We are entering the most critical time of the NFL season as the race to make the NFC and AFC playoffs is starting to heat up.
With just eight weeks of the regular season remaining, we evaluate which teams are looking good to have a memorable postseason.
The Favorites – AFC
At the top of the NFL Super Bowl betting are the defending champions the Kansas City Chiefs.
Heading into this year, Patrick Mahomes and crew looked like the team to beat, and through the first half of the season that has largely looked the case.
With a reasonably soft schedule up to this point in the season, the Chiefs have put themselves in a strong position to lock up the number 1 seed in the AFC, but defeats against both the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos have raised some eyebrows.
Looking to put those losses firmly behind them, aside from games against the Eagles and Bills, the Chiefs will be confident of winning most of their games down the stretch and secure home field advantage yet again.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens look like they may be the Chiefs closest rivals when it comes to securing the AFC’s top seed.
With Lamar Jackson playing some of his best football in years, the Ravens sit at 7-3 and look like one of the best teams in football.
Unlike in previous seasons, Jackson has no shortage of weapons. Devastating on the ground and through the air, the Ravens have put up big numbers in impressive wins against the Seahawks and Bengals.
The AFC North looks like the best division in football and games against the Steelers and Browns will be hugely competitive. With work to do, Jon Harbaugh will be ensuring his team plays hard all the way to end of the season.
The Favorites – NFC
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles will be looking to secure home field advantage for the second consecutive season and have a great chance of doing so thanks to a strong start to the year.
With Jalen Hurts looking like one of the best quarterbacks in the league, he has been masterful as he has guided his squad to impressive wins over both the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys.
It gets tougher for the Eagles and they are about to embark on their toughest stretch of the season with games to come against the Chiefs, Bills, 49ers and Cowboys.
If the Eagles are to repeat as the top dogs in the NFC, they will certainly have to do it the hard way.
San Francisco 49ers
Alongside the Eagles, the 49ers have looked like the best team in the NFC. Cruising out to 5-0, the injury bug then hit and the 49ers quickly crashed to 5-3.
With their bye week coming at a vital time, the team were able to welcome back Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams and they subsequently looked back to their best – crushing the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-3.
Like the Eagles, tough tests await, with the 49ers still to play the Ravens, Seahawks and Eagles but they look well placed to make another deep run in this year’s NFC race.
Other teams to keep an eye on
As with every NFL season there are some teams that have surprised everyone and have put themselves in the Super Bowl mix.
With a great looking schedule ahead of them, the Detroit Lions could well end the year as the NFC’s number one seed.
Their season got off to a great start as they went to Kansas City on opening night and stunned the defending champions. Now sitting at 7-2, the Lions won’t hold any fears about what is ahead of them and they look ideally placed to win a first playoff game in decades.
At times this season the Miami Dolphins have looked like the best team in the NFL. Dominant on offence, Tyreek Hill has already surpassed the 1,000 receiving yard mark and Tua Tagovailoa has looked every inch a first round talent.
Leading the way in the AFC East, the Dolphins will have higher aspirations, however, they do have questions to answer. Defeats have come against the Chiefs, Eagles and Bills and as of yet they haven’t had a statement win. With games to come against the Ravens, Cowboys and Bills they will have a good chance to rewrite that narrative.
With millions set to be wagered up until the Super Bowl, there are plenty of twists and turns to come in the lead up to this year’s big game. If you want to place a bet or study the form, then usalegalbetting.com can point you towards all of the best sites to place your bets and help you see all of the latest NFL odds.
