NFL 2016 Betting Props: Patriots, Seahawks, Packers Best Odds to Make Playoffs

Even though the New England Patriots are expected to be without quarterback Tom Brady for the first four games of the regular season because of his role in the Deflategate scandal, they are one of the three teams with the best odds of making the playoffs.

The Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers are all -500 (bet $500 to win $100) to reach the postseason again on the odds to make the playoffs at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.

The last time New England did not make the playoffs was 2008, when the team finished with an 11-5 mark despite losing the future Hall of Famer Brady in the season opener with a torn ACL. Matt Cassel took over for Brady before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs the following year, while linebacker Jerod Mayo won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. (He just retired because of repeated injuries.)

Coincidentally, 2008 was the same season Green Bay did not get to the postseason following a 6-10 finish. That was the first full year quarterback Aaron Rodgers played for the Packers after taking over for Brett Favre.

Two years later, they won the Super Bowl.

Seattle did not make the playoffs in 2008, 2009 and 2011 before drafting quarterback Russell Wilson, who has since led the team to four straight postseason appearances.

If you want to bet against any of those teams not making the playoffs, you can get odds of +350 (bet $100 to win $350). The defending NFL champion Carolina Panthers are right behind them at +325 not to qualify for the postseason after making it the previous three years. The Panthers owned the league’s best record in 2015 at 15-1 before losing to the Denver Broncos 24-10 in Super Bowl 50 as 4.5-point favorites.

The Broncos have made the playoffs five years in a row, but the last four came with quarterback Peyton Manning under center. Denver saw Manning retire after winning his second Super Bowl but is a -150 favorite to make the postseason with either veteran Mark Sanchez or rookie Paxton Lynch replacing him.

The Broncos are +110 to miss the playoffs on the NFL betting props for the first time since 2010, the last year Josh McDaniels was the head coach.