NFL Playoff Picture: Odds Each Team in Playoff Contention Actually Earns a Berth

This is the time of the year where each team needs to begin getting realistic about its playoff chances. For example, the Oakland Raiders currently sit ninth in the AFC playoff race. However, this is a football team that doesn't look anything like a playoff contender.

If a team isn't included on this list it means that they have an outside shot of making a playoff run. However, as the New York Giants taught us last season, it's possible someone can make a late-season run.

Atlanta Falcons

Odds: 3-1

It would take a total collapse for the Atlanta Falcons to miss the playoffs. They're the only remaining undefeated team left in the NFL and have a strong hold a four-game lead on the Seattle Seahawks, who currently hold the last playoff spot in the NFC.

The only road block for the Falcons is the fact that five of their eight remaining games are against divisional rivals. These games are always more difficult, and if the Falcons fall apart they could realistically still lose its division.

However, Atlanta has provided no indication that it's ready to slow down. This is a team playing at a very high level. The Falcons are the safest bet of any team in the NFL to make the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers

Odds: 3-1

The San Francisco 49ers have a large lead as far as the division title is concerned. San Francisco possesses the best record in the division, and the No. 2 team, the Seattle Seahawks, are 0-3 within the division. Winning your division is by far the easiest path to the playoffs.

However, the 49ers are looking to do more than just win their division. This team has its sights set on claiming one of the top playoff seeds. At this point, San Francisco is behind only the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons in the NFC. 

Surpassing those two won't be an easy task, as the 49ers' remaining schedule features a few bumps. They have tough road games against the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots.

New York Giants

Odds: 3-1

The NFC East is typically one of the more competitive divisions in the entire NFL. However, this season is a very different story. The New York Giants appear to be the only team worthy of a playoff berth, as they are the only team with a .500 or better record.

New York's path to the playoffs should now be focused on earning one of the top seeds in the NFC. Outside of a few more division games, the Giants have tough matchups against the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons coming up.

One good thing going for the Giants is the fact that they get to play the struggling Cincinnati Bengals and then head into a bye after their poor performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Having a bye week this late in the season is a good way to get healthy for the playoff run.

Chicago Bears

Odds: 4-1

Of all the current division leaders, the Chicago Bears have the least stable hold on the top spot. This is because they have a tough schedule the rest of the season and still have to deal with the Green Bay Packers in the division.

Chicago is still in great position to earn a playoff berth; it's just that the division title is more up for grabs in the NFC North.

The next two weeks will go a long way in determining if the Bears can keep the top spot in the NFC North. They have back-to-back prime-time games against the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers. These are two of the tougher teams in the NFL. 

However, Chicago is playing great football right now. The defense has proven that it's capable of leading a team to victory all on its own. Jay Cutler finally has a big-time wide receiver in Brandon Marshall and the duo is flourishing.

Green Bay Packers

Odds: 8-1

The Green Bay Packers will be heavily rooting for the Houston Texans and the San Francisco 49ers in the next two weeks. Those two teams are playing the Chicago Bears in back-to-back weeks. Green Bay needs Chicago to lose some games if it hopes to close the gap in the NFC North.

As far as the Packers' schedule is concerned, it's pretty balanced with tough games against the Bears and New York Giants coming up. They also have very winnable games against the Minnesota Vikings (twice) and Tennessee Titans.

This week's bye is also important for the Packers. This will allow some of their injured players like Jordy Nelson, Bryan Bulaga and Clay Matthews to get healthy.

Even if Green Bay isn't able to win the division, it's in good position to earn a playoff berth. The Pack just need to keep pace with the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions. The one issue is that Seattle holds the tiebreaker because of its Week 3 victory over the Packers.

Seattle Seahawks

Odds: 15-1

The Seattle Seahawks are making a strong playoff push despite having a third-round rookie quarterback starting. Russell Wilson might not be perfect, but he's playing winning football. The key is that he has quickly learned to play to his strengths. It also helps that Seattle possesses a dominating defense and powerful running game.

Seattle's road to the playoffs is filled with a few bumps in the road. It has tough road games against the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. The Seahawks will need to win one of those games to remain in good position. It's also important that they use their home-field advantage to take care of the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16.

The Seahawks are anything but guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. There's a lot of football to be played.

The Rest of the NFC Teams in the Race

Detroit Lions

Odds: 20-1

The Detroit Lions' playoff hopes heavily depend on Matthew Stafford's ability to turn his season around. This team won't find much success if Stafford continues to play average football. The Lions rely too much on the offense and passing game to pull off wins.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Odds: 25-1

Doug Martin's surge has put the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back into the playoff picture. There's no way he can keep up this type of production, but that doesn't mean he can set the tone for the Buccaneers offense the rest of the season.

As Martin goes so will the Buccaneers. His running ability opens up things for the passing game, which in turn helps offset the struggles Tampa Bay has stopping the pass on defense.

Minnesota Vikings

Odds: 50-1

The Minnesota Vikings are quickly fading out of the playoff picture. This is because of the struggles of quarterback Christian Ponder. It's tough for any team to keep pace when its quarterback throws for under 65 total yards in two of the past three games.

There's still some hope left for Minnesota, but it needs to find a way to increase the explosiveness of the passing game.

Houston Texans

Odds: 3-1

The Houston Texans are by far the most balanced team in the AFC. They have the strong running game with Arian Foster, a dominant defense and a solid quarterback in Matt Schaub. The only real concern with this team is the injury history of its stars.

Last season, the Texans could've been the team representing the AFC in the Super Bowl if Schaub didn't suffer a late-season injury.

Outside of games against the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots, the Texans have a very easy schedule the rest of the way. It would be a little shocking if they weren't able to secure the No. 1 overall seed.

Denver Broncos

Odds: 3-1

The Denver Broncos' playoff chances look great because they have Peyton Manning and play in the terrible AFC West. Manning might not yet be 100 percent, but he's playing at a very high level. A lot of this has to do with his ability to jell with is new teammates.

Denver's remaining schedule is on the easy side, especially for Manning. He has the opportunity to play poor secondaries like those with the Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs (twice), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns.

This type of schedule coupled with the poor competition in the AFC West is why Denver has just as good of a shot to make the playoffs as the Houston Texans. The question now is only how high of a seed the Broncos can earn.

New England Patriots

Odds: 4-1

Tom Brady and company look primed for another strong playoff run. They have a solid lead within the AFC East and are coming off a bye week after two straight victories. The momentum is in the New England Patriots' favor.

However, they face a pretty tough schedule the rest of the season. New England still has road divisional games against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. It's important not to overlook these two teams, as both always play New England hard.

The Patriots also have to face the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers—two of the better teams in the entire NFL.

Despite a tough schedule, New England shouldn't have a tough time earning a playoff berth. The fact that Brady is still under center earns the Patriots the benefit of the doubt. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Odds: 10-1

The Pittsburgh Steelers currently hold the last spot in the AFC playoff race, but they're playing with a lot of momentum. Their upcoming game is against the lowly Kansas City Chiefs, which should provide even more confidence before the Steelers take on the Baltimore Ravens for the first time of the season.

As usual, the AFC North title appears to be coming down to these two teams. Unlike the Steelers, the Ravens aren't playing their best football right now. They've been in decline since the injury to Ray Lewis and recent struggles of Joe Flacco.

The Ravens' problems have opened the door for Pittsburgh to seize control of the AFC North. It also opens things up for someone to jump into the AFC's No. 2 playoff spot.

Baltimore Ravens

Odds: 10-1

So much of the Baltimore Ravens' season will be determined by the outcome of their two remaining games against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Those games give each team the chance to gain control of the AFC North and possibly the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

Unfortunately for the Ravens, they're stuck in a slump and playing their worst football of the season. Joe Flacco has lost his early-season magic and is playing very average football. This is a major issue because the defense isn't the same unit as years past.

The momentum is going against the Ravens, and they need to find a way to turn it around. However, they still have a strong hold on a playoff spot because the rest of the AFC is average.

Indianapolis Colts

Odds: 25-1

The Indianapolis Colts are riding a three-game winning streak into the playoff hunt. This past weekend's win over the Miami Dolphins put the Colts in the driver's seat for one of the last playoff spots. Indianapolis is playing very inspired football, which comes from head coach Chuck Pagano's fight with cancer.

However, this is also a team with the talent capable of making a run. The quick development of rookie quarterback Andrew Luck has been the catalyst of the team's success. Still, it's important not to overlook the play of others like Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton and Dwayne Allen.

Indianapolis playoff hopes get a boost from a manageable schedule for the rest of the season. They have very winnable games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.

A win in each of those game would put the Colts at the nine-win mark. With the overall weakness of the AFC, that number might be enough to earn a playoff berth.

The Rest of the AFC Teams in the Race

Miami Dolphins

Odds: 35-1

The Miami Dolphins' loss to the Indianapolis Colts set the team back in the playoff race. As it stands, the Colts hold one of the last playoff spots in the AFC. This loss means that if it comes down to Miami and Indianapolis for a playoff spot, the Dolphins would lose the tiebreaker.

Miami's road is also a little tougher because of the presence of Ryan Tannehill. It's tough to rely on a rookie quarterback in the heat of a playoff race.

San Diego Chargers

Odds: 50-1

Nobody should get overly excited by the San Diego Chargers' win against the Kansas City Chiefs. This was a win against a team that could very well be the worst in the entire league. The next three weeks will tell us a lot more about the Chargers.

Facing the likes of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens has the potential to completely knock the Chargers out of the playoff race.