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Top 10 favorites for Super Bowl LI

By Patrick Morgan

Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos fans after the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Denver Broncos defeated New England Patriots 20-18 to earn a trip to Super Bowl 50. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos fans after the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Denver Broncos defeated New England Patriots 20-18 to earn a trip to Super Bowl 50. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) walks off the field after the AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) walks off the field after the AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Cincinnati Bengals

Everything changed for the Cincinnati Bengals on one play this season. If Andy Dalton didn’t break his thumb in Week 14 against the Steelers, a case can be made that the Bengals probably could have finished 13-3 instead of 12-4, which would have given them the AFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs. It’s not unfathomable to think that a narrow overtime loss to Brock Osweiler and the Broncos could have been reversed had Andy Dalton still been under center, even though backup quarterback AJ McCarron played admirably in relief over the last three games of the season.

In this alternate universe, the Bengals would have probably hosted either the Broncos or the Steelers in the divisional round, and then hosted the winner of Kansas City/New England in the AFC Championship Game. Of course, none of those teams are easy outs for a team that has been historically abysmal in the postseason, but at least Cincinnati would have avoided their annual wild card round early exit curse.

Jeremy Hill needs to regain his rookie mojo and the team as a whole (particularly the defensive stars) need to cut back on stupid penalties. The departure of Hue Jackson hurts, but this team should be right in the mix again next season provided Andy Dalton improves upon his career year.

Next: 8. Kansas City Chiefs

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