NFL Playoff Picture: Impact of NFL Week 16 Odds on Playoff Chances and Seeding
The Ravens and Steelers will square off on Saturday afternoon, kicking off a jam-packed three days straight of NFL action. How badly do some of these teams win to impact their playoff spot? Let's take a look at the latest odds and playoff probabilities heading into Week 16.
Peter Alexis - December 21, 2024, 10:15 AM EST
4 minNFL Playoff Picture: Impact of NFL Week 16 Odds on Playoff Chances and Seeding
There are just three weeks left of the NFL regular season, and every playoff hopeful team is battling for seeding. The action continues on Saturday afternoon with a pair of AFC thrillers that will likely become playoff matchups in a few weeks.
Let's take a look at Saturday and Sunday's slate to see how these divisional showdowns will affect the playoff picture and each team's chances of making it.
Click here for the latest NFL Week 16 Odds
NFL Playoff Picture: Week 16 Odds
AFC North Odds - Ravens vs. Steelers
The Ravens and Steelers will square off in a rare Saturday afternoon game at M&T Bank Stadium, and there are major playoff implications on the line.
Currently, the Ravens have +145 odds to win the AFC North, and the fact that they are a -300 home favorite on Saturday is already baked into that line. That's an implied chance of 40.8%, because they'd need this win, plus the Steelers to drop one of their final games to the Chiefs or Bengals to reclaim the tiebreaker.
The Ravens also have a tough road contest against the Texans next week, which is also apart of that price. These four teams of Ravens, Steelers, Texans, and Chiefs are alternating after today in the Christmas matchups, which will give an extra look into how these teams respond on a short week and matchup with each other ahead of the inevitable AFC playoff rematches.
NFC North Odds - Can Lions Hold Onto Division?
The NFC North is the best and most intriguing division in football this year, with a lot of surprises making up the field.
While many thought the Bears would be in the fight after a strong start and a top rookie QB, the wheels have completely fallen off for this franchise. They fired their coach after a strong of losses, and they are the only ones not in the mix in the NFC North now. Meanwhile, the Packers have all but clinched their playoff spot with a 10-4 record, and are just battling for seeding in their final few games. They have the Saints, Vikings, and Bears, and while it is nearly impossible for them to win the division at two games back, they are on pace for a strong wild card seed.
Down the stretch, the banged-up Lions have games against the Bears, 49ers, and Vikings. With both teams tied at 12-2 and the Lions holding the tiebreaker, that final matchup could be for the division title. The Lions currently have -290 odds to stay ahead, with the Vikings trailing back at +220, giving them about a 31% implied chance to steal it away.
