Rodgers’ Return Boosts 2022 NFL Futures Odds for Packers

One of the biggest stories of the NFL offseason came to an end on Tuesday when the Green Bay Packers signed star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a four-year, $200 million contract.

Rodgers, 38, has been at the center of trade rumors dating back to the 2021 NFL Draft. When it was looking like he might continue his career elsewhere, the Packers ensured that he’d stick with the “Green and Gold” for the foreseeable future.

The #Packers and MVP QB Aaron Rodgers have agreed to terms on a 4-year, $200M deal that makes him the highest paid player in NFL history, sources say. He gets a whopping $153M guaranteed and his cap number goes down. A monstrous commitment by GB for years to come. ? ? ?

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2022

Keeping Rodgers was a critical move to ensure that the Packers remain competitive in 2022 and beyond. After all, the veteran gunslinger is coming off his fourth NFL MVP campaign that saw him record 4,115 passing yards and 37 touchdowns to four interceptions.

The NFC will likely be a bloodbath again next season, so Rodgers must be at the top of his game to give Green Bay a fighting chance. Even though the 2022 NFL season is still months away, BetMGM’s latest betting odds give us a better idea as to how the NFC outlook is shaping up.

Will Rodgers Lead Packers to Fourth Straight NFC North Title?

NFC North Outlook and Odds

• Green Bay Packers (-190)
• Minnesota Vikings (+350)
• Detroit Lions (+700)
• Chicago Bears (+900)

Odds are via BetMGM.

To the surprise of few, the Packers are once again favored to win the NFC North Division at -190 odds. Green Bay has won its division in eight of the last 11 seasons, including in each of the last three seasons.

The Minnesota Vikings are the only “real” threat to challenging the Packers for the division crown, but even that’s a stretch. Former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell is the new head coach in town, so it remains to be seen what kind of impact he’ll have on Minnesota’s offense.

Even if the Vikings can improve on their 8-9 record from 2021, the Packers are 4-2 against them in their last six meetings. Even then, Green Bay’s two losses were decided by a single score, so it isn’t like Minnesota has the organization’s number.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears aren’t threats at all. Both teams are in the middle of a rebuild and are a long way from competing for the division crown.

Considering how the Packers are 15-3 against their divisional rivals since 2019, it’s safe to say that level of dominance will continue into the 2022 NFL season.

With Rodgers in Tow, Packers Join Rams as NFC Favorites

The re-signing of Rodgers has led to the Packers being BetMGM’s co-favorites with the Los Angeles Rams to win the NFC Championship next season.

It isn’t a shock to see oddsmakers believing that Green Bay could make another run at the conference championship. After all, the Packers have competed in two of the last three NFC Championship games and could’ve made it three-for-three had the San Francisco 49ers stopped them this postseason.

Nevertheless, it’s Green Bay’s offense that constantly has the organization in contention to be the NFC’s top team. The Packers have averaged 27.2 points per game over the last three seasons, which is fifth-most over that stretch. Having a dynamic duo in Rodgers and All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams is certainly a driving force behind that.

2022 NFC Championship Odds

• Green Bay Packers (+450)
• Los Angeles Rams (+450)
• San Francisco 49ers (+600)
• Dallas Cowboys (+650)
• Arizona Cardinals (+900)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1100)

Complete odds list is available on BetMGM.

The Packers handled several of the NFC’s top teams in the 2021 regular season, scoring victories over the Rams, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. The real issue will be if they can continue that success into the playoffs — especially when it comes to San Francisco.

The 49ers have eliminated the Packers in two of the last three postseasons, with the other loss coming to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their Super Bowl LV run. Green Bay has averaged just 15.0 PPG during its losses to San Francisco, so head coach Matt LaFleur and his coaching staff need to figure out a way to solve the 49ers’ defense.

The good news is that the Packers have a great shot at entering next season’s playoffs as one of the higher seeds. They have the 11th-easiest 2022 schedule with their 17 opponents combining for a .478 winning percentage.

Packers Slot in Behind Bills and Chiefs in Super Bowl 57 Odds

When it comes to Super Bowl LVII odds, the Packers currently sit at +1000 odds, trailing only the Buffalo Bills (+750) and Kanas City Chiefs (+750). While Green Bay fans may wish that their team was higher on the list, they’re still the highest-ranked NFC team.

Even though it’s been over a decade since the Packers last played in a Super Bowl, they still have all the makings of a championship-caliber team. They have elite offensive players in Rodgers, Adams and Aaron Jones. They have a solid defense that surrendered only 21.3 PPG (T-No. 9) in 2021. All that needs to be done is for their best players to show up when it counts.

The Packers have won 13 games in each of the last three seasons, leading oddsmakers to list them as perennial championship contenders. Unfortunately, they’ve come up short in the playoffs in each of those years, being outscored by an average of 27.0 to 18.7 in the last three postseason contests where they’ve been eliminated.

Super Bowl 57 Odds

• Buffalo Bills (+750)
• Kansas City Chiefs (+750)
• Green Bay Packers (+1000)
• Los Angeles Rams (+1100)
• Cincinnati Bengals (+1200)
• Denver Broncos (+1200)
• Dallas Cowboys (+1400)
• San Francisco 49ers (+1400)
• Arizona Cardinals (+2000)
• Baltimore Ravens (+2000)

Complete odds list is available on BetMGM.

Having said that, it’d be borderline silly to take away Green Bay’s status as a Super Bowl contender just yet. You can never count out a four-time MVP like Rodgers, especially if Packers management makes good and gives him even more weapons this offseason. He earned the nickname “The Bad Man” for a reason and he’s always willing to make his doubters pay.

The first step to getting there is to reassert dominance over the other NFC teams. Aside from the game against the Rams, Green Bay’s conference schedule next season is relatively easy on paper. Anything can change as the offseason continues, but things are looking promising.

The Packers also have games against three of the top AFC teams in the New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills in 2022. Depending on how they handle those matchups, fans will have a better idea if they’re legitimate Super Bowl contenders or pretenders.

Only time will tell whether the Packers are for real or not. Nevertheless, it’s always smart to believe in them being a Super Bowl threat until they give you a reason not to.