Super Bowl LV Contenders & Pretenders Dec. 31st Update

By Sunday night, we will know which teams have made it to NFL Playoffs. Right now, we know that Green Bay and Kansas City are the overall favorites. But a team must win the horrible NFC East and who knows which squads grab the wildcards in the AFC. Let’s try to work our way through the various scenarios. Check out an update on Super Bowl Contenders, Pretenders, and Longshot Contenders, along with their Super Bowl odds. 

Updated Super Bowl LV Contenders & Pretenders Analysis

2021 Super Bowl LV

• When: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021

• Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

Odds on the Chiefs continue to drop. They’re definitely a contender, and probably should be the favorite, but both the Saints and Packers are better plays than the Chiefs. 

Drew Brees will get Michael Thomas back for the playoffs. MT is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He immediately improves a Saints’ offense that averages 29.9 points per without him. 

The Packers look every bit a contender as the Kansas City Chiefs. Aaron Rodgers figures to win the MVP and Green Bay should get home field. The defense has gelled. The Packers haven’t allowed more than 25 points in their last 5 games. They’ve allowed 16 points or less in 3 of their last 5.

The Bills remain a strong contender at +900. Like the Packers, Buffalo’s defense has gotten better, and the offense has become one of the best in the NFL. Buffalo leads the league in third down conversion rate. The stat could be key in the playoffs. 

Any team that loses to the New York Jets doesn’t deserve to make the playoffs. Not only that, but COVID positives have hit the Cleveland Browns. The NFL said that the Browns must play the Steelers on Sunday. Don’t expect Pittsburgh to lay off. It will give the Steelers much pleasure to bounce the Browns from the postseason.

The Rams have now lost 2 in a row. Also, quarterback Jared Goff is out on Sunday in a must win against the Arizona Cardinals. If Arizona wins and Chicago upsets Green Bay, the Cards and Bears are in and the Rams are out. Even if the Rams make it, they must face either the Saints or the Seahawks in the first round without Goff. 

Arizona, Chicago, and the Washington Football Team aren’t good enough to win the NFC. If the WFT loses to Philadelphia, the winner between the Giants and Cowboys earlier in the day wins the NFC East. Neither one of those squads can hang with the Seahawks, Saints, and Packers.

We’re keeping the Steelers on the pretender odds list. Pittsburgh rallied to win the AFC North by beating Indianapolis. The Colts had Steel Town on their heels, though. Also, Pittsburgh is likely to face Baltimore, Miami, the Colts or Titans in the first round. That’s a recipe for disaster.

With each game, Tua Tagovailoa gets better. The Dolphins rank first in points allowed on average, 18.8. That makes them an underdog contender should they get into the playoffs. Both Indianapolis and Tennessee have enough pieces to win the Super Bowl. Philip Rivers must get hot in the playoffs, which could happen. The Titans’ defense must hit their stride in the playoffs. That also could happen.

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Odds and Lines: NFL Betting | Live Betting | Super Bowl | Playoffs | AFC | NFC

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