The NFL playoffs are down to its final four teams after the weekend’s Divisional round. The New England Patriots will face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship, while the Carolina Panthers will host the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship.
NFL playoff odds 2016: Panthers, Patriots open as Championship Game favorites
The early Vegas lines point towards a Super Bowl XXXVIII rematch between the Panthers and Patriots.
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The Las Vegas lines opened up on Sunday, with early odds favoring the Panthers and Patriots. According to OddsShark, the Patriots are 3-point favorites to reach the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. The Panthers are also 3-point favorites to win their second NFC Championship in franchise history.
New England took care of the Kansas City Chiefs in a 27-20 victory on Saturday, reaching the AFC Championship for the ninth time in Bill Belichick’s 16-year tenure. With the Broncos beating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-16, on Sunday, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are set to face each other for the fifth time in the playoffs.
The Panthers jumped out to a 31-0 halftime lead over the Seattle Seahawks, and despite taking their foot off the gas in the second half they still won, 31-24. They’ll be taking on the Cardinals in the next round after Arizona won an overtime thriller over the Green Bay Packers.
If the betting favorites win, we’ll be seeing a rematch of Super Bowl XXXVIII between the Panthers and Patriots. New England won that game, 32-29, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in three years and solidifying Belichick’s team as the dynasty of the 2000s. The Panthers are still looking for their first Super Bowl win.
