Patriots Leading Broncos and Steelers on Super Bowl 51 Odds

With Peyton Manning’s retirement decision still up in the air, two AFC opponents the Denver Broncos defeated en route to their 24-10 victory in Super Bowl 50 have joined them as the teams to beat for the Vince Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 51 next season.

The New England Patriots are the favorites to win their fifth Super Bowl at 15/2 betting odds followed by both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos at 9/1.

New England suffered a disappointing 20-18 loss at Denver in the AFC Championship Game but returns nearly every key player and will likely look to improve any weaknesses through free agency. Running back LeGarrette Blount missed the last three games of the regular season due to a hip injury and is a free agent, so the Patriots may go another direction and possibly sign Matt Forte to replace him.

Forte, another free agent, was recently informed by the Chicago Bears that he would not be re-signed.

Pittsburgh played the Broncos very tough in the Divisional Round of the playoffs before falling 23-16 without leading receiver Antonio Brown (concussion) and top rusher DeAngelo Williams (foot). Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger also played that game with a shoulder injury, and running back Le’Veon Bell only played in six games before tearing his ACL. A healthy Pittsburgh team could be tough to beat next year.

Denver is waiting to hear from Manning before talking with backup Brock Osweiler about a new contract since he too is a free agent. Osweiler filled in admirably for Manning when he was out with a foot injury, winning five of his seven starts. The Broncos also need to re-sign Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller following his outstanding postseason that has transformed him into the most feared pass rusher in the game.

The NFC has a few top Super Bowl 51 contenders as well, led by the defending conference champion Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers, who are all listed at 10/1. The Panthers hope reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton can recover mentally from the beating he took against Miller and the rest of the Denver defense in the Super Bowl. Newton will have wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin back though after he missed the entire season with a torn ACL.

In addition, the Seahawks and Packers each have quarterbacks still playing in their prime in Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, respectively. If either of them can re-emerge as the top team in the NFC and earn the No. 1 seed like Carolina did last year, their competition will find it very difficult to win at Seattle or Green Bay in the playoffs.