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The 2021 NFL season has been one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Just when a team seems like a top contender, they get blown out by a losing team. We saw this recently with both the Tennessee Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
So it is no easy task to determine Super Bowl contenders on a week-by-week basis. Yet, as Thanksgiving approaches, we are seeing those teams who can bounce back from tough defeats or those who clearly just had a bad week in an otherwise amazing season.
Let's take a look at the top five Super Bowl contenders in the NFL after Week 11.
5 Super Bowl contenders after NFL Week 11
#5 - Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers will be the only team on this list who lost in Week 11. So let's dive into why they remain a top contender.
The top and most obvious reason is that Aaron Rodgers is back under center. Yet as of right now, he is dealing with a painful toe injury, as he has described it. His Packers still put up 31 points Sunday in a tight, 34-31 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. An injured Rodgers still led the offense to 31 points and a defense that normally holds opponents to under 20 points per game had a bad day.
Real concern could set in if the defense suddenly lost its way in the coming weeks. If we assume Rodgers can recover during a Week 13 bye week, the Packers remain on track as contenders with an 8-3 record. Even a loss this week to the Los Angeles Rams would not change that.
#4 - Baltimore Ravens
The AFC North is a wild division in 2021. But the Baltimore Ravens remain at the top and just picked up an exciting comeback victory over the Chicago Bears with Tyler Huntley at quarterback.
Lamar Jackson was home sick, and everyone knew they had to step up. The entire team did just that, and the defense holding Chicago to 13 points meant the Ravens were able to pick up the win late, thanks to a total defensive breakdown by the Bears. That gets Baltimore to a 7-3 record and up to the second overall spot in the AFC playoff standings.
The Ravens proved to be resilient without Jackson on the field. With him, they are a dominant team that is tough to stop on offense. Only the Miami Dolphins have figured out how to do that this season.
The Ravens' status on this list will come into focus over the next three weeks. They have a Sunday night game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 12, followed by a showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers before yet another game against the Browns in Week 14.
They only play teams with NFL playoff aspirations from here on out, so if the Ravens are the contenders we think they are, winning should not be a problem.
Also Check Out: Complete NFL Week 12 TV Schedule
#3 - Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are officially back as NFL favorites, thanks to their current four-game winning streak. They just held the Dallas Cowboys to nine points in a 19-9 Week 11 victory that proved this defense is no longer a pushover. In fact, the unit has not allowed more than 17 points in a game during their streak.
This is a necessary formula for success in the NFL because Patrick Mahomes cannot play like a hero each and every week. He is looking more human in general this year; in that, he has legendary performances, only to regress a bit in subsequent games. For example, Week 11 saw him throw zero interceptions after throwing five a week prior against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Chiefs entered the NFL season as top contenders and fell a bit in the public eye with a 3-4 start. Yet they have clearly rebounded and should be favorites to win the AFC.
#2 - Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are handling their current situation in a perfect way. Kyler Murray began dealing with an ankle injury three weeks ago, and the team made the decision to go with Colt McCoy as the starter. They did not rush Murray back, and the result has been a 2-1 stretch with McCoy under center.
The Cardinals are now 9-2, which is the best record in the NFL. The fact that they have won without Murray and DeAndre Hopkins proves how deep this team is in 2021. Remember, they are also without J.J. Watt for the remainder of the season as well.
The biggest remaining test for Arizona comes in two weeks in a Monday night game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are only one loss behind the Cardinals in the standings, and this game could clinch the division for Arizona if they can win. At the same time, it will show if they are truly top of the class in the NFC.
#1 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the defending NFL champions, and they let the New York Giants know that the hard way Monday night. Tom Brady and company easily forgot their past two losses and cruised to a blowout win.
Yes, the Cardinals have a better record than the Buccaneers. But Brady simply cannot be counted out and has proven that over the past two decades. He threw for two touchdowns Monday night and connected with Rob Gronkowski six times as the tight end made his return. Tampa getting healthier is just bad news for the rest of the NFC.
The win to get the Bucs to 7-3 gives them a two-game lead over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. That is a nice cushion with seven games remaining and the team seemingly back on track. Fans may remember that Tampa fell all the way to 7-5 last season. They did not lose again the rest of the way en route to a Super Bowl victory. Perhaps their recent losing streak will represent the same NFL trend again in 2021.
