Packers Now Have Second-Best Odds to Win NFC Championship – Can They Beat the Seahawks?
- The Green Bay Packers are now the second choice to win the NFC championship after the Seattle Seahawks after their MNF win over the Falcons
- The Packers have a 4-0 record and scored at least 30 points in each game as Aaron Rodgers has passed for 1,214 yards and 13 touchdowns and no INTs
- See updated NFC Championship odds for top teams post-Week 4 below
The Green Packers are now the second choice to win the NFC championship after only the Seattle Seahawks.
The Packers’ odds improved to +425 following their 30-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. The win moved Green Bay’s record to 4-0.
The Seahawks, also 4-0, remain the favorites at +350 in the NFC Championship odds.
NFC Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks | +350 |
| Green Bay Packers | +425 |
| New Orleans Saints | +600 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +600 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +900 |
Odds taken Oct. 6 from DraftKings
Prior to Week 4, the Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were tied for the second choice to the Seattle with odds of +617.
Tonyan Takes Star Turn
The Packers kept their record perfect as tight end Robert Tonyan caught three of Aaron Rodgers’ four touchdown passes against the Falcons.
Tonyan had six receptions for a game-high 98 yards and his TDs covered 19, 8 and 21 yards. Prior to Monday night, Tonyan had just 21 receptions in three seasons since being signed as an undrafted free agent from Indiana State.
Robert Tonyan's third TD of the night! #GoPackGo @RobTonJr
📺: #ATLvsGB on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/DLrzavslwc pic.twitter.com/fmaFJ9t0qt— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2020
Rodgers had another big game as he completed 27 of 33 passes for 327 yards with no interceptions.
He’s put up big numbers even though wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard missed the game with injuries. That hardly slowed the Packers, who have scored 30 or more points in the opening four games of a season for the first time in franchise history.
Defense Solid If Unspectacular
While Rodgers and the Packers’ high-powered offense gets most of the notice, Green Bay’s defense has been decent.
The Packers and EDGE rusher Za’Darius Smith are allowing 25.5 points a game. That number is inflated by the Minnesota Vikings scoring 24 fourth-quarter points in the opener after Green Bay had built a 29-10 lead in an eventual 43-34 victory.
The Falcons also scored 13 points in the second half on Monday night after the Packers had control of the game.
Za'Darius Smith explains his role as the 'rover' in the Packers' defense and how Mike Pettine gives him the freedom to choose where to attack #ZGreenBay pic.twitter.com/gMuXt9wLMd
— Joe Kipp (@joepkipp) September 25, 2020
While the Falcons are 0-4, they do have a dangerous passing game. However, the Packers held Matt Ryan to 285 yards with no touchdowns and limited Julio Jones (who once again left after re-aggravating his hamstring injury) to four receptions for 32 yards.
Smith sacked Ryan three times.
The Packers are 12th in the NFL in total defense as they are allowing 353.3 yards a game.
Rodgers Playing Like MVP
Rodgers is off to one of the best starts of his 16-year career.
The 36-year-old has completed 70.5 of his passes for 1,214 yards and 13 touchdowns through four games. He has yet to be intercepted in 139 attempts.
What’s crazier has been how he’s done this without Davante Adams the past two weeks.
∙ Week 1: 32/44, 364 Pass Yds, 4 TDs
∙ Week 2: 18/30, 240 Pass Yds, 2 TDs
∙ Week 3: 21/32, 283 Pass Yds, 3 TDs
∙ Week 4: 27/33, 327 Pass Yds, 4 TDsAaron Rodgers still got it 💪 pic.twitter.com/9mHzE0QIIj
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 6, 2020
Unquestionably the Packers’ WR1, Adams has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury after catching 17 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games.
Lazard was placed on injured reserve last week with a core muscle problem and will miss at least two more weeks. He was having a breakout season with 13 catches for 254 yards and two TDs in three games.
The Packers scored a combined 85 points in the two games in which Adams and Lazard were both active.
LaFleur No Fluke
The Packers went 13-3 during the regular season last year in Matt LaFleur’s coaching debut.
However, some analysts thought the Packers’ 2019 was a fluke because they outscored opponents by just 3.9 points a game. The Packers were then hammered 37-20 by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
Green Bay did beat the Seahawks in the playoffs last season and certainly look capable of taking them down again this season. This version of the Packers is better than year’s edition.
Packers are going to 17-3 in the regular season under LaFleur. 6-0 without Davante Adams. More than 150 points after four weeks.
Matt LaFleur has rapidly ascended to being one of the league's best coaches. It's inarguable.
— Tim Backes (@timbackes) October 6, 2020
A case can be made for many teams to win the NFC title, but the Packers have shown through four games that they do not take a backseat to anyone.
John Perrotto has been covering and writing about sports for various outlets for over 40 years. His work has appeared in the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and more. John is based out of Beaver Falls, PA.
