This season's NFC Championship game was decided by just five points with Tampa Bay Buccaneers holding the Green Bay Packers.
Early futures odds for the NFL's two Conferences in 2022 suggest things could be different next term as the Packers are slight favorites to go one better at 17/4 and win a fourth NFC title.
This is despite the fact that Green Bay lost to the Bucs on their own turf. Tampa Bay have legendary quarterback Tom Brady staying in Florida for another season at least, and his iconic status has helped the franchise no end.
Is Tom Brady the greatest athlete of all time? pic.twitter.com/nSofjgDIg3
— PFF (@PFF) January 24, 2021
Brady's move from New England Patriots to the Bucs at such an advanced stage of his career brought plenty of mainstream media attention with it in 2020. Despite turning 44 this year, he will be out for even more touchdown passes to extend his record.
According to the latest odds on NFL next season, Tampa Bay are 5/1 chances to retain their NFC Championship crown. It looks the more competitive Conference, according to bookmakers, with five franchises rated at prices of 8/1 or shorter.
New Orleans Saints, who pipped the Bucs to the regular season NFC South divisional title in 2020, join NFC West winners Seattle Seahawks and LA Rams in the mix. San Francisco 49ers are also expected to improve on their tenth-place finish in the regular season Conference standings.
NFC East divisional winners Washington are major underdogs in this market, however. They are 30/1 longshots to win their Conference, with the Dallas Cowboys - third in the 2020 regular season division table - less than half the price at 13/1.
Chiefs Fancied for AFC Championship Hat-Trick
Meanwhile, in the AFC, Kansas City Chiefs are firm favorites at 5/2 for a third successive Conference crown. KC suffered only two losses during the last regular season, then beat Wild Card Playoffs winners Cleveland Browns.
A successful defense of their AFC Championship saw Chiefs recover from a slow start and come from behind to beat the Buffalo Bills. Armed with their Legion of Zoom offence, Kansas City look to be the team to beat in this Conference again come the new season.
Y'all are special. You'll be back, @BuffaloBills! pic.twitter.com/dTauav4zkN
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 25, 2021
The Bills remain their closest challengers. Although racing into a 9-0 first-quarter lead when they met KC in the AFC Championship game, that was quickly surrendered with three touchdowns against them before half-time turning things around.
Just as the Chiefs dominated the AFC West division, Buffalos did likewise in the East. They are 11/2 chances to win their Conference next season.
Only Baltimore Ravens, who offered so little against the Bills in the divisional playoffs, are given any chance of getting involved in the AFC Championship, according to the odds. They are 6/1 shots and had an identical regular season win-loss record to Cleveland with both franchises getting Wild Cards.
The Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, who finished either side of Baltimore in the AFC North division, come next in the Conference betting at 10/1 and 11/1 respectively. Bar those, it is 15/1 and bigger, so only three NFL teams have realistic title hopes for the new campaign.
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