Favorites falter in the NFL

This is a sport that I have followed for many years, since 1993 specifically, when here in my country and practically in the rest of Latin America nothing was known. It had little impact in the newspapers, specialized magazines, and TV, only the sports networks broadcast some matches, always with their mind set on the dissemination of their favorites.

Unquestionably, the effort to spread the word despite the low rating has been successful and today there are many followers throughout the southern cone. I check this every Sunday when the match commentators air the messages that fans send through social networks. Even on several occasions, I could hear my comments and questions and of course their kind and professional responses.

I am not only interested in the sport itself but also in how even it is. Of course, there is always a team that stands out, it can even do so for a few seasons in a row, but others always come out to compete for supremacy.

No wonder the top Superbowl winner only has 6 titles in 57 years of dispute, a record equaled by two teams: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots.

If it is true that several franchises have not been lucky enough to win the highest title, but most of them have reached the final, some on several occasions, the Buffalo Bills are the emblem with 4 consecutive finals, all of them lost to the sadness of his fans and followers. My favorite team, the Cincinnati Bengals, has 3 runner-up finishes and no wins as well.

But this is all history, let's see what is happening this year.

The great favorite of sports journalists and analysts, as well as many of the fans, the San Francisco 49ers, lost last Monday to another favorite, the Baltimore Ravens, unexpectedly, even more so due to the large result. against. Doubts about the great candidate began to bloom like my wife's garden in spring. The hope of the San Francisco natives lies in his running back, the extraordinary Christian McCaffrey, and his great tight end George Kittle. The doubts come from quarterback Brock Purdy, who does not even convince his parents.

Another great favorite before the start of the tournament, the Kansas City Chiefs who have in their ranks the star player of the entire league, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, after an overwhelming start ends up surrounded by great doubts and with a streak of several matches lost against supposedly inferior rivals.

Other teams that deserve respect, such as the Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions, and the Dallas Cowboys, are also not convincing despite their positive records and having all secured a place in the postseason. Many believe that they have some important attributes to win the major trophy but also weaknesses that can keep them from that long-awaited Superbowl LVIII title to be played at the New Orleans Saints stadium.

In several divisions of both conferences, with two dates left to finish the regular stage, there is still dispute and it is not yet known who goes to the Wild Card game and who goes to the next round resting that week, the candidates are several, including the majority of Teams that participate in the division of the American Conference South and the National Conference South have a chance to qualify. You can't get more even.

An exciting week of definitions is coming and the teams have been in charge of maintaining the mystery by reaffirming the current parity.

Next Sunday will be exciting, as exciting as this NFL is, one of the evenest leagues I know, almost as exciting as NASCAR in motorsports.