NFL Playoffs 2016-17: Bracket Predictions, Odds for AFC and NFC Before Week 16

The NFL announced its 2016 Pro Bowl rosters on Tuesday, reminding everyone just how close we are to the end of the regular season.

No team is completely worry-free. Even the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots, both 12-2, have yet to clinch home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

With two games to go and 22 teams still alive, we’re in for a wild finish. You’ll find an updated playoff picture below, along with odds for both the AFC and NFC.

Playoff Picture

NFC

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Seed	Team	Division	Record
1	Cowboys	East	12-2
2	Seahawks	West	9-4-1
3	Falcons	South	9-5
4	Lions	North	9-5
5	Giants	East	10-4
6	Packers	North	8-6
	--	--	--
7	Buccaneers	South	8-6
8	Redskins	East	7-6-1
9	Vikings	North	7-7
10	Saints	South	6-8
11	Panthers	South	6-8

AFC

Harry How/Getty Images

Seed	Team	Division	Record
1	Patriots	East	12-2
2	Raiders	West	11-3
3	Steelers	North	9-5
4	Texans	South	8-6
5	Chiefs	West	10-4
6	Dolphins	East	9-5
	--	--	--
7	Ravens	North	8-6
8	Titans	South	8-6
9	Broncos	West	8-6
10	Colts	South	7-7
11	Bills	East	7-7

Projected Bracket

Peter Aiken/Getty Images

AFC	NFC
Titans (6) @ Steelers (3)	Lions (6) @ Falcons (3)
Chiefs (5) @ Texans (4)	Giants (5) @ Packers (4)
Bye: Raiders (1), Patriots (2)	Bye: Cowboys (1), Seahawks (2)

Super Bowl Odds

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press/Associated Press

Team	Odds
New England Patriots	+220
Dallas Cowboys	+500
Seattle Seahawks	+550
Pittsburgh Steelers	+1000
Oakland Raiders	+1200
Green Bay Packers	+1200
Kansas City Chiefs	+1600
Atlanta Falcons	+1600
New York Giants	+1600
Detroit Lions	+2500
Baltimore Ravens	+5000
Houston Texans	+5000
Indianapolis Colts	+5000
Tennessee Titans	+5000
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	+6600
Denver Broncos	+6600
Miami Dolphins	+7500
Washington Redskins	+10000
Minnesota Vikings	+15000
Carolina Panthers	+25000

Team to Watch: New York Giants

Al Bello/Getty Images

On his radio show earlier this week, Fox Sports 1 personality Colin Cowherd likened the 2016 New York Giants to the 2015 Denver Broncos.

At first, it felt like a questionable comparison. After all, putting Big Blue in the company of last year’s Super Bowl winner is high praise for a team that hasn’t reached the playoffs since its 2011 championship run.

But that’s the thing: This is a different team.

Only two teams have allowed fewer points than the Giants (the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots). They’re eighth in interceptions. They’re second to Denver in opponent passer rating and receiving touchdowns. They’re third in opponent yards per rush and sixth in opponent rushing yards per game.

The numbers don't lie. This defense is the real deal.

Cowherd’s comparison harks back to New York’s offseason. Like John Elway in Denver, Giants general manager Jerry Reese broke the bank to the tune of $200 million on four defensive players: cornerback Janoris Jenkins, defensive end Olivier Vernon, defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison and returning defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

All have been hits.

Al Bello/Getty Images

Harrison, a former New York Jet who has a serious case as a Pro Bowl snub, has given opposing backs nightmares. Here’s an example of the big fella wreaking havoc against the Detroit Lions in Week 15, per Inside the Pylon's Brandon Thorn:

Pair that with the breakout of second-year safety Landon Collins, the maturing game of rookie cornerback Eli Apple and the steady play of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and you’ve got a championship-caliber defense. Just ask Odell Beckham Jr., per the NFL's official Twitter account:

The Giants have beaten the Cowboys twice this year. The Seahawks and the Falcons wield explosive offenses, but Big Blue has yet to allow 30 points in a game.

Thanks to its defense, New York is a legitimate title threat. Having a two-time Super Bowl MVP in quarterback Eli Manning—arguably the team's weak point at the moment—doesn’t hurt either.