NFL Playoff Picture Coming Into Focus

Four teams have punched their ticket for the NFL Playoffs, and seven teams have been eliminated from contention. That includes the New York Jets, who extend their streak to 14 seasons without a trip to the postseason. Of the 124 franchises in North America’s four major team sports, that is the longest current drought.

Clinched a Playoff Spot

In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs have clinched the AFC West for the ninth straight season, which is the second longest division title streak in NFL history, trailing only the 11 won by the New England Patriots. Kansas City is 12-1, 10-0 in one-score games, and on Sunday night, they had a third different kicker win a game this season as time expired. Prior to this season, no team ever had more than one.

The Chiefs are +425 to win the Super Bowl, which is ahead of the Buffalo Bills at +700, who have clinched the AFC East for the fifth straight year. The Bills lost to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, 44-42, dropping them two games behind the Chiefs for the AFC’s top seed.

In the NFC, the Detroit Lions are in the playoffs for a second consecutive season. They don’t yet have the NFC North division title, but they are currently 12-1 and the betting favorites to win the Super Bowl at +260. Detroit leads the race for the NFC’s top seed, but they are just one game ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles, who have also clinched a playoff berth.

The Eagles have a three-game lead in the NFC East, and could clinch the division as early as this coming Sunday.

Other Division Leaders

In the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 10-3, now tied with the Bills for the No. 2 seed (currently third because of a tiebreaker), and not completely out of the running for the No. 1 seed. They also have a very tough schedule ahead, with road games at the Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, then the Chiefs at home on Christmas Day. Pittsburgh is +2000 to win the Super Bowl.

The AFC South is led by the Houston Texans, who have a two-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts, plus the tiebreaker. The Texans are now +4500 to win the Super Bowl after opening the season at +1550.

In the NFC South, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team in the division above .500, now at 7-6. The Falcons have fallen to 6-7, and the Bucs have become the heavy favorite to win the division at -255. Atlanta’s four straight losses have dropped their division odds to +180.

The NFC West is now the Seattle Seahawks’ to win, with their odds to claim the division at -110. In losing to Seattle on Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals dropped to 6-7 on the season and are now +700 to win the division. After their big win against Buffalo, the Rams are +160.

Current Wild Card Teams

In the AFC, the Ravens are currently the top wild card team, but still have hopes of winning their division. Baltimore is +140 to win the AFC North and -10000 to make the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Chargers were losers on Sunday night. But as the current No. 6 seed, they are -1400 to make the playoffs in Jim Harbaugh’s first season in L.A. He is +850 to win Coach of the Year.

Sean Payton is +750 to win Coach of the Year, and his Denver Broncos are in the final wild card slot and -250 to make the postseason for the first time since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season.

The top two wild card teams in the NFC are the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, and both still have chances to win the NFC North. The Vikings are 11-2 and zeroing in on their final two regular season games – home vs. the Packers and at the Lions. We may not know who has won the NFC North until the final whistle on that final Sunday of the season.

Minnesota is +500 to win the North and drop the Lions to a wild card team. Green Bay is a longshot at +35000.

The final spot in the NFC playoffs is the Washington Commanders’ at the moment. They are 8-5, one game ahead of the Rams. The Commanders are -500 to make the playoffs, while the Rams are paying +150.