In the summer before each NFL season, sports betting enthusiasts start figuring out who will make the playoffs each year. In recent years, such teams as the Green Bay Packers, the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams have been perennial favorites in the NFC, with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills, and the Cincinnati Bengals listed at top the NFL odds list in the AFC. There’s not much value in picking those teams to advance; you can make a lot more money from your wagering if you can find a sleeper to get to the postseason. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that the Cincinnati Bengals were in the league’s basement, but the arrival of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins has turned them into a contender. Last year, the New York Giants and the Jacksonville Jaguars were sub-.500 teams in 2021, but they both advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs last year. Which sleepers should you look at in 2023? Here are some suggestions.
NFL Betting News: 2023 Sleepers to Consider in Your Playoff Betting
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers were able to get through rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett’s baptism into life in the NFL. He had a 7:9 TD:INT ratio through 13 games, throwing for 2,404 yars and completing 63 percent of his passes. However, the Steelers won seven of the 12 games he started, learning to minimize the damage from his mistakes.
Going into this season, Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris make up a solid tailback tandem, and George Pickens, Allen Robinson II and Diontae Johnson are a reliable trio of wideouts. Tight end Pat Freiermuth has shown a high ceiling in his first two seasons, so having that additional NFL savvy should pay off and make him an even more dangerous target. The team drafted Broderick Jones in the first round to start at left tackle, and they added Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig via free agency to give Pickett even more protection.
The Steelers’ defense didn’t have many holes; in 2022, they ranked in the bottom ten in the NFL in yards permitted per game for the first half of the season, but they made adjustments and ranked fifth in that metric in the second half. They drafted Joey Porter Jr in the second round and added undrafted free agent Keeanu Benton to give the Steel Curtain some depth. The Steelers are in a tough AFC North, but they have the mental toughness to deal with Cleveland and the talent to give Baltimore and Cincinnati a fight.
Bet on the Steelers!
Detroit Lions
Did you know that John F. Kennedy was President of the United States the last time the Detroit Lions won a playoff game? They mounted a furious rally in the second half of the 2022 season but just ended up on the wrong side of the postseason, and they added talent on both sides of the ball. They did make a mystifying personnel decision by trading D’Andre Swift to Philadelphia for basically nothing, but they took Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick, giving them tailback talent. They also had the #18 pick, and they used that to get an off-ball linebacker who wowed scouts at the combine and also has the intangible leadership qualities that match the chemistry of the Lions. Later in the draft, they added tight end Sam LaPorta and safety Brian Branch – and they expect them to contribute right away.
Branch wasn’t the only addition in the secondary; the Lions got absolutely torched in the passing game last year, permitting the third-most passing yards per contest. They brought in cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Cameron Sutton, as well as nickel back/safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. On offense, Marvin Jones Jr returns as a depth receiver, and David Montgomery adds depth at tailback.
So what about Jared Goff? He went 9-8 as the starter in 2023, throwing 29 touchdown passes and stacking up 4,438 yards through the air. The team drafted Malik Hooker in the third round, but they view him as an insurance option rather than as a competitor to start. If Goff can keep up the level of play he showed in the second half of 2023, the Lions should be a playoff team – and they might even sneak away with an NFC North title.
Bet on the Lions!
NFL Odds to Win Super Bowl this Season
| Updated: July 24th | |
|---|---|
| Teams | Odds |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +590 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +720 |
| Buffalo Bills | +860 |
| San Francisco 49ers | +940 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | +990 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +1425 |
| New York Jets | +1600 |
| Baltimore Ravens | +1950 |
| Detroit Lions | +2100 |
| Miami Dolphins | +2300 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +2500 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +2600 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +3200 |
| Cleveland Browns | +3300 |
| New Orleans Saints | +3600 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +3800 |
| Denver Broncos | +4200 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +4800 |
| New York Giants | +4900 |
| Chicago Bears | +5200 |
| Green Bay Packers | +5200 |
| New England Patriots | +5600 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | +6000 |
| Atlanta Falcons | +6200 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +6600 |
| Carolina Panthers | +6600 |
| Washington Commanders | +6800 |
| Tennessee Titans | +7000 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +9000 |
| Indianapolis Colts | +9500 |
| Arizona Cardinals | +18000 |
| Houston Texans | +18000 |
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