Yesterday, NFLbets forecast which teams will (OK, should. OK, we think should) make the playoffs this season – naturally with an eye to lucrative payouts on NFL futures and proposition bets. Today, our takes on seven teams destined to make the 2022-23 NFL postseason.
Or so we’re saying.
• Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. Ah, to defend betting on two teams who didn’t win their respective divisions last year and who are running things back with a quarterback that most instinctively distrust. And with good reason Jalen Hurts is untested in the (NFL) postseason at just 0-1 SU/ATS in his two years, while Kirk Cousins in seven seasons has a playoff record of 1-2 SU/ATS (though what Cousins did to the Saints in that 2019 wildcard game was pretty nifty).
But as NFLbets sees it, the best addition the Vikings made this offseason was the hiring of Kevin O’Connell as head coach. Clearly O’Connell, formerly offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, won’t have anything resembling Stafford-to-Kupp in Minnesota, but we’re thinking this refresh does them some good. For the Eagles, look at the schedule. Much is made of the Dallas Cowboys drawing the easiest slate based on the “strength of schedule” metric, but you know whose is just as easy? The Eagles’. The bets: Take the Minnesota Vikings to win the NFC North at +260 and take the Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC East at +150.
• Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. NFLbets has detailed our take on the 49ers and the other NFC West teams elsewhere. In short, we’re not exactly sure how the defending champions are getting less respect at the sportsbooks than a admittedly talented team which a quarterback most charitably described as shaky and a sub-.500 career head coach? By the same token, we can’t imagine either of these teams winning more than 10 games (given the presumed difficulty of schedule) or less than 9 (given the quality of rosters). The bets: Take the Los Angeles Rams to win the NFC West at +130 and take 2nd in the “49ers Division Finishing Position” prop at +190.
• Green Bay Packers. Slating the Packers in as a wildcard shouldn’t be considered a short shrift. The Pack could well end up with the best of second-best record in the conference – but when your two best remaining WRs depart in the offseason and one of them is named Devonte Adams, that’s a tough ask to win the division. The bet: take 2nd in the “Packers Division Finishing Position” prop at +250.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Might the steep incline of this most recent rise of the Buccaneers be matched by just as precipitous a crash down to earth? Odd things are happening with Tom Brady and midseason retirement is certainly conceivable; both OG slots will be filled by second-stringers to start the season. On the other hand, what’s the worst that could befall the Bucs with a defense this good and a division this marginal? Since any odds on Tampa Bay winning the NFC South or to go under (the way-too-high line of) 11½ wins, we calling the bet: In the “NFC South Straight Forecast/Exast Order” prop, for +350, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the
• Carolina Panthers because, with this much parity in the NFC, some freakish team will surprise. So why not the team with Christian McCaffrey on the roster…?
Green Bay Packers will play 14 unique teams in their 17-game season in 2023. They will have two games against division rivals, one home and one away. Chicago Bears finished the season with the worst record in the NFL at 3-14. Detroit Lions ended the 2022 season on a high note by beating Green Bay. Minnesota Vikings are the new Kings of the North.
Green Bay Packers signed Aaron Rodgers to a three-year, $150 million contract extension in March 2022. The contract is worth $31.623 million with a $40.3 million dead cap if Rodgers is traded. Rodgers has a final decision to make in weeks. He is considering retiring or returning to Green Bay. He didn't give his jersey to Jameson Williams at the end of the game. It's the last place the Packers expected to be at this time of year. They structured the contract to bet on a short window for Super Bowl contention. Their long-term cap flexibility was taken away.
Matthew Stafford is expected to stay on the roster at the Los Angeles Rams. He played nine games this season before being placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. The Rams are watching the playoffs with their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. They are tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the best odds to represent the NFC in Arizona this February.
DraftKings Sportsbook has odds on who DeAndre Hopkins next team will be. Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs are among the favorites to trade for Hopkins.
Sean McVay will return as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams in 2023. The 36-year-old has been in charge of Rams since 2017. Rams finished 5-12 in 2022 and were expected to do better after winning the Super Bowl last year. Mcvay signed a contract extension in September. The Rams have a first round pick in the 20th round and limited cap space. They have players like Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Cooper Kupp and Leonard Floyd.
Green Bay Packers have an uncertain situation at quarterback. Broderick Jones is the new offensive coordinator in this NFL Mock Draft.
Green Bay Packers lost 20-16 to Detroit Lions on Sunday night. Aaron Rodgers will see how he feels about the NFL after some time. Seattle Seahawks clinch wild card spot.
The Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers 20-16 in the NFL's Week 18 game at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions will play on Sunday night. They are battling for the final NFC playoff spot.
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