From the archive
Updated
Independent desk. Figures are traced to named sources and corrections are logged — see the editorial policy.
It’s already October and people are starting to talk about the impending winter, the snow that will soon be accumulating, and, of course, NFL football.
The Kansas City Chiefs are currently the odds-on favorite to win Super Bowl LV. They have the oddsmakers considering them the best team to take home the Lombardi Trophy with odds holding at +375.
But can they be unseated as NFL champions? Are there any teams capable of keeping the Chiefs from winning their second straight title?
We think there are.
Baltimore Ravens
Sure, this game has been played and the Baltimore Ravens came up short when they fell to Kansas City in Week 3, 34-20. But that was Week 3, and by the time the playoffs roll around this season, the Ravens are going to have had the opportunity to make adjustments and find a way to beat the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes has had Lamar Jackson’s number (Chiefs have won all three meetings), so we’ll have to see if Baltimore can make adjustments and change the trend.
The Chiefs will need to be capable of containing both the pass and the rush, and quarterback Lamar Jackson will be looking to keep Kansas City as unbalanced as possible. If he and the Ravens get rolling, they are going to be very difficult to stop. And with one loss to the Chiefs already under their belt for the season, Baltimore knows what level of play has to be accomplished in order to shut down Patrick Mahomes and his team.
The Ravens are currently the second-favorite team on the odds boards to win the Super Bowl come February 2025. They stand at +550 odds, and when you watch them play you understand why. This is a dangerous team with a capable offense and an elite defense.
Green Bay Packers
Speaking of winter and accumulating snow, the folks in Green Bay are looking at the Packers and wondering if 2020 may just be the season in which the Green and Gold bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Titletown.
If there is one player who can always find a way to keep his team in the game, it’s Aaron Rodgers, who is arguably the most talented quarterback in the NFL. And he has been pretty hot this season, especially with nearly 900 yards passing prior to their Week 4 matchup with nine touchdowns and no interceptions. But what is even more important for the Packers’ success has been a ground game that has put up over 500 yards rushing in three games — a stat that has been lacking in Green Bay for a bit too long.
The Packers’ defense has also done an admirable job against some quality opposition. They’ve held back the extremely talented offenses of the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints, and they kept a struggling Lions team out of the endzone for two quarters in Week 2.
Standing at +1200 odds right now, the Packers are far from the favorite to take home the Super Bowl championship. But there’s value in that pick, especially if Rodgers can coax his team into a playoff run come January.
Seattle Seahawks
It’s almost annoying how often the Seahawks are in the discussion for making a potential Super Bowl run. But, then again, with a quarterback like Russell Wilson leading the offense and a defense that has kept teams like the Patriots and Cowboys at 30 and 31 points, respectively, it’s not a big surprise that they are getting some attention.
Wilson has completed a remarkable 75.2 percent of his passes through the first four weeks of the season, picking up 1,285 yards in the process while throwing 16 touchdowns to just two interceptions.
If that weren’t enough to applaud the offensive efforts in Seattle, the team has also rushed for over 450 yards this season, giving the team a truly balanced attack that is capable of finding the end zone early and often.
Oddsmakers see the Seahawks as an interesting team right now, giving Seattle +800 odds to win Super Bowl LV. With how hot the team is playing, players can definitely find value in placing an NFL bet on Wilson and his teammates.