The 2021 NFL season is slated to begin next week and the football world couldn’t be more excited. Sportsbooks like BetOnline have been helping kill the time until then by releasing various future markets, such as who’ll win the 2021 AFC Championship. The last two have gone to the Kansas City Chiefs, who BetOnline is favoring for a third year in a row at +260 odds.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Chiefs are being viewed as 2021 AFC Championship favorites heading into the new season. Since Patrick Mahomes became Kansas City’s starting quarterback in 2018, there isn’t an AFC team that has more wins than the Chiefs (38) during that span. To add on to that, Kansas City also has the most touchdowns (178) and highest point-per-game average (31.0) in the entire NFL during that span.
Even though the Chiefs lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Super Bowl 55, they were still able to bring back a large portion of their roster. The offense will continue to be dominant as Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill form one of the most dangerous trios in the NFL. Kansas City’s defense was also no slouch last season, allowing just 22.8 points per game (10th). Considering how the Chiefs are also Super Bowl favorites this year, a lot of people expect them to be the AFC’s top team already. Only time will tell if they can turn these odds into a reality.
2021 AFC Championship Odds
Odds via BetOnline as of Tuesday, August 31
- Kansas City Chiefs (+260)
- Buffalo Bills (+575)
- Cleveland Browns (+750)
- Baltimore Ravens (+850)
- New England Patriots (+1200)
- Tennessee Titans (+1400)
- Indianapolis Colts (+1800)
- Los Angeles Chargers (+1800)
- Miami Dolphins (+1800)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (+2000)
- Denver Broncos (+2800)
- Las Vegas Raiders (+3300)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (+5000)
- Cincinnati Bengals (+6000)
- New York Jets (+6600)
- Houston Texans (+10000)
Buffalo Bills AFC Odds
At +575 odds, the Buffalo Bills have the second-best shot to win the 2021 AFC Championship. After years of disappointment, the Bills shocked a lot of people last year by going 13-3 and making it all the way to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in nearly 30 years. While the team may have lost to the Chiefs, Buffalo is looking to carry over any of last year’s momentum into the 2021 season.
It’s not hard imagining the Bills returning to the AFC Championship Game in 2021 and winning it. Buffalo had one of the top-scoring offenses last year, averaging 29.9 points per game (3rd). Quarterback Josh Allen was behind a lot of that success, as he broke out and finished the year with over 4,500 passing yards and 37 touchdowns. He couldn’t have done it without the instant chemistry he had with wideout Stefon Diggs, though, who led the NFL in receptions (127) and receiving yards (1,535). Now that Allen, Diggs and the rest of the Bills offense have had another offseason to gel, they should continue being one of the top teams in the league and likely challenge the Chiefs for the 2021 AFC Championship.
Cleveland Browns 2021 AFC Championship Odds
Another team that had poor showings in previous years to finding success in 2020 happens to be the Cleveland Browns (+750). After a 16-year playoff drought, the Browns returned to the postseason last year and made it to the Divisional Round where they lost to the Chiefs. Nevertheless, it was the first time the team made it that far since 1994 and Cleveland will try to make it even further this year.
The Browns went out this offseason and improved their team by adding players such as three-time Pro-Bowl defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, former Los Angeles Rams safety John Johnson III and 2021 first-round pick cornerback Greg Newsome II. These are just some of the additions that have made Cleveland a better team on paper. Considering how well the team performed last year, expect more of the same from the Browns in 2021 as they challenge for the AFC Championship.
