The NFL playoffs have reached an electrifying stage with the final four teams vying for a chance at the Super Bowl. However, one notable twist has emerged: the Denver Broncos are now facing significant challenges following the injury of quarterback Bo Nix, who will miss the rest of the postseason due to a fractured right ankle. This development has altered the betting landscape dramatically, impacting championship matchups and odds.
The AFC Championship will see the New England Patriots stepping in as 4.5-point road favorites against the Broncos, while in the NFC Championship, the Seattle Seahawks are favored by 1.5 points at home against the Los Angeles Rams. However, after the injury news broke, New England’s odds surged to -5.5, while Seattle’s shifted to -2.5, reflecting the impact of Nix’s absence on Denver’s competitiveness.
Prior to Nix’s injury, the Broncos were positioned as 1.5-point favorites against the Patriots in hypothetical matchups. The consensus among bookmakers is that Nix’s presence is worth approximately five to seven points to the spread, underscoring his importance to the team throughout the season. Joey Feazel from Caesars Sportsbooks expressed anticipation for the showdown between two defensive-oriented teams in the AFC Championship and is keen to assess the repercussions of Nix’s injury.
The Broncos’ Super Bowl odds have also taken a significant hit. Heading into Saturday, their odds were at +700, and following their victory over the Buffalo Bills, they narrowed to +370. After the Nix news broke, the odds lengthened to +650, then to +950, and finally settled at +1100. This marks the longest odds entering the conference championship since the New York Giants in January 2008, who famously turned their underdog status into a Super Bowl victory.
Leading the Super Bowl odds are the Seahawks at +145, followed by the Rams at +225 and the Patriots at +255. Notably, all these teams started the season as underdogs, with both the Broncos and Rams entering with +2200 odds, while the Patriots and Seahawks had +6000 odds.
While many public favorites have fallen out of contention, sportsbooks face some remaining liabilities, particularly concerning potential Super Bowl outcomes. BetMGM highlights a Seahawks Super Bowl victory as its worst-case scenario, while DraftKings points to the Patriots.
The elimination of favored teams has shifted the dynamics of the playoffs, presenting an unexpected opportunity for the remaining competitors to seize the moment.