Is there a real favorite in the NFL playoffs right now?

[bluedigger]

I'm looking at the field, and while there are two obvious long shots, Houston and Washington, I don't see any other team I'd put serious money on to win it all. What say you, sports fans?

[randr]

1. The MSM has picked Manning

I mean the Broncos.

[bluedigger]

2. It's a feel good story.

I'm not sold.

[madinmaryland]

9. He did a remarkable job handing off the football and throwing

a few dump off passes.

[El Supremo]

12. ...

[madinmaryland]

14. Holy Fuck, Dude! His head is still bigger than all those muscles.

[mythology]

16. Please don't share

The version of this for Tom Brady and his deflation issues.

[jonno99]

3. The Vikings (hope springs eternal!) nt

[RockaFowler]

4. Seattle or Kansas City??

Both teams got hot at the right time

[Auggie]

7. Conventional wisdom says take the peaking teams ...

though I consider Alex Smith a liability in big games.

[El Supremo]

15. ...

[El Supremo]

5. With a 10 game winning streak, my bet would be on the Chiefs. And at 25-1, I'd be rich.

Odds To Win Super Bowl 50

The Patriots, Cardinals and Panthers are currently the co-favorites to win Super Bowl 50, according to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

Team Odds

New England Patriots 9-2
Carolina Panthers 9-2
Arizona Cardinals 9-2
Denver Broncos 5-1
Seattle Seahawks 5-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 8-1
Cincinnati Bengals 20-1
Kansas City Chiefs 25-1
Green Bay Packers 30-1
Minnesota Vikings 30-1
Washington Redskins 40-1
Houston Texans 60-1

[bluedigger]

6. The odds are one thing, but as a fan does anyone feel comfortable?

I look at this group right here:

Seattle Seahawks 5-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 8-1
Cincinnati Bengals 20-1
Kansas City Chiefs 25-1
Green Bay Packers 30-1
Minnesota Vikings 30-1

and feel like anyone could emerge and beat the "favorites".

Okay, maybe not the Bengals so much.

[hughee99]

8. I think it's going to depend on health.

Manning's injury isn't really healed, the Steelers aren't sure what's up with Williams, Carolina just lost Tillman, Brady sprained his ankle, but their O-line has looked god-awful over the last few weeks, Dalton still has a thumb issue, Marshawn Lynch may be back, but the Seahawks looked good in his absence anyway. I like all 4 WC teams in the first weekend, though.

[madinmaryland]

10. Jeebus, man! The fucking Washington Potatoes are going to continue their

impressive winning streak after four straight wins against the Cowboys, Eaglets, and Ginats!!

[El Supremo]

11. ...

[madinmaryland]

13. I see another El Supremo avatar change happening!!

[joeybee12]

19. And they're going to beat the Packers in the first round...

As badly as the Pats are playing now, Green Bay is doing more miserably.

[Jamaal510]

17. None of these teams

look invincible at all, but I think the Steelers are the most dangerous out of the bunch. Their offense is explosive, and their defense (though mediocre) is still physical and hits hard, and their fans travel the best by far out of any team.

[joeybee12]

18. Seattle, Carolina or Arizona...

It'll be an NFC team.

[bluedigger]

20. Three favorites from the same conference?

We're about to embark on a weird NFL postseason. The top seed in the AFC, Denver, doesn't know -- or at least won't admit -- the identity of its starting quarterback. The scariest team in each conference might be the No. 6 seed, Pittsburgh and Seattle. Perennial contenders such as the Patriots and Packers seem to be limping into the postseason, although that probably doesn't matter much. It's entirely possible that the four road teams could all be favored to win this weekend. Things already are bizarre.

That should lead to a postseason in which there's no clear favorite. The Seahawks finished as the comfortable league leaders in DVOA, but they'll need to win three road games to make it to the Super Bowl. There are six teams clumped in the second tier behind them, all with DVOA ratings between 21.3 percent and 27.9 percent above average. There doesn't appear to be much separating the top contenders in this year's bracket.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14505079/a-look-biggest-weakness-every-team-which-playoff-opponents-expose-nfl

[joeybee12]

21. Pats are limping, but I don't think Green Bay is all that good

Every big game this year they've lost...not sure why because they were darn good last year.

Pittsburgh doesn't scare me...look what Baltimore did to them...and they beat a really bad Cleveland team in a game that was close for the most part. KC is playing the best, but they won't play at home. Denver may get to the Super Bowl but only because they're at home. Whoever comes out of the AFC will lose to the NFC, IMHO.