As NFL fans await some sort of plan from the league to be rolled out days before the start of training camp to deal with keeping players safe throughout the pandemic, I thought I’d take a look at NFL team odds for the postseason. This is a two-part article splitting the odds up by conference. This helps to put things in perspective in terms of playoff spots available. What I mean by that is, is when looking at a large list of NFL team odds to make the playoffs, it’s easy to get sidetracked on how many actual available spots there are in the postseason. Of the available NFC teams listed below, only six teams can make the postseason, four division winners and two wildcards. As always, make sure you research which sportsbook is right for you, not all of them offer the same bonuses and deposit options. Make sure you find a reliable source to compare different sportsbooks to find the right one
| NFC Team Playoff Odds | Teams | Make Playoffs | Miss Playoffs |
| Arizona Cardinals | +210 | -290 | |
| Atlanta Falcons | +230 | -320 | |
| Carolina Panthers | +500 | -900 | |
| Chicago Bears | +160 | -215 | |
| Dallas Cowboys | -230 | +170 | |
| Detroit Lions | +235 | -330 | |
| Green Bay Packers | -200 | +150 | |
| LA Rams | +150 | -200 | |
| Minnesota Vikings | -135 | -105 | |
| New Orleans Saints | -400 | +275 | |
| New York Giants | +400 | -650 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | -200 | +150 | |
| San Francisco 49ers | -450 | +300 | |
| Seattle Seahawks | -165 | +125 | |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -245 | +180 | |
| Washington Redskins | +625 | -1300 |
Avoid the Obvious
There are some obvious wagers to avoid here. The Redskins (-1300) Panthers (-900) and Giants (-650) to miss the playoffs are just foolish bets in terms of ROI. The Saints (-400) and 49ers (-450) also aren’t a lock to make the postseason but are not great bets as you’d have to put up too much money for such a small return. There are a couple of bets in this list that are appealing, you just have to filter out the noise.
Odds to Make the Playoffs: +230
Last year, the offseason project was fixing the offensive line. The Falcons drafted two first-round players G Chris Lindstrom 14th overall and OT Kaleb McGary 31st overall to play on the right side of the line. They also signed free agent James Carpenter to a four-year deal. Things didn’t go according to plan as injuries and a struggle to gel as a unit hurt the team’s offense throughout the season. The Falcons were graded as having the 24th ranked O-line by PFF.
At this year’s 2020 NFL draft the team focused on their defense as they added CB AJ Terrell from Clemson to help the secondary and added DE Marlon Davidson from Auburn to boost depth to their defensive line. The team also was busy adding talent in free agency, with additions of RB Todd Gurley and TE Hayden Hurst. Despite back to back 7-9 seasons the last few years, I feel the draft capital and free-agent acquisitions should get them over the hump this year. The offensive line project was a lot of ask for from a few first-round rookies, but in year two they should be more comfortable. AJ Terrell is expected to start his first season and should make an impact in a very pass-happy division. While the NFC South is no joke, I think the Falcons can compete and lock up a wildcard spot this season.
Odds to Not Make the Playoffs: +180
Everyone is cheering for Tom Brady to succeed in Tampa Bay, and with all the surrounding talent there is a good chance the team plays well, however, I’m concerned about the defense. The Buc’s ranked 29th against the pass last year, and I don’t think 42-year old Brady has the energy to go toe to toe with opponents each and every week. He’s used to having a great defense and playing in one of the worst divisions in football. Tom Brady could literally treat the regular season as the pre-season as the Jets, Dolphins, and Bills handed the Pat’s six easy wins every year. The Saints, Falcons, and even Panthers are always competitive amongst their division. Even with an easy schedule, I have a hard time seeing the Bucs do any better than 9-7. The odds aren’t great, but I like the Bucs to miss the postseason at +180.
James is a diehard fantasy football fan who has been playing for over 20 years. He doesn’t have a favorite team, mainly from moving around a lot when he was a kid. This has to lead to many fantasy championships as James drafts with his head, not with his heart. James also plays heavily in Dynasty Football and loves DFS and Picking games. He’s excited to see where he can go writing for Gridiron Experts
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