Patriots Huge AFC East Chalk; NFC East, AFC West Wide Open

Based on the 2016 NFL division future boards, the New England Patriots are a lock to rule the AFC East, while only three other defending division champions have top odds.

With quarterback Tom Brady in line to miss the first four games unless his Deflategate suspension is overturned in court, the Patriots are listed at -210 to win their division. They have won the AFC East in 12 of the last 13 years, with the lone exception coming in 2008 when Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1. The Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, who were just outside of playoff contention in 2015, are each listed at +525.

Last season on wild-card weekend, both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs won on the road. The Steelers, with QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown on the shortlist of the NFL’s best passing combos, are +130 to wrest the AFC North title back from the Cincinnati Bengals (+175). The retooling Baltimore Ravens are listed at +275.

Kansas City and the reigning Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos each have a +180 prop on the AFC West futures board. Kansas City had an 11-win streak last season, although there will be questions about whether QB Alex Smith can make the difference when it matters. Denver suffered heavy free-agent losses. The Oakland Raiders, at +275, could be a darkhorse, as QB Derek Carr should continue to progress in his third season.

The AFC South has been football’s feeblest division for a few seasons. With QB Andrew Luck hoping for a healthier season, the Indianapolis Colts are the +130 favorite. The J.J. Watt-led Houston Texans are +190, while the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have been quietly amassing young talent during a long rebuilding phase, are at +350.

In the NFC East, which no one can win two seasons in a row, the Dallas Cowboys are at +125 as they hope to have a healthy QB Tony Romo and a stable rushing game. The New York Giants, with a retooled defense, are at +225.

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers will not go 15-1 again, but few experts see any NFC South team narrowing the gap. Carolina is listed at -200, with the Atlanta Falcons at +525.

The Seattle Seahawks (-110) are listed ahead of the Arizona Cardinals (+140) on the NFC West board. Seattle’s slow start essentially decided that division early in 2015.

With QB Aaron Rodgers and WR Jordy Nelson reunited, the Green Bay Packers are listed at -150 to reclaim the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings are listed at +225 as they and QB Teddy Bridgewater seek greater offensive production in their first season at indoor U.S. Bank Stadium.