NFL Playoff Odds
For football fans, the season is split into three sections, with the excitement ramping up at each new turn. The regular season kicks off safe in the knowledge that all teams will play 17 regular season games, with the best performing sides making it to the NFL Playoffs. From there, a mini tournament is played out with the two winners from the AFC and NFC meeting at the Super Bowl.
The NFL Playoffs odds really do ramp up the deeper into the season we get, although the best value can usually be found before the regular season gets underway. Of course, Bodog’s NFL Super Bowl odds are live all-year round.
NFL Playoffs: A Brief History
Although the Super Bowl wasn’t formed until 1967, the NFL Playoffs have been around for much longer, with post-season matches first taking place all the way back in 1933. Back then, qualification for the championship game was based solely on regular season record, while nowadays there is much more to it.
In conjunction with the first ever Super Bowl in 1967, four teams qualified for the post-season tournament, in a rather simplistic semi-final to final format. In 1970, when the NFL merged with the AFL, the playoffs expanded to eight teams, and then again to ten teams in 1978.
In 1990, the playoffs expanded further to 12 teams, and as you can imagine, the NFL odds ramped up even further.
The wildcard format, introduced in 1978, really did change the game in terms of NFL betting, and the regular season acted as a warm up for the post-season and eventual Super Bowl.
The Championship game sees the two remaining sides from each division face off to see who will contest the Super Bowl, with certain teams regularly falling short of the pinnacle.
For instance, in the AFC division, the Oakland Raiders made it to the Championship game in five of the first eight seasons following its inception – failing to win and reach the Super Bowl a single time.
They did buck the trend in 1980-81 when they defeated the San Diego Chargers 34-27.
The Buffalo Bills enjoyed a period of AFC dominance in the early 1990s, when they reached the Super Bowl in four consecutive years from 1991 to 1994 – although they failed to lift the trophy on each occasion.
Since the turn of the millennium, the New York Patriots, led by Tom Brady, have reached the AFC Championship game a record 13 times, winning nine times. They have also turned that divisional dominance into Super Bowl success, lifting the Vince Lombardi trophy on six occasions.
On the NFC side, the Dallas Cowboys started the 1970s as the dominant force, reaching the Championship game in ten of the first 13 seasons.
They would reach the Super Bowl in five of those season, being crowned NFL champions twice.
The NFL Playoffs Explained
At the beginning of the 2021 campaign, the NFL announced some major changes to the schedule. Instead of 16 games, each side now plays 17 regular season games ahead of the NFL Playoffs.
The 32 teams – 16 in each division – are whittled down to 14 to take part in the post-season tournament.
The four divisional winners from each conference automatically qualify, with three wildcards from each side of the NFL also taking part.
What Are The NFL Playoffs Rules?
The rules when it comes to seeding are actually fairly simple. Keep in mind that football is the only major sport in North America to have the playoffs and final decided by one game, instead of a best-of-seven series. This is largely due to the physical demands of football, so a mini-series in each round is unrealistic.
As for the seeding, the division winner with the best regular season record is given the top seed, with the second-best record taking seed number two – and so on.
The three wildcards from each conference are given seeds five, six and seven, based on their regular season record.
As of 2021, only the top seed from each conference is awarded a bye to the next round, with seed two hosting seed seven, seed six hosting seed three and – you guessed it – seed four hosting seed 5.
The higher seed is given home advantage as a reward for their regular season performance, and rightly so.
In the divisional round, the lowest remaining seed in each conference travels to the highest remaining seed, with the second-lowest seed facing a trip to the second-highest remaining seed.
How Do The NFL Finals Work?
The winner of these games then meet in the Conference Championships at the home of the highest seed, with the winner of those games contesting the Super Bowl.
If regular season performance has an impact, then you wouldn’t expect too many wildcard teams to make the Super Bowl. However, 11 wildcard teams have actually made it to the Super Bowl, with seven actually beating the odds even further by lifting the famous trophy. Of the seven wildcard winners, five played all of their NFL Playoff games on the road, proving that home advantage doesn’t guarantee success.
The seven wildcard teams to go on and lift the Super Bowl are:
- Oakland Raiders: 1980
- Denver Broncos: 1997
- Baltimore Ravens: 2000
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 2005
- New York Giants: 2007
- Green Bay Packers: 2011
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2021
Who will be the next wildcard team to go all the way? Have your say at Bodog Sportsbook.
Who Are The Most Successful Teams In NFL Playoff History?
The most successful teams in NFL Playoffs history doesn’t necessarily make them the most successful team in the sport – you have to go and win the Super Bowl after all.
However, there are some interesting stats to chew on. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their dominance since the turn of the millennium, the New England Patriots hold the record for the most wins during the post-season – with 37.
Such dominance has been largely unprecedented, with the Green Bay Packers making the most playoff appearances – doing so in 35 season. This is just one more than the Dallas Cowboys, and seven more than the Patriots with 28.
As for players, can anyone claim to be surprised to see Brady at the top of the list with 35 playoff games with the Pats and Buccaneers combined?
NHL Playoffs Crypto Betting
While NFL Playoffs betting has been around for decades, cryptocurrency certainly hasn’t been. It is a newcomer to the scene, and has only been around in the betting industry for a handful of years.
However, with each passing NFL season, cryptocurrency is staking more of a claim to be the best way to play at Bodog. With safer deposit, quicker withdrawals, and attractive bonuses, it isn’t difficult to see why. Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and UDS Tether are just some of the coins available to use at Bodog Sportsbook.
NHL Playoffs FAQs
How Many Games Can A Team Lose And Still Make The Playoffs?
It is possible for a team to win just three games during the regular season and make the playoffs. Possible? Yes. Likely? Absolutely not. In fact, it isn’t far off impossible, so we wouldn’t bank on it happening any time soon.
Which Team Has The Worst NFL Playoffs Record?
This is a stat that no franchise wants to claim. However, to be on the list means you have to have made the playoffs, so that’s something. As it stands, the Cincinnati Bengals have the worst playoffs record (in terms of win percentage) with an 8-15 losing record.
What Is The Best Ever NFL Playoffs Game?
There are just so many to choose from, but for us, the 2021 AFC match-up between Kansas City Cheifs and Buffalo Bills has to take top spot. It had everything. Three touchdowns in the final two minutes of regulation for the first time in the history of the sport, 188 passiny yards from Patrick Mahomes after the two-minute warning, four touchdown receptions from Gabriel Davis, Mahomes vs Josh Allen, and just 13 seconds for the Chiefs to tie the game. The rest, as they say, is history.
Does Home Advantage Make A Difference In NFL Playoffs?
Of course. It doesn’t necessarily mean the home team will win, but it is certainly an advantage having your home fans behind you.
How Many Teams Make The NFL Playoffs?
In total, 14 teams make the playoffs. This has been increased through the years, and who is to say it won’t be in the future? As it stands, the four division winners and three wildcards from each conference make it to the post-season.
Which Quarterback Has Lost The Most NFL Playoff Games?
Peyton Manning has lost the most post-season games in NFL history, with 13 to his name. Does this mean he isn’t one of the greatest ever? Absolutely not.