NFL playoffs odds: Best bets to make, miss postseason before final stretch
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With only six weeks left in the NFL season, the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. For some teams, though, it's never been more uncertain.
Eight clubs are +260 or shorter to either make or miss the playoffs, which leads to plenty of value if you can sort out the final few seeds in each conference.
Here are every available team's odds of reaching the postseason (some are off the board), with our favorite bets.
| TEAM | MAKE | MISS |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | +2000 | -20000 |
| Arizona Cardinals | -205 | +166 |
| Baltimore Ravens | -340 | +260 |
| Buffalo Bills | -1000 | +630 |
| Carolina Panthers | +2000 | -4000 |
| Chicago Bears | +205 | -270 |
| Cleveland Browns | -245 | +196 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +230 | -300 |
| Detroit Lions | +1120 | -1800 |
| Green Bay Packers | -2500 | +1400 |
| Houston Texans | +2000 | -7000 |
| Indianapolis Colts | -440 | +320 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | -166 | +136 |
| Los Angeles Rams | -2500 | +1400 |
| Miami Dolphins | +110 | -136 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +470 | -700 |
| New England Patriots | +1080 | -1800 |
| New Orleans Saints | -7000 | +2000 |
| New York Giants | +390 | -550 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +156 | -190 |
| San Francisco 49ers | +890 | -1450 |
| Seattle Seahawks | -4000 | +1900 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -650 | +450 |
| Tennessee Titans | -500 | +360 |
| Washington Football Team | +490 | -750 |
Arizona Cardinals to make the playoffs (-205)
There are seven playoff spots in the NFC and only six good teams, with a seat reserved for whichever club crawls out of the NFC East. The Cardinals are easily one of those six teams, and they're just a game back of the NFC West leader, too.
Arizona will still benefit from two games against NFC East teams, and the Cardinals will get two chances to upend the West-leading Rams. Even if the Cards lose both contests against Los Angeles, it would take an inspired effort from the Bears or 49ers - two teams trending in the wrong direction - to derail this bet.
Chicago Bears to miss the playoffs (-270)
The Bears look like a shell of their former selves after four straight losses, a stretch in which starter Nick Foles has thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions (four apiece). Those defeats have pushed Chicago into the conference's eighth spot with two games still left against the NFC North-leading Packers.
To make matters worse, Foles and former starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky are both battling injuries that could keep them out this week or longer, potentially forcing the Bears to rely on a third-string passer to keep their hopes alive. That sounds like a perfect fade opportunity.
Miami Dolphins to make the playoffs (+110)
Sunday's loss to the Broncos may have left a bitter taste in your mouth, but the Dolphins are still a good team with a clear postseason path. Miami's schedule is the fifth-easiest over the final five weeks, according to Football Outsiders, and in Week 16 the Dolphins can earn a tiebreaker over the Raiders, who are currently tied with them for the AFC's final playoff spot.
Even if you're dubious of this squad's offense, its defense is still legit and can shut down teams like the Jets, Bengals, and Patriots over the final few weeks. Miami can still win its division, too, and is a coin flip to make the playoffs. I'm buying the plus side of that coin all day long.
Philadelphia Eagles to miss the playoffs (-190)
Oddsmakers are finally realizing the Eagles aren't, in fact, a good football team, and they shouldn't be the overwhelming favorite to win the NFC East, as was the case just a few weeks ago. The Eagles should also be priced even shorter than this to miss the playoffs given what lies ahead.
Philadelphia will at least briefly lose the division lead after Thursday's results, and it faces four teams with winning records over the next four weeks before playing the Cowboys and Washington to end the year. Does that sound like a division winner to you?
Washington Football Team to make the playoffs (+490)
Somebody has to win the NFC East, and I continue to be bullish on Washington. This team is easily the division's best by advanced metrics, and it faces the second-easiest remaining schedule behind the Cowboys, who are still too vulnerable defensively for my taste.
Washington will get a chance to sweep the season series against Dallas on Thursday and grab a temporary lead atop the NFC East, with a game upcoming against the Eagles to potentially clinch the division in Week 17. At these odds, you can't go wrong taking a shot on the division's most complete team.
(Odds source: theScore Bet)
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.