It’s been a busy off-season in the NFL with several transactions being made that impacted the Super Bowl 57 and NFL Playoffs odds at sportsbooks for the teams involved. This was especially true when it came to the transactions involving some of the league’s top quarterbacks:
- Seattle traded Russell Wilson to Denver.
- Atlanta traded Matt Ryan to Indianapolis.
- Pittsburgh signed Mitchell Trubisky following the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger.
- Washington acquired Carson Wentz from Indianapolis.
- The Falcons will try to replace Matt Ryan with Marcus Mariota.
Of course, one of the most significant transactions involved Deshaun Watson finding a new home in Cleveland. But since it’s unclear how long he’ll get suspended, playoff odds have not been posted for the Browns.
NFL Playoff Odds To Make/Miss The Playoffs
Of the six teams mentioned above (Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Washington), the Steelers are the only ones that qualified for the playoffs last season. But in what is shaping up to be one of the best top-to-bottom divisions in football, returning to the playoffs will not be easy with Big Ben retired.
Let’s examine the playoff odds for all six teams (remember: there are three wildcards now):
Atlanta Falcons: Yes +630 (FanDuel); No -600 (PointsBet)
It looked like a window might have opened for the Falcons to become competitive in the NFC South again. But then Tom Brady came back to the Bucs, and the team traded Matt Ryan. Marcus Mariota could be a serviceable bridge quarterback. But he was unremarkable with the Titans and did not play much with the Raiders.
Denver Broncos: Yes -150 (BetMGM); No +125 (BetMGM)
Expectations will be high in Denver with Russell Wilson at quarterback and Josh McDaniels as the new head coach. The offensive line is average on its best day, but Wilson has been successful behind shoddy o-lines in the past. But Wilson will have a solid corps of receivers to work with and a talented duo sharing duties in the backfield.
Indianapolis Colts: Yes -125 (PointsBet); No +135 (DraftKings)
Carson Wentz was better last season with the Colts than his last couple with the Eagles, but his mistakes cost the Colts games. Matt Ryan will not make the same mistakes Wentz made. With one of the better offensive lines in the game, one of the top running backs, and a solid defense, expect the Colts to be competitive in 2022.
Seattle Seahawks: Yes +450 (FanDuel); No -500 (BetMGM)
Even with Russell Wilson, the Seahawks would have had a hard time competing in the NFC West in 2022. The outlook is better for the other three teams, and the Seahawks have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball. Factor in the struggles they are bound to have with Drew Lock/Jacob Eason at QB, and it just doesn’t look good.
Washington Commanders: Yes +195 (DraftKings); No -225 (PointsBet)
At 7-10, the Commanders were not too far out of the playoff picture in 2021. They have a lot of the right pieces in place; they just need a quarterback that can make plays when the team needs them most. The Carson Wentz that nearly won MVP in 2018 could be trusted to do so; the version that cost the Colts a playoff berth last season—not so much.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Yes +333 (BetRivers); No -350 (PointsBet)
Unless the Steelers fix their offensive line and find a running back, Mitchell Trubisky will look like the guy Chicago let go, and the offense will be stagnant in 2022. On the defensive side of the ball, Pittsburgh is in good shape. But until it becomes clear the Steelers have a serviceable quarterback, there are better bets you can make.
Also read: NFL Season Win Totals 2022: Bills And Bucs Are Atop Oddsboard | NFL Draft Odds
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