Editor’s Note: We’ve listed only the top eight teams remaining and excluded those out of the playoffs.
The Wild Card round is behind us and now the Divisional round awaits, with only eight teams left in the NFL’s postseason tournament. Let’s check out the OddsTrader Power Rankings and see where the remaining teams rank as we enter the second of four rounds.
Don’t forget, you can go over our nifty tool explanation with our Week 1 post, and remember to check back every Tuesday for analysis of the adjustment in the positions.
Now, let’s review our Top 8 teams and see if you agree.
Top 5
1. Buffalo Bills (12-6 SU, 11-6-1 ATS) Next: at Chiefs – Josh Allen was a man possessed last week when he eviscerated the Patriots for five touchdowns and 308 yards leading to an absolute dismantling of the Bills’ former masters.
When the dust settled, the Bills throttled the Patriots in a 47-17 victory in front of the crazed Bills Mafia. Now Buffalo must make the trek to Arrowhead Stadium to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City juggernaut he leads.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (13-5 SU, 9-9 ATS) Next: vs. Bills – The Chiefs were installed as 13-point home favorites over the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs and they did not disappoint their backers as they trounced Pittsburgh, 42-21, and sent Big Ben Roethlisberger packing in what is likely the last game of his Hall of Fame career.
READ MORE: Betting Strategies for the NFL Playoffs
The Chiefs will be part of this week’s marquee matchup as they welcome the white-hot Buffalo Bills to Arrowhead.
3. Tampa Bay Bucs (14-4 SU, 10-8 ATS) Next: vs. 49ers – Tom Terrific keeps doing what he has become accustomed to doing over his 20-year career – winning.
The Eagles were his latest postseason victims as Brady tossed a pair of touchdowns, 271 yards, and completed over 78 percent of his passes en route to a convincing 31-15 win over Philadelphia. The Bucs will welcome the Rams to the Ray Jay this Sunday where they will try to avenge their 34-24 Week 3 loss to LA.
4. San Francisco 49ers (11-7 SU, 10-8 ATS) Next: at Packers – The 49ers won a wild one in Dallas last week as they walked off of Jerry Jones’ billion-dollar playground with a 23-17 victory and advanced to a date with the Packers at Lambeau Field.
However, the Niners did see injuries to a pair of defensive stalwarts in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner while revealing Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a right shoulder strain. All three are expected to suit up on Saturday.
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5. Los Angeles Rams (13-5 SU, 9-9 ATS) Next: at Bucs – The Rams’ defense was relentless last week as they stalked, pressured, and ultimately paralyzed Kyler Murray and the Cardinals defense.
Matthew Stafford was surgical in connecting on 13-of-17 passes, a pair of passing, and one rushing touchdown in LA’s 34-11 trouncing of the Cardinals. The Rams will now travel to meet Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Bucs, a team they defeated earlier this season.
6. Green Bay Packers (13-4 SU, 12-5 ATS) Next: vs. 49ers – The Packers had nothing to do last weekend except gear up and get ready for their date with San Francisco this week.
The Packers will be welcoming back several starters who have been sidelined with injuries or getting diminished playing time after playing through injuries. The Pack is back and looking for another Super Bowl title.
READ MORE: Ways to Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses as a Bettor
7. Tennessee Titans (12-5 SU, 10-7 ATS) Next: vs. Bengals – Like their NFC counterparts from Green Bay, the Titans were also able to lick their wounds from the grind of the 18-week NFL regular season and will be back to battle the Bengals.
Tennessee’s resident bulldozer, Derrick Henry, is expected to make his return to the gridiron after over two months on the sidelines with a foot injury and will be a key weapon, if healthy, in getting the Titans to the AFC championship.
8. Cincinnati Bengals (10-7 SU, 10-7 ATS) Next: at Titans – Joe Burrow and college teammate, Ja’Marr Chase, have established themselves as the most electric pass/catch combinations in the game. They did it again last week as Chase hauled in nine passes for 116 yards and Burrow tossed a pair of touchdown strikes in the Bengals’ 26-19 win over the Raiders.
The Cats will have their work cut out for them when they travel to the Music City to meet the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the Tennessee Titans.
For the complete list of the OddsTrader Power Rankings click here. And remember to check back for more betting strategy at the OddsTrader blog. Happy betting!
