Let’s face it: If you don’t hold much interest across the football season, there will probably be no escaping it over the coming two months. It’s the season of the NFL Playoffs and the Super Bowl, so football chat and coverage are going to be fairly ubiquitous across bars and homes across the US and globally.
But if you find yourself at a Super Bowl LX watch party or stuck for something to say over a coffee with a football fanatic, we have you covered with this super-brief primer that tells you all you need to know about what’s happening and what’s happened. Let’s dive in:
Who’s Hot?
Teams like the Patriots, Jaguars, Seahawks, Broncos, and Rams are all in the frame for Playoff glory and are favored in DraftKings’ Super Bowl LX odds. There’s probably no clear favorite, despite what the odds say, and, in truth, you could add teams like the Bills, Eagles, 49ers and Texans into the mix. It feels like one of the most open contests in the Playoffs in the modern era.
Who’s Not?
Basically, all of the preseason favorites have struggled. The Chiefs, Lions and Commanders were all tipped for glory but have been eliminated. Others, like the Ravens and Bills, have struggled with their elite contender status. It’s as if we have witnessed a changing of the guard, or, perhaps more interestingly, a season where underdogs have triumphed.
The Story of the Season
Among many narratives, not least the capitulation of the perennial contenders Kansas City (no Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl this year), the biggest story is the return of the New England Patriots to the elite end of pro football. The era of Tom Brady is long gone, but after a few down years, the Patriots are now looking like the team to beat once more.
The Player of the Season
The easy answers to give would be to say Drake Maye or Matthew Stafford, both of whom are in the running for the MVP award, but we are going to do a bit of a swerve and give it to Cameron Dicker for the Chargers. The season has been largely characterized by an increased focus on special teams, and Dicker has been one of the best at making field goals.
The Game of the Season
There have been several instant classics this season, not least the pulsating 41-40 victory for the Bills over the Ravens in Week 1. It was arguably usurped by the Seahawks’ victory over the Rams just before Christmas. The ding-dong had everything – elite performances, errors, and a tremendous comeback performance worthy of any work of fiction. It was the 2025 NFL season condensed into a couple of hours of action.
The Disappointment of the Season
It’s so obvious that it becomes almost fashionable to say, but the Kansas City Chiefs’ demise has been so spectacular that it feels somewhat unbelievable. Years and years of dominance came to a skidding halt. The big question now is whether they can bounce back.
One prediction for the Playoffs
As mentioned, there are many underdogs in the Playoffs, most of whom fully deserve to be there. But two teams – the Bills and Eagles – have underperformed compared to preseason expectations yet remain in the hunt. Both have a wealth of postseason experience (the Eagles are the reigning Super Bowl champs) that their potential rivals will lack. They may still have something to say in the coming weeks.
The Super Bowl LX Low Down
The Super Bowl will take place on Sunday, February 8, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. We don’t know which teams will be there yet, but we do know that Bad Bunny will be, as he has been given the honor of leading the Half-Time Show. The choice ruffled a few feathers, but we’re sure the Puerto Rican rapper will put on a memorable performance.
The Lit Bitch 