Heading into the NFL season, three teams have an equal shot at taking the NFC crown, according to the oddsmakers. In the latest NFC Championship odds, three teams share the top spot, with the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings all locked in as co-favorites at +600.
Who Are The Favorites For The NFC Championship Odds?
The Eagles, the reigning NFC and Super Bowl champs, will try to become the first team to repeat as NFC champs since the Seattle Seahawks in 2013-14. The return of Carson Wentz from a season-ending knee injury will definitely help, but will he be ready to go in Week 1? Philadelphia shouldn’t be too worried considering Nick Foles, who led them to last year’s Super Bowl win, is still backing up Wentz, but the injury concerns around Wentz and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery are worth watching.
The Rams are on everyone’s radar this year. They won the NFC West last season, and then bolstered their already talented roster. Their key additions were wide receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. Throw in quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley, and the Rams look stacked. Only one major question hovers over the Rams: Aaron Donald. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year remains in a contract holdout which could see him on the outside looking in when the season starts.
The Minnesota Vikings just came up short last season, losing the NFC Championship Game to the Eagles. They may take that next step this season with the addition of quarterback Kirk Cousins and the return of injured running back Dalvin Cook. The Vikings’ offense may have made all the headlines this offseason, but don’t forget they also boasted the top defense in the NFL last season.
Who Are The Contenders For The NFC Championship Odds?
Close behind the Eagles, Rams and Vikings in the NFC Championship odds are the Green Bay Packers at +650. Green Bay failed to make the playoffs last season and last won the NFC in 2010. Last year may have gone differently for Green Bay if quarterback Aaron Rodgers hadn’t been limited to seven games.
The only other true contenders in the NFC according to the oddsmakers are the New Orleans Saints at +900, the Atlanta Falcons at +1000 and the San Francisco 49ers at +1100.
The Saints will start the season without running back Mark Ingram due to a four-game suspension. But they should be able to weather the storm with quarterback Drew Brees, running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Michael Thomas set to carry the offense.
The Falcons won the NFC two years ago, and quietly made the playoffs last year before bowing out early. Still led by Matt Ryan, Atlanta boasts most of the same roster that took the NFC in 2016. Whether that’s a good thing and can compete with the improving Vikings and Rams remains to be seen.
The 49ers are an interesting case at +1100. San Francisco won only six games last season, but they ended the year on a five-game winning streak with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm. If San Francisco can prove that their strong finish was no fluke, they could be worth a look as a dark horse in the NFC championship odds.