Sports Illustrated’s MMQB went ahead and predicted who would win the next five Super Bowls, and the Houston Texans did not receive one vote from the 10-member staff.
MMQB writers predicted the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots with the two AFC finalists receiving 14 and 10 votes respectively. That isn’t a stretch considering Kansas City had a great regular season and the two teams went deep into the playoffs, literally needing an extra period to decide who would go to Super Bowl LIII.
However, the predictions got a little ridiculous, and not because Connor Orr humorously predicted the San Antonio Buccaneers and New Pangea Polar Bears to be eventual Super Bowl champions. The Cleveland Browns received a vote, a team that has not been to the playoffs since Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson were married. The New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, and Denver Broncos, three teams which are in rebuilding mode, received votes.
Why not the Texans? MMQB tried to explain it:
Other teams that got shut out include Matt Ryan’s Falcons, Cam Newton’s Panthers, Deshaun Watson’s Texans, and Jimmy Garoppolo’s 49ers. Of course, who knows how many of them will still be with their current team in 2024.
If Sam Darnold, Derek Carr, Baker Mayfield, and whoever Denver finally finds to start under center can be considered Super Bowl champions in the next five years, then surely the Watson-led Texans have a shot. By the way, fun fact: Watson is 3-0 against their favorites and has a shot to go 4-0 when Houston plays the Raiders this season.
