The Baltimore Ravens started out the season with a 2-2 record — and then ran the table to finish 14-2, the best record in franchise history, and the best record in the NFL. They hold one bye in the AFC; the other belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs, who went into Week 17 expecting to face a wild card game this weekend. However, they took care of business, beating the L.A. Chargers, and then the New England Patriots permitted a last-second touchdown drive by the Miami Dolphins to lose to the Fish at home for the first time since 2008. That gave the Chiefs the other bye and meant the Patriots would have to play in the wild card round for the first time since 2009. New England hosts Tennessee in one wild card round game, while Houston hosts Buffalo in the other. We have the sports betting odds for each of the six 2020 AFC Championship contenders to make it to Super Bowl LIV, as well as insights on each team.
Updated 2020 AFC Championship Odds – January 3rd Edition
As voted on by SNF fans… The best AFC and NFC Championship teams of the decade! pic.twitter.com/1tpkrPCoja
— SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 31, 2019
- Baltimore Ravens -110
- Kansas City Chiefs +185
- New England Patriots +650
- Houston Texans +2000
- Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans +2500
The Baltimore Ravens have looked unstoppable with Lamar Jackson running the offense. They even beat Pittsburgh with their starting quarterback and tailback on the sidelines in Week 17. The defense has locked down the opposition, and then they have gotten to rest as the Ravens put together drive after drive, up and down the field. With home field advantage sewn up all the way to Miami, it’s hard to see anyone upending Baltimore.
The Kansas City Chiefs see their offense heating up at just the right time, getting better performance from their running backs, which allows the passing game time to set up for big plays down the field — and Patrick Mahomes II has been making defenses I pay. The Kansas City defense has improved their numbers against the running game, and their pass rush already caused a lot of problems for the opposition. That improved defense is why this version of the Chiefs is even better than last year’s.
The New England Patriots have been written off — which is usually when they rise to the occasion and win out. People were saying the same thing a year ago, and the Patriots won the Super Bowl, beating Kansas City in overtime in the AFC Championship and then locking down that Ram offense. Yes, the Patriots have looked mortal this year, barely beating Buffalo twice and losing to Miami at home. They got taken apart by Baltimore and looked bad against Houston. However, they should have beaten Kansas City, but a couple of key calls went against the Patriots at home. So if they beat Tennessee, all bets are off.
Yes, the Houston Texans won the AFC South. However, they are missing wide receiver Will Fuller, which means that opponents can double DeAndre Hopkins, unless Fuller gets cleared to play. Their defense should get a boost from the return of J.J. Watt. With that said, they have beaten Kansas City and New England this year, and they beat Tennessee on the road this season. I don’t see them getting past the Buffalo Bills, but they will make life a lot harder for the Bills than some may think.
The Buffalo Bills have gotten a huge sophomore season from quarterback Josh Allen. Their defense is elite, with a fast and physical front seven and a secondary led by cornerback Tre’Davious White. Their offense got a boost from the addition of wideout Cole Beasley. Can the Bills lose to a team that can pound the ball? Maybe. But the Texans can’t really do that, so the Bills should get to the divisional round, unless the klieg lights of the postseason make the young Bills wilt.
The Tennessee Titans have the league rushing champ in Derrick Henry, a terrific rookie wide receiver in A.J. Brown and the best season in quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s career. However, their defense gives up big plays at just the wrong time — which will play into Bill Belichick’s hands in the wild card round. The Titans could take down the Patriots, but they could also lose by 20.
