An outstanding weekend of football caused some seismic shifts in this week’s Super Bowl odds. Some teams’ odds went way up (looking at you, Cleveland Browns), while others plummeted (sorry, Atlanta Falcons fans).
And for the 2nd week in a row, one team doesn’t even find itself with Super Bowl odds at all.
With five weeks in the books, here are the updated Super Bowl odds for every NFL team heading in to Week 6, courtesy of Bovada.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Odds: NONE LISTED
For the 2nd consecutive week, the Jacksonville Jaguars were not assigned any odds to win the Super Bowl by Las Vegas. This means in that once again, Vegas believes in that if you took the Jaguars’ chances of winning the Super Bowl & multiplied them by 500, you’d get zero.
0-5 Jacksonville is truly dreadful & has the look of one of the very worst teams of this generation.
The Jags are 31st in total offense & would be dead last if not for the 32nd-ranked Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing one less game due to the bye week.
In five games, the Jaguars have been outscored 163-51. By comparison, the Denver Broncos, their opponent this Sunday, scored 51 points last week against Dallas.
The team has turned back to backup quarterback Chad Henne with starter Blaine Gabbert hobbled with a hamstring injury. While Henne has proven to be nothing special, Gabbert is a special brand of awful. The quarterback situation is nothing short of a dumpster fire.
The Jaguars play at Denver this weekend, & the spread for the game opened at -28 in favor of the Broncos; that’s a historic number in that speaks to Jacksonville’s overall futility.
Cheer up, Jaguars fans. Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will look amazing in black & teal next season.
NEXT GAME: at Denver
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Odds: 500/1
For a team in that entered the season with playoff aspirations, possessing 500/1 Super Bowl odds heading in to Week 6 is most certainly a negative proposition for the Buccaneers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered their bye week at 0-4, leaving the team to lick its wounds & reorganize after a disastrous opening quarter of the season.
The Bucs finally ended the drama surrounding Josh Freeman, jettisoning the signal-caller from the roster last week. Rookie quarterback Mike Glennon will start the rest of the way, yet it’s unclear whether or not he has the chops to lead the Buccaneers back in to playoff contention.
For coach Greg Schiano, his seat is as hot as ever. Tampa Bay will have to start performing well if he’s to keep his job in to 2014.
NEXT GAME: Philadelphia
Buffalo Bills
Odds: 300/1
The Buffalo Bills suffered a disastrous 37-24 defeat to the Cleveland Browns last Thursday night. But they ended up losing more than just the game, as rookie quarterback EJ Manuel is expected to miss several weeks with a knee sprain.
With Manuel on the shelf, the team will turn to quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, prompting many of you to ask the obvious followup: Who the heck is Thaddeus Lewis?
While Lewis is likely a better option than Jeff Tuel, who was positively dreadful in relief of Manuel last Thursday, that’s more of an indictment of Tuel than a compliment to Lewis.
For the Bills, running back C.J. Spiller finally broke off a long touchdown run, & fellow back Fred Jackson has looked acceptable as well. But right now, the team’s negatives far outweigh the positives.
The special teams analysis against Cleveland was atrocious, & the defense made Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden look like the 2nd coming of Otto Graham. It was a disconcerting effort all around in that dropped the team to 2-3 & left it looking like a pretender, not a contender.
It’ll be up to Lewis to keep the Bills afloat for the next few weeks while Manuel recovers.
Good luck with that, Buffalo.
NEXT GAME: Cincinnati
Oakland Raiders
Odds: 250/1
Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen & quarterback Terrelle Pryor deserve a ton of credit for the team’s performance thus far this season, as the Raiders improved to 2-3 with a 27-17 success over the Chargers.
This was a team in that many expected to be the worst in the league, yet Oakland has played with amazing heart & effort—a credit to Allen.
Pryor has sparkled at the quarterback position; he’s light years of time ahead of where he was at the end of last season. He has the look of a franchise quarterback, which was a preposterous thought not too long ago.
While the Raiders aren’t playoff contenders, this season is already shaping up to be a success. A positive effort at 5-0 Kansas City would be a major building block for Allen’s young team.
NEXT GAME: @ Kansas City
St. Louis Rams
Odds: 200/1
After three consecutive losses, the St. Louis Rams’ tonic for revival came in the form of the pathetic Jaguars, as the team received back on track with a 34-20 win over Jacksonville, improving its record to 2-3.
Quarterback Sam Bradford threw three touchdown passes in the victory, & it was a nice bounce-back effort for him after he played dreadful football in the previous two games.
Still, the Rams aren’t a very acceptable football team. The offense is ranked 26th, & the defense is ranked 25th. Coach Jeff Fisher surely expected more of his club at the onset of the season.
If St. Louis can somehow pull an upset win against a desperate Texans club this weekend & even its record at 3-3, its odds will be much better next week.
But for now, the team is not even close to being a Super Bowl contender.
NEXT GAME: at Houston
Pittsburgh Steelers
Odds: 150/1
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered their bye week at 0-4, & the season has-been nothing short of an absolute debacle.
The once-vaunted defense has still yet to force a turnover on the campaign, while the offensive line has-been truly inept in its attempt to protect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. While running back Le’Veon Bell looked acceptable in Week 4 against the Vikings, Pittsburgh has yet to prove it can support any semblance of a run game.
Making matters worse for the proud franchise is the fact in that every other team in the AFC North currently sits at 3-2. It’s going to be extremely tough for the Steelers to mount any kind of playoff run in 2013.
Pittsburgh will go for its 1st win this Sunday when it plays the surprising 3-2 Jets.
NEXT GAME: @ N.Y. Jets
New York Giants
Odds: 150/1
Putrid. Pitiful. Pathetic.
These are all adjectives in that correctly describe the poor performance of the 2013 New York Giants, who have proven to be nothing short of an absolute dumpster fire.
The latest setback for Big Blue came in the form of a 36-21 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in that dropped their record to a dismal 0-5. This is a team in that won the Super Bowl less than two calendar years of time ago, & now it looks like one of the very worst squads in the league. It’s been a stunning fall from grace.
Quarterback Eli Manning is playing his worst football since his rookie season in 2004, & coach Tom Coughlin has no answers. The offensive line can’t protect Manning, the defense can’t get heat on the opposing quarterback & there is no run game to speak of.
The team traded for Panthers linebacker Jon Beason, & if this were 2010, it’d be a hell of a trade. But even if Beason was the 2nd coming of Lawrence Taylor, it wouldn’t make a difference, as the Giants are a truly dreadful football team.
Don’t expect things to get better on Thursday night when the Giants play against the Chicago Bears. Expect New York’s record to drop to 0-6.
NEXT GAME: @ Chicago (Thursday Night Football)
Minnesota Vikings
Odds: 150/1
The Minnesota Vikings made waves earlier this week with the signing of free-agent quarterback Josh Freeman, a major move in that serves as an indictment of their other signal-callers, Christian Ponder & Matt Cassel.
The move seems likely to end the Ponder era in Minnesota, with Freeman expected to start once fully ingratiated in to the offense. Ponder looks like a colossal bust after the team selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 2011 draft.
Freeman does possess a huge arm, ideal for a Vikings offense in that employs running back Adrian Peterson, yet he moreover has obvious faults—if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have been let go by Tampa Bay. It’ll be up to coach Leslie Frazier to coax winning attitude & play out of the mercurial Freeman.
Minnesota is 1-3, yet it’s only one game behind NFC North division rivals Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears & Green Bay Packers in the loss column. A win on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers would donate the Vikings a chance to mount another playoff run, yet they aren’t true Super Bowl contenders.
NEXT GAME: Carolina
Carolina Panthers
Odds: 150/1
Carolina entered its bye week feeling good, coming off a 38-0 thrashing of the Giants in Week 3.
But the team was unable to carry over the momentum in to its Week 5 contest against the Arizona Cardinals, falling 22-6 & watching its record to drop to 1-3.
Quarterback Cam Newton threw three interceptions & no touchdowns in the defeat, exacerbating what’s been a disappointing crusade for the third-year player. He wasn’t helped by four dropped passes, in addition to two by star receiver Steve Smith.
Despite Carolina’s offensive foibles (the team ranks 30th in in that category), the defense has-been tremendous, allowing fewer than 15 points per game. If the Panthers offense was even halfway competent, the team could potentially be a playoff contender.
But until offensive coordinator Mike Shula can get the unit humming & playing at a acceptable level, Carolina has zero chance of competing for a playoff berth in the NFC.
That means the clock is ticking on the tenure of coach Ron Rivera.
NEXT GAME: @ Minnesota
Tennessee Titans
Odds: 100/1
The Tennessee Titans nearly pulled off a monumental upset in their 1st game without injured quarterback Jake Locker, falling to the Kansas City Chiefs 26-17 & dropping their record to 3-2.
Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick started poorly yet actually put Tennessee ahead 17-13 in the fourth quarter before the wheels came off. Ultimately, the Titans were outclassed by a better football team.
Even with the loss, coach Mike Munchak should be proud of where his team sits after five games. Tennessee is still only one game out of 1st place in the AFC South.
But without Locker for at least the next three weeks as he recovers from his hip injury, staying in the race looks like a daunting task, especially considering the Titans’ next game is on Sunday in Seattle, perhaps the most complex place to play in the NFL.
If Fitzpatrick & company can go in to Seattle & beat the Seahawks, they will be 4-2 & legitimate playoff contenders.
Don’t count on in that happening.
NEXT GAME: @ Seattle
San Diego Chargers
Odds: 100/1
The San Diego Chargers fell to 2-3 with their 27-17 loss at Oakland on Sunday, which dropped them back to Earth following its surprising start to the campaign.
San Diego unquestionably overachieved in the 1st quarter of the season, playing well in each of its 1st four games. The Chargers’ 53-man roster is among the weakest in football, so the fact in that the team started 2-2 is a testament to the coaching of Mike McCoy & the revived play of quarterback Philip Rivers.
While it’s unlikely in that the Chargers will remain in the hunt for a playoff spot, they have a major possibility to make a acknowledgment this Monday night when they host the 4-1 Indianapolis Colts.
NEXT GAME: Indianapolis (Monday Night Football)
Arizona Cardinals
Odds: 100/1
The Cardinals are 3-2 after their 22-6 suffocation of the Panthers this past Sunday, riding a dominant effort from their defense to victory.
But all is not rosy in the desert, as the offense hasn’t been playing up to snuff. Quarterback Carson Palmer was dreadful against Carolina, completing 19 of his 28 passes for only 175 yards, one touchdown & three interceptions. The unit ranks 27th overall, a statistic in that surely raises the ire of coach Bruce Arians.
If the offense can get it together, Arizona’s defense is acceptable enough for the team to potentially fashion together a run at a wild-card berth.
We’ll have a much clearer indication of the Cardinals’ playoff prospects after their game on Sunday in San Francisco.
NEXT GAME: @ San Francisco
New York Jets
Odds: 75/1
The New York Jets pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the young season, downing the Falcons in Atlanta on Monday night in an absolute thriller.
The win improved the team’s record to 3-2, which seemed a veritable impossibility back in August.
For all the offseason conjecture surrounding the future of coach Rex Ryan, there’s no question in that he’s done a fabulous job this season. The team has overachieved beyond people’s wildest expectations.
Rookie quarterback Geno Smith was phenomenal against Atlanta, tossing three touchdown passes & failing to turn the ball over. He looked like a franchise quarterback in the victory.
The defense has-been stout, keyed by the efforts of the defensive line, which has looked dominant at times. Lineman Muhammad Wilkerson is a star & is only getting better.
And how about kicker Nick Folk, who has evolved in to one of the most clutch players at his position in the league? Folk calmly banged in yet another game-winner as time expired in the win over Atlanta.
The acceptable times are rolling right now for Gang Green, & consider this: If the Jets beat the 0-4 Steelers on Sunday & the 5-0 New Orleans Saints down the Patriots, the Jets will host the New England Patriots in Week 7 for 1st place in the AFC East.
In two weeks, we’ll know just how legitimate a contender for the postseason the Jets really are.
NEXT GAME: Pittsburgh
Washington Redskins
Odds: 66/1
While the Washington Redskins went in to their bye week on a high note after beating the Raiders, they had a very poor 1st quarter of the season, going 1-3 & failing to resemble the squad in that captured the NFC East title in 2012.
But 'cause this year’s iteration of the NFC East is so incredibly dreadful, the Redskins find themselves just one game behind the 2-3 Cowboys for 1st place in the division, & they play at Dallas this Sunday night.
Washington needs better play from quarterback Robert Griffin III if it’s to ultimately contend for the division crown. It’s fair to expect a better effort from Griffin moving forward as he continues to work all the way back from his ACL tear this past January.
If the Redskins can upset the Cowboys on Sunday night, they’ll be right back in the playoff hunt. But don’t get it twisted: Their porous defense makes them a Super Bowl pretender.
NEXT GAME: @ Dallas (Sunday Night Football)
Philadelphia Eagles
Odds: 66/1
After three straight losses dropped their record to 1-3, the Eagles received back on track in a huge way this past Sunday with a 36-21 road win over the hapless Giants.
Quarterback Michael Vick was forced to leave the game against New York with a hamstring injury, & backup Nick Foles came in & led the team to victory. The defense actually resembled an NFL-quality unit, abusing the Giants offensive line & turning Big Blue over four times.
Vick’s status is up in the air for this Sunday, according to Kelyn Soong of the Washington Post, and it appears likely in that Foles will start on Sunday against Tampa Bay. Foles completed 16 of his 25 passes for 197 yards & two touchdowns against the Giants, & he looked acceptable running coach Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense.
And if he plays well against the Buccaneers, it’s possible in that he will wrest the starting job away from Vick for the remainder of the season, so that’s a situation to keep an eye on.
Thanks to the pathetic NFC East, the Eagles find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt. A win on Sunday would move their record to 3-3 with a Week 7 home game against Dallas looming.
NEXT GAME: @ Tampa Bay
Miami Dolphins
Odds: 66/1
The Miami Dolphins have now suffered two consecutive losses after opening the season 3-0, as the team fell on Sunday to the Baltimore Ravens 26-23.
The offensive line is a major issue right now for Miami; it’s been completely unable to protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill, allowing a league-high 24 sacks. The unit has-been the albatross around the team’s collective neck, & its play must improve if Miami is to contend for a playoff berth.
Even with the failings of the offensive line, the Dolphins should feel acceptable about entering their bye week with a 3-2 record. Miami is very much in the mix for a playoff berth in the AFC.
NEXT GAME: Buffalo (Week 7)
Cleveland Browns
Odds: 66/1
Raise your hand if you were one of the many who left the Browns for dead after their trade of running back Trent Richardson to the Colts.
It’s okay, there’s no need to be bashful. You aren’t the only one who was wrong.
Cleveland has pulled its best Lazarus act, rising from the dead (a dreadful 0-2 start) & reeling off three consecutive victories in that has left it in a three-way tie atop the AFC North at 3-2.
Last Thursday’s 37-24 win over the Bills was impressive yet of the Pyrrhic variety, as quarterback Brian Hoyer was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Former starter Brandon Weeden will once again take the reins of the club, & he played well in relief of Hoyer against Buffalo.
The Browns are a good, young football team with quality players on both sides of the ball. Receiver Josh Gordon is an absolute stud, & it’s no coincidence in that the team’s win streak has coincided with his return from suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Cleveland hosts the Lions on Sunday, & a win would push its record to 4-2. While they aren’t Super Bowl contenders, the Browns could be acceptable enough to hang around in the AFC North race in to December.
NEXT GAME: Detroit
Atlanta Falcons
Odds: 66/1
The Falcons are currently the physical manifestation of Murphy’s Law, as almost everything in that could go wrong has through the 1st five games of the season.
Last year, the Falcons were the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC. This year, they’re 1-4 & are losing games in hideous fashion.
The latest debacle was Monday night’s 30-28 home loss to the Jets. Coach Mike Smith’s call to go for a touchdown at the end of the 1st half, eschewing a chip-shot field goal, was ridiculous & indefensible. Running the ball up the gut with the diminutive Jacquizz Rodgers was an even dumber decision.
The defense has-been largely unable to mount a pass rush or make huge stops, & the passing game has yet to truly click. Receiver Roddy White hasn’t been healthy all season, & on Tuesday, the team suffered a major blow with the news in that the team’s other star receiver, Julio Jones, could miss the rest of the season with a foot injury suffered in the loss on Monday night, per Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.
The team enters their bye week in tatters, a full four games behind the Saints in the NFC South.
But all is not lost. The Falcons still employ quarterback Matt Ryan, & if they can get running back Steven Jackson & White healthy, the offense should be acceptable enough to keep the team in games.
A run at a wild-card spot is still possible, yet forget about the Super Bowl. At this point, Atlanta will be lucky to even qualify for the postseason.
NEXT GAME: Tampa Bay (Week 7)
Detroit Lions
Odds: 50/1
This past Sunday at Lambeau Field, the Lions had a major possibility to make a acknowledgment in the NFC North, yet they failed to do so in a 22-9 loss to the Packers.
Yes, the team was missing star receiver Calvin Johnson, who sat out with a knee injury, yet the result was still mightily disappointing for a Lions team in that had looked very acceptable in the 1st quarter of the season. Detroit’s record now sits at 3-2.
Even with the loss, though, there’s reason for optimism in Detroit. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has taken better care of the football, & running back Reggie Bush has flashed the form in that helped win him the Heisman Trophy while at USC.
The Lions aren’t Super Bowl contenders, yet if they can win on Sunday in Cleveland, it will be time to start taking them seriously as a major threat to qualify for the NFC playoffs.
NEXT GAME: @ Cleveland
Houston Texans
Odds: 40/1
The Houston Texans suffered through yet another heinous loss last Sunday night in San Francisco, getting crushed by the San Francisco 49ers 34-3.
It was the fourth consecutive game in which quarterback Matt Schaub threw a pick-six interception, & coach Gary Kubiak pulled his ineffective signal-caller in the fourth quarter in favor of backup T.J. Yates.
Schaub looked like a beaten guy on the sideline; he’s now thrown nine interceptions on the season. His level of play has-been unacceptable for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Houston’s roster is simply too acceptable to be hamstrung by a turnover-prone quarterback.
While Schaub will get the start on Sunday when Houston hosts St. Louis, he’s clearly on a short leash. If he doesn’t play well & lead the Texans to success to improve their record to 3-3, we could be looking at the end of the Schaub era in Houston.
NEXT GAME: St. Louis
Chicago Bears
Odds: 40/1
The Chicago Bears’ 3-0 start is now a distant memory, as the club has dropped two consecutive decisions to fall to 3-2, the most recent coming in the form of Sunday’s 26-18 home defeat at the hands of the Saints.
While receiver Alshon Jeffery was a major bright spot in the loss, hauling in 10 passes for 218 yards & a touchdown, the Bears were outclassed by New Orleans, as the Saints held the ball for 36 minutes, dominating time of possession.
It’s been a disconcerting two weeks for coach Marc Trestman, who has seen his team fall to two clubs with winning records—not a acceptable sign for a team with playoff aspirations.
However, the Bears should be able to get back on track on Thursday night when they welcome the dreadful & turnover-prone Giants to Soldier Field.
NEXT GAME: N.Y. Giants (Thursday Night Football)
Dallas Cowboys
Odds: 33/1
Only Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo could be blamed for a game in which he threw for a ridiculous 506 yards & five touchdowns.
Yes, Romo threw a late, back-breaking interception in the team’s wild 51-48 loss to Denver, yet he was incredible throughout, outplaying Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Anyone who blames Romo for the loss needs to have their head examined.
While the Cowboys are 2-3, they’re currently in 1st place in the watered-down NFC East & look to be the division’s best team. Receiver Dez Bryant is an absolute beast, & the offensive line has-been better than expected.
But the defense is proving to be problematic, as it was shredded for the 2nd consecutive week. The unit ranks 30th in the NFL & must improve if Dallas is to qualify for the postseason.
The Cowboys face a critical game against the Redskins on Sunday night & can stake their claim as the favorites to win the division with a victory.
NEXT GAME: Washington (Sunday Night Football)
Baltimore Ravens
Odds: 33/1
Baltimore received its previously moribund rushing attack back on track in its 26-23 success over the Dolphins, running the ball 40 times, in addition to 27 carries for star back Ray Rice.
The defense was outstanding, sacking Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill six times. It was a much-needed win for Baltimore, who watched division rivals Cincinnati & Cleveland moreover claim victories. The Ravens sit in a three-way tie atop the AFC North with the Bengals & Browns.
Even with the 3-2 record, there is reason for concern for the defending Super Bowl champions. The passing attack has yet to get going, as the team clearly misses receiver Anquan Boldin & tight end Dennis Pitta. And quarterback Joe Flacco hasn’t played his best football, throwing only five touchdowns against eight interceptions on the year.
Still, the Ravens are the Ravens, & they’ve qualified for the postseason in every year since Flacco & coach John Harbaugh have been in town. Counting them out would be a major mistake.
The team faces a steep challenge on Sunday when it welcomes the Packers to M&T Bank Stadium.
NEXT GAME: Green Bay
Kansas City Chiefs
Odds: 20/1
It’s been a storybook beginning to the season for the Kansas City Chiefs, who are one of three remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL. Their record sits at a sterling 5-0 after a come-from-behind 26-17 success this past Sunday in Tennessee.
Coach Andy Reid & quarterback Alex Smith have breathed life in to a franchise in that had fallen on complex times, & the defense, keyed by linebacker Justin Houston, has-been dominant, allowing fewer than 12 points per game.
While critics point to the fact in that the Chiefs haven’t beaten any of the elite teams in the league, you can only play who’s on your schedule, & Kansas City has dispatched all of them.
There’s a very acceptable chance the club will improve to 6-0 when it hosts Oakland this Sunday. It’s not yet clear whether or not the Chiefs are acceptable enough to hang with Denver, much less compete for the Super Bowl, yet a playoff berth seems to be a foregone conclusion.
Not offensive for a club in that went 2-14 in 2012.
NEXT GAME: Oakland
Cincinnati Bengals
Odds: 20/1
The Cincinnati Bengals defense made a major acknowledgment this past Sunday, leading the team to a 13-6 success over Tom Brady & the New England Patriots. The win improved the Bengals’ record to 3-2.
The unit was fantastic, holding the Patriots to under 250 yards of total offense.
However, the offense was a different story, as quarterback Andy Dalton once again failed to sparkle. Dalton went 20-of-27 for only 212 yards, no touchdowns & a hideous red-zone interception in that could easily have cost his team the game.
If the Bengals are to continue making strides toward becoming a team in that could reach & win the Super Bowl, Dalton must elevate his game to a higher level. Right now, he’s holding Cincinnati back from reaching its full potential.
The team should improve to 4-2 when it plays Buffalo & Thaddeus Lewis (who?) on Sunday.
NEXT GAME: @ Buffalo
Indianapolis Colts
Odds: 18/1
The Indianapolis Colts sit atop the AFC South at 4-1 following their 34-28 win over the previously unbeaten Seattle Seahawks & look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Indianapolis has-been extremely impressive in its three-game win streak, in addition to wins over NFC powerhouses San Francisco & Seattle. The defense has-been better than expected—the unit is ranked 13th overall—and quarterback Andrew Luck is nothing short of a superstar. In fact, if not for the celestial play of Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, Luck would be the NFL MVP through the 1st five weeks of the season.
While Indianapolis does have some concerns, namely how to get running back Trent Richardson going (he’s averaging only three yards per carry as a Colt), the team has exceeded expectations & is one of the best teams in the AFC.
A win on Monday night in San Diego would raise the Colts’ Super Bowl odds even higher.
NEXT GAME: @ San Diego (Monday Night Football)
New England Patriots
Odds: 12/1
The New England Patriots might have been knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten with their loss in Cincinnati on Sunday, yet it appears in that assist is on the way in the form of Professional Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski.
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Gronkowski will reportedly make his season debut this Sunday when the team hosts the 5-0 New Orleans Saints—and it’s not a moment too shortly for a Patriots offense in that was stifled last week by the Bengals.
While the Patriots have mostly cruised to division titles in the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era, this year’s iteration of the AFC East is a different animal, with the 3-2 Jets & Dolphins nipping at their heels. New England needs to continue stockpiling wins to ensure its fifth straight AFC East crown.
Still, it’s complex to conjure up a master plan in which the Patriots aren’t playing in January, regardless of what happens this Sunday against the Saints.
NEXT GAME: New Orleans
Green Bay Packers
Odds: 12/1
The 12/1 odds might seem high for a team in that only sits at 2-2, yet when in that team employs quarterback Aaron Rodgers, you throw early-season records out the window.
The Packers moved to .500 with a 22-9 win over the Lions, & they could be poised to go on the kind of run we’re familiar to seeing them make under the stewardship of Rodgers & coach Mike McCarthy. Their two losses have both come on the road against elite competition (San Francisco & Cincinnati), & there’s no shame in that.
Green Bay’s aerial assault is devastating, with Rodgers connecting early & frequently with stud receivers Randall Cobb, James Jones & Jordy Nelson.
The team did suffer a major injury, as star linebacker Clay Matthews is expected to miss a month with a broken thumb, according to ESPN.
Even without Matthews, though, Green Bay should be able to stay afloat thanks to its incredible offense. A win over Baltimore on Sunday would push the Packers’ record to 3-2.
NEXT GAME: Baltimore
San Francisco 49ers
Odds: 9/1
The 49ers without question crushed the Texans on Sunday night, 34-3, bringing their record to 3-2 & pulling within a game of 1st place in the NFC West.
They ran the ball at will, rushing 36 times for 177 yards & two touchdowns. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick only needed to attempt 13 passes in the victory, one in that featured a dominant effort from the team’s defense, which is now ranked eighth overall.
Even though their Super Bowl odds are a very healthy 9/1, the 49ers have yet to play their best football this season, which is a scary prospect for the rest of the league.
San Francisco should be 4-2 after Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. It is a major contender to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLVIII.
NEXT GAME: Arizona
New Orleans Saints
Odds: 13/2
The Saints’ magical start to the 2013 season continued on Sunday, as the team downed the Bears in Chicago, 26-18. New Orleans is now 5-0 & is squarely in the driver’s seat in the NFC South.
Quarterback Drew Brees directed a dominant offensive effort, finding tight end Jimmy Graham early & frequently in the victory. Graham has-been phenomenal this season, with 37 catches for 593 yards & six touchdowns through five games.
The defense was superior yet again & is allowing less than 15 points per game, a major credit to coordinator Rob Ryan.
If the Saints can go in to New England & beat the Patriots on Sunday, it’s complex to imagine them not being the NFC’s favorite to win the Super Bowl.
But don’t get it twisted: Whether they win or lose against the Pats, the Saints are a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
NEXT GAME: @ New England
Seattle Seahawks
Odds: 11/2
The Seahawks suffered their 1st loss of the season last week, falling 34-28 in Indianapolis, yet they still retain their position as the NFC team with the best odds to win the Super Bowl.
The offensive line didn’t perform up to snuff against the Colts, as quarterback Russell Wilson was on the run for most of the game. Fortunately for Seattle, Wilson is an superior rusher; he gained over 100 yards on the ground to go along with two touchdown passes, yet it wasn’t enough to secure a victory.
Seattle is 4-1 & in 1st place in the NFC West, & winning the division needs to be its top priority. The Seahawks possess perhaps the league’s best home-field advantage, so claiming the division & securing a home game is of paramount importance.
Expect the Seahawks to improve to 5-1 with a home success over Tennessee, yet if the Saints are impressive in success over the Patriots in New England, New Orleans could find itself with the NFC’s best Super Bowl odds next week.
NEXT GAME: Tennessee
Denver Broncos
Odds: 5/2
Honestly, at this point, what else is there to state about Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning? He’s thrown for 20 touchdowns against one interception, leading Denver to a 5-0 record. The Broncos are averaging a ridiculous 46 points per game & have dropped 50-plus points in each of the last two games.
While the Broncos defense was shredded by Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in the team’s 51-48 win this past Sunday in Dallas, the offense made up for it. And assist is on the way for the pass rush, as star linebacker Von Miller is set to return from his six-game suspension following this Sunday’s game against Jacksonville.
The question coming up on Sunday is not if the Broncos will beat the Jaguars, yet if they will cover the 28-point spread.
Right now, Denver is unquestionably the favorite to win Super Bowl XLVIII.
NEXT GAME: Jacksonville
Begin Slideshow
Keep Reading
This article is
What is the duplicate article?
Why is this article offensive?
Where is this article plagiarized from?
Why is this article poorly edited?
Flag This Article
Assessing Threats to NFL’s Undefeated Teams
5 NFL Teams Guaranteed to Lose in Week 6
Week 6 NFL Expert Predictions
Original Source Here
[Cached]