The NFL season essentially kicks off this weekend with the Hall of Fame game. There is still over a month, however, until the regular season kicks off. It's time to consider whom you like in the NFL future odds. Having already looked at the NFC, we now focus on the AFC.
New England Patriots: +300 AFC,
+600 Super Bowl
It
should be no surprise that the Pats are the odds on favorites to win the AFC.
They also happen to be the favorites to win it all. New England couldn’t quite
get past Eli and the Giants last season. But, they have reloaded and are ready
for another run. They added Brandon Lloyd to their already amazing pass attack.
Also, their defense has improved as well. Nothing is a lock, especially in
August, but I can find no reasons why you should bet against Tom Brady and
company at this point.
Houston Texans +575 AFC, +1000
Super Bowl
For a team known for not being able to win the big game, the Texans are
getting a lot of love from the NFL odds makers this offseason. However, without two
of their best three offensive players, including their starting quarterback,
the Texans still made the playoffs last season and even won a game in the postseason. If
healthy, the Texans have the defense to go all the way. They have the best
running back in the NFL, and one of the best receivers. Houston could end up
being the number one seed in the AFC, and if it weren’t for Tom Brady, I would
consider them a lock to win the AFC.
Denver Broncos +650 AFC, +1400
Super Bowl
Is it
just me, or are there others who think that getting a 36 year old Peyton
Manning, a year removed from his third neck surgery, isn’t quite enough to
pole vault the Broncos past the Ravens and Steelers in AFC future odds? Either
way, the Broncos are in the hearts of the sportsbooks. Denver is a good team.
They have a great rushing attack, a good defense, and now a real quarterback.
If Manning can stay healthy, and get back to being his old dominant self, the
Broncos should be in this position. However, that's a lot of ifs.
Baltimore Ravens +750 AFC, +1550
Super Bowl
Even
though several teams are ahead of the Ravens in the Super Bowl odds, they come
in fourth among AFC favorites. They have several questions coming into this
season, even though they were the runners up just a season ago. If it wasn’t
for a botched kick, who knows what would have happened? Joe Flacco may not be
the quarterback people thought he was, their defense isn’t getting any younger,
and their receiving core isn’t the greatest. If, however, all falls into place for
Baltimore, they could very well find themselves in the AFC title game again.
Or, they could find themselves as a first round out.
Pittsburgh Steelers +750 AFC,
+1600 Super Bowl
The Steelers are very similar to the Ravens coming into the season. It’s
ironic that they are archenemies. The Steelers don’t have the questions on offense that the Ravens do, but there are plenty of questions surrounding
their defense. It is getting pretty old, and it started to show last season.
Still, they have won two Super Bowls with this unit, but like any team, there
comes an end. Ben Roethlisberger is more than capable of winning the big one,
but will his defense have enough to help him out by stopping the potent offense
of the Pats, Texans and even the Broncos?