Reigning Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs can secure a first-round bye and homefield advantage for the playoffs with a victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
The Chiefs have certainly shown no signs of a hangover from their triumph at Super Bowl LIV, as, with Patrick Mahomes once again pulling the strings, they have managed to begin the season with a 13-1 record.
That impressive run of form includes a nine-game winning sequence and they have already wrapped up the AFC West division for the fifth year running.
Now another victory on home soil on Sunday will secure the Chiefs a first-round bye and homefield advantage for the playoffs and Andy Reid’s team should have no problems seeing off a Falcons team that are 4-10 for the season and currently trying to snap a three-game losing streak.
The Chiefs are priced at 2/13 to get the win they need on Sunday, but even if they were to lose to the Falcons, who are priced 19/4, then they can still guarantee the top seeding for the playoffs if either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Buffalo Bills lose their Week 16 games.
There is a suggestion that the AFC West champions are playing within themselves, having not won any of their last six matches by more than six points, and it could be worth siding with a Falcons’ team that is given an 11-point start on the handicap at 25/27, with interim coach Raheem Morris’ men not having lost by more than five points in their last three matches, which includes defeats to the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Seahawks to Heap Further Misery on Rams
The Seattle Seahawks can wrap the NFC West division title for the first time in four years with a victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday and they will head into the contest in good form after winning four of their last five games.
By contrast, the Rams’ playoff hopes have been thrown up in the air after they became the first team to lose to the New York Jets this season, going down 23-20 at the SoFi Stadium last weekend.
That result, coupled with the hot-and-cold form of quarterback Jared Goff, suggests the Rams may struggle to return to winning ways in this one, even if they have triumphed in five of their last seven meetings with Seattle.
Indeed, the Seahawks look good value at 4/5 to emerge victorious from this game.
Titans to Topple Packers
The Green Bay Packers can guarantee a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a victory in this one and if Seattle lose to the Rams.
Led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers boast an impressive 11-3 record so far this season and they are currently on a four-game winning streak.
However, that impressive form appears to be a little deceptive as they have only beaten one team with a winning record this season and the Titans will be a tough nut to crack given their own 10-4 sequence.
Tennessee certainly have plenty of incentive to win this one, as it will guarantee them a playoff berth and they could even seal the AFC South division title if their victory is coupled with a loss for the Indianapolis Colts at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A Titans victory in this one is available at 7/5 and if they are to win then they will need a big performance from running-back Derrick Henry, who is on course to become just the eighth player to go over 2,000 rushing yards in a season.
*All odds correct at time of writing.