Good morning! This is Playoff Watch 2017, the early buzz on NFL playoffs.
Jerry Jones or JJ Watt to get most air time? If you want to wager on another sure thing, the odds-makers list Jerry Jones (1/3) as the owner you'll see on-screen the most while they're also confident that injured Texan J.J. Watt (3/5) will get more screen time than hobbled Patriot Rob Gronkowski (5/3). On the field, it's not surprising that Vic Beasley Jr of the Falcons (4/1) is favored to record the most sacks and Ezekiel Elliott of the Cowboys is favored to be the leading rusher (2/1) but the odds are long (10/1) that he celebrates a TD by jumping into the Salvation Army Kettle. Steven Hauschka (3/1) is the most likely of the eight kickers to miss a game winning field goal while Dan Bailey (9/1) is the most reliable.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Brandon Marshall on Inside the NFL of Showtime on the Dallas Cowboys: "I just don't think that Green Bay has enough on the defensive side. I think that the way that the Dallas Cowboys approach it on the offensive side it's going to be way too much for Green Bay. There is way too many holes in that defense… Coach [Dom] Capers, he's been running the same defense for years and everyone knows about it. I just don't think they have enough stars on that side of the ball to slow down the Dallas Cowboys."
The NFL on CBS's broadcast of the AFC wild-card playoff game featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers'win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Jan. 8 (1:00-4:15 p.m.) scored its highest overnight household rating/share in the metered markets since 2014 for the AFC wild-card game. The game earned average overnight household rating/share of 19.2/38, up +4%from an 18.5/37 in the comparable early Sunday window in 2015 forthe wild-card game (Cincinnati-Indianapolis; 1/3/15; 1:00-4:15 p.m. on CBS) and tied last year's primetime AFC wild-card game (19.2/32; Pittsburgh-Cincinnati; 1/9/16; 8:15 p.m.-12:00 Midnight, CBS). The game rating peaked at a 20.8/40 from 3:00-3:30 PM, ET.
Odds, Props and other notes from the gaming world. After a week of the home team favorites holding serve on NFL Wild Card Weekend, the odds-makers at www.SportsBettingDime.com are doubling down on the home teams, offering just 4/1 odds that all four home teams (NE, Dallas, KC, Atl) win again this weekend. But, if you think last week's winners can flip the script, odds-makers are offering 200/1 odds that all four road teams (Houston, GB, Pitt, Sea) survive and advance. Not surprisingly, the odds-makers list all four home teams as favorites to reach the Super Bowl with the Patriots (9/5) nearly a sure thing and a Patriots-Cowboys match-up (18/5) the most likely. And in an odd twist, each of this weekend's game is a regular-season rematch. The odds of New England, Pittsburgh, Dallas and Seattle repeating their regular season triumph is an appetizing 19/2.
Here is a look at a host of NFL Divisional Playoff odds and props from the odds-makers at www.SportsBettingDime.com. Additional analysis is available at https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/nfl/nfl-odds-divisional-playoff-props/
NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND ODDS & PROPS
TEAM PROPS
Odds of winning Super Bowl LI:
New England: 9/5
Dallas: 5/1
Atlanta: 7/1
Kansas City: 17/2
Green Bay: 9/1
Pittsburgh: 11/1
Seattle: 12/1
Houston: 75/1
Odds of specific Super Bowl matchups:
Dallas vs. New England: 18/5
Dallas vs. Pittsburgh: 16/1
Dallas vs. Houston: 90/1
New England vs. Green Bay: 13/2
New England vs. Seattle: 17/2
Seattle vs. Houston: 175/1
Odds all four home teams win in the Divisional Round (KC, NE, DAL, ATL): 4/1
Odds all four road teams win in the Divisional Round (PIT, HOU, GB, SEA): 200/1
All four match-ups occurred during the regular season. Odds the results are the same:
New England beats Houston: 1/13
Dallas beats Green Bay: 3/5
Seattle beats Atlanta: 8/5
Pittsburgh beats Kansas City: 4/3
All four results recur: 19/2
PLAYER PROPS
Most sacks in Divisional Round
Vic Beasley Jr., Falcons: 4/1
Michael Bennett, Seahawks: 8/1
Justin Houston, Chiefs: 8/1
Jadeveon Clowney, Texans: 9/1
Clay Matthews, Packers: 9/1
James Harrison, Steelers: 11/1
Trey Flowers, Patriots: 11/1
David Irving, Cowboys: 12/1
FIELD: 21/4
Most yards rushing in Divisional Round
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys: 2/1
Le’Veon Bell, Steelers: 5/2
Thomas Rawls, Seahawks: 13/2
LeGarrette Blount, Patriots: 8/1
Devonta Freeman, Falcons: 16/1
FIELD: 11/1
Odds each kicker misses a game-winning kick in the final minute
Steven Hauschka, Seahawks: 3/1
Nick Novak, Texans: 9/2
Cairo Santos, Chiefs: 5/1
Chris Boswell, Steelers: 13/2
Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots: 7/1
Matt Bryant, Falcons: 8/1
Mason Crosby, Packers: 8/1
Dan Bailey, Cowboys: 9/1
Odds Aaron Rodgers throws a successful Hail Mary pass: 85/1
Odds Aaron Rodgers doesn’t throw an interception (for the ninth straight game): 3/5
Odds Steelers linebacker coach Joey Porter will be on the sideline for the Kansas City game: 99/1
Odds the following controversies are mentioned during the broadcast of the relevant game
Pass interference no-call in the first Seahawks/Falcons game: 1/19
Joey Porter bar fight: 1/9
Texans’ “QB controversy” (Brock Osweiler vs Tom Savage): 1/8
Tom Brady’s DeflateGate suspension: 3/4
Tyreek Hill’s domestic violence conviction: 1/1
Tony Romo’s proclamation that Dak deserved to be the Cowboys starting QB: 5/2
Rumors of Mike McCarthy being fired: 3/1
Odds on which sidelined superstar will be shown on camera more during the Texans/Patriots game
J.J. Watt: 3/5
Rob Gronkowski: 5/3
Odds of which high-profile owner will be shown on camera most during the broadcast of the relevant game
Jerry Jones, Cowboys: 1/3
Paul Allen, Seahawks: 5/1
Robert Kraft, Patriots: 7/1
Arthur Blank, Falcons: 10/1
Odds of receiving an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
Richard Sherman: 12/1
Antonio Brown: 15/1
Dez Bryant: 15/1
Tyreek Hill: 20/1
Travis Kelce: 25/1
Martellus Bennett: 25/1
Kam Chancellor: 25/1
Odds Ezekiel Elliott jumps into Salvation Army kettle: 10/1
Over/under on the closing point spread in the Texans/Patriots game (currently NE -16): NE -14.5
Playoff Watch 2017 will appear Monday through Friday mornings.
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The AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter and Noah Coslov get into the Julio Jones-Richard Sherman matchup, the Falcons run defense, the team’s areas of concern and where the Falcons have the advantage.
RECAP OF THE ATLANTA FALCONS 2016 REGULAR SEASON
GAME 16: Falcons 38, Saints 32
5 things we learned from the Falcons win over the Saints
Falcons defense sags late but hangs on vs. Brees
GAME 15: Falcons 33, Panthers 16
5 things we learned from the Falcons win over the Panthers
NFL playoffs: Falcons clinch NFC South title
Third-and-21, no problem for Coleman
What Dan Quinn had to say after the win over the Panthers
GAME 14: Falcons 41, 49ers 13
5 things we learned from the Falcons' win over the 49ers
What Matt Ryan had to say about the win over the 49ers
PHOTOS: Falcons win over the 49ers
GAME 13: Falcons 42, Rams 14
REPORT CARD: Falcons handled their business against woeful Rams
GAME 12: Chiefs 29, Falcons 28
Falcons still control their playoff destiny
PHOTOS: Falcons have a bad day at the office
Matt Ryan tormented by Berry's big interceptions
Beasley becomes a double-digit sacker
GAME 11: Falcons 38, Cardinals 19
5 things we learned from the Falcons' win over the Cardinals
Julio Jones gets calls this time
Taylor Gabriel continues scoring streak in win over Cardinals
Coleman scores TD in return from injury
Falcons' offensive line 'stepped up to the task'
Ryan, offense slowed down to a crawl
Perkins stalls key drive with costly penalty
Defense gets blown of the line of scrimmage
Keanu Neal can expect fine but Falcons' biggest issue is injuries (Trufant and Tamme)
Falcons go into bye week wrong way -- beat up by Eagles
What Dan Quinn had to say after the loss to the Eagles
What the Falcons had to say after the loss to the Eagles
PHOTOS: Falcons fall to the Eagles
GAME NINE: Falcons 43, Buccaneers 28
5 things we learned from the Falcons' rout of the Bucs
GAME EIGHT: Falcons 33, Packers 32
5 things we learned from the Falcons' 33-32 win over the Packers
Finally, the Falcons finish: 'We had to stop the bleeding'
GAME SEVEN: Chargers 33, Falcons 30 in OT
5 things we learned from the Falcons loss to the Chargers
Dan Quinn's gamble with house-money backfires
6 penalties 'unacceptable' for Falcons offensive line
Philip Rivers confounds Falcons with short passes: 'He picked us apart'
Matt Ryan's late-game interception leads to overtime loss
PHOTOS: Chargers rally to beat Falcons
GAME SIX: Seahawks 26, Falcons 24
5 things we learned from the Falcons loss to the Seahawks
MARK BRADLEY: The Falcons didn't win, but they made one guy believe (me)
MARK BRADLEY: The Falcons got jobbed but did themselves proud
Matt Ryan's turnovers were costly
What Dan Quinn had to say after the 26-24 loss to Seattle
Seattle slows down Falcons' running backs Freeman, Coleman
Ryan Schraeder, offensive line rebounds in second half
Julio Jones: 'It was just a missed call'
What the Falcons had to say after the 26-24 loss to Seattle
What Matt Ryan had to say after the 26-24 loss to Seattle
Richard Sherman non-commital on pass interference non-call
PHOTOS: Falcons at Seahawks in Seattle
GAME FIVE: Falcons 23, Broncos 16
5 things we learned from the Falcons upset of Super Bowl champs
MARK BRADLEY: The Falcons rock a rookie in the Rockies
What Dan Quinn have to say after the win over Denver
Coleman amassed 163 yards to power the offense
Vic Beasley has breakout game with 3.5 sacks
Kemal Ishmael moved to linebacker, led team in tackles
What the Falcons had to say after the win over the Broncos
Photos: Falcons battle the Broncos
GAME FOUR: Falcons 48, Panthers 33
5 things we learned from the Falcons' 48-33 win over the Panthers
Tweetcap: Falcons 48, Panthers 33
Old pro Freeney shows new trick with Falcons
Falcons' rookie Neal holds on vs. Olsen
What Julio Jones had to say after the 48-33 win over the Panthers
What Dan Quinn had to say after the 48-33 win over the Panthers
What Matt Ryan had to say after the 48-33 win over the Panthers
Alford battled; Collins to return
Early view in NFC South isn't what most expected; Falcons on top
GAME THREE: Falcons 45, Saints 32
5 things we learned from the Falcons' 45-32 win over the Saints
Falcons, Saints protest with unity circle before game
REPORT CARD: Falcons earned high marks for drubbing Saints
What Dan Quinn had to say after the 45-32 win over the Saints
What Matt Ryan had to say after the 45-32 win over the Saints
What the Falcons had to say after the 45-32 win over the Saints
Keanu Neal makes strong debut for Falcons
Falcons' Deion Jones runs for glory, not survival, in return home
AJC POWER RANKINGS: Falcons best in NFC South?
GAME TWO: Falcons 35, Raiders 28
5 things we learned from the Falcons' win over the Raiders
Trufant's heads-up play saves the day
Tight ends help to power offense
Weatherspoon plays strong in first start since 2013
Matthews, Schraeder held Mack sack-less
JEFF SCHULTZ: Falcons put on offensive show and win
What Matt Ryan had to say after beating the Raiders
What Dan Quinn had to say after the win over the Raiders
GAME ONE: Buccaneers 31, Falcons 24
5 things we learned from the Falcons' loss to the Bucs
No sacks for new-look Falcons pass rush
Julio Jones not worried about his ankle injury
Falcons have a case of the "no-huddle" blues
REPORT CARD: Falcons can't 'gift' opponents 17 points
FILM REVIEW: Beasley missing in action
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