The 2021/22 NFL Playoffs are just around the corner, so it’s time for us to answer the burning question of which team has what it takes to take home the coveted trophy, providing you with all the information you will ever need to find the best bets on your favourite NFL bookie.
But it’s not like it was difficult to understand what to expect from the NFL playoffs teams considering all 14 have previously played in at least one Super Bowl. Let’s get straight into our 2021/22 NFL Playoffs betting guide!
The National Football League (NFL) Playoffs is a single-elimination football tournament held at the end of the NFL regular season to determine the NFL champions. The 2021/22 NFL Playoffs will mark the 56th edition of the contest that has been held every year since 1967.
Although the NFL was established in 1932, the Super Bowl wasn’t introduced until the late 1960s to provide the NFL with a more equitable means of determining a champion, breaking the league into 2 divisions, and introducing a changed format.
As the nation’s most popular sport, the NFL postseason attracts millions of viewers from the United States and other parts of the globe. They tune in to watch America’s best football teams duke it out on one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. And this year should be no exception.
The 2021-22 NFL Playoff betting odds are out, and if the bookies are to be trusted, it’s not difficult to figure out which team should emerge as the Super Bowl winner. Still, the Vegas odds aren’t always correct, and you can easily make a strong case for any of the main favourites on the 2022 NFL odds Playoff markets.
Green Bay Packers truly amazed every NFL fan this season, namely due to how far they’ve come following an offseason filled with drama that continued with Aaron Rodgers’s squad getting crushed by New Orleans in Week 1 of the 2021/22 season.
At that point, it seemed like the 2021/22 season was doomed for the Wisconsin squad, but they miraculously turned it around and went on a 7-game winning streak that ended only because Rodgers had to miss Week 9. But the Green Bay Packers were back on the horse once he recovered.
Here’s the most impressive thing about Green Bay Packers and their run through the season – they’ve managed to win the NFC North without David Bakhtiari and Za’Darius Smith, who are both back in the mix for the postseason. Moreover, one of the league’s best cornerbacks, Jaire Alexander, is also expected to return.
Kansas City Chiefs are the second-favourites to claim the Super Bowl, which makes perfect sense, mainly due to their incredible defence, which allowed just 14.3 points per game in Weeks 6-16. Admittedly, the Chiefs slipped against the Bengals in Week 17, but that doesn’t take away from their solid showings over the entire season.
With Tyreek Hill, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have one of the best skill position groups in the league, and with the 2-time Super Bowl champion Andy Reid leading the squad, you can expect great things from the Kansas City outfit.
Buffalo Bills faced plenty of obstacles this season, but they have gotten to the top of the AFC East and entered the Playoffs as the third-favourites thanks to Josh Allen. The NFL odds for Playoffs 2021/22 have the Bills priced at 15/2, which is still below the top dogs in Green Bay and Kansas City, but there is no denying that Buffalo can cause some serious damage.
Admittedly, Buffalo Bills have flaws, namely their inability to run the ball with explosive efficiency, but with Allen, who doubles as a QB, Buffalo bills can be deadly. What’s more, the Bills didn’t seem too affected by losing Tre’Davious White, and with Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde in the backfield, it seems unlikely that White’s absence will harm them too much.
Many sportsIn-play modeLive streaming25+ sportsSuperb bonusesEasy to useVIP programLive gamesMany bonusesMany bonuses24/7 supportMobile appsLive bettingMany sportsFast payoutsThe NFL saw 4 teams win the Super Bowl in the past 5 years, with the New England Patriots claiming 2 in 2017 and 2019.
20 different NFL teams won the Super Bowl at least once throughout history, but only 9 teams have managed it more than twice. Interestingly, 7 franchises won consecutive Super Bowl titles, but none managed to do it thrice.
Honourable mentions go to Baltimore Ravens (2 titles), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2 titles), New York Jets (1 title), and New Orleans Saints (1 title), who have a 100% Super Bowl win rate, having won every NFL final they’ve appeared in.
The NFL 2021/22 Wild Card Round will kick off on Saturday, January 15, and run until Monday, January 17, when the final pair of teams will duke it out for a spot in the Divisional Playoffs.
Here are our NFL Wild Card Round betting tips and predictions, with the odds courtesy of the top sportsbook for wagering on American football.
Saturday, January 15, 16:35 EST
It will mark a rematch of a Week 11 match that the Cincinnati Bengals won (32-13) on the road, but also the first time these 2 teams will meet in the postseason since 1991 when the Raiders won and cursed the Bengals, who would go on a 31-year playoff losing streak.
The current NFL Playoff game odds for the 2022 rematch between Bengals and Raiders show Cincinnati outfit as heavy favourites (4/11), which seems a bit generous, considering the Raiders looked good in beating the Chargers, capping the season with a 4-0 run.
However, this same team lost to the Washington Football Team last month and got stomped (48-9) by the Chiefs, so while the Las Vegas outfit is on a 4-game winning streak, they ended the season with a -6.5 point differential.
There is no reason to doubt Cincinnati Bengals for this bout, and we have to trust them to cover the spread at -6.5.
Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals -6.5 (10/11)
Saturday, January 15, 20:15 EST
These 2 rivals will meet on Saturday for the third time this season, splitting the 2 meetings, with the home team taking the L. The Bills are expected to outperform New England Patriots for the season’s third meeting, which sounds fair, but it’s hard to doubt the Patriots.
Priced at 7/4, the Patriots are a hard bet to pass on. The Buffalo Bills are a strong team, but they have been showing cracks of late, and if there is one man that can take advantage of the Bills’ weaknesses, it’s Bill Belichick. Take the Patriots with a +4.5.
Prediction: New England Patriots +4.5 (10/11)
Sunday, January 16, 13:00 EST
The Eagles will take another swing at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hoping to avenge their 22-28 defeat in Week 6. Since that loss, Philadelphia Eagles went on a 7-4 run but are still heavy underdogs (7/2) to claim a much-needed win this weekend.
You could make a case for the Eagles but bet against Tom Brady at your own risk. He is 20-4 in home playoff games, and that alone is enough to side with Tampa Bay. What’s more, the Bucs are going against NFL Playoffs debutant QB Jalen Hurts and first-time head coach Nick Sirianni.
Take the favourites to cover the spread and hand the Eagles another L.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -9.0 (10/11)
Sunday, January 16, 15:30 CST
The clash between Dallas Cowboys and vs San Francisco 49ers is one of the most storied rivalries in NFL history, and even though these 2 teams have met in s7 playoff matches, they haven’t clashed once since 1994. That was also the last time the 49ers won the Super Bowl.
Current NFL Playoffs game odds for the 2022 clash between these 2 teams show the 49ers as the underdogs (7/5), which may seem a bit high. The Dallas Cowboys have been very efficient this season (12-4 against the spread) and have a terrifying offence, but the 49ers should have answers for that in Deebo Samuel, who should help them control the clock and keep Dallas at bay this weekend.
At the same time, Jimmy Garoppolo is prone to making mistakes, and the Cowboys should take full advantage of that. This one is tough to call, but Dallas, unlike the 49ers, is a team that can step up when it matters. Take the favourites to cover the spread.
Prediction: Dallas Cowboys -3.0 (10/11)
Sunday, January 17, 19:15 CST
If the Pittsburgh Steelers can figure out how to upset the Kansas City Chiefs, Ben Roethlisberger can extend his retirement for one more week, and there is a chance that might happen. The betting lines are heavily in favour of the Kansas City Chiefs, which was expected, but there’s something about the Steelers that makes it tough to bet against them.
Diontae Johnson is a special breed, and besides him, the Steelers also field Najee Harri and T.J. Watt, both exceptional players. The Chiefs have done much better over the season, and we can understand why many would consider them the 2022 NFL Playoffs bet of the day, but if the price is right, you have to take the outsiders.
At the offered odds on NFL Playoff 2022 for this match, we have to take the Steelers with +12.5 points.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers +12.5 (10/11)
Monday, January 17, 15:15 PST
Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals will clash for the third time this season, with each squad picking up one win apiece across their first 2 meetings. Interestingly, the visitors won each time, which isn’t great news for the Rams, who will be the home team in this game.
You could make a strong case for either team, but we like the Rams. Matthew Stafford’s lack of postseason experience could make you doubt them, but this is still an extremely stacked team – let’s not forget the Rams field Von Miller, who should offset Stafford’s swoon.
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams – 4.5 (10/11)
The first Divisional round is slated for Saturday, January 22, with 2 matches at 4:35 p.m. ET and 8:15 p.m. ET, followed by the second round on Sunday, January 23, with games at 3:03 p.m. ET and 6:40 p.m. ET.
Since the Wild Card games have yet to conclude, we can only guess which teams will make it through the next stage, but there are a few strong candidates to join the Green Bay Packers.
We expect Los Angeles Rams to make it past the Arizona Cardinals, and it’s tough to doubt Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ chances to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles. The Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers bout is the only one that could get messy, but either way, we should get a strong 4th team in the NFC Divisional round.
The NFC bracket will feature a stacked field, with Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Dallas Cowboys all expected to appear in the penultimate round. But given how the season has gone so far, the Dallas Cowboys will undoubtedly be a dark horse in the race for the NFC Championship.
There are plenty of picks to consider to win the NFC Championship, but there are only 3 teams that the bookies believe can win the National Football Conference (NFC).
Green Bay Packers lead the way as the favourites (7/4), with Tampa Bay Buccaneers in second (7/2) and Los Angeles Rams (9/2) as the 3rd most likely team to make it to the Super Bowl.
Of 3, Green Bay Packers come off as the most obvious pick. They have been the best team of the season and are clear favourites to take home the trophy. But at 7/4, there are arguments to be made that the Packers don’t offer the best value.
It leaves us with the Rams and Buccaneers, teams with a solid upside and enough talent to cause damage. The Los Angeles Rams can be deadly if they find traction, but it’s hard to bet against the Buccaneers, who are, in our book, one of the top contenders to win the title.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win NFC Championship (7/2)
There are no set dates for the AFC Divisional round matches, and we won’t know when and which teams will play until the re-seeding. Still, the NFL has unveiled that there will be games on Saturday, January 22 (at 4:35 p.m. ET and 8:15 p.m. ET) and on Sunday, January 23 (at 3:03 p.m. ET and 6:40 p.m. ET).
As the AFC Champions, the Tennessee Titans are already through into the Divisional playoffs and will join the 3 winners of the Wild Card playoffs matches. However, since the Wild Card games won’t kick off until Saturday, January 15, we’re left guessing which 4 teams will compete for the AFC title.
The Cincinnati Bengals should be able to take care of the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday, and it’s fair to favour Kansas City Chiefs over Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, it’s tough to say whether the Buffalo Bills will make it past the New England Patriots.
If our betting picks come through, we should see Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, and New England Patriots competing for the AFC title.
Kansas City Chiefs are the clear favourites to win the AFC Championship, priced as low as 9/5 on football bookmakers. Behind the Chiefs are the Buffalo Bills (10/3) and Tennessee Titans (10/3).
Interestingly, the Titans, who own the AFC crown and have received a bye into the second round, are only the 3rd-most likely team to win the American Football Conference. That makes sense since the Titans will need Ryan Tannehill to step up big-time for his side to go the distance.
Admittedly, they’re still a strong team, but we wouldn’t rank them higher than top-5 until we see some improvement. On a more positive note, Derrick Henry is making a comeback, and A.J. Brown is back in form, so we can expect the Titans’ defence to look better.
Still, that likely won’t be enough for them to make it past the Kansas City Chiefs, undeniably one of the top teams in the league. Although they had an uneven season, the defending AFC champions outscored everyone in the conference (but the Bills), and as long as they can count on Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs should get it done.
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs to win AFC Championship (9/5)
The 2021/22 NFL Playoffs will run from January 15 – February 13, starting with the Wild Card Playoffs (January 15-17), followed by Divisional Playoffs (January 22-23), the NFC/AFC Championship (January 30), and the Super Bowl LVI on February 13.
The Super Bowl LVI will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the home stadium of the Los Angeles Rams.
We have provided some excellent NFL Playoffs picks, but no tournament betting preview is complete with an outright selection. And we have 3 betting picks for you to look at.
It’s simple. The Green Bay Packers are the most stacked team in the league, with the MVP under centre. Even if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t claim his second MVP title, he is still the best QB in the league and a huge reason why the Packers have been so successful this term (12-3 against the spread).
And beyond that, Rodgers is not the only elite-level player on the team who was above everyone else this term. And let’s not forget that David Bakhtiari and Za’Darius Smith are returning to boost the already scary Packers lineup.
If you’re after a longshot pick for the Super Bowl LVI, look no further than Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Priced as high as 9/1, the Buccaneers seem a bit underappreciated since they have the tools needed to go the distance.
The only reason you could double in them is the lack of depth out wide and in the secondary. We also saw their defence slip a few times this season, which isn’t something you want to see in a team you’re backing to win the title.
But let’s face reality, the Buccaneers have Tom Brady, and his presence alone ensures that his team plays at the top level, turning the Bucks into serious candidates to repeat.
It makes sense, right? We have Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 2 main candidates to claim the title, and they’re both from the NFC! It is one of those free bets with solid odds – assuming the Packers and the Buccaneers step up.
Admittedly, Kansas City Chiefs can be a threat, and you can’t count out Buffalo Bills, but at 5/6, there’s enough value backing the NFC to win the Super Bowl for us to take this bet.
With that, we conclude our 2021/22 NFL Playoffs betting preview, where we have provided you with a handful of excellent betting picks you should consider. Now go out there, visit the best NFL bookie and place your bets!
