NFL News: Packers, Browns Among Playoff Favorites, Raiders, Broncos Expected To Miss 2019 Postseason

The 2019 NFL season is still more than four months away, but rosters are beginning to take shape following the start of free agency and the draft. The top playoff contenders are coming into focus, including one team that is rarely in the postseason conversation.

Only 10 of the league’s 32 teams are odds-on favorites to reach the playoffs. Included in that group is the Cleveland Browns, who haven’t made the postseason since the 2002 season.

The Browns have been the NFL’s worst franchise since they re-entered the league in 1999 with one just two winning seasons and no playoff victories. That’s likely about to change now that Cleveland is among the most talented teams in the league.

With a roster led by Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham, the Browns have the best playoff odds of any AFC North team after going 7-8-1. That was the team’s best record in 11 years.

The Green Bay Packers are the only other team that’s favored to reach the playoffs after missing the postseason in the 2018 season. After making the playoffs in every year from 2009-2016, Green Bay has suffered through two consecutive losing years while Aaron Rodgers has battled injuries.

The New England Patriots, of course, have the best odds of anyone to make the playoffs. They’re followed by the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, according to OddsShark.

Six teams have 5/1 odds or worse to make the playoffs. The New York Giants and Oakland Raiders are in that group. Both teams make three selections in the first round of the draft.

The Denver Broncos are one of four teams with 4/1 playoff odds. Denver acquired quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Drew Lock this offseason, trading Case Keenum to the Washington Redskins following one season as the team’s starter.

The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers have even playoff odds. The Miami Dolphins are the biggest playoff long shots with 10/1 odds.