NFC Co-Favorites 2018: Eagles & Packers
Bovada released its Super Bowl 53 odds mere hours after the Eagles defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl 52. Not surprisingly, both teams are high on the list for next season: The Patriots have the strongest odds of winning next year’s Super Bowl at 5 to 1, while the Eagles are tied for second at 9 to 1.
Interestingly, the Packers are also tied for second at 9 to 1, while the Vikings check in next at 12 to 1. Rounding out the top 10: Steelers (14-1) and the Cowboys, Rams, Saints, Falcons and 49ers all at 18 to 1.
The odds — which will change as the offseason progresses — are at least somewhat interesting as initial markers for a few reasons.
*Bovada puts Green Bay right back at the top of the NFC pecking order with the Eagles, showing a tremendous amount of faith in what Aaron Rodgers’ expected return to full health means to the conference race. While the Vikings are still painted as one of the top challengers, their uncertain QB situation entering the offseason combined with skepticism, perhaps, over how they’ll fare against a healthy Rodgers in 2018 has them below their border rival.
*Big-picture, those odds underscore (again) how many tough games the Vikings have on their schedule. Seven of their 16 games are against the other nine teams that are at 18 to 1 odds or better to win the Super Bowl: New England, Green Bay (twice), Philadelphia, New Orleans, L.A. Rams and 49ers. They have road games against the three teams with the best Super Bowl odds (Patriots, Eagles and Packers).
*The inclusion of San Francisco in the top 10 is interesting, as is the drop for some recent perennial contenders. The Seahawks are at 25 to 1 and the Ravens are down at 40 to 1, among others.
The Vikings will have their work cut out for them next season, which is all the more reason for them to succeed with their two most important (and looming) decisions: hiring an offensive coordinator and deciding which quarterback is best for that new OC’s system. We talked about that and more on this week’s Access Vikings podcast.
http://www.startribune.com/nfc-co-favorites-next-season-eagles-and-packers/472805963/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
I guess we're back to national nob-slobbering over the Packers. *sigh*
Only differences in our schedules is that we play the Eagles and Saints, and the Packers play Washington and Atlanta. The Packers will be about 9-7 next year. The Vikings will be at least 10-6.
What's also interesting is that we play the same NFCW / AFCE teams home and away: AZ, SF, Buff, Mia at home; LAR, Sea, NE, NYJ on the road.
Y'know...
...I get that Erin's gang will remain high in rankings regardless their actual results, but that team's mediocrity was exposed, big time, last season. I honestly don't think that Rodgers will have anything like Brady's staying power, no matter how much they (over) pay him.
We've beaten him with Sam, we've beaten him with Case. In the "battle of the backups", we skunked them in their own house.
I'm much more impressed by Philly than by the Pukers right now, and I'm hoping that the brutal lessons from the last NFCC game are quickly learned and applied to the improvement of the 2018 Vikings. Given that Stafford hasn't really proven anything beyond some stats and that we've had plenty of recent success against the Lambblow crew...I'm already feeling better about this season.
Packers field a typically epically bad defense. Defense wins Championships, so, sure, Packers are the darlings again. Can’t wait til Rodgers is out of the league and GB gets a shoddy QB like all other teams but NE has the last 20 years
@"StickyBun" said: Killer schedule for Minnesota upcoming.funny how schedule strength changes so much once the games are played.
@"Tom Moore" said: Packers field a typically epically bad defense. Defense wins Championships, so, sure, Packers are the darlings again. Can’t wait til Rodgers is out of the league and GB gets a shoddy QB like all other teams but NE has the last 20 yearsA host of coaching changes, a weak defense and plenty of holes on offense. But hey, they have the hail mary queen.
@"Tom Moore" said: Packers field a typically epically bad defense. Defense wins Championships, so, sure, Packers are the darlings again. Can’t wait til Rodgers is out of the league and GB gets a shoddy QB like all other teams but NE has the last 20 yearsAfter the last two Super Bowls the idiom might need to be changed to Offenses win Champions. As long as you have a Tier 1 QB you have a legit chance to contend.
Wasn't GB like 4/1 coming into the MN game? I'm too tired to look it up, but they were certainly looking like a top 3 NFC team at that time. Now granted The Saints still were stinking-up the joint and I think they're a top 3 NFC team going into next season.
My point is the Packers were doing quite well till the Barr hit. I think with a more aggressive approaCh to FA on-going (will see how prophetic this is or not) with their re-shaping of the org, GB will exhibit more urgency to win another SB before Rogers retires.
I dont think it's that crazy to believe with an apex player @ QB they will be contenders in 18. And that's' not to say the vikings wont be.
I think the NFC will be stacked again next year and we'd better improve in all phases to remain near the top of that stack.
@"SmashmouthD" said: I guess we're back to national nob-slobbering over the Packers. *sigh*Only differences in our schedules is that we play the Eagles and Saints, and the Packers play Washington and Atlanta. The Packers will be about 9-7 next year. The Vikings will be at least 10-6.
What's also interesting is that we play the same NFCW / AFCE teams home and away: AZ, SF, Buff, Mia at home; LAR, Sea, NE, NYJ on the road.
That’s actually a pretty big difference.
@"Purplewhizz" said:@"SmashmouthD" said: I guess we're back to national nob-slobbering over the Packers. *sigh*Only differences in our schedules is that we play the Eagles and Saints, and the Packers play Washington and Atlanta. The Packers will be about 9-7 next year. The Vikings will be at least 10-6.
What's also interesting is that we play the same NFCW / AFCE teams home and away: AZ, SF, Buff, Mia at home; LAR, Sea, NE, NYJ on the road.
That’s actually a pretty big difference.
Huge difference, at least based on how they played this past season...
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