After both hitting as high as 16/1 to win this year’s Super Bowl during the regular season, the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots are the top two favorites to win next year’s big game. The Patriots earned a dramatic 28-24 win over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX to end Seattle’s bid for consecutive NFL titles.
However, the Seahawks opened as 5/1 favorites to keep New England from repeating next year with a victory in Super Bowl 50. The Patriots remain the last team to win back-to-back Super Bowls after the 2003 and 2004 seasons, and they are the 7/1 second choice to win their fifth NFL championship with quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. Brady and Belichick can set the record for most Super Bowls for a QB and coach duo next year after appearing in their sixth together this season.
As far as the offseason goes, Seattle and New England each have to re-sign key players in order to put themselves in contention to win Super Bowl 50 in 2016. The Seahawks are reportedly working on a contract extension for running back Marshawn Lynch while the Patriots have a decision to make regarding whether or not to pick up the option on cornerback Darrelle Revis’ deal or work out a new one with him.
The top competition for the two favorites also has some serious work to do before the next NFL season kicks off. The Green Bay Packers are 8/1 to win Super Bowl 50 and the most dangerous team outside of Seattle and New England with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. The reigning NFL MVP may or may not have one of his leading receivers next year though since Randall Cobb is a free agent. Cobb just enjoyed the best season of his four-year career with 91 catches for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Denver Broncos are 10/1 to win Super Bowl 50 but may look a lot different offensively under new head coach Gary Kubiak. The Broncos are still awaiting the decision of QB Peyton Manning, who may or may not return along with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas. Manning has never run the West Coast offense Kubiak employs while his top targets sharing the same last name are both free agents. Denver also needs to determine who the starting RB will be with C.J. Anderson emerging as a Pro Bowler with Monte Ball and Ronnie Hillman injured.
The Dallas Cowboys are 14/1 and must figure out if they can keep their offense together as well with RB DeMarco Murray and WR Dez Bryant headed to free agency. Murray was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for a career-high 1,845 yards and 13 TDs, taking a lot of pressure off QB Tony Romo. Bryant was Romo’s go-to guy through the air with 1,320 yards and 16 TDs, although he is expected to be back.
The Indianapolis Colts are 14/1 too but do not look like they will be losing any important players on either side of the ball. The biggest challenge for the Colts is finding a RB to complement franchise QB Andrew Luck. Trent Richardson may see his contract voided following a disappointing tenure in Indy while Ahmad Bradshaw is coming off an injury and will be a free agent. Defensively, the Colts need to re-sign cornerback Darius Butler and safeties Sergio Brown and Mike Adams to keep their solid secondary intact for potential meetings with the Patriots and Broncos in next year’s playoffs.