Opening 2020 NFL Divisional Odds for All Divisions

• The Kansas City Chiefs have opened as the strongest favorites in the early 2020 NFL divisional odds
• The New England Patriots & Houston Texans are favored to win the AFC East and South, respectively
• Get all the NFL divisional odds, and insight on which teams hold the edge in our coverage below

The Kansas City Chiefs have emerged as the strongest favorites in the 2020 NFL divisional odds, opening as a short -450 favorite to claim a fifth straight AFC West title in the NFL futures.

Opening 2020 NFL Divisional Odds

Odds taken on March 3, 2020.

Chiefs Open as Heavy Favorites to Win AFC West

The Chiefs have continued to bask in the glow of their Super Bowl 54 victory. The squad enjoyed another stellar campaign in 2019, finishing the season with a 12-4 record and riding a nine-game win streak to their first championship victory in 50 years.

"The Kansas City Chiefs have not allowed 30 points at home in 34 consecutive games. The 2nd-longest streak in the NFL is 16. You have to go back 4 seasons to find the last time someone hung 30 at Arrowhead." — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/XtPgQdQRyH

— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) January 16, 2019

The Chiefs are likely to keep their Super Bowl-winning core largely intact and they enjoy the added advantage of limited competition from their rivals in the AFC West.

The Los Angeles Chargers took a step back last year after compiling a 12-4 record in 2018, tumbling into the division basement with a 5-11 record. The Chargers find themselves in an offseason of change and uncertainty after electing to part ways with long-time starting quarterback Philip Rivers.

The Denver Broncos enjoyed a strong second half on their way to a 7-9 finish, but they also face major uncertainty under center after the failed Joe Flacco experiment. With over $70 million in salary-cap space available to spend on free agents, and seven picks over the first four rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Broncos could be poised for a speedy return to respectability.

The #NFLFreeagency period is coming! If Brady leaves the Patriots-The Pros and Cons of joining the @raiders 👇🏼 @getupespn pic.twitter.com/JbIczgN4yr

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) March 3, 2020

That is also the offseason goal of the Raiders, who hope to make a splash in their Las Vegas debut. The squad has been regularly mentioned as a potential destination for free-agent quarterback Tom Brady, and is also loaded with an estimated $50 million in cap space.

But with holes to fill all over the roster, and current quarterback Derek Carr under contract until 2022, the Raiders will need to undergo a significant overhaul to return to contention next season.

Patriots Take a Dip In AFC East Odds

As for Brady, the uncertainty that exists over where the four-time Super Bowl MVP will play next season has put a dent in the New England Patriots’ odds to repeat as AFC East divisional champions. The Patriots extended their divisional domination by claiming top spot in the AFC East for an 11th straight year.

However, unlike a year ago, when they opened as heavy -500 chalk in the 2019 AFC East odds, the Patriots are only -250 favorites to make it 12 in a row in 2020.

Nate Burleson believes the Patriots need to make the NFL's biggest move in free agency this offseason. Here's why:https://t.co/u2lJsEgFBY pic.twitter.com/soYMY1ObkV

— NESN (@NESN) March 3, 2020

New England faces a lot of question marks this offseason. The team rode a favorable schedule to an impressive 8-0 start last year, but they wilted in the face of injuries and tougher competition in the second half, finishing 12-4. Those struggles continued in the playoffs, with the Patriots suffering a stunning 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Wild Card Weekend.

Complicating matters further is the emergence of both the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets as legitimate challengers to New England’s throne. Led by quarterback Josh Allen, the Bills have opened as intriguing +350 second-favorites to claim their first divisional title since 1995. Buffalo is coming off a 10-6 season in which a pair of narrow losses to New England was the only thing that kept them from a first-place finish.

https://twitter.com/MVPSamDarnold/status/1231808040623464448?s=20

Sam Darnold’s emergence as a legitimate starting quarterback has also gotten New York Jets fans excited about the future. Darnold flashed glimpses of the future while leading the Jets to a 6-2 record in the second half of the year.

New York still has plenty of work to do, particularly in providing Darnold with quality downfield targets. However, like the Broncos and Raiders, the Jets are flush with cap space entering free agency..

Sam Darnold’s emergence as a legitimate starting quarterback has also gotten New York Jets fans excited about the future. Darnold flashed glimpses of the future while leading the Jets to a 6-2 record in the second half of the year.

Besides the Chiefs and Patriots, three other teams are odds-on favorites to win their divisions. The New Orleans Saints are  -400 favorites to claim a fourth straight NFC South crown; the Baltimore Ravens are listed as -275 favorites to repeat as AFC North champions; and the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers sport -125 odds to win the NFC West.

Texans Far from Sure Bet in AFC South

In the AFC South, the Houston Texans have opened as +150 favorites. The Texans managed to outpace the pack on their way to a first-place finish in 2019. However, with Houston facing a challenging schedule in 2020, and the Titans riding high following their spectacular playoff run this past season, the Texans are looking like the least-likely favorite to pay out with a divisional title in 2020.

Both Houston and Tennessee face tough schedules in 2020. Among the opponents the Texans will host are the Patriots, Ravens, and Packers, while the Titans will welcome the Bills and Cleveland Browns. However, the Texans will also face road dates against the Chiefs, Chicago Bears, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Predicting the Houston Texans 2020 Schedule https://t.co/Mh0oRil0CN pic.twitter.com/ocvYqcOJRy

— battleredblog (@battleredblog) January 23, 2020

Tennessee’s and Indianapolis’ respective positions at +200 and +250 in the AFC South odds have also been influenced by uncertainty under center. Ryan Tannehill’s future in Tennessee remains uncertain as he heads to free agency, as does Derrick Henry’s, although the Titans are expected to do what’s necessary to sign him.

The same is true in Indianapolis, where the Colts struggled badly after the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck last summer. But they could be positioned for a quick rebound if they can upgrade at QB.

While it remains to be seen if either squad can address their quarterback needs through free agency, they remain the best bets to challenge a favorite in the opening 2020 NFL divisional odds.