The NFL playoff race is usually an exciting battle, with eight division titles available. Which teams are going to be in, which teams going to be out, and which teams might just sneak up and surprise everyone? We’ve got the skinny right here.
Who Will The NFL Divisional Races?
With eight division titles up for grabs, as well as two wildcard spots, the NFL playoff race is one that always comes right down to the wire with several teams in the hunt.
These are the teams we think have the best chance to top their respective divisions in 2017, with odds provided courtesy of BetOnline.ag:
New York Giants (+160)
The Dallas Cowboys are defending champs, but with 2016 NFL Rookie of the Year, Ezekiel Elliott, under NFL suspension for six games and the likelihood QB Dak Prescott will regress in his second year as a starter, the Giants - who beat the Cowboys twice last season - step to the fore. If they find a suitable running game to go with their dangerous passing attack, the Giants will loom large.
Green Bay Packers (-240)
The fact that they are opening with negative odds tells you all you need to know about the Packers. Not only will Aaron Rodgers and company run away with the division, they'll be favored to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Atlanta Falcons (+155)
The dreaded Super Bowl hangover figures to be harsh on the Falcons, considering how they coughed up the big game to the Patriots, but with Matt Ryan still at the helm, they simply have too many weapons not to dominate the division. Only Tampa Bay looms as a potential threat to their crown.
Seattle Seahawks (-260)
Another negative favorite, the Seahawks aren't the team that won the Super Bowl a few years back, but they should have enough to cop the title here, although the Arizona Cardinals figure to rebound from an off year and at least put up a fight.
New England Patriots (-1400)
Do we really have to explain this one? Just look at those odds. That tells the whole story. One team, the Miami Dolphis, had a chance to slightly test the Patriots. But that slight chance got obliterated when Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill went down for the season. Tom Brady was 14-1 last season, and the Patriots won the Super Bowl without all-world tight end Rob Gronkowski, who is back and healthy.
If only the Patriots weren't in the AFC, everyone might be talking about the Steelers. Antonio Brown will likely lead the NFL in receptions and Pittsburgh will run away with the division. Both the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals look to still be in disarray, so this should be easy pickings for the Steelers.
Tennessee Titans (+180)
Not only do the Titans, who missed the postseason last season via a tiebreaker, look to be ready to take that next step and play playoff football, they could very well make some noise once they get in. They'll get a strong argument from the Houston Texans (+195), but the Titans have one element at their disposal that the Texans can only dream about - QB Marcus Mariota.
Oakland Raiders (+155)
This figures to be a hotly-contested division. The Kansas City Chiefs will be right there, Denver is always tough and San Diego might surprise. But the Raiders were loaded before they added Marshawn Lynch and Beast Mode to their offensive scheme. The Silver and Black are back, and they will be back on top of this division for the first time since 2002, which was also the last season in which the Raiders played in the Super Bowl.
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