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The stage has been set for the 2020 NFL Playoffs following a regular season that managed to navigate through numerous challenges and COVID-19 interruptions. After a thrilling 17-week journey, we now find ourselves just a month away from the highly-anticipated Super Bowl.
Week 17 was filled with excitement and drama, causing a significant shift in the playoff landscape. This year, both conferences will feature seven teams competing, resulting in a total of 14 teams in the playoffs.
Are you curious about whether you can place bets on the NFL postseason online? It seems highly likely, with indications pointing towards a positive outcome. However, the more reliable option for online sports betting will probably be available during the Super Bowl in February. By that time, it is expected that there will be smartphone apps ready for use in Michigan. Let’s hope for the best.
Regardless, let’s take a glimpse at the opinions of the sportsbooks we are monitoring regarding the NFL playoff teams and their predictions for the potential Super Bowl 2021 champion.
Super Bowl 2021 odds: Kansas City favored to repeat
As of January 4 at 8 a.m. ET, the oddsmakers consider the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning champions of Super Bowl 2020, as the top contenders to defend their title this year.
| Odds to win Super Bowl LV | BetMGM | DraftKings | FanDuel | PointsBet | William Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | +240 | +220 | +220 | +230 | +180 |
| Green Bay Packers | +550 | +450 | +480 | +450 | +450 |
| Buffalo Bills | +700 | +700 | +750 | +650 | +750 |
| New Orleans Saints | +750 | +700 | +750 | +800 | +750 |
| Baltimore Ravens | +1000 | +1200 | +1100 | +900 | +1100 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +1100 | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 | +1100 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +1400 | +1300 | +1300 | +1400 | +1200 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +2500 | +3000 | +2900 | +3000 | +2800 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +2500 | +2200 | +2000 | +2500 | +2000 |
| Tennessee Titans | +2500 | +2800 | +2800 | +3000 | +2800 |
| Cleveland Browns | +4000 | +5000 | +4800 | +4000 | +5000 |
| Indianapolis Colts | +4000 | +4000 | +4100 | +4000 | +3500 |
| Chicago Bears | +8000 | +8000 | +8500 | +9000 | +8000 |
| Washington Football Team | +10000 | +8000 | +8500 | +8000 | +8000 |
As of Monday, the Chiefs are favored across all sportsbooks, with odds ranging from +180 to +240.
The Chiefs are accompanied by the Green Bay Packers, who have odds ranging from +450 to +550. Following closely behind is the Buffalo Bills in third place, with the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers trailing behind.
NFL wild-card weekend schedule
Next weekend’s schedule will showcase a tripleheader on both Saturday and Sunday, thanks to the increased playoff field.
Entering wild-card weekend, this is how the playoffs are shaping up in the AFC.
- Kansas City is ranked number one and has a bye.
- The Indianapolis Colts, ranked 7th, will be facing the Buffalo Bills, ranked 2nd, on Saturday, January 9th at 1:05 p.m. The Colts are the underdogs with a 6.5 point spread. The game will be broadcasted on CBS.
- Cleveland, ranked 6th, will be facing Pittsburgh, ranked 3rd, on Sunday, January 10th at 8:15 p.m. The game will be aired on NBC.
- The Baltimore Ravens, ranked fifth, will be playing against the fourth-ranked Tennessee Titans on Sunday, January 10th at 1:05 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN/ABC.
Here is how the wild-card round looks like in the NFC:
- Green Bay, ranked number one, will have a bye.
- On Sunday, January 10th, at 4:40 p.m., the Chicago team ranked seventh will be facing off against the second-ranked New Orleans team. The game will be televised on CBS.
- The LA Rams, ranked sixth, will face off against the Seattle Seahawks, ranked third, on Saturday, January 9th at 4:40 p.m. The game will be televised on FOX.
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ranked fifth, will face off against the Washington Football Team, ranked fourth, on Saturday, January 9th at 8:15 p.m. The game will be televised on NBC.
Kansas City Chiefs the team to beat in AFC
Despite losing their season finale to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, the Chiefs have established themselves as the dominant team in the AFC. It is worth noting that KC played the game without several crucial players.
With a record of 14-2 this season, Kansas City was propelled by the exceptional skills of MVP contender Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes showcased his talent by throwing for an impressive 4,740 yards and 38 touchdowns, with a mere six interceptions. His outstanding leadership guided the Chiefs’ offense to claim the highest spot in the NFL, amassing a remarkable 415.8 yards per game.
This season, the Buffalo Bills achieved their first AFC East division championship since 1995. Josh Allen had an exceptional performance, amassing 4,544 passing yards and 37 touchdowns, both significantly exceeding his previous records. Furthermore, Allen showcased his versatility by rushing for 421 yards and scoring eight touchdowns.
On Saturday, the Indianapolis Colts will face Buffalo. Despite their impressive 11-5 record this season, the Colts only secured the No. 7 seed in the playoffs.
Next Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers will welcome their AFC North rivals, the Cleveland Browns, for an intense clash. Cleveland recently defeated a depleted Pittsburgh team to secure their first playoff appearance since 2002. On the other hand, the Steelers enter the playoffs with a struggling form, having lost four out of their last five games after an impressive 11-0 start.
This week, the Tennessee Titans are set to host the Baltimore Ravens in what could be the most highly contested matchup in the AFC. Despite playing on the road, the Ravens are favored to win against the Titans. It’s worth noting that Tennessee surprisingly defeated the number one-seeded Baltimore team with a score of 28-12 in the divisional playoffs last year.
Will the Packers be upset in the NFC?
With the first-week bye and top seed in the NFC playoffs, Green Bay possesses a significant advantage. Furthermore, Aaron Rodgers is a strong contender for the NFL MVP title this season, standing shoulder to shoulder with Mahomes. Notably, he achieved an impressive feat of throwing the most touchdowns in the league, accumulating 48, while only throwing five interceptions and amassing 4,299 yards.
The New Orleans Saints, currently holding the No. 2 seed, might witness Drew Brees’ last games as their quarterback. Speculations arose on Sunday suggesting Brees might retire following this season. In the upcoming match, New Orleans will face the 8-8 Chicago team. The Bears managed to secure a playoff spot due to a loss by the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
The Seattle Seahawks will be hosting the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday for a face-off between NFC West rivals. In their previous encounters this season, each team emerged victorious on their home turf.
Tampa Bay stands as the only favored team on the road in the NFC this week, slated to face the Washington Football Team on Saturday night. The Bucs will showcase their formidable offense, averaging 30.8 points per game, against a Washington squad that clinched the NFC East title with a modest 7-9 record. Notably, Washington boasts the second-best total defense in the NFL, yielding only 304.6 yards per game.
Despite the Packers having the advantage, the unpredictable nature of the NFC this season leaves room for anything to occur. The NFL playoffs are notorious for presenting unforeseen scenarios.
