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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/randomguy5to8 on 2025-12-23 21:57:08+00:00.
Due to a series of late season upsets both this year and last year, if the Saints defeat the Titans Sunday, the NFL Title Belt will not be the Super Bowl Champion similarly to last year.
For those unaware of what the NFL Title Belt is, it works similarly to pro wrestling. A team holds on to the NFL Title Belt until another team beats them. Then the team that beat the previous holder gains the NFL Title Belt and so on. If you would like a history of it, it can be found here (though it is slightly out of date as of writing thetitlebelt.com)
Usually this team is good enough to go to the playoffs. Due to the playoff format, if the NFL Title Belt team makes the playoffs, the NFL Title Belt will inevitably make it to the Super Bowl Champion. However if late season upsets occur, like it did last year and possibly this year, the NFL Title Belt remains with a team that didn’t make the playoffs throughout the offseason.
Here is the NFL Title Belt path over the past two seasons
Chiefs possessed the NFL Title Belt after the 2023 season
Bills def. Chiefs Wk. 11 of 2024
Rams def. Bills Wk. 14 of 2024
Seahawks def. Rams Wk. 18 of 2024
Seahawks miss playoffs, Seahawks possessed the NFL Title Belt after the 2024 season
49ers def. Seahawks Wk. 1 of 2025
Jaguars def. 49ers Wk. 4 of 2025
Seahawks def. Jaguars Wk. 6 of 2025
Rams def. Seahawks Wk. 11 of 2025
Panthers def. Rams Wk. 13 of 2025
Saints def. Panthers Wk. 15 of 2025
Saints have not yet lost after defeating the Panthers. If they defeat the Titans, they will maintain the NFL Title Belt going into their Wk. 18 matchup with the Falcons. Since both the Saints and Falcons are eliminated from playoff contention, the NFL Title Belt will again not go to the Super Bowl Champion. The last time this occurred twice in a row was after the Dolphins held it at the end of 2005 and the Rams held it at the end of 2006.
Edit: I figured this would be obvious but this is the internet. I do not in fact believe the Saints are the best team in the league despite having the belt. Some people think this is some serious analysis 🙄.