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The goal of every NFL team’s season is to win the Super Bowl, of course, but to do that they have to first make the playoffs, and though that is never a given, the oddsmakers have an idea of their favorites, their underdogs, and who they think may be watching from their couches.
Last year’s Super Bowl contenders, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are the favorites to return to postseason play, the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns have set themselves ups as possibilities, and the New York Jets and Houston Texans look like they might have a rough season ahead of them.
It’s never too early to take advantage of some juicy futures bets, so here we go over some predictions, picks, and odds for which of the thirty-two NFL franchises have a good chance to make a run for Super Bowl LVI and earn the 56th Lombardi Trophy (and which teams will not).
Good luck!
Odds taken 25 May, 2021 from DraftKings Sportsbook
Team to make the playoffs | Yes | No |
Kansas City Chiefs | -1000 BET NOW |
+625 BET NOW |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -560 BET NOW |
+400 BET NOW |
Cleveland Browns | -225 BET NOW |
+180 BET NOW |
Dallas Cowboys | -150 BET NOW |
+123 BET NOW |
New York Jets | +490 BET NOW |
-715 BET NOW |
Houston Texans | +670 BET NOW |
-1115 BET NOW |
Odds from DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or check out more offers and promo codes for the best online sportsbooks.
Our Pick | ||||
With a rebuilt defense and a talented run-heavy offense, the Cleveland Browns led by last year’s Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski have an excellent chance at returning to the playoffs. | ||||
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Watch professional sports bettor Bill Krackomberger and co-host Jon Orlando cast their predictions for which NFL team is most likely to make it to the playoffs. Follow Jon and Bill on Wise Kracks, WSN’s weekly sports betting podcast.
2021/22 NFL Regular Season | |
Teams | 2021/22 NFL Regular Season |
Location | USA + International |
Time | Thu, Sept 9 thru TBD |
How to watch | CBS ESPN/Fox/NBC/NFLN |
Yes, the Chiefs made the Super Bowl last season, but no, they did not do well, and that was mainly due to having to play less two starting tackles due to injury, which made it a night where star QB Patrick Mahomes threw no touchdowns and had to elude sacks.
This offseason, the Chiefs traded the Ravens for tackle Orlando Brown, which should help solidify the front line, and then it’s just up to the regular stars like WR Tyreek Hill and TE Travis Kelce to do what they do, which is to get open and find the endzone while holding the football.
The champs will return, or so the oddsmakers believe, and why not since they have the GOAT again, Tom Brady, plus playmakers like TE Rob Gronkowski and RB Leonard Fournette returning, all let by head coach Bruce Arians and his excellent staff.
The defense of Tampa helped give them their Super Bowl rings in 2021, led by DEs Ndamukong Suh and William Gholston and NT Vita Vea, a defensive front line that caused Patrick Mahomes eternal nightmares in the backfield.
It was clear to anyone who watched the Browns in the playoffs last season that their defense was their weak spot, so they spend their offseason accumulating an almost entirely new squad, including playmakers John Johnson, Troy Hill, Jadaveon Clowney, and Anthony Walker Jr., plus rookie CB Greg Newsome II and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
The team will run back their offense led by QB Baker Mayfield, who grew into the first overall pick he is last season going 7-3 at the end of last year, almost beating the Chiefs in the playoffs to get to the AFC Championship game.
After a horrible 2020 season that included losing their starting QB Dak Prescott to a serious ankle injury and having a subpar performance all year from playmaking RB Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys need to have a knockout season in 2021 if head coach Mike McCarthy hopes to stick around.
Dak is back and the front office snagged some decent defensive talent in the offseason – including Keanu Neal, Carlos Watkins, and rookie Micah Parsons – and now they face a slightly improved NFC East and have their sights set for the upcoming postseason.
This offseason was like Christmas for the Jets, the team snagging a new head coach, Robert Saleh, a new franchise quarterback, Zach Wilson, in addition to safety Lamarcus Joyner, receiver Corey Davis, and pass rusher Carl Lawson, plus they got rid of the QB they previously drafted in the first round, Sam Darnold, who was not getting the job done.
Now given all that new talent and leadership that needs gelling, chances are the Jets will not be able to put together a playoff-worthy season, though, with this much young talent and a defensive-minded guru like Saleh leading the way, the postseason should not be too far away for this New York football franchise.
Tough times for this organization, including a mass exodus from the building this offseason due to their 4-12 record last season as well as the cloudy future created by their starting QB, Deshaun Watson, who is battling a pile of sexual harassment claims.
The Texan’s front office has come across as inept, and that has fueled some unlikely departures from the franchise, including defensive powerhouse J.J. Watt, P.R. exec Amy Palcic, and equipment manager Mike Parson, turnovers that indicate that Houston may have a problem.
Beginner friendly
Fantastic odds
Bet $20 Win $200 in Free Bets
21+ CO, VA, MI Only | Terms and conditions apply
Bet $20 Win $200 in Free Bets
21+ CO, VA, MI Only | Terms and conditions apply
Mike Lukas is a retired standup comedian turned freelance writer now living in Dallas, Texas, originally from Cleveland, Ohio. His love for the game of football and all things Cleveland Browns turned Mike into a pro blogger years ago. Now Mike enjoys writing about all thirty-two NFL teams, hoping to help football gamblers gain a slight edge in their pursuit of the perfect wager. Email: [email protected]
More info on Mike Lukas
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