NFL Playoffs 2018: Updated Divisional-Round Odds and Bracket Scenarios

The New England Patriots have reached the postseason and are two games away from another Super Bowl appearance.

Based on the assessments of the oddsmakers, the Patriots are not going to have a difficult time making it to the AFC championship game for the seventh straight year. New England is a 13.5-point favorite, according to OddsShark.

The last time the Patriots did not make the AFC title game was the 2010 season when they were beaten by the New York Jets in the divisional playoffs.

That was a shocking development because the Patriots were 14-2 that season, and it might be even more glaring this year if they were to lose to the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots have much more firepower than the Titans, beginning with Tom Brady. The quarterback had another memorable regular season, completing 385 of 581 passes for 4,577 yard with 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The 40-year-old was having a sensational season through the first 10 games, but he struggled a bit in the final six games when he threw six interceptions.

Dion Lewis may be one of the most underrated players on the team. He led the team with 896 rushing yards with six touchdowns and an average of 5.0 yards per carry. The running back also proved to be a solid receiving option with 32 catches for 214 yards and three touchdowns.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski is a lot of things but underrated is not one of them. He is almost universally acclaimed as the best player at his position in the league, and he caught 69 passes for 1,084 yards with eight touchdowns and 18 plays of 20 yards or more.

Brandin Cooks (69 receptions) and Danny Amendola (61 receptions) are also major pieces to the New England offensive scheme, but Chris Hogan could take on a bigger role in the postseason after catching 34 passes for 439 yards and five touchdowns.

Hogan had a dislocated right shoulder this season, and he played just nine games.  

Marcus Mariota will try to lead the Titans offense, but he had a disappointing year. He completed 281 of 453 passes for 3,232 yards with 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. 

He threw two TD passes in the Titans' wild-card victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, including the go-ahead TD pass to Eric Decker late in the final quarter.

Tight end Delanie Walker caught 74 passes for 807 yards and three touchdown, and he is the Titans' leading receiver.

If the Titans are going to be competitive on Saturday, Rishard Matthews, Corey Davis and Decker need to have big games.

Prediction: New England 33, Tennessee 10

Divisional Round

Saturday, January 13

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles: 4:35 p.m. ET, NBC, NBC Sports

Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots: 8:15 p.m. ET, CBS, CBS All Access 

Sunday, January 14

Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers: 1:05 p.m. ET, CBS, CBS All Access 

New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings: 4:40 p.m. ET, Fox, Fox Sports Go

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles

The Falcons may be the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs and playing on the road, but they are 2.5-point favorites over the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles.

The Falcons are coming off a 26-13 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round, and they are in a good position with an array of skill-position stars in Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman and Julio Jones leading the way.

The Eagles were the best team in the NFC throughout the regular season, but the loss of quarterback Carson Wentz to an ACL injury in Week 14 has thrown their offense into reverse.

After a poor offensive performance in a Week 16 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Eagles were shut out in the regular-season finale by the Dallas Cowboys.

Backup quarterback Nick Foles is charged with getting the Eagles back on track, and if he does not do that, Philadelphia's spectacular regular season will dissolve into postseason tears.

Prediction: Atlanta 31, Philadelphia 17

Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Jacksonville Jaguars walked into Heinz Field in October and leveled the Steelers with a 30-9 road victory.

Looking at the final score in that game indicates the Jaguars should have a decent chance of beating the Steelers again. However, it's not likely to happen.

The Steelers are 7.5-point favorites at home, and the firepower they have is far superior to what the Jaguars bring to this battle.

Ben Roethlisberger threw five interceptions in the Week 5 loss to Jacksonville, and the chances of that happening a second time are remote.

The quarterback has a fine pair of receivers in Antonio Brown and rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster, and perhaps the best running back in the league Le'Veon Bell.

The Jaguars have Blake Bortles at quarterback, and while he showed some improvement this season, he is not comparable to Roethlisberger and other top QBs.

If rookie running back Leonard Fournette does not have a big game, the Steelers are likely to run away in the second half. 

Prediction: Pittsburgh 27, Jacksonville 13

New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings

This divisional playoff game looks like it could be the most competitive matchup of the weekend.

The Saints have always been dependent on quarterback Drew Brees to make the big plays on offense, but he has had a powerful running game at his disposal with Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara to take the pressure off of the veteran signal-caller.

The Saints have also put together a much improved defense, led by defensive end Cameron Jordan with 13.0 sacks. Rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore has also had a wonderful season with five interceptions and 18 passes defensed.

The Vikings may be in the best position to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this season. While they are the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, they will have home-field advantage if the Falcons upset the undermanned Eagles.

Case Keenum has handled every challenge since taking over for injured Sam Bradford in Week 2, and he has a pair of game-changing wideouts in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Tight end Kyle Rudolph is also the kind of player who will step up wen Keenum and head coach Mike Zimmer need him most.

However, the Vikings' biggest strength is their top-rated defense. Defensive end Everson Griffen provides the pass rush with 13.0 sacks, while Harrison Smith had five regular-season interceptions and 17 passes defensed.

The Vikings are four-point favorites over the Saints.

Prediction: Minnesota 28, New Orleans 21

Super Bowl Odds for Divisonal Playoff Participants (courtesy of OddsShark)

Patriots, +200
Vikings, +375
Steelers, +500
Saints, +550
Falcons, +700
Eagles, +1400
Jaguars, +1800
Titans, +5000