It’s a little bit of a surprise to see such high odds on the Cincinnati Bengals to win the AFC. They are much better than many of the also-rans in the conference and have an abundance of talent at the skill positions. While they do have to deal with a burgeoning juggernaut in the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns are the Browns and the Baltimore Ravens are falling apart in front of our eyes. This seems like a great opportunity to find value in a team like the Bengals.
AFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
New England Patriots +141
Pittsburgh Steelers +415
Oakland Raiders +800
Houston Texans +1214
Kansas City Chiefs +1300
Denver Broncos +1600
Tennessee Titans +1800
Los Angeles Chargers +2250
Miami Dolphins +3000
Baltimore Ravens +3200
Indianapolis Colts +3500
Cincinnati Bengals +3800
Jacksonville Jaguars +5000
Buffalo Bills +9000
Cleveland Browns +9500
New York Jets +20000
Key Players for Winning the AFC
Andy Dalton – Dalton has a reputation as a mediocre quarterback and while that may have been the case at the start of his career, that’s far from the truth now. He has quietly been one of the better quarterbacks in the league lately as his interception numbers have been cut in half while his completion percentage has increased. Dalton isn’t just dinking and dunking either; his yards per attempt average is the highest it’s ever been. Additionally, he was injured for the last part of 2015 and he didn’t have A.J. Green to throw for the second half of 2016. Dalton will be deadly with the amount of weapons he has to work with now.
Joe Mixon – It’s clear that neither Giovani Bernard not Jeremy Hill is a real answer at the running back position. Bernard’s ceiling is as a third-down back or a receiver out of the backfield, while Hill’s numbers have gone downhill since his sensational rookie season. Mixon has the ability to change all that. He is a first round talent that slipped because of off the field issues but his film just jumps off the scream. Cincinnati took a chance on him and Mixon could pay humongous dividends.
A.J. Green – There’s no doubt that Green is one of the best receivers in the NFL and is probably the most skilled player on the Bengals. Green was on pace for a career year before an injury derailed his 2016 season. He was targeted at least eight times in every game in 2016 and will be a big part of Cincinnati’s gameplan again in 2017. Green is the complete package as a wide receiver and is just as talented as Julio Jones. He has the size, speed, and strength to dominate and just needs to put up elite numbers.
Vontaze Burfict – Burfict’s shenanigans are starting to wear thin, but there’s no denying his talent. He is suspended for the first three games of the season after a late hit in the preseason and the defense won’t be the same without him. For all of the headaches he causes, he is easily the best linebacker on the team. Burfict is a playmaker that can make plays in the run game and the passing game and has the fire and intensity you crave on the defensive side of the ball. He must hurry back because the outside linebacking position is paper thin without him.
Geno Atkins – If you want a lunch pail player to be the center of your defensive line, look no further than Atkins. He has done nothing but keep his head down and do his job over the last couple seasons and is one of the better defensive tackles in the game. His ability to fight through double teams is uncanny and he has a nose for getting to the quarterback. Atkins and Carlos Dunlap have anchored this line for the entirety of this decade and are make every other member better.
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