NFL playoff predictions: How the public is betting playoff odds heading into preseason Week 2 – DraftKings Nation

With the second week of the 2021 NFL preseason underway, we are less than a month away from opening night between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 9th.

The Buccaneers are looking to repeat as Super Bowl champions, while the Cowboys are trying to get back into the playoffs. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Tampa Bay has -700 odds to make to the postseason, while the Cowboys have -140 odds to get into the playoffs. But if you look at the betting splits for Dallas, only 32% of the handle and 34% of the bets think they will be playing football in mid-January.

How about the rest of the 30 NFL teams and their playoff odds? Well take a look at a few teams playoff odds and see where the public is siding at.

After failing to make the NFL playoffs last season, thanks to a tumultuous second half of the season, the pressure is on head coach Kliff Kingsbury to get the Cardinals into the playoffs.

With the playmakers that they have on both sides of the football, theres no reason why they cannot get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Arizona has +150 odds to make the postseason and YES is receiving 94% of the handle and 94% of the bets. It wont be easy for them to make the playoffs as they play in one of the tougher divisions in the NFL. The Los Angeles Rams have a new QB in Matthew Stafford and one of the best defense in the NFL, while the Seattle Seahawks return the same group of guys. Then theres also the San Francisco 49ers, who are at full-strength and were the Super Bowl runner-ups in 2020.

The Patriots have favorable odds to get back into the postseason this season after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008. New England finished in third place in the AFC East with a 7-9 record.

The betting public does not believe that head coach Bill Belichick will miss the playoffs a second straight season. The Patriots making the playoffs is receiving 99% of the handle and 95% of the bets. New Englands success this season will hinge on the arm of QB Cam Newton, who will be entering into Year 2 as the Patriots starter. However, he does have some competition at quarterback in rookie Mac Jones. If Newton can stay healthy and move the offense down the field, then the Patriots will be in playoff contention.

Heading into this season, theres a lot of optimism surrounding the defending NFC East champion, Washington Football Team. The Football Team made the playoffs last season, despite playing four quarterbacks.

Washington will now have a new quarterback under center in Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was signed in the offseason to a one-year deal and will be playing behind a stout defense that was one of the best in the league. However, despite the moves they made, WFT is only receiving 15% of the handle and 66% of the bets. When it comes to not making the playoffs, the Football Team has -175 odds. Washingtons success will hinge on which Fitzpatrick shows up on Sundays.

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NFL playoff predictions: How the public is betting playoff odds heading into preseason Week 2 - DraftKings Nation