NFL Playoffs 2016: Updated AFC, NFC Bracket and Super Bowl Odds

That was a fun way to end the regular season.

After a hectic Sunday that saw as much drama as anticipated, the 12-team playoff field is set, and the journey to Super Bowl 50 can officially begin.

The New York Jets had one job, and they couldn't get it done. Thanks to the voodoo of Rex Ryan, the Jets are out of the playoffs, and the Pittsburgh Steelers snatched the last AFC playoff spot after disposing of the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. 

And the Houston Texans won the AFC South because of the New Orleans Saints winning, for what it's worth.

Take a look at the official playoff bracket as well as the latest Super Bowl odds as postseason play nears its beginning:

Team	Odds
Arizona Cardinals	3-1
Carolina Panthers	6-1
Cincinnati Bengals	25-1
Denver Broncos	10-1
Green Bay Packers	18-1
Houston Texans	70-1
Kansas City Chiefs	20-1
Minnesota Vikings	40-1
New England Patriots	16-5
Pittsburgh Steelers	14-1
Seattle Seahawks	8-1
Washington Redskins	60-1

Confident Plays for Super Bowl 50

Arizona Cardinals

The NFC may come down to a two-team race between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. Two weeks ago, Carolina was the proverbial favorite. Had the Panthers finished the regular season undefeated, they'd be the unquestioned favorite.

But now? There's a blueprint. Carolina is vulnerable. The one team that can challenge the Panthers are the Cardinals, and the books feel the same way.

Arizona opened Sunday as 3-1 favorites to win the Super Bowl. Carolina isn't far behind at 6-1, but oddsmakers feel the Panthers' loss to the Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago was more than enough to bump them from the top spot.

Never mind the fact the Cardinals didn't look great against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Arizona possesses the highest-scoring offense in the NFL at 32.2 points per game and has the largest point differential in the league at plus-206 points. The Cardinals also showed two weeks ago that Tyrann Mathieu is a bonus to have on defense, not the end-all be-all. Just ask Aaron Rodgers, who threw for only 151 yards and fumbled twice against this same Cardinals team.

Should Arizona make it to the Super Bowl, NFL.com's Marc Sessler has the perfect matchup idea:

If the Cardinals can put that kind of pressure on a former Super Bowl MVP and, arguably, the best quarterback in the game today, then who's to say Cam Newton won't suffer the same fate should these two teams meet in the NFC Championship Game?

Arizona looks like the more complete team at this current moment, and Carolina is a distant second.

New England Patriots

It'd be more exciting if the AFC was more wide-open.

Currently, it's the New England Patriots and five other unknowns. None of the other five teams in the AFC have the postseason experience that even somewhat resembles New England's. Sure, there are teams like the Denver Broncos and New York Jets that have provided blueprints to beat the Patriots.

If those had been playoff games, though, both teams would have had an even more difficult time taking down New England.

This may not look appealing after the Patriots mustered only 10 points against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and lost home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs in the process. Adam Kaufman of CBS Sports Radio, however, doesn't see much need for concern: 

It would have taken a special type of effort to knock off New England at home, which is why it was vital for the Patriots to lock up the No. 1 seed. But even though the road to Santa Clara has to go through Denver, I still like the Patriots' chances.

Tom Brady hasn't played at an MVP level the last six games, completing less than 60 percent of his passes three times and having a quarterback rating of less than 90 three times. But a week off in the playoffs may be all Brady needs to regroup and prepare for another Super Bowl run.

Plus, they're the defending champions. Why even consider counting them out?