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Top 10 favorites for Super Bowl 57: Chiefs, Bills lead the way

By Mike Phillips

Super Bowl 56, Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals. (Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Super Bowl 56, Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals. (Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports) /
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INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 30: Elijah Mitchell #25 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on January 30, 2022, in Inglewood, California. The Rams defeated the 49ers 20-17. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 30: Elijah Mitchell #25 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on January 30, 2022, in Inglewood, California. The Rams defeated the 49ers 20-17. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

8. Super Bowl 57 favorites – San Francisco 49ers

The fact that a team as badly injured as the 49ers were made it to the NFC Championship Game speaks to some excellent work out of Kyle Shanahan’s coaching staff. San Francisco rode a strong defense and running game within 15 minutes of an appearance in Super Bowl 56, which is a strong start to getting to the big game next season.

The big question surrounding the 49ers is what will happen at the quarterback position. Jimmy Garoppolo, who played hurt in the postseason, is a near-lock to be traded after the 49ers drafted Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft. Lance had a few chances to play as a rookie but looked extremely raw, meaning a veteran backup quarterback would make sense as an insurance policy with a contending team.

The 49ers would also benefit from better health as they have been ravaged by injuries in each of the past two seasons. Logic would dictate that San Francisco would have positive injury luck in 2022 but perhaps their roster and physical style of play is more conducive to injuries.

The core of the team that led the Chiefs in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 54 is still intact, and that is a strong foundation to build on for 2022. The answer to the quarterback question could easily shift the 49ers up towards the top of this list or out of the Top 10 Super Bowl favorites entirely.

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