As the NFL 2021/22 season draws to a close, the predictions and speculation of who will win Super Bowl 56 in California are spicing up. After a fascinating play-off semi-final weekend, fans of American Football worldwide tuned in to watch some amazing matchups, enjoying three final-kick-of-the-game punts to send fans into ecstasy and despair in equal measure.
In the highly-anticipated match-up between quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, together they served up one of the best displays and most thrilling end to an NFL playoff game throughout its history. Legendary Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady also bowed out despite nearly staging a stunning comeback once again as he tried to win his eighth Super Bowl ring. Let’s round-up the best of the action, looking ahead to the AFC & NFC finals, before predicting who we think will win Super Bowl 2022.
Without a doubt what we witnessed across the 23rd and 24th of January 2022 will live long in the memory. Here is a rundown of the amazing results which shocked not just the league but fans everywhere:
Kansas City Chiefs 42 – 36 Buffalo Bills
Los Angeles Rams 30 – 27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
San Francisco 49ers 13 10 Green Bay Packers
Cincinnati Bengals 19 16 Tennessee Titans
As you can see, take your pick from four amazing games with jaw-dropping finales. We have listed them in order of awe and appreciation based on the stories building up to the event and the final outcome. To begin with, the Chiefs against the Bills was dubbed the game of the NFL season – even better than the Super Bowl – and did not disappoint! In a topsy turvy 48 minute+ game of twists and turns, we witnessed 25 points scored in the closing one minute and 54 seconds of action! With the game tied at 36 points apiece, quarter Mahomes completed his heroic efforts by leading his team over the line with a touchdown in overtime.
The End for Tom Brady
Despite a heroic effort, Tom Brady couldn’t lead the Buccaneers to a back-to-back Super Bowl’s. Even with a 27-3 game to chase, Brady nearly completed the impossible with moments left, tying the game. Sadly it was not meant to be for the record seven-time Super Bowl winner as Matt Gay kicked a three-point field goal to end any hopes for the Bucs. Time will tell if Brady returns to the NFL or retires, 22 years after entering the NFL draft.
Elsewhere, the San Francisco 49ers set up an all-Californian NFC final against the victorious Rams with a solid effort and shock win over the Packers, led by likely regular-season MVP winner Aaron Rodgers. With moments left in the game, Robbie Gould kicked for a 45-yard punt that silenced the home crowd, making one of three away teams winners on a brilliant play-off weekend. In the first game of the weekend, the Cincinnati Bengals set the tone by not just winning their first wild-card game the previous weekend but also clinching a surprise spot in the AFC championship game against the Chiefs after beating the Titans 19-16.
What an intriguing potential final we have on our hands at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Sunday, February 13th. Based on one of the best semi-final play-off weekends in history, can it live up to the usual hype we get from Super Bowls? All we know is it’s going to be one hell of a final. After their amazing comeback and show of resilience in strength, it’s hard to look past the Chiefs winning with Mahomes showing against the Bills why he is regarded as one of the finest quarterbacks ever.
Prediction for the final: Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Rams
Super Bowl LVI Winner: Kansas City Chiefs