NFL Power Rankings Based on Odds Heading Into Week 1
By Peter Dewey
Week 1 of the NFL season is finally here, and fans will get an early feel for whether or not their team is built to contend this season.
The Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will kick things off on Thursday night with the Bucs coming in as an eight-point favorite in their first game since their victory in Super Bowl 55.
However, Tampa Bay isn’t the Super Bowl favorite at WynnBET Sportsbook, as that honor belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs (+475) heading into this season.
Every week this season, our BetSided editors will deliver NFL Power Rankings that incorporate each team’s Super Bowl odds as they change each week. Here’s our first edition ahead of the Week 1 slate:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (+475)
Kansas City leads the odds to win the Super Bowl, and with an improved offensive line and Patrick Mahomes leading the way it's not a surprise. If the Chiefs stay healthy, they'll firmly be in the mix as the league's best team.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+650)
The Bucs return all 22 starters from last year's Super Bowl winning team, and it's hard to count any Tom Brady team out especially when it maintains that continuity. The Bucs and Chiefs could be on a collision course for a Super Bowl rematch.
3. Buffalo Bills (+1200)
Josh Allen took the next step as one of the game's best quarterbacks last season and made it to the AFC Championship Game. Is this the year that he dethrones Mahomes in the AFC?
4. Cleveland Browns (+1200)
Look how far the Browns have come. Kevin Stefanski completely transformed the franchise in his first season as the team's head coach, and an upgraded defense with Troy Hill, John Johnson III and Jadeveon Clowney should make noise in the AFC.
5. Green Bay Packers (+1500)
Green Bay held its breath all offseason as Aaron Rodgers contemplated his future, but the Packers are now ready to run it back with Rodgers, Davante Adams and company leading the way. After back-to-back 13-3 seasons, Green Bay is looking to get over the top in 2021.
6. San Francisco 49ers (+1200)
Oddsmakers are high on a now-healthy 49ers team in the NFC, but it will come down to just how good Jimmy Garoppolo (or maybe Trey Lance) is this season.
7. Baltimore Ravens (+1400)
The Ravens lost J.K. Dobbins for the season, but as long as they have Lamar Jackson they'll be in the conversation in the AFC. Jackson will have to make the most of a depleted supporting cast with first-round pick Rashod Bateman also expected to miss the first few weeks.
8. Los Angeles Rams (+1500)
Matthew Stafford is a major upgrade over the inconsistent Jared Goff, and the Rams' No. 1 defense should make them a contender in the NFC. As long as Stafford fits into the offense, the Rams will be a tough team to beat in 2021.
9. Seattle Seahawks (+2500)
Seattle hasn't gotten much love this offseason, but Russell Wilson is still one of the game's best quarterbacks and DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are ready to build on a strong 2020 season. If the defense can channel last year's second half performance, the Seahawks should be a playoff team.
10. Tennessee Titans (+3000)
The Titans aren't getting much love to win the Super Bowl despite Ryan Tannehill's 18-8 record as their quarterback and the addition of Julio Jones. They are the favorites in the AFC South and should be a playoff team for the third-consecutive season.
11. Indianapolis Colts (+3000)
The Colts' success will depend on the health of Carson Wentz this season. Wentz and Frank Reich are looking to rekindle some magic from his time in Philadelphia, but it remains to be seen if Wentz can find his old form.
12. Dallas Cowboys (+3000)
Dak Prescott is back, but Dallas' defense still has some major questions. The Cowboys are the favorite in the lowly NFC East, but they'll need to show more changes on defense to be a Super Bowl contender.
13. Miami Dolphins (+2500)
Brian Flores' squad went 10-6 last season, and it has better Super Bowl odds than many would expect heading into 2021. Tua Tagovailoa has to be better in his second season, but Miami's opportunistic defense should keep it in the playoff picture.
14. Los Angeles Chargers (+3000)
Justin Herbert is third in WynnBET's odds to win the MVP award, and if he makes a leap like that, the Chargers may be the NFL's most improved team.
15. New Orleans Saints (+3000)
Drew Brees is gone and Jameis Winston is in, but Michael Thomas is still hurt. Jameis has a chance to revive his career this season, and Sean Payton could really open up the field if Jameis can avoid turnovers in 2021.
16. New England Patriots (+3000)
Bill Belichick found his successor to Tom Brady in Mac Jones, but there are going to be growing pains with a rookie quarterback. A slew of offseason additions should make New England much better in 2021.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (+3000)
Is this Ben Roethlisberger's last hurrah? If so, Pittsburgh is going to need a revamped offensive line to keep him upright and Najee Harris going in the ground game. The Steelers are due to regress after last year's 11-0 start.
18. Arizona Cardinals (+5000)
It's Year 3 of the Kyler Murray-Kliff Kingsbury era, and the Cardinals face an uphill battle to be a playoff team. J.J. Watt and A.J. Green should help, but losing Malcolm Butler leaves Arizona with a razor thin secondary.
19. Washington Football Team (+5000)
Do you believe in Fitzmagic? The defending NFC East champions do, as Ryan Fitzpatrick will lead a solid young team in 2021. The WFT defense is elite, but Fitzpatrick will have to make the offense a lot better after it finished in the bottom three in scoring last season.
20. Minnesota Vikings (+5000)
Minnesota added Patrick Peterson and will get Danielle Hunter back on defense after an abysmal showing in 2020. It may not be enough to make the playoffs in the NFC, and Kirk Cousins may be playing for his job in 2022 this season if the Vikings can't make the postseason again.
21. Denver Broncos (+5000)
Teddy Bridgewater is the guy... for now. The Broncos have a strong defense and group of skill players, but the quarterback has been the question mark ever since Super Bowl 50. Bridgewater will get the first crack in 2021 with Drew Lock waiting if he struggles.
22. Atlanta Falcons (+8000)
Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are no longer teammates, and Atlanta seems destined to rebuild in the coming years. Kyle Pitts will be fun to watch as a rookie.
23. Carolina Panthers (+8000)
The Sam Darnold era begins in 2021 just one year after Carolina signed Bridgewater to a three-year deal. The Panthers will be glad that Christian McCaffrey is healthy, but they'll need to overachieve to be a playoff team this year.
24. Chicago Bears (+7500)
Andy Dalton, not Justin Fields, will start in Week 1, but the sooner Dalton struggles the better for Bears fans. This year may not be another playoff berth, but Fields could be the franchise quarterback Chicago so desperately needs.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (+15000)
The Jaguars made a bunch of moves this offseason, adding Shaq Griffin in the secondary, Marvin Jones Jr. at receiver and most importantly, Trevor Lawrence at quarterback. Urban Meyer and Lawrence will try to turn the franchise around this season.
26. New York Giants (+8000)
Daniel Jones is playing for his job this season, and the Giants are going to need him to play much better than he did in 2020 if they want a shot at the division. Saquon Barkley is back and the team added Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney, but the jury's out on whether or not Jones can turn that into wins.
27. Las Vegas Raiders (+10000)
Jon Gruden hasn't made the postseason since returning to the Raiders in 2018, and oddsmakers aren't expecting the Raiders to change that this season.
28. Cincinnati Bengals (+15000)
Joe Burrow is back from a torn ACL, but the Bengals and Zac Taylor still have some major holes on the offensive line and defensively heading into 2021. Ja'Marr Chase, the team's first-round pick, has struggled with drops and will be a big name to watch in Week 1.
29. Philadelphia Eagles (+10000)
Jalen Hurts is the new QB1, but the team around him is less than ideal. Maybe the Eagles will get some young guys to step up in 2021, but last season's 4-11-1 finish doesn't inspire much confidence.
30. New York Jets (+15000)
Zach Wilson looked impressive in the preseason, but Carl Lawson's season-ending injury is a huge blow to the Jets' defense. Wilson's development is the key for the Jets this season.
31. Detroit Lions (+25000)
Jared Goff will try to revive his career with the Lions, but the skill group around him isn't ideal. Detroit is going to be in the conversation for the No. 1 pick in 2022.
32. Houston Texans (+50000)
Tyrod Taylor is QB1, Deshaun Watson is still in legal trouble and wants out, and poor David Culley is in his first year as the team's head coach. Can you say "the Texans are on the clock?"
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