NFL play-off picture: Latest NFL post-season odds and how the teams are shaping up in the battle for NFC and AFC places
With the NFL season really hotting up we look at how the post-season places are shaping up as teams jockey for position in the race for the Super Bowl.
Suggested play-off brackets:
AFC: Patriots, Steelers, Chiefs, Texans, Chargers & Titans at 5/2
NFC: Saints, Rams, Vikings, Eagles, Panthers & Bears at 20/1
AFC
First Round Bye
1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)
Starting with the current No.1 seed Chiefs, already a shoo-in for the play-offs, attention turns to what seed Kansas City can achieve. All teams would love home-field advantage throughout the play-offs and for Kansas City it seems particularly achievable given New England’s loss to the Titans. Most people have the Chiefs guaranteed for the division and defeat to the Rams did not hurt their chances too much as the Chargers also lost against Denver - their division-deciding game with the Chargers comes in Week 15.
2. New England Patriots (8-3)
6.5-point favourites on the road to Tennessee, nobody really expected the Patriots to return home with an L, even more so in the nature they were handed it. Brady benched in the fourth quarter, not that I would really take any notice of that, and the Titans defense truly beating Brady’s offence. Yet after such a performance, the Patriots' Super Bowl price only moved from 11/2 to 13/2 - I don’t think anyone is seriously worried about this team not being as good as last season. They have a favourable remaining schedule consisting mainly of divisional games, however keep an eye on the Week 15 match-up with the Steelers that could be the deciding factor in who keeps home-field advantage should the teams meet in the play-offs.
Division Leaders
3. Houston Texans (8-3)
It's been 93 years since an NFL team won seven straight games after an 0-3 start - but the Texans have sneaked their way into a strong play-off position after now making it eight on the spin with a commanding success over the Titans. The Colts are not too far behind so it's not a done deal yet but they've got some great players in the side and are suddenly now chasing down a first round bye.
No. 1 Seed Odds: 7/1, To Make the Playoffs Odds: 1/14
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1)
Their six game winning streak came to a shuddering end in Denver in a game where they left a host of points on the field. It came at a big cost that defeat as well as they dropped out of a first round bye into fourth spot in the play-off standings. They;re still top dogs in the AFC North but they have some tough games to come with the Chargers, Patriots and Saints all on the agenda, it may prove tough get back to the No.2 seed.
No. 1 Seed Odds: 16/1, To Make the Playoffs Odds: 1/50
Wild cards
5. LA Chargers (8-3)
They're matching the record of the Patriots and Texans but have those pesky Kansas City Chiefs in their division so need to win their Week 15 game vs the Chiefs to stand a chance. They play Pittsburgh next which will be tough but, with their record, if they can overcome KC's divisional lead they'll have a chance of a first round bye out of seemingly nowhere.
No. 1 Seed Odds: 20/1, To Make the Playoffs Odds: 1/10
6. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)
Lamar Jackson made it back-to-back wins to keep them in the final wildcard spot above the Colts on a better conference record. Whether Joe Flacco returns after injury is a big question to answer as they've got a tough finish with games at the Falcons, Chiefs and Chargers to come.
To Make the Playoffs Odds: 5/2
In the hunt
7. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)
We waited a long time but Andrew Luck is back - and he looks good. The schedule down the stretch contains only one division leader, but two divisional against the Titans and Texans that could have a real say on matters. The win over the Dolphins could prove crucial in the cluttered wild card picture.
To Make the Playoffs Odds: 11/8
8. Miami Dolphins (5-6)
Ryan Tannehill is back but it's an uphill battle from here on in after losing to the Indianapolis Colts.
To Make the Playoffs Odds: 9/1
9. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)
The Bengals are struggling after losing to the Ravens and Cleveland and with QB Andy Dalton out for the season they look like a spent force. They're still in touch but it's hard to see them making a late recovery.
NFC
First round bye
1. New Orleans Saints (10-1)
Still the hottest team in the NFL right now and playing the best football, the Saints are flying and now have their eye on top spot and a huge home-field advantage throughout the play-offs. They face a tough assignment away at Dallas on Thursday night but come through that and they'll fancy their chances going forward with games against the Panthers and Steelers.
2. LA Rams (10-1)
The Rams are closing in on a second successive NFC West title, with just one game against a team with a winning record remaining. They'll need a slip-up from the Saints though to bag top spot after losing in New Orleans so right now the road to the Super Bowl goes through the Superdome.
Division leaders
3. Chicago Bears (8-3)
Battling for the surprise team of the season, Chicago’s defence means they are a genuine contender, as they showed against Minnesota. The return game in Minneapolis comes on the final week of the regular season but given the the Vikings have coming up and the lead they have over the Packers the Bears could be out of reach by then. Missing Mitchell Trubisky for Thanksgiving's game in Detroit is a worry though.
To Make the Playoffs Odds: 1/6
4. Dallas Cowboys (6-5)
Three wins on the spin puts Dallas right back in the NFC East hunt with a share of the lead and top spot i=on the tiebreakers. Washington have lost their starting QB and the Eagles can't get anything going, it may not take too many more wins to win this division.
To Make the Playoffs Odds: 2/1
Wild cards
5. Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1)
Beating the banged-up Packers was the minimum requirement given they now go zig-zagging the entire country to play consecutive games in New England and Seattle.
To Make the Playoffs Odds: 4/9
6. Washington Redskins (6-5)
Losing Alex Smith is a huge blow and they look to be on an unstoppable slide out of play-off contention. Given what division they're in though, they still have a decent chance.
To Make the Playoffs Odds: 2/1
In the hunt
7. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
A late field goal victory over Carolina keeps Seattle right in the hunt and they're now well fancied given they play the Vikings as direct wildcard rivals. They’ve also got the Chiefs but two games against the 49ers and one with Arizona gives them a distinct advantage.
To Make the Playoffs Odds: 4/7
8. Carolina Panthers (6-5)
It was a sickening defeat to Seattle on the back of another close one against Detroit that leaves them clinging to their play-off hopes. They'll need to step up their game in a hurry to keep in touch.
To Make the Playoffs Odds: 13/8
Odds correct as of 1420 GMT on 28/11/18
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