2015 Super Bowl Odds Updated After the First Week of NFL Free Agency
One week of NFL free agency is in the books, and with the landscape of the league dramatically altered, it's time to take a step back and review where each team stands in pursuit of the ultimate goal: winning a Super Bowl championship.
Only one team can hoist the Lombardi Trophy, which means 31 other teams will taste bitter disappointment next season. But which teams are actually legitimate contenders for a world title, and which are merely pretenders?
In this column, we'll assess the Super Bowl odds doled out to each NFL team by Las Vegas and analyze where they stand as it concerns the sport's biggest prize.
Is your favorite team a legitimate threat to win it all? Or is it ticketed for a top pick in next year's draft? Click ahead to find out.
Here are the 2015 Super Bowl odds for every NFL team after the first week of free agency, courtesy of Odds Shark.
Tennessee Titans
1 of 32
Odds: 200-1
Although the Tennessee Titans continue to remain the NFL's most nondescript team, they've taken steps toward shedding that unfortunate moniker—and could do so with resounding finality come the NFL draft.
The Titans desperately needed to supply defensive coordinator Ray Horton with edge-rushers for his 3-4 scheme and did so by re-signing linebacker Derrick Morgan and signing free-agent pass-rusher Brian Orakpo. While Orakpo only notched half a sack last year in seven games played, he has tremendous physical ability, so it's definitely possible for him to contribute in 2015 and beyond.
Other players brought in include cornerback Perrish Cox, receiver Harry Douglas and safety Da'Norris Searcy, which isn't a bad haul for coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Ruston Webster.
But while the team has improved, there's simply no way the Titans can contend for a Super Bowl title—or even sniff the postseason in a jumbled AFC—without fixing the quarterback position. Will the team opt to select a passer with the draft's No. 2 overall pick? Or will they roll with second-year player Zach Mettenberger?
That decision could very well determine the futures of both Whisenhunt and Webster in the Music City.
Jacksonville Jaguars
2 of 32
Odds: 200-1
The 2015 season looms as a critical one in Duval County, as it's Year 3 of head coach Gus Bradley and general manager David Caldwell's regime. And no, Years 1 and 2 haven't exactly gone swimmingly, with a grand total of seven wins.
But the Jaguars will have their most talented roster under Bradley and Caldwell—one bolstered with a cavalcade of free-agent signings. While the team didn't get to lavish the market's elite players with greenbacks, it did sign a number of quality options with the league's largest financial war chest.
Former Broncos tight end Julius Thomas is undoubtedly the jewel of the class, and along with young receivers Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, it's clear the team is surrounding quarterback Blake Bortles with the weapons needed to succeed.
Defensive tackle Jared Odrick, linebacker Dan Skuta and cornerback Davon House also join the Jaguars and should add much-needed ability and depth to a 53-man roster in desperate need of both. The team should also be able to add an impact player with the third overall pick in April's draft.
If the Jaguars are to contend for a playoff berth, Bortles must make a significant leap forward in Year 2 of his development. But as of right now, the Super Bowl seems like a pipe dream.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 of 32
Odds: 150-1
Last offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a series of free-agent signings in hopes of improving the team's fortunes under new coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Licht.
But to paraphrase the famed author John Steinbeck, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, and the Bucs recently jettisoned three of their big-name free-agent acquisitions from 2014: quarterback Josh McCown, defensive end Michael Johnson and offensive tackle Anthony Collins.
That's not good.
Given the aforementioned transactions, it shouldn't surprise that the Bucs went 2-14 and "earned" the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft. The top selection gives the team an opportunity to hit the reset button at the quarterback position. It's widely expected to do so—and the decision will likely come down to Florida State's Jameis Winston (the consensus favorite) or Oregon's Marcus Mariota.
The new quarterback will have talented skill position players to work with, most notably receiver Mike Evans, but the rest of the roster needs significant work. Dealing quarterback Mike Glennon for some help would make sense.
Smith and Licht will need to have an excellent draft just to sniff a postseason berth. The Super Bowl is almost entirely out of the question unless Winston turns out to be an amalgamation of Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson.
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Washington Redskins
4 of 32
Odds: 100-1
As the Washington Redskins get set to enter Year 2 under coach Jay Gruden, the quarterback position remains unsettled—which usually spells disaster for a team's Super Bowl hopes.
Robert Griffin III will presumably enter the season as the starting passer, but Gruden never seemed particularly enamored with Griffin last year. Kirk Cousins is behind Griffin but hasn't dazzled when given the opportunity to play.
The Redskins have talent at the skill positions with running back Alfred Morris and receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon. But the offensive line needs help, as does the pass rush. New general manager Scot McCloughan could look to target an edge-rusher with the fifth overall selection in April's draft.
McCloughan has already taken steps to improve the defense, inking free-agent cornerback Chris Culliver and defensive tackles Terrance Knighton and Stephen Paea. But the unit needs more help.
Until the Redskins figure out the quarterback position, they can't be taken seriously as Super Bowl contenders. It remains to be seen if Griffin can—and will—be "The Guy."
Oakland Raiders
5 of 32
Odds: 75-1
While the Oakland Raiders don't exactly have great odds to win the Super Bowl, it should be noted that this is the highest Las Vegas has valued them in quite some time. And that's because the Raiders are a team on the rise.
You read that correctly. The Raiders—who haven't made the postseason since 2002—are on the upswing. And it's because of a talented young corps of players that should have fans feeling bullish about the future.
Quarterback Derek Carr and linebacker Khalil Mack are solid building blocks on either side of the ball, and new coach Jack Del Rio is a marked improvement over the deposed Dennis Allen. While general manager Reggie McKenzie hasn't done a ton to inspire confidence, he did draft both Carr and Mack and has an opportunity to add another franchise-altering player with the fourth overall pick of April's draft.
Notable free-agents signees include linebackers Curtis Lofton and Malcolm Smith, running back Roy Helu, center Rodney Hudson and defensive tackle Dan Williams. The Raiders should possess their best roster since Rich Gannon was slinging touchdown passes in the early 2000s.
Believe it or not, the Raiders aren't that far off. One successful draft could have them on the doorstep of the postseason.
Cleveland Browns
6 of 32
Odds: 75-1
It hasn't exactly been a joyous offseason for the Cleveland Browns.
Star receiver Josh Gordon was suspended for the entire 2015 season. Quarterback Johnny Manziel entered a rehab facility. General manager Ray Farmer was embarrassed by his role in the Textgate scandal. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan departed under dubious circumstances.
It's currently unclear who the team's quarterback will be next season, and coach Mike Pettine can't be enthused by these recent developments. The club did sign quarterback Josh McCown, receiver Brian Hartline, defensive tackle Randy Starks and cornerback Tramon Williams, but those aren't moves meant to push a team over the hump and into the Super Bowl.
The Browns do hold two first-round picks—No. 12 and No. 19—and it'd be insane if they didn't take a wide receiver with one of those picks. As for the other? That remains to be seen, but the Browns do have needs throughout the roster.
As is the case with most teams, though, the Browns won't have a chance at the Super Bowl until they fix the quarterback position. And if McCown is the answer, then we'd love to know the question.
New York Jets
7 of 32
Odds: 50-1
The new brass of the New York Jets—coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan—has hit a home run since taking over the reins of a rudderless ship in January.
Bowles and Maccagnan completely reshaped the team's secondary with a fantastic four-pack of signings, spearheaded by the return of All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis. Revis' old running buddy, cornerback Antonio Cromartie, is also back on Broadway, and the two are joined by slot cornerback Buster Skrine and safety Marcus Gilchrist.
Just like that, the Jets turned a position of terrible weakness into one of overwhelming strength.
The team also traded for Bears receiver Brandon Marshall, and while Marshall turns 31 this month, he's still a viable option and with Eric Decker will give Gang Green its best one-two punch at the position in quite some time. If second-year tight end Jace Amaro continues to develop, the Jets' once-archaic passing attack can finally move into the 21st century.
The defense needs pass-rushing oomph, and there's the quarterback position, which remains unsettled. Geno Smith was the primary starter last year, while the team recently traded for Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who played under offensive coordinator Chan Gailey when Gailey was the head coach in Buffalo. Fitzpatrick definitely isn't the answer, and Smith hasn't exactly inspired confidence, so the team would be wise to explore other options at the position.
But don't get it twisted: The Jets aren't that far away from competing with the big boys in the AFC.
Minnesota Vikings
8 of 32
Odds: 50-1
The Minnesota Vikings have their franchise quarterback—and can thus be taken seriously as a team that could potentially (repeat: potentially) compete for a Super Bowl championship for the foreseeable future.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater played well as a rookie, leading the team to a 6-6 record and often playing his best when it mattered most. His heroics in the clutch should give even the most jaded Vikings fan hope for the future.
Coach Mike Zimmer is a favorite of ours, and general manager Rick Spielman has done a nice job of infusing young playmakers into the roster. From linebacker Anthony Barr to cornerback Xavier Rhodes to defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, the Vikings have a number of quality young options.
Spielman recently traded for Dolphins receiver Mike Wallace, who joins Charles Johnson and Cordarrelle Patterson to give Bridgewater a respectable fleet of pass-catchers. To make room for Wallace, the club released 31-year-old wideout Greg Jennings.
It still remains to be seen what will happen with running back Adrian Peterson, although it now looks as if he'll be back in the Twin Cities. But his situation definitely remains one to monitor, and losing him would be a major blow for a team looking to get back into the postseason.
The Super Bowl might not be a realistic option this year, but with Bridgewater under center, the Vikings are well positioned to contend for years to come.
Houston Texans
9 of 32
Odds: 50-1
You might be reading this and wondering why the Houston Texans possess such low odds to win the Super Bowl. After all, they have the best defensive player in the league in lineman J.J. Watt, right? So why aren't their odds better?
The answer surely lies in the uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Houston signed Brian Hoyer away from Cleveland, and while he played under coach Bill O'Brien in New England, he's not exactly the second coming of Warren Moon. The club also re-signed Ryan Mallett, who hasn't inspired a ton of confidence, and last year's fourth-round pick, Tom Savage, rounds out the depth chart. If you think that's a Super Bowl-caliber group of passers, we have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
The offense will look a lot different without stalwart receiver Andre Johnson, who the Texans released after 12 seasons with the club. He signed with division rival Indianapolis, where he'll get a crack at his former team twice per season.
The defense should be filthy, with Watt joined by pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney and new defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, who signed a two-year deal with the team Monday, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. The Texans also re-signed cornerback Kareem Jackson, which was an important move from general manager Rick Smith.
But unless Hoyer, Mallett or Savage establishes himself as "The Guy," the Texans don't have a prayer of competing for a Super Bowl title.
Chicago Bears
10 of 32
Odds: 50-1
The Chicago Bears have a brand-new brain trust of head coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace, and the duo has a ton of work to do to get the team back into Super Bowl contention.
Gone is receiver Brandon Marshall, shipped off to the Jets for a fifth-round pick in April's draft. While Marshall is still an excellent player, this was an essential move, as the club needs to restart with younger players.
The team inked former Ravens pass-rushing linebacker Pernell McPhee in free agency; he should help get after the opposing quarterback. The Bears also brought in safety Antrel Rolle and receiver Eddie Royal, who should help immediately.
But the team's fortunes surely ride on the arm of quarterback Jay Cutler.
If you were to administer Fox and Pace with truth serum, both men would surely (and likely loudly) express a desire to rid themselves of the mercurial Cutler. But Cutler's massive contract and cap number, per Spotrac, make it exceedingly unlikely that he'll be moved, meaning the team is stuck with an apathetic albatross for at least one more season.
The Bears have way too many holes on defense—along with the aforementioned issues at quarterback—to be taken seriously as Super Bowl contenders.
St. Louis Rams
11 of 32
Odds: 40-1
The St. Louis Rams will enter a must-win season with a brand-new quarterback.
Coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead—entering Year 4 of their regime with zero postseason appearances to show for it—pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade for Eagles quarterback Nick Foles and dealt their incumbent starting passer, Sam Bradford, in the process.
Foles now appears entrenched as "The Guy" in St. Louis, but it's unclear if he's good enough to take the Rams to the promised land. Snead does believe in Foles, telling Ron Clements of SportingNews.com, "He's a guy who has a lot of physical skills to play in this league. He's won games with a good organization and a good team. He won games in a good division and got them to the playoffs."
The Rams further fortified their defensive line—already the overwhelming strength of the club—with a one-year pact doled out to former Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who has incredible athletic ability. Fairley will join ends Robert Quinn and Chris Long and tackles Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, forming a position group that will cause sleepless nights for offensive coordinators and quarterbacks around the league.
The club still needs to add firepower at the receiver position and help along the offensive line, but it will largely come down to Foles. If he can improve his level of play, the Rams have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs.
San Diego Chargers
12 of 32
Odds: 40-1
The odds might seem too low for a team quarterbacked by Philip Rivers, but the San Diego Chargers need to add firepower on both sides of the ball to ascend into the AFC's elite.
Rivers is still fantastic, and coach Mike McCoy has proved to be adept at his job, but the roster needs fortification. Running back Ryan Mathews is now in Philadelphia, and the receiving corps is shaky behind Keenan Allen. Antonio Gates is a stalwart at tight end, but Rivers needs more help.
The Chargers only compiled 26 sacks as a team last year, which isn't nearly good enough to contend with the likes of the Patriots and Broncos. General manager Tom Telesco must look to add pass-rushing oomph in the draft.
The signing of guard Orlando Franklin was a strong one, and the team's offensive line appears to be in decent shape heading into next year. But until Rivers gets more weapons and the defense is improved, San Diego will only be a borderline playoff team in the AFC.
New Orleans Saints
13 of 32
Odds: 40-1
The New Orleans Saints are paying the piper for egregious salary-cap mismanagement in a major way, as the team is currently in the process of being deconstructed.
Gone are star tight end Jimmy Graham, emerging receiver Kenny Stills and Pro Bowl guard Ben Grubbs, all traded elsewhere for draft picks (and in the case of Graham, center Max Unger). These deals aren't too bad for the Saints, as they represent a necessity, and it stands to reason that coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis should be able to restock the roster with young players on the cheap.
But for now, it's a total mess in the Big Easy.
It's hard to imagine the Saints being better than the inconsistent 7-9 outfit they were last year, but if it's going to happen, the team will need a better season from franchise quarterback (and salary-cap albatross) Drew Brees.
Re-signing running back Mark Ingram and bringing in free-agent back C.J. Spiller should help, but for now the Saints appear to be in a spot of trouble. They can't be counted out because of Payton and Brees, but the Super Bowl doesn't appear to be a realistic possibility.
Kansas City Chiefs
14 of 32
Odds: 40-1
The Kansas City Chiefs narrowly missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record, and coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey have made two big transactions in an effort to push them back into the tournament.
The club rightly placed the franchise tag on pass-rushing linebacker Justin Houston, who led the NFL with 22.0 sacks last year. Houston is an absolute demon who can alter games by his lonesome, so bringing him back was a no-brainer.
The club also inked former Eagles wideout Jeremy Maclin to a big-money contract, giving quarterback Alex Smith the best receiver he's had since coming to Kansas City prior to the 2013 season.
The questions here are whether Smith can get Maclin the ball and if the Chiefs' anemic passing attack will begin to resemble that of a modern NFL team. No Chiefs receiver caught a touchdown pass last year, which is about as stunning a statistic as you'll see. In a related story, the club cut ties with underperforming wideout Dwayne Bowe.
The defense should once again be solid, and running back Jamaal Charles returns to give Kansas City a dynamic option in the ground game.
Can Smith and Company can contend with the likes of New England, Denver and Indianapolis in the AFC? Right now, that just doesn't appear to be the case.
Carolina Panthers
15 of 32
Odds: 40-1
The Carolina Panthers might have benefited from being in one of the worst divisions in the history of the NFL (the 2014 NFC South was positively brutal), but they did advance to the divisional round of the postseason before falling to eventual NFC champion Seattle. It marked the second consecutive season that the Panthers (7-8-1) won the NFC South.
But Carolina still has a lot of work to do to contend with the heavyweights in the NFC.
General manager Dave Gettleman simply must do a better job of surrounding quarterback Cam Newton with weapons. Receiver Kelvin Benjamin dazzled as a rookie, and tight end Greg Olsen is a stud, but Newton needs more firepower. Adding talent at the skill positions must be of paramount importance for Gettleman.
With defensive end Greg Hardy all but guaranteed to leave town, adding another pass-rusher should be a high priority as well. But the defense, led by head coach Ron Rivera and star linebacker Luke Kuechly, should once again be solid.
It should ultimately come down to Newton's supporting cast. If it's good enough, the Panthers have a real chance of competing for the NFC crown. But as of now, it's impossible to put Carolina up there with Seattle and Green Bay.
Atlanta Falcons
16 of 32
Odds: 40-1
The Atlanta Falcons endured a miserable 6-10 season that saw them fall short of winning the terrible NFC South, which ultimately cost former coach Mike Smith his job.
The new man in charge is former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who will be charged with fixing a defense that finished dead last in the NFL in 2014.
Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff have added linebackers Brooks Reed, Justin Durant and O'Brien Schofield in an effort to do just that, and the club will undoubtedly use the NFL draft (Atlanta holds the eighth overall pick) to add more help on that side of the ball.
The offense should hum once again with quarterback Matt Ryan serving as the trigger. Receiver Julio Jones is among the league's best, and Roddy White is a solid No. 2 option. The situation at running back is nebulous, with starter Steven Jackson having been released, but expect the team to give last year's fourth-round pick, Devonta Freeman, a long look.
It shouldn't surprise if the Falcons spend a fairly high draft pick on a running back. The offensive line also needs help.
The beauty of having a franchise quarterback like Ryan means the Falcons are never that far away from contending. If Quinn can coach up the defense and the offensive line can stay healthy, Atlanta has a shot at returning to the postseason in 2015.
San Francisco 49ers
17 of 32
Odds: 33-1
The San Francisco 49ers have suffered nothing short of an unmitigated disaster this offseason.
Gone is head coach Jim Harbaugh, because really, why would you want to hang on to a head coach who brought you to three NFC Championship Games in four seasons? Replacing him is defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, whose best attribute is apparently that he won't talk back to owner Jed York.
Linebacker Patrick Willis retired (as did linebacker Chris Borland, and in stunning fashion), defensive lineman Justin Smith could join him, guard Mike Iupati signed with Arizona and running back Frank Gore is now in Indianapolis. Other than that, it's been great!
General manager Trent Baalke did sign receiver Torrey Smith, who should give quarterback Colin Kaepernick a deep threat, but right now the 49ers look like an absolute mess.
While they can't be counted out of contending for a playoff berth, the Super Bowl seems like a laughable and unrealistic goal at this point in the offseason.
Miami Dolphins
18 of 32
Odds: 33-1
Much credit must go to new Miami Dolphins executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum, who has done an outstanding job this offseason.
Tannenbaum reeled in former Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, which has been one of the best moves of the entire offseason. While Suh certainly broke the bank when taking his talents to South Beach, he was one of the best three free agents in the history of free agency (alongside Reggie White and Peyton Manning), so signing him was a coup.
Tannenbaum also shipped out overpaid receiver Mike Wallace and cut ties with a number of other players who were failed acquisitions of deposed general manager Jeff Ireland, giving Dolphins fans hope moving forward.
As always, though, it will come down to the quarterback. Can Ryan Tannehill make "the leap" in Year 4 and ascend to the stratosphere of elite NFL passers? If he does, the sky is the limit for the Dolphins.
Detroit Lions
19 of 32
Odds: 33-1
The Detroit Lions got back to the postseason last year in Jim Caldwell's first year as coach, but the team suffered a tough loss to Dallas in the Wild Card Round. Still, the season must be considered a success.
It's unclear if 2015 will go as well, especially without the services of All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who signed with the Dolphins. The Lions also lost defensive tackle Nick Fairley (to St. Louis), so it stands to reason that the defense won't be as good this season. Coordinator Teryl Austin will have a lot of work to do, even with the team trading for Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to replace Suh.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford played well in the clutch last season, giving fans hope that he can be the player to lead Detroit to its first world championship since 1957. Receiver Calvin Johnson is a star, and Golden Tate is a viable No. 2 option. If second-year tight end Eric Ebron breaks out, the Lions can have an incredible offense.
Adding a running back in the early rounds of the draft should be a priority, as Reggie Bush signed with San Francisco. The club could use a complement to incumbent starter Joique Bell.
The Lions have a shot but are clearly behind the Packers right now in the NFC North hierarchy, which means their road to the Super Bowl would lead away from Motown—assuming they're able to qualify for the postseason.
Cincinnati Bengals
20 of 32
Odds: 33-1
For fans of the Cincinnati Bengals, life has essentially turned into a warped version of the movie Groundhog Day—minus the happy ending.
Last year marked the fourth consecutive one-and-done playoff appearance for Cincinnati, once again raising legitimate questions about the ability of coach Marvin Lewis and quarterback Andy Dalton to lead the team to the promised land. Dalton continues to struggle in big spots and has inspired little confidence that he can be an elite passer in the NFL.
The defense should be excellent once again, and bringing back defensive end Michael Johnson, who spent one less-than-productive season in Tampa, should help, as should the signing of inside linebacker A.J. Hawk. Running back Jeremy Hill emerged as a rookie, giving the Bengals offense an added dimension of physicality.
But the bottom line is that Lewis and Dalton haven't gotten the job done, and until they do, there's no way the Bengals can be considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Buffalo Bills
21 of 32
Odds: 33-1
We'll say this about the Buffalo Bills under new coach Rex Ryan: They won't be boring.
Ryan has already made a splash since taking over in lovely western New York, trading stud linebacker Kiko Alonso for Eagles running back LeSean McCoy. While the long-term viability of that particular move can certainly be questioned, it should undoubtedly help in 2015, especially as Ryan seeks to employ his "ground-and-pound" offensive philosophy.
The defense should be beastly as well, as Ryan has a number of pass-rushers to work with, including a ridiculous defensive line of ends Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes and tackles Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams.
But can the Bills get the quarterback situation worked out? That's the question. The club traded for Vikings passer Matt Cassel, who will presumably battle with third-year signal-caller EJ Manuel for the starting job. Neither should inspire much confidence.
It's plausible that the Bills could end the NFL's longest postseason drought (1999!) this year, but would anyone really pick a Cassel- or Manuel-led team to take out the Patriots, Broncos or Colts? We think not.
New York Giants
22 of 32
Odds: 25-1
The New York Giants haven't made the postseason since winning Super Bowl XLVI but should have a great opportunity to end the drought in 2015—hence their 25-1 odds to raise the Lombardi Trophy.
Why is that? Well, the offense should be outstanding, provided general manager Jerry Reese continues to improve the offensive line. Year 2 of coordinator Ben McAdoo's system should prove fruitful, and it should surprise no one if quarterback Eli Manning has a terrific season.
The signing of pass-catching running back Shane Vereen was a huge one, as Vereen will join thumpers Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams to form a talented trio of backs. Plus, everyone knows how good receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is, and Victor Cruz is set to return from injury.
Placing the franchise tag on defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was a necessary move, and Reese now needs to add another pass-rusher via the draft. Steve Spagnuolo—who was the defensive coordinator when the Giants upset the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII—returns to that same post, which should make Big Blue fans smile.
With Manning and coach Tom Coughlin, the Giants have won when they've run the ball, protected Manning and rushed the opposing passer. In 2015, they'll be set up to do all three.
If and when that happens, a berth in the playoffs should follow, and the Giants have proved that once they get into the tournament, anything can happen.
Baltimore Ravens
23 of 32
Odds: 25-1
The Baltimore Ravens might have suffered heartbreak in a divisional-round loss to eventual Super Bowl champion New England, but the good news is that they should be among the AFC's elite once again in 2015.
Coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco are among the best in the league at their jobs, and general manager Ozzie Newsome is an absolute stud. The trade of defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to the Lions stings, but if any general manager can be trusted to fill Ngata's massive void, it's Newsome.
Running back Justin Forsett dazzled last year and was re-signed, giving Baltimore continuity in the run game. Former Bears coach Marc Trestman is the new offensive coordinator, replacing the departed Gary Kubiak (who is now the head coach in Denver), and expectations should be high even with the loss of receiver Torrey Smith, who signed with San Francisco.
Newsome will surely add a receiver in the draft, and the defense should once again be dynamite. And at the core of the team, the Ravens have Harbaugh and Flacco, which usually spells success for them in the AFC.
Expect Baltimore back in the playoffs once again.
Arizona Cardinals
24 of 32
Odds: 25-1
Last season, the Arizona Cardinals have a team-of-destiny feel to them. That was, of course, before starting quarterback Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton were lost to injury, leaving the team to trot out the ineffective and hapless Ryan Lindley at the sport's most important position.
That predictably didn't go well, and what could have been a Super Bowl season for Arizona instead ended in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs in Carolina. But Palmer is on track to start in Week 1, and the Cardinals cannot and should not be taken lightly in the NFC.
Coach Bruce Arians and general manager Steve Keim are both outstanding at their jobs and will do their best to move the Cardinals deep into the postseason, and the roster is talented as well.
Arizona signed guard Mike Iupati away from the 49ers, which will help the team's substandard run-blocking significantly. Keim also brought in linebackers Sean Weatherspoon and LaMarr Woodley, while releasing longtime defensive tackle Darnell Dockett.
The club restructured the deal of star receiver Larry Fitzgerald, keeping him in the desert for the foreseeable future, which was a wise move. Fitzgerald isn't the player he once was but is still a reliable option in the passing attack.
As of right now, the Cardinals look like the second-best team in their division behind Seattle. But it's possible they could surprise and contend with Seattle and Green Bay in the NFC.
Pittsburgh Steelers
25 of 32
Odds: 20-1
The Pittsburgh Steelers snapped a two-year postseason drought last season, winning the AFC North and earning a home playoff game. But the team went one-and-done in the tournament, losing to hated rival Baltimore at Heinz Field.
The good news for Steelers fans is that they have a good shot to get back to the playoffs in 2015, and that hope begins and ends with star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The club recently inked Roethlisberger to a massive extension that should keep him in the Steel City for the duration of his career, which is a very good thing.
Roethlisberger is supported on offense by star running back Le'Veon Bell and outstanding receiver Antonio Brown, both of whom are among the league's best. General manager Kevin Colbert also signed running back DeAngelo Williams away from the Panthers to fortify the run game.
On defense, the club still needs an infusion of young talent, which has been a necessity for years. But the talent is certainly there for another postseason run. Help is needed at the cornerback position, and Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projects Pittsburgh to take Florida State cornerback Ronald Darby with the 22nd overall pick in April's draft.
With Roethlisberger and coach Mike Tomlin running the show, the Steelers are in good hands and should once again contend for a Super Bowl title in 2015.
Philadelphia Eagles
26 of 32
Odds: 18-1
Philadelphia Eagles coach and decision-maker Chip Kelly is the most interesting man in the NFL: He doesn't always talk to the media, but when he does, the entire NFL world stops on a dime and is transfixed by the proceedings.
Kelly's offseason has been nothing short of spellbinding, equal parts beautiful and high-speed car crash. At times he's reminded us of the dude in your fantasy league who makes a series of crazy transactions at 2 a.m., leaving the rest of the league to wake up stunned by the flood of emails detailing the proceedings.
But really, aside from the trade that brought quarterback Sam Bradford to town (more on that soon), we like what Kelly has done. Trading running back LeSean McCoy (and his big contract) to the Bills for young linebacker Kiko Alonso? We dig it. Signing Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell and Giants cornerback Walter Thurmond? Much-needed moves. Re-signing pass-rusher Brandon Graham? Fantastic.
And the cherry on top was signing running back DeMarco Murray away from Dallas. What Eagles fan didn't love that move?
While those moves were all solid, the Bradford trade was quizzical.
Bradford has resembled Bigfoot more than an actual NFL quarterback, and it's possible that Bigfoot has been seen more on NFL fields than Bradford in the past few years. Bradford has torn his ACL in back-to-back seasons and is 18-30-1 as a starter in the NFL. When healthy, he has the capability to be a stud, but that's the problem—he's usually not healthy.
Kelly's Dr. Frankenstein experiment has a real opportunity to succeed, but in order for that to happen the Eagles will have to survive with a quarterback depth chart of Bradford and Mark Sanchez, aka Bigfoot and the Butt Fumble.
Or, you know, they could trade for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota in the NFL draft. Nothing should surprise anyone anymore when it concerns Kelly, the most interesting man in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys
27 of 32
Odds: 16-1
It should surprise no one that it's already been a wild and wacky offseason for the traveling circus known as the Dallas Cowboys.
After the melodrama concerning receiver Dez Bryant's long-term future with the team, owner Jerry Jones opted to use the franchise tag to keep his stud pass-catcher in town for at least one more year. But the team lowballed running back DeMarco Murray, and the league's reigning rushing champion (1,845 yards) left for division rival Philadelphia.
Wow.
Keeping Bryant over Murray was the right move, but the loss of Murray still stings. Murray's violent running style helped define the Cowboys in a wonderful season that saw them on the cusp of reaching the NFC Championship Game.
Now it's unclear what the Cowboys will do at the position and whether they'll opt to address it via trade or the NFL draft.
Quarterback Tony Romo will be back, though, and he's the most important player on the team anyway. It's probable that Dallas will find another capable running back to replace Murray, and while the replacement (probably) won't be as good as Murray, Romo is the truly irreplaceable player.
As long as the club has Romo, it has a shot. There's work to do, but the Cowboys can't be counted out.
Denver Broncos
28 of 32
Odds: 12-1
The Denver Broncos' 2014 season ended in heartbreak: a one-and-done loss to quarterback Peyton Manning's former team, the Colts. That defeat set off a series of events that dramatically altered the structure of the 2015 iteration.
Gone is former head coach John Fox, who's now in Chicago. Replacing him is former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, who was the backup quarterback in Denver behind current Broncos general manager John Elway. Kubiak didn't exactly look like a Super Bowl head coach in Houston, so it can be argued that the move was a downgrade.
But thankfully for Broncos fans, they won't have a new quarterback in addition to a new coach, as Manning restructured his deal, leaving money on the table to return for a 18th season. It's this simple: With Manning, the Broncos are Super Bowl contenders. Without him, they finish behind the Raiders in the AFC West.
Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas was hit with the franchise tag and will catch passes from Manning for another season, which is a very good thing. The Broncos will once again be loaded and should find themselves back in the mix next January as Manning searches for elusive Super Bowl championship No. 2.
Indianapolis Colts
29 of 32
Odds: 8-1
If you're an Indianapolis Colts fan, you have to be thrilled with what's happened thus far this offseason.
After getting thumped by the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game (deflated footballs or not), general manager Ryan Grigson opened owner Jim Irsay's checkbook and has brought in a number of players to push the Colts over the hump from perennial playoff team to legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
New faces include wide receiver Andre Johnson, running back Frank Gore and pass-rusher Trent Cole, all of whom are outstanding players. While all three are over 30 (Johnson is 33, Gore is 31 and Cole is 32), don't let that fool you—they are still capable of getting the job done and could collectively be the difference between another loss in the AFC playoffs and a berth in the Super Bowl.
And of course, there's the main reason why the Colts have the fourth-best odds to win the Super Bowl (and no, it's not because they waived horrifically bad running back Trent Richardson, though that doesn't hurt): All-Pro quarterback Andrew Luck. As long as Luck is under center, Indy must be considered a Super Bowl threat.
And with the new supporting cast around him, the Colts just might get there next season.
New England Patriots
30 of 32
Odds: 7-1
The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will undoubtedly be in the mix for next year's championship. Why? Because they continue to employ coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Quite frankly, that's all they need.
But the rest of the team is worthy too, even with the losses of cornerback Darrelle Revis and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. If any other team lost players of that caliber, there would be concern, but the Patriots are seemingly always ahead of the curve; the expectation is that they'll be excellent again in 2015.
The Patriots could use another receiver and definitely need to bring in a running back, and the secondary could use fortification as well. The signing of pass-rusher Jabaal Sheard could prove to be a fortuitous one, as he could be a stud rushing the passer on the opposite side of Chandler Jones.
But again, the formula is simple: Brady + Belichick = Super Bowl contention.
Year in, year out.
Green Bay Packers
31 of 32
Odds: 7-1
The Green Bay Packers might have lost the NFC Championship Game in heart-wrenching fashion, but the good news is they have a great shot to get back there next year—and could easily be the NFC's representative in the Super Bowl.
That's always an attainable goal when you employ Aaron Rodgers at the quarterback position, as he's the league's finest overall player.
The offense around him is stacked, with receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb (who re-signed in Green Bay for less money) joined by running back Eddie Lacy. Green Bay should once again be an offensive juggernaut in 2015.
There are holes on the defense to fill, most notably at inside linebacker and cornerback, but general manager Ted Thompson is among the finest in the league at his job and can be trusted to pick the best players to fill the void. That's the kind of goodwill he's built up over his outstanding tenure in Titletown.
We aren't huge fans of head coach Mike McCarthy ceding play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tom Clements, but regardless, the Packers will be a force to be reckoned with next year and could easily win the Super Bowl.
Seattle Seahawks
32 of 32
Odds: 6-1
We have a message for all the Seattle Seahawks fans who still aren't over the final sequence of this past February's Super Bowl: It's time to start looking forward.
Why? Because the Seahawks currently have the look and feel of the best team in the NFL.
General manager John Schneider pulled a masterstroke in trading for Saints Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham. The price—center Max Unger and a first-round pick in this April's draft—was steep, but this was a move made with winning a world championship in mind.
Graham might not be the player he was a few years ago, but he will be an absolute beast for quarterback Russell Wilson.
Schneider and coach Pete Carroll placated star running back Marshawn Lynch with a new contract, which was needed, as Lynch's physicality and brutality have come to define this physical Seahawks team. The offense, spearheaded by Wilson and buoyed by the addition of Graham, should be excellent next year, and the defense should once again be terrific, led by star cornerback Richard Sherman.
So even though the organization just experienced massive heartache, the future is bright. The Seahawks are the odds-on favorite to raise the Lombardi Trophy next February.
Nick Kostos is a featured NFL columnist for Bleacher Report and a host for Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM. Follow Nick on Twitter here and become a fan of his on Facebook here.
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