Super Bowl 2011 Date Wide Open for Several Teams

The Super Bowl 2011 date is on February 6. But although the Super Bowl 2011 date is set, the teams involved won't get their invites for another three weeks. They have to win either two or three games beforehand, and defeat the best teams in their conference. Some franchises appear to have a clear road towards that goal, while others face longer odds. Yet although most expect the Super Bowl 2011 to include the Patriots, many other postseason squads have hope as well.

For the last two years, the Patriots have not been in their accustomed position, as championship favorites. But after missing the playoffs in 2008, and losing in the first round last year, the Patriots are back on their familiar pedestal.

The odds for the Super Bowl 2011 to have another AFC club involved are a bit long. However, the Steelers, Ravens, Colts, Jets and Chiefs would be favored in any other year, given their accomplishments. Yet aside from the Chiefs, the Patriots have beaten every other AFC team on the field this season - with the Steelers and Jets getting blown out.

If any team can unseat the Patriots, it might come from the AFC North. The Steelers have the second seed, while the Ravens were the last visitor to win in New England, and took them to overtime early this year. However, the Patriots weren't on this kind of roll when the Ravens faced them last.

While the Patriots are the clear Super Bowl 2011 favorite from the AFC, experts are more split over an NFC champion. The Falcons, Bears, Eagles, Saints and Packers all have strong cases to win the conference, but all of them could just as easily flame out.

The Falcons have a strong home field advantage, yet Matt Ryan hasn't won a playoff game yet. The Bears have the second seed, although they still have a lot of doubters. The Eagles were proclaimed an NFC favorite two weeks, but they have stumbled since then. The Saints are the defending champs, but they aren't as overwhelming as last season. The Packers have massive potential and a healthy Aaron Rodgers, though they have been up and down all year.