t meant as criticism of Purdy; the former seventh-round selection has performed admirably this season and deserves to be considered a franchise quarterback. He’s not Lamar Jackson, though. Jackson is exceptional, although Purdy is only decent. He won’t be able to match the presumed two-time NFL MVP blow for blow, even if he doesn’t throw four picks once more. Lamar Jackson had trouble in his early postseason career, but if he wins the 2024 Super Bowl, he should put an end to any stories about his prowess in the big game.