Super Bowl Odds 2012: Can the Green Bay Packers Repeat Next Year?
With Super Bowl XLV behind us, the odds for the next Super Bowl champion have already been released by Las Vegas and everybody is curious to see where their team stands.
Although there is uncertainty facing this upcoming season, that will not stop us from wondering what could be in the 2011-2012 season.
The Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers will have a solid chance at repeating and naturally, a few of the perennial contenders are high up there too.
Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis is a long way off and we still have the NFL Draft ahead of us, but here is a look at each team's Super Bowl odds for next season and whether we think they have a shot at holding the Lombardi Trophy.
Odds from RJ Bell of Pregame.com
32. Buffalo Bills: 127-1
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The odds on the Buffalo Bills winning the Super Bowl are a bit harsh, but they are not going to be in Indianapolis at the end of the season.
Buffalo played hard in almost every game last season and may have actually found a quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick, at least in the short term.
Do not get me wrong, the Bills are not a very good football team, but they do not deserve to have the worst odds in the league.
At any rate, they are one of approximately ten teams that virtually have no chance at the Lombardi Trophy next season.
The Bills own the No. 3 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and can go in a lot of different directions with it, but I expect them to try and help the league's worst rushing defense.
31. Seattle Seahawks: 106-1
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Placing the Seattle Seahawks with the second worst odds in the league is a bit puzzling to some, but I can see why it was done.
Seattle made their improbable run to the NFC Divisional round after winning the NFC West with a losing record this season, and it is highly unlikely they will repeat such a feat.
They upset the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints with the best performance the team had put forth all season and Marshawn Lynch gave us the most ridiculous run we may have ever seen.
Pete Carroll has the Seahawks going in the right direction, but they will need to figure out a long-term solution at the quarterback position, as well as a few other holes in the team.
Not only will the Seahawks not win the Super Bowl, but they will not win their division again either.
30. Carolina Panthers: 100-1
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Not often is a team the worst in the league two years in a row and the Panthers are likely to improve, even if it is by one or two wins, this season under new head coach Ron Rivera.
The Panthers own the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft and are not expected to draft a quarterback due to the lack of elite prospects at the position. This should give last season's second round pick, Jimmy Clausen, a little bit of breathing room to learn and grow in this offense for at least this season.
They face some tough decisions in free agency, including whether or not to bring back running back DeAngelo Williams, and they have a ton of other holes to fill.
100-1 odds to win the Super Bowl is favorable at best, and we will not see Carolina anywhere near Indianapolis. The Colts will host the Panthers in the regular season, though.
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29. Arizona Cardinals: 82-1
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The Cardinals have fallen far since being the NFC Conference Champs and most of it has to do with the quarterback position.
The answer for the Cardinals is not on the current roster, in my opinion, and they will need to figure out what they believe will be the answer before they can do anything productive in the NFC West again.
82-1 is favorable odds for a team that is a shell of its former conference title days and it will take some remarkable help on the defensive side of the ball to help them get back to where they want to be as well.
The Cardinals own the No. 5 selection in the Draft and could be the first team to go after a quarterback or, in my opinion, will help out their defense by likely adding a pass rushing threat.
Arizona will not be winning their division and will certainly not be winning the Super Bowl next season.
28. Cleveland Browns: 75-1
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The Cleveland Browns got rid of Eric Mangini and now we can finally consider this the complete overhaul of all things Holmgren at this point.
75-1 odds is a fair bet for a team that showed they can play tough with some of the best, but is certainly not ready to compete.
Quarterback Colt McCoy may in fact be the answer for the Browns and running back Peyton Hillis was a force for most of the season.
Expect to see Cleveland make some strides across the board this season, but they will not be a contending force in their division or for the Super Bowl yet.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars: 75-1
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The Jacksonville Jaguars looked like they might have finally figured it out in the AFC South last season before crumbling down the stretch.
They played better than they really were for some time and I cannot argue with 75-1 odds on a team that is unlikely to play better than they did last season.
The Jaguars will likely go after some defensive help in the Draft, notably at defensive end and in the secondary, but are one of the teams that may be looking for future quarterback prospects as well.
Jacksonville has some pieces, but will not be a contending team next season and are unlikely to do any better than third in their division.
26. Denver Broncos: 75-1
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The odds on the Denver Broncos are a bit friendly to me. This is a team that has a lot of holes and needs a lot of help.
Tim Tebow may be their quarterback of the future and they have a new coach, John Fox, that they can rally behind, but they need some major help on the defensive side of the football and need a new lesson on running the football successfully.
In a division with three other teams that are likely to contend for the division title, Denver is definitely on the outside looking in.
It will take some time for Fox to control the damage that Josh McDaniels inflicted upon this organization and with the help of John Elway, I do believe they will start to get it right, just not this season.
25. Cincinnati Bengals: 75-1
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The Bengals are given seriously favorable odds here in my opinion. But considering there are only seven teams lower than them, I can understand, especially given Marvin Lewis' tendency to make something out of nothing on defense.
Cincinnati's offense is what worries me, though, and we could see a new quarterback, two new starting receivers and a new running back wearing stripes next season.
The Bengals are in one of the toughest divisions in football with the Steelers and Ravens consistently making their way into the postseason. It is hard for me to say that Bengals will actually be a better football team than the Browns next season.
For a team with so much uncertainty across the board offensively, 75-1 is more than fair and the Bengals are no Super Bowl caliber team.
24. Miami Dolphins: 65-1
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Another team with quarterback issues makes it tough to believe they can win more than a handful of games, let alone challenge for the division or a Super Bowl.
Miami will likely be sporting a new running back in the backfield this season and they will need to determine who will be calling the plays before they are even considered a possible winning threat.
They're not a bad team defensively and actually played tough this past season, considering they won only one game at home, which is an atrocious statistic.
The Dolphins have to learn how to consistently win football games before they can even think about the Super Bowl and that will start with some stability at the quarterback position. 65-1 is more than fair.
23. Washington Redskins: 65-1
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The Washington Redskins are simply a mess and for Mike Shanahan's sake, I hope he finds the quarterback that fits his liking, because that situation this season was horrendous.
The Redskins are a lot of players away from truly contending in a division that is accustomed to turning out at least two playoff teams each season.
Offensively, they need help up front, they need to find stability at the running back position and need weapons on the outside. Defensively, they could use an upgrade almost every position except strong safety and outside linebacker. But most importantly, they need a quarterback for the face of the franchise.
65-1 odds is fairly given to a team that truly has very little shot of contending for anything more than the No. 3 spot in their division, and only if they play great all season long.
22. Detroit Lions: 51-1
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There is no telling what the Lions could do with a healthy Matthew Stafford. We just do not know.
They found a once-in-a-decade type defensive tackle in Ndamukong Suh and will only continue to improve if they keep doing what they are doing.
The Lions obviously need stay healthy, especially Matthew Stafford, but will also have to learn how to be consistent.
The cornerback position and linebacking corps are the team's biggest needs and I look for them to address that in the Draft.
They could shock some people up in the NFC North if they stay healthy, but they will not be playing for the Super Bowl next season. If they are lucky and get some consistency, they'll be around a .500 team.
21. St. Louis Rams: 51-1
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Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams almost (almost) made the most of a weak NFC West division this season.
It was quite remarkable how well the former No. 1 overall pick played when you look at the weapons he had at his disposal, and it will be on the front office to get him some help immediately if they want to continue his growth.
They played as well as you could have expect on defense last season, but they will still be searching for some starters before the season starts.
The Rams at 51-1 is definitely a fair assessment and in line with what the Lions are doing as well. They could contend for the division title again if it is really that bad again next season.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 51-1
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Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made some huge strides in 2010 and they are a team doing everything right.
51-1 is a bit low in my opinion and they deserve a bit more credit. I understand many believe they may slow down this season, but there is nothing to me that says the Falcons really are the team to beat in the NFC South and if Tampa can capitalize on what they did this season and learn to win some tough, close games, they will be a very real threat in the NFC South.
They will have to decide if going forward with LeGarrette Blount is the answer at running back, but it would not hurt them to add another playmaker there anyway.
They will also need to add some pass rush help on the edges and could stand to address the linebacking corps and secondary as well.
Tampa Bay really showed something this season and I am not ready to throw that away so lightly. The Bucs are better than a 51-1 shot at the Bowl this season.
19. Oakland Raiders: 51-1
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The Raiders finally got back to .500 this season, for the first time since going to the Super Bowl in 2002.
It has been a long road for the Raiders and they deserve some credibility for being a competitive team in 2010.
That said, they are still a work in progress and with a new head coach in place, we may see some growing pains, considering the potential work stoppage limiting practice time together (hypothetical, of course).
Oakland could still stand to bring in a veteran presence at the wide receiver position, considering all the young talent they have, as well as addressing the offensive line.
The cornerback position could become a cause for concern if Nnamdi Asomugha really does leave in free agency and that could be a big blow to the Raiders.
51-1 is rather fair for a team that outplayed their expectations last season, but still has a ton of question marks.
18. Tennessee Titans: 51-1
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No quarterback, a new coach—51-1 is way too high for the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans do have a lot of other solid pieces in place, including an all-world rusher in Chris Johnson, but are missing the two most important factors to a successful football team.
New coach Mike Munchak may be exactly what the doctor ordered, but the Hall of Fame offensive lineman is in his first year as a head coach and there will certainly be some growing pains during the transition.
The quarterback position is a huge cause for concern in Tennessee and depending on who they bring in, it could be a really long season for Titans fans.
The Titans are unlikely Super Bowl champion, let alone a division winner.
17. Kansas City Chiefs: 51-1
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The defending AFC West champs will have their work cut out for them in 2011, no doubt about it, but 51-1 is a bit harsh.
The Chiefs proved they were not ready for the big time after getting whacked at home by Ravens in the playoffs, but they have some young, talented pieces in place.
Losing Charlie Weis may prove to be more of hit than many realize and Matt Cassel's efficient play from a season ago will be hard to replicate without him.
Kansas City still has a lot of holes to fill before the season begins with impending losses in free agency, and they could definitely use another solid weapon opposite Dwayne Bowe if they want him to have any chance seeing anything but double coverage.
Unfortunately, Chiefs fans, the Super Bowl is not much of possibility for next season.
16. San Francisco 49ers: 51-1
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Another season and another set of expectations for the San Francisco 49ers.
The hottest head coach on the market is now calling the shots by the Bay and the Niners already have a lot of pieces in place for him to play with.
The biggest question mark will come at the most important position: quarterback.
At No. 7 overall, Harbaugh could look to use his Draft selection on the signal caller of his choice or go after a veteran via trade or free agency.
Either way, San Francisco will be no better than this season if they do not get the right quarterback in play for a team that has the best chance to win the NFC West next season.
15. Minnesota Vikings: 41-1
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Another favorable number for a team that really does not deserve it, the Minnesota Vikings have a long road back to the NFC Championship game.
Brett Favre and Brad Childress certainly were a problem last season, but the Vikes did not run the football very well, were not a very good defensive unit and their secondary still needs upgrades.
They believe they have the coach to set things straight, but until they figure out who is going to throw the football to Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin (assuming his head is ever right) and hand off to Adrian Peterson, this team will not go very far.
They will be lucky to overtake the Bears as the No. 2 team in the division next season and do not have the makings of Super Bowl team right now.
14. Houston Texans: 38-1
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This is a rather favorable number for a team that was absolutely atrocious against the pass last season, but you have to figure that they are unlikely to be any worse.
On the bright side, they did have the best rushing attack in the league, even after playing from behind so many times, and can really only improve on defense.
The Texans do not have many glaring needs on the offensive side of the ball, but do need to find another player that can get after the passer aside from Mario Williams.
New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips might actually be a good fit, but it will take some time for the personnel to adapt to his 3-4 defense.
38-1 is not unreasonable for a team that does have the potential to be a very high-octane offense with a defense that cannot be any worse.
13. Chicago Bears: 38-1
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This is actually as solid a number as I could have come up with for the Bears this season as well.
They essentially overachieved by winning the division with a team that really would have had trouble with almost any other team in the postseason outside of the Seattle Seahawks.
Chicago is unlikely to repeat as division champs with Packers there and they will be lucky to grab a Wild Card spot with all the talent in the NFC South and East.
The Bears played some truly inspired defense this past season and it will be hard to replicate that production. They are fairly judged at 38-1.
12. New York Giants: 28-1
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The New York Giants could very well have ridden the wave the way the Packers did had they figured out how to stop beating themselves, but that did not happen.
The Giants led the league in takeaways, but also led the league in turnovers.
New York, very similar to the San Diego Chargers, were their own worst enemy at the most crucial times and had enough talent to be contending threat if they could have stayed out of their own way.
Next season, the Giants will come in healthier and likely with depth at most positions. They do not have a lot of holes.
They will have to figure out whether they are satisfied with their linebacking corps once again and, as if I had to say anything, will need to make sure they have a punter that listens.
28-1 is a very fair assessment for the first team on this list that could truly contend.
11. New York Jets: 26-1
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The New York Jets are at a crossroads here. They geared everything for making this the season and came up just short once again.
Unfortunately, especially in this NFL, you do not get many opportunities at getting to the Super Bowl and the Jets have had two in a row.
They will have a plethora of free agency decisions to make this offseason and are still considered the No. 2 team in their division, with New England hanging strong.
The Jets have continued to play inspired football behind their brash coach, but there is no telling if they can really get back to that spot three years in a row. 26-1 is fair for now.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: 26-1
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Philadelphia will have a lot going for it next season, especially if they solve the quarterback nonsense early by sending Kevin Kolb away and giving Andy Reid no potential to make any dumb decisions about "benching" Vick in the face of pressure.
Vick will likely be tagged and the Eagles will plow on with as dynamic an offense as there is in the league.
They will likely upgrade on the offensive line through the Draft and will also need to address the secondary.
The Eagles seem to have the Giants' number at any rate and a 26-1 number is extremely fair for the defending NFC East champs.
9. Atlanta Falcons: 20-1
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Atlanta will continue to grow with Matt Ryan as their franchise face, but he cannot do it all alone.
We saw that the Falcons truly were not ready when the Packers came to town and even if the Falcons win all eight home games during the regular season, it will not mean anything until they prove they can do it in the postseason.
They could stand to upgrade at defensive end, as well as outside linebacker, and will likely need to find a future replacement for Tony Gonzalez at tight end.
The Falcons will also have some decisions to make in free agency, but this team should be back and able to fight for contention next season. 20-1 is a very fair number right now.
8. Dallas Cowboys: 20-1
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To be honest, this is insane to me.
The Dallas Cowboys certainly looked like a better football team with Jason Garrett, but they should not be placed above the Giants or Eagles.
The Cowboys have controversy at the running back position, will have to find out what Tony Romo looks like after a year being injured and desperately need to upgrade the secondary.
Dallas has won only one postseason game in recent memory and is not the favorite to win the NFC East, in my opinion.
They do have enough talent to make something of their season, but it remains to be seen if they will really do it. This is a 35-1 team in my eyes.
7. New Orleans Saints: 20-1
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Drew Brees and Saints just did not have enough to get it done in Seattle this season, but are still the favorite to come back and win the NFC South next season.
They need help on the defensive front for sure, may need to find a full time running back and could stand for some upgrades in the secondary as well.
The offense still has the striking power to be dominant at any time, though, and the Saints are a fair bet at 20-1.
6. Baltimore Ravens: 20-1
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The Ravens just cannot seem to get away from Ben Roethlisberger and Steelers in the postseason.
Baltimore will battle it out with Pittsburgh against next season for the division, but I expect both of them to be in the postseason again.
Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin are a solid three on the offensive side of the ball, but the Ravens could still use another young weapon outside and hope that tight end Ed Dickson develops as the true heir for Todd Heap.
They still need to upgrade their secondary and their star players on defense will not be young forever.
The Ravens are fairly judged at 20-1 right now.
5. Indianapolis Colts: 18-1
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Peyton Manning will always give his team a chance to win football games, but as we saw this season, it is not always enough.
The Colts need to get healthy, first and foremost, and will also need to figure out how to stop the run.
The Bob Sanders' injury situation may never be replaced and the Colts should consider the alternatives in the secondary for the future.
18-1 is simply in respect to Peyton Manning, but while the Colts are the favorite in their division, I do not see them being a true title threat at the moment.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: 13-1
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The Steelers will be back in force, that is for sure.
They have too much talent on both sides of the ball, have all the big game experience and now know what it feels like to lose too.
Pittsburgh will have to attend to their offensive line again, could use another weapon on the outside and should look to upgrade their secondary as well.
13-1 is a solid number for AFC champs right now.
3. San Diego Chargers: 13-1
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This is another head-scratcher in my mind.
The Chargers are a supremely talented team, but also need to figure out ways to be consistent and have not proven they can even get to the Super Bowl at this point.
Phillip Rivers may be playing the best football of his career, but the Chargers' brass will have to make the right decisions in the offseason if they wish to give him the best chance to succeed.
San Diego is the favorite in the AFC West, but they are not higher up than the Jets or Giants in my mind. They deserve a 26-1 number at this point.
2. Green Bay Packers: 11-1
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It is extremely difficult to repeat as the Super Bowl Champions and the Green Bay Packers will find that out next season.
As it stands now, they will have some of their best talent back next season and should look to add some help in the form of offensive line depth.
They almost missed the postseason this season after all the injuries and proved they could battle through it. Keeping solid depth will be important in their quest for a second title.
11-1 is a fair number and they should be the favorite to win in my mind.
1. New England Patriots: 10-1
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It is not hard to argue with Patriots as the No. 1 coming back next season. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick make it extremely easy to side with them.
The Pats have needs to fill, though, and they have not been the same team in the postseason in recent years.
However, at the beginning of the season, if there is one team that looks like they could come out and just be the best from day one, it is New England.
11-1 would have suited my thoughts better, tied with Green Bay, but not much argument against them at as the early Super Bowl favorite at 10-1 either.
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