Odds Say Bucs, Rams, and Vikings Will Battle it Out for Final Wild Card Spot in NFC
- The NFL will add a seventh playoff team in both the AFC and NFC for the 2020 season
- Based on odds, the Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings are the top contenders for this new playoff spot. Which team is most likely to grab it?
- Analysis of the odds and predictions on the outcome of this race are outlined in the story that follows
The Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings will duke it out for a postseason spot during the 2020 NFL regular season.
A seventh team will participate in the NFC playoffs. These three teams as the ones mostly likely to be in the race for that new postseason position in the NFL playoff odds.
2020 NFC Playoff Odds
| Team | Odds to Make Playoffs | Odds to Miss Playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | -700 | +425 |
| San Francisco 49ers | -500 | +330 |
| Green Bay Packers | -300 | +220 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | -200 | +150 |
| Dallas Cowboys | -200 | +150 |
| Seattle Seahawks | -180 | +135 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -145 | +110 |
| Los Angeles Rams | -115 | -115 |
| Minnesota Vikings | -125 | -105 |
| Chicago Bears | +130 | -170 |
Odds taken Mar. 26th.
The Vikings made the playoffs as a wild card team in 2019. Both the Rams and Buccaneers missed out on postseason play.
These Six Are In
Expectations are that the following NFC teams will secure spots in the 2020-21 postseason: New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.
The 49ers are reigning NFC champions. The Saints have won the last three NFC South titles and are 37-11 over the past three campaigns.
The top play of the year from @camjordan94: the sack that won the NFC South ? pic.twitter.com/rnkFOOjCpA
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) March 24, 2020
The Packers went 13-3, won the NFC North Division and played in the NFC Championship Game. The Seahawks were 11-5 and a wild card team. Philly (9-7) captured the NFC East.
Only the Cowboys, 8-8 a year ago, missed out on postseason play among the favorites this season. In 2018, the 10-6 Cowboys won the NFC East. Dallas also won the NFC East in 2014 and 2016, so there’s definitely an even-year trend in play here.
Buccaneers Seek Brady Bump
In 2001, his first season as starting quarterback for the New England Patriots, Tom Brady led the Pats to the AFC East title and a Super Bowl win over the Rams. Will that same karma be in place as Brady debuts for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
NFC South boasts one of the best ever collection of QBs in 2020
Story: https://t.co/98DgRbdslU
by @JohnDeShazier #Saints pic.twitter.com/5NMSnyDFE8
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) March 24, 2020
Joe Montana left the 49ers for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993 and led them to the AFC West crown. Peyton Manning joined the Denver Broncos from the Indianapolis Colts in 2012 and took Denver to the AFC West title.
Rams Look to Bounce Back
The Rams won the NFC West and made the playoffs in 2017. They won the NFC Championship in 2018. But last season, they regressed. LA slumped to 9-7 and lost the battle for the second NFC wild card by a game to the 10-6 Vikings.
The Los Angeles Rams released Todd Gurley this afternoon. Since entering the NFL in 2015, Gurley leads the NFL with 70 Total Touchdowns #FOXFacts pic.twitter.com/QxA3jwsfes
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) March 19, 2020
Had last year been this year, the Rams would’ve been a playoff team. But are these Rams those Rams? LA said goodbye to workhorse running back Todd Gurley and key defenders Michael Brockers, Dante Fowler and Cory Littleton.
They look to be a weaker club, the best bet among these three to miss the postseason.
Pick: Los Angeles Rams to miss playoffs (-115).
Vikings Live On the Edge
Since the NFL adopted its four division winners and two wild card playoff format for each conference in 2002, no NFC team was the odd one out more often than the Vikings. Four times, Minnesota ended up the #7 seed in the NFC.
So, the Minnesota Vikings:
Extend:
The flawed QB
The Fullback
The Punter
The KickerFranchise: Their best DB last year (only to shop him for trade value)
Trade: Their best WR
Let walk:
Most of their secondary, half of their D-lineWhat the hell even is this?
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) March 19, 2020
However, the Vikings were gutted in the offseason. Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs, author of consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, was dealt to Buffalo. The defense lost a tremendous pass rusher (Everson Griffen), a starting defensive tackle (Linval Joseph) and three cornerbacks (Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander) to free agency.
The Bucs Won’t Stop Here
There’s been a rule of thumb in pro football over the past couple of decades. Don’t bet against Brady.
Yeah, Tom is 43. He’s also invigorated by the chance to do something new. Brady has a chip on his shoulder and the urge to prove everybody wrong.
Joe Montana on Tom Brady's departure from the Patriots:
"I don't know what's going on inside there, but somebody made a mistake. … I still don't understand how New England let him go away," per @JarrettBell pic.twitter.com/79j1sn7Sgd
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 26, 2020
Tampa Bay hasn’t made the playoffs since 2007. The Bucs will buck that trend.
Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make playoffs (-145)
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
