NFL Playoff Bracket 2016: Updated AFC, NFC Wild Card Odds and Postseason Picture

There's good news in regard to the NFL playoff picture: the NFC is set.

The AFC, however, still has some things that need to be ironed out.

The last week of the regular season means it's the last time to place some key bets before the postseason starts. It's all about momentum and who is the best play. That's what matters most in Week 17.

Here are some wild-card odds predictions, as well as a look into the postseason picture and who the favorites are in each conference.

AFC	Line	Reasoning
NFC	Line	Reasoning
New York Jets	4-1	A win over Buffalo clinches a playoff spot. Should be done.
Pittsburgh	8-1	Need a win and a Jets loss. Can't see NYJ losing.
Kansas City	13-2	Wild Card clinched, but will need Denver to lose to San Diego for AFC West.
Denver	18-1	Barring unforeseen circumstances, Broncos should clinch AFC West with win.
Minnesota	3-1	Hard to see Minnesota beating Packers in Lambeau. Minny much better team, but will fall short.
Green Bay	10-1	Same reasoning as above.

Are the Cardinals the Favorites in the NFC?

After the display they put on against the Green Bay Packers, it's a legitimate possibility.

The Arizona Cardinals are not the most complete team in the NFL. With all due respect to what Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers have done, Carson Palmer has launched himself ever so close to the top of the MVP race after a 265-yard, two-touchdown performance, and the Cardinals might be the best team in football at the moment.

Arizona may be a great play once the playoffs are officially set. Normally, the books will list the top teams from each conference as the favorites and then place other contenders down below. Arizona should be third on that list, and a 7-to-1 type of team once the lines open.

Especially after this past Sunday, people are starting to think the Cardinals will win the whole thing, like B/R's Jason Cole:

Now that the Panthers have come down to earth, the Cardinals have taken the reins as the hottest team in football. And if they were to somehow steal home-field advantage from the Panthers, which is still a legitimate possibility, then make them the Super Bowl favorites immediately.

The Patriots Are Still Favored in the AFC...Barely

Five weeks ago, the New England Patriots were the favorites to win it all. Not only that, but they were considered the best team in the AFC by a country mile.

Now? Not so much. The AFC is as wide-open as ever after the Patriots' coin-toss gaffe cost them a win over the New York Jets. New England can still wrap up the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Miami Dolphins next week.

The Patriots will be favored once the playoffs begin, but they're not the all-powerful team that they once were. Should Andy Dalton return in time for the Bengals' playoff run, Cincinnati could be a threat. the same goes for the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won nine in a row since starting 1-5 and are now in the playoffs.

Even the same Jets that beat New England on Sunday are a threat with how well quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing.

A back-to-back reign as Super Bowl champions will not be as easy as once thought. The Patriots are vulnerable, and the teams that are in the playoffs will have plenty of firepower to give New England a good scare.