NFL Futures: Best Bet to Make AFC Playoffs (2020)

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As the United States slowly starts to ease back on social distancing restrictions, we’ve got a glimmer of hope as leagues start to formalize plans for at least partial seasons. Despite the old adage about baseball, football reigns king and if there’s any league we need back, it’s the NFL.

Even with talks of a shortened or otherwise adjusted season, sportsbooks continue to forge ahead offering more future betting options than ever before. Our friends over at FanDuel are offering odds on every team and their ability to make the playoffs, offering a yes/no on every single one of them.

As could be expected, most playoff teams require a ton of juice on their “Yes”, with the Chiefs (-800), Ravens (-550) and Patriots (-220) leading the way in the AFC.

With all three of these teams being division winners from a season ago, the juice is certainly not uncalled for.

What about the fourth division winner though?

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Best Bet to Make the AFC Playoffs

Since taking over the team in 2013, head coach Bill O’Brien continues to fly under the radar as one of the most successful coaches in the NFL during that timespan. While that seems to be a topic of debate, what isn’t is the fact he’s won the AFC South division four times since.

Two of those division titles, including the first which included a playoff win, were accomplished with Tom Savage and Brian Hoyer playing quarterback. I don’t care what division you’re in, winning in the league has never been easy, and regardless of his record once reaching the playoffs, O’Brien has shown a proven history of winning.

Now in his seventh season, O’Brien has accepted a Belichick-like role as head coach and general manager, as he looks to take this franchise to the next level. In his first major splash in the position, he traded All-Pro receiver to the Cardinals; a move that has received a plethora of criticism.

Ultimately later signing Randall Cobb and Brandin Cooks, O’Brien believes in a similar philosophy that most successful general managers know well; wide receivers don’t win championships.

The Texans also made significant strides this offseason in locking up the protection of their franchise player, Deshaun Watson, in the long term signing of OT Laremy Tunsil.

For Watson, the trajectory took another step up last season, winning his first-ever playoff came in come from behind fashion. If it not for a complete defensive collapse in the divisional round, the Texans would’ve got the Titan’s at home for a chance to play in their first-ever Super Bowl.

Like most Texans seasons in the O’Brien era, this one might come down to how healthy they can keep their defense starting first and foremost with five-time All-Pro JJ Watt. If Watt can remain on the field, linebacker Zach Cunningham should be able to build on his team-leading 142 tackles in 2019 to etch out yet another playoff appearance from a team whose constantly undervalued.

Pick: Houston Texans +144