It’s the time of the season when things get a little bit confusing. Teams start missing weeks because of byes, and injuries take hold moving into the winter months. In addition, the new 17 game schedule means it is hard to find a good point to stop and take stock. After Week 8 is as good a time as any.
The NFC has some clear front runners to make the playoffs and a couple of solid wildcard contenders. Below we will break down every division to see which teams we think will make the cut. More importantly, we will discuss which teams should go into your parlay to make the playoffs.
NFC North
There are two certainties in this division. The Green Bay Packers will take the top spot, and the Detroit Lions will not even come close to the playoffs. Aaron Rodger’s ‘last dance’ is going to plan so far, and the team recently overcame the then-unbeaten Arizona Cardinals in a seminal result. Injuries and covid have ravaged this team, and yet Rodgers has found answers for every problem.
The Lions have been a mess. They have been competitive in some games, but that matters for naught when your team is the only winless team in the NFL. Betting on the Lions going winless may be a better route to making money off than betting on the team achieving any wins.
The other two teams in the division are somewhat stuck between challenging for the playoffs and not being good enough. There has been confusion around the integration of rookie Justin Fields into the Chicago Bears team and how best to use his strengths. If the Bears can find a way to do this, they can get past other uncompetitive teams in the hunt for the playoffs. You could argue the Minnesota Vikings have been unlucky this season. They lost games with last kicks, missed last kicks, and in overtime. You could also argue they have been lucky as wins have come in similar circumstances. If first-time offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak can find a way to release the team’s great receivers, then this team has every chance of a wildcard spot.
NFC East
Like most divisions in the NFC, there is a clear front runner to take the top spot. For the NFC North, that is the Dallas Cowboys. The team’s opposition in the league can be described as inconsistent at best, and this could have been a case of the Cowboys winning the division by default. However, Dak Prescott has been fantastic this season, even pushing his team close to a win in the loss against Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prescott is injured, but that didn’t stop the Cowboys from beating the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8. All the Cowboys have to do is not collapse, and a playoff place is undoubtedly a certainty.
For the other teams in the division, the season has been nowhere near as smooth. The Philidelphia Eagles have been the best of the rest, but you would be brave to bet on them making wildcard spots. The Washington Football Team and New York Giants have been even more uncompetitive. Stick the Cowboys in your parlay, and ignore the rest of the NFC North.
NFC South
It’s hard to look past Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and so we won’t. Brady is still great, the team is mostly the same, and they are playing well. Put them in your parlay and move on.
Other teams in this division all have a chance of making wildcard spots. The New Orlean Saints have a good record, but an injury to Jameis Winston may prove to be a problem for a team already playing to its limit. The Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons have had mixed seasons. The Panthers are still without Christian McAffrey, but if they can keep finding ways to win may have enough. The Falcons have turned a corner, but it may still be too much for this team, even with Kyle Pitts in form.
NFC West
The NFC West has two of the best teams in the NFL this season. The Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals will be battling it out for the top spot until the end of the season. Matthew Stafford and Kyler Murray, respectively, have been outstanding and are both in the frame to win the MVP award. Putting both these two teams in your parlay to reach the playoff is a very safe bet.
The other teams in the divisions also have a chance of making the playoffs. The San Fransico 49ers have been very inconsistent this season but also have had problems with the fitness of QBs. Starting QB Jimmy Garropulo is back and has taken the 49ers to the playoffs before. The Seattle Seahawks chance ride on the fitness of Russel Wilson. With Wilson, they stand a chance. Without him, it’s hard to see them being stronger than other teams. Take the top two teams from this division for sure, and consider both the other teams for the wildcard.
Placing Parlays at Legal US Sportsbooks
So to conclude, here are our picks for your playoff parlay: Packers, Cardinals, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Rams, Saints, Vikings.
Now is a great time to do so for those wanting to place their own bets on the playoffs. Since the PASPA was struck down in 2018, states have been allowed to legalize online sports betting. Many have taken the option, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan. If you are in a state where online sports betting is legalized, you can great your own playoff parlay. Download a licensed sportsbook and start picking the teams you think will make the playoffs.
