2024 NFL Conference Championship Weekend Power Rankings

Previous Betting News

Okay MyBookie NFL betting nation, we’re down to the final four!

With both conference championships set for Sunday, it’s time to take a fun-filled look at my playoff power rankings for each of the four teams still in the hunt to win the 2021 Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy. Let’s get right to it so you can make your bets against their NFL Playoffs odds.

NFL Playoffs Betting – 2021 Conference Championship Power Rankings

No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-5)

Tom Brady and the Buccaneers (10-8 ATS, 10-8 O/U) have won six straight games dating back to the regular season and seven of its last 10 games overall. Tampa Bay finished the regular season ranked seventh in total offense, second in passing, 28th in rushing and a stellar third in scoring (30.8 ppg). Defensively, the Bucs closed out the regular season ranked sixth in total defense, 21st against the pass, first against the run and eighth in points allowed (22.2 ppg).

While Tampa Bay has some fantastic statistics across the board and an offense and defense that both finished inside the top 10, I’ve got the Bucs at No. 4 in my conference championship power rankings for a reason. Each of Tampa Bay’s last four regular season wins came against teams with a losing record, so I’m not at all impressed. The Bucs got past Washington 31-23 in the wild card round, but again, I’m not impressed seeing as how Washington was without starting quarterback Alex Smith and Tampa Bay just couldn’t put the Football Team away.

I also wasn’t impressed with last week’s 30-20 divisional round win over New Orleans. The game was tied 13 all at the half, although the Saints clearly outplayed the Bucs. Hell, the score was tied at 20 all heading into the fourth quarter before New Orleans kept shooting themselves in the foot.

To show just how ineffective Tampa Bay’s offense was, just know that star wide receivers Mike Evans and Antonio Brown both finished with one reception. While the Bucs did record three interceptions of Drew Brees, two of those picks were clearly not because of outstanding defense. Sorry, not sorry, but Tampa Bay is fourth in my conference championship power rankings.

No. 3 Buffalo Bills (15-3)

The Bills (12-6 ATS, 11-6-1 O/U) hit the AFC Championship game as the hottest team still standing. Buffalo has won eight consecutive games and nine of its last 10 games overall while finishing the regular season ranked second in total offense, third in passing, 20th in rushing and second in scoring (31.3 ppg). Defensively, the Bills rank 14th overall, 13th against the pass, 17th against the run and 16th in points allowed.

Buffalo got past Indianapolis 27-24 in the wild card round in a game I believe they would have lost had Colts head coach Frank Reich not mismanaged his team and taken four points off the board. Still, Buffalo has a powerful offense and a blossoming quarterback in Josh Allen that I’ve been more impressed with each time I watch him play.

More importantly, the Bills are playing defense at an improved level from what we saw out of them early on this season. Buffalo has limited the opposition to 17 points or less five times over its last eight games while allowing 10 points or less in two of those contests, including last weekend’s statement-making 17-3 win over Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

If the Bills play defense in the AFC Championship game like they did a week ago, Kansas City could be in big trouble! Buffalo gets my No. 3 spot in the conference championship power rankings.

No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

The Chiefs (7-10 ATS, 8-9 O/U) hit the AFC Championship game having won nine of its last 10 games with its only loss coming against the Chargers in its meaningless regular season finale. Kansas City closed out the regular season ranked first in total offense, first in passing, 16th in rushing and sixth in scoring (29.6 ppg). Defensively, the Chiefs rank 16th overall, 14th against the pass, 21st against the run and 10th in points allowed (22.6 ppg).

I know the Chiefs didn’t look very good in their 22-17 divisional round win over Cleveland last week even when Patrick Mahomes was on the field, but Kansas City just keeps finding ways to win and the Chiefs might have too many weapons for anyone to contain for the second straight postseason.

Kansas City might be known for its high-scoring offense, but the defending Super Bowl champs have limited three of their last six opponents to 17 points or less and shut down a Cleveland team last week that had just exploded for 48 points against Pittsburgh in the divisional round. Kansas City will almost surely need Mahomes to play this weekend if they want to get past Buffalo, but as it stands right now, the Chiefs are second in the conference championship power rankings with an offense and defense that both finished inside the top 10!

No. 1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)

The Packers (11-6 ATS, 10-7 O/U) have won seven straight games and nine of its last 10 games overall. The Packers closed out the regular season ranked fifth in total offense, ninth in passing, eighth in rushing and first in scoring (31.8 ppg). Defensively, Green Bay ranks ninth overall, seventh against the pass, 13th against the run and an identical 13th in points allowed (23.1 ppg).

When the postseason started, I was expecting either New Orleans or Seattle even (forgive me) to get past the Packers, but the more I watch Green Bay, the more convinced I am they are a lock to reach Super Bowl LV! Green Bay’s 40-14 Week 16 home win over Tennessee, combined with last week’s overpowering 32-18 smackdown of Aaron Donald and the LA Rams, has me completely convinced that the Packers are the top team remaining in this year’s Super Bowl race.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense has scored at least 32 points in three straight games and made the Ram’s N. 1 overall defense look like a bunch of overmatched middle schoolers last weekend. Green Bay has scored at least 30 points in seven of its last eight games while putting 30 or more on the board a mind-boggling 13 times this season!

On the defensive side of the ball, the Packers are absolutely surging. Green Bay has not given up more than 18 points in four straight games and five times in its last six games overall. Aaron Rodgers looks like a spry 25-year-old and has done more with less than any other quarterback in the league this season. Maybe it’s me, but as it stand right now, I don’t think anyone is getting past the Packers this postseason which is why they’re in the top spot in my NFL Conference Championship power rankings!

Previous Betting News

Super Bowl 50 is only weeks away. We’re left with four teams, left to battle it out to see who will represent their conference in the end-all game. Each team that’s left is incredibly good, and has withstood their respective competition to get to where they are today. Ranking these teams is tricky, but we’ve tried to rank them based on momentum, skill level, and postseason experience. Without any further ado, let’s rank these teams coming into Conference Championship weekend.

Conference Championship Power Rankings & Odds To Win Super Bowl 50

#4 The Denver Broncos (Odds to win Super Bowl 50: +350)

It sounds crazy that we have the team with the best record in the AFC at the bottom of our power rankings. Truth be told, they barely squeaked out a win against a completely depleted Steelers team. They only scored one touchdown in the entire game, and were held to field goals by a decent Pittsburgh defense. This weekend they go up against Tom Brady, who has an 11-5 record against the Broncos. The one positive for the Broncos? They’re at home, and Mile High Stadium is among the toughest stadiums to play at, for any quarterback, even if you’re Tom Brady.

#3 The Arizona Cardinals (Odds to win Super Bowl 50: +275)

Ranking the Cardinals above the Panthers would be a disservice to the great play the Panthers have showcased all season. Arizona, like Denver, barely squeaked out a win against Green Bay. After a deflected touchdown catch in the end zone, a hail mary gone wrong, and a 70-yard Larry Fitzgerald pass in overtime, the Cardinals escaped their last game at home for the season. They have not faced the Panthers yet this season, but hopes are looking down on the Cardinals as they come into Charlotte against a team that just destroyed the Seattle Seahawks.

#2 The New England Patriots (Odds to win Super Bowl 50: +150)

The Patriots have everything on their side in their matchup against the Broncos, except for home field advantage. Tom Brady has been excellent this season, Peyton Manning has been sub par at best. Brady gets many of his weapons back again after seeing them in limited action against the Chiefs. Currently the Patriots are favored by 3 points against the home Broncos, and it’s easy to see why. They’re firing on all cylinders, and just took down a team that was on an 11-game win streak.

#1 The Carolina Panthers (Odds to win Super Bowl 50: +175)

Are the Panthers for real? Was the question floating in NFL fan’s heads on Sunday afternoon before kickoff. Before those fans could finish their thought, the game was 14-0, then by halftime, was 31-0. Although the Seahawks slightly came back in the game, it ended in the Panther’s favor, as they won the game 31-24. Carson Palmer and the Cardinals looked flat against the Packers.. The Panthers defense should hold them in check, and Carolina should win en route to Super Bowl 50.