The Cincinnati Bengals ended an 11-game losing streak to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 24-17 home win on Monday night. The win moves the Bengals to 3-10-1 while the Steelers fall to 11-3. Pittsburgh has lost three games in a row after starting the season 11-0, and the AFC North race is back on.
The Cleveland Browns are 10-4, one game behind the Steelers. This week the Browns (-11) travel to play the 1-13 New York Jets while the Steelers (-2) host the 10-4 Indianapolis Colts. The Browns and Steelers play in Cleveland in Week 17, and that game could be for the division title.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills also benefit from the Steelers' Monday loss. The Chiefs (-10.5) can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC in a variety of ways this week, but the simplest way is by beating the Atlanta Falcons at home to move to 14-1. The 11-3 Bills are now tied with Pittsburgh for the No. 2 seed, but they hold the tiebreaker courtesy of a head-to-head win. Buffalo is -6.5 at the New England Patriots Monday night.
Chiefs Still Favored to Repeat
As they have been since winning the Super Bowl last year, the Kansas City Chiefs are still favored to win it all this year. With two weeks left in the regular season, the Chiefs are +175 to win the Super Bowl on February 7 in Tampa, Fla. The 13-1 Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West and are one win away from the top seed and a first-round bye.
The top favorite in the NFC is the Green Bay Packers at +600. The Packers have clinched the NFC North at 11-3, and there is a scenario where they can clinch the top seed in the conference this week. If the Packers (-3.5) win at home over the 10-4 Tennessee Titans while New Orleans (-6.5) loses to Minnesota on Christmas and Seattle (-2.5) loses to the LA Rams on Sunday, Green Bay locks up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and that crucial first-round bye.
Speaking of the Saints, with quarterback Drew Brees back, they are +800 to win it all. The Saints are 10-4 and can clinch the NFC South with a win on Friday over the Vikings.
Up next on the odds list are the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills at +1000. The Bills are currently the No. 2 seed in the AFC as they prepare to face the Patriots on Monday night. Quarterback Josh Allen is an MVP candidate as well after delivering a big game in the win over Denver on Sunday.
Others in the Super Bowl Mix
The 10-4 Seattle Seahawks are +1200 after getting back into first place in the NFC West. The win over Washington on Sunday coupled with the Rams loss to the Jets gave Seattle a one-game lead. They face the 9-5 Rams at home this week and clinch the division title with a win. The Rams are +1400 to win the Super Bowl. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also at +1400, while the Baltimore Ravens are +1600 despite currently sitting outside the playoffs.
The Steelers, who were right behind the Chiefs in odds just two weeks ago, are now +2000 after losing Monday. Three straight losses, two to teams with losing records, have sent the Steelers' odds spiraling with just two games remaining.
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