And then there were eight.
All of a sudden, the race to win Super Bowl LVI has been reduced to an elite few, and each of the teams still in the frame for a post-season push have their own unique appeal.
Even the long-shot Cincinnati Bengals out at +1500 have quarterback Joe Burrow and elite attackers in Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Mixon capable of getting them past the Tennessee Titans.
But most attention will naturally flock to the long-standing favorites and power players, with no franchise currently looking firmer to feature in the Super Bowl than the +300 Green Bay Packers.
Meanwhile, Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers—the reigning titleholders and 13-4 regular-season finishers—can’t even crack the top three at most sportsbooks heading into the divisional play-offs.
So who is more fancied than ‘Tom Terrific’ to take their teams to Super Bowl glory, and is it worth running with the favorites at this point in the season?
Latin Times breaks down the top challengers still in the frame to contest this year’s Super Bowl, complete with the latest outright winner odds and betting guides to aid your wagers.
Green Bay Packers (+300)
All signs read positive on the good ship Green Bay ahead of the business end of the season, with few flags to suggest the franchise isn’t capable of going all the way for the fifth time in their history.
There’s a reason why Aaron Rodgers is the overwhelming favorite to take home the regular-season MVP prize for the fourth time, which would move him within one of record-holder and five-time winner Peyton Manning:
https://twitter.com/zachkruse2/status/1482037589267951619
It bodes well for the Packers that they should have close to a full-strength roster ahead of their NFC divisional play-off, having been allowed to rest certain stars since wrapping up home field with time to spare.
That extra respite should do Matt LaFleur’s side the world of good, though it bodes badly for the team that Rodgers is 0-3 against upcoming opponents the San Francisco 49ers in post-season games.
Kansas City Chiefs (+400)
If the Green Bay threesome of Rodgers, Davante Adams and Aaron Jones are seen as totems of their team, then Kansas City have a trio of equal value in Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.
It is a concern for coach Andy Reid that running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrell Williams are carrying injuries at present, though the passing game is so strong that it may not matter:
https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1482914147411107841
Mahomes has made it happen any way necessary to deliver the Chiefs to the Super Bowl in each of the past two seasons, and after a sluggish start, they’ve now gone 9-1 across their last 10 games.
It’s better to finish strong than to begin like it, after all, and the Super Bowl LIV winners now once again look like arguably the most well-balanced team on both sides of the ball.
Buffalo Bills (+500)
The most tempting pick to somehow storm the gates and crash the party attended by the usual suspects, there’s plenty to like about any team drilled by a certain Josh Allen.
The Buffalo Bills have shown a knack for learning as the season has progressed and recently avenged a Week 13 defeat to the New England Patriots with a play-off win.
Allen was as influential as ever in their 47-17 rout during the Wild Card phase, earning plaudits from fans and team-mates alike:
https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1483570867917438985
It’s encouraging that Buffalo beat their divisional play-off foes, the Chiefs, 38-20 when they visited Arrowhead in Week 5, but Kansas City will be a different beat this time around.
Team
Odds
Green Bay Packers
+300
Kansas City Chiefs
+400
Buffalo Bills
+500
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
+600
Los Angeles Rams
+750
Tennessee Titans
+800
San Francisco 49ers
+1100
Cincinnati Bengals
+1500
