The Seattle Seahawks are the only team to win consecutive NFC Championships since 1999 when they won conference titles in 2014 and 2015. In nine of the previous 11 years, the NFC’s No. 1 or 2 seed represented the conference in the Super Bowl. However, that didn’t occur in two of the past three seasons. Since 2011 and the Green Bay Packers, no NFC North side managed to win the NFC Championship. Now, let’s take a look at the 2023-24 NFC Championship Odds, Favorites, and Best Bet. You can also check out the best NFL Picks here.

2023-24 NFC Championship Odds

 

SELECTION	ODDS
Philadelphia Eagles	+330
San Francisco 49ers	+400
Dallas Cowboys	+600
Detroit Lions	+900
Seattle Seahawks	+1300
Minnesota Vikings	+1400
New Orleans Saints	+1700
Green Bay Packers	+1800
New York Giants	+2200
Chicago Bears	+2500
Atlanta Falcons	+2500
Washington Commanders	+3000
Carolina Panthers	+3000
Los Angeles Rams	+3500
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	+4000
Arizona Cardinals	+8500

 

2023-24 NFC Championship Favorites

 

San Francisco 49ers (+400)

Under head coach Kyle Shanahan and his tenure of six years (and counting), the San Francisco 49ers made it to the NFC Championship three times. They lost SB LIV to the Kansas City Chiefs and then suffered consecutive defeats in the NFC Championship game to the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Niners had the best defense in the NFL last year. They allowed just 16.3 PPG and scored 26.5 PPG on the other end (6th). San Francisco did go through some important changes in the offseason. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo left for Las Vegas, while defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans became a head coach in Houston.

Now, Brock Purdy is a starting QB, with Sam Darnold and Trey Lance serving as his deputies. The Niners have one of the most versatile running backs in the league – Christian McCaffrey, and excellent receiving corps in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle. Although I still think the 49ers are 2023-24 NFC Championship favorites, the departures of Ryans and Jimmy G could be costly. New DC Steve Wilks has big shoes to fill, and I don’t think he is good enough to do it. Nick Bosa is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and if he has a similar season this year, San Francisco can go far. After finishing the previous campaign with a 13-4 record, I am backing the Seattle Seahawks to challenge the Niners for the NFC North title.

Dallas Cowboys (+600)

The Dallas Cowboys have a well-balanced squad and are equally strong on offense and defense. One of the most successful teams in NFL history, the Cowboys didn’t win SB since 1995 and failed to reach the NFC Championship game since! After getting 12 wins in each of the previous two seasons but failing to get past the Divisional Round, can America’s Team make it to the conference finals? Well, it will be hard because they have fierce competition in the NFC East – the Philadelphia Eagles.

Tony Pollard emerged as the new RB1 after Ezekiel Elliott’s departure. Pollard had an excellent season in 2022, registering 1,007 rushing yards with nine touchdowns, along with 371 receiving yards and three touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb is one of the most exciting wideouts in the NFL (1,359 yards and nine TDs), while quarterback Dak Prescott will also have receivers Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup to work with.

Dallas’ offense averaged 27.5 PPG (4th) last year, and it has the potential to be a Top 5 this time out. Still, I believe the Cowboys’ biggest strength is its defense. Led by a pair of defensive ends Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, along with LB Leighton Vander Esch, and CBs Stephon Gilmore and Trevon Diggs, Dallas still has a Top 5 defense.

I am not sure about Prescott, though. Following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign, he must return to his 2021 form if the Cowboys plan to reach the NFC Championship game.

HERE YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS, FAVORITES, AND BEST BET

Detroit Lions (+900)

The Detroit Lions are the only NFC team who never won the conference championship. They only made it to the NFC Championship game once (1991), but that could change in the next few years. After four straight seasons with losing records, the Lions had a 9-8 record last season but still couldn’t reach the postseason.

Detroit has an excellent offense that averaged 26.6 PPG (5th) and worked hard in the 2023 NFL Draft to strengthen its leaky defense. The Lions selected LB Jack Campbell with the No. 18 overall pick to improve the 28th D in the NFL that allowed 25.1 PPG. DE Aidan Hutchinson had a great rookie season and registered 9.5 sacks with three interceptions.

RB Jahmyr Gibbs also came in the first round and will be starting running back, while former Chicago Bears RB David Montgomery’s arrival created one of the best backfields in the NFC. WR Jameson Williams is suspended for the opening six games of the season, but Kalif Raymond and Marvin Jones Jr. will step in and complement WR1 Amon-Ra St. Brown. One of the most exciting wide receivers in the NFL had 1,161 yards and six touchdowns last year, serving as Jared Goff’s go-to guy.

Detroit is stronger now and will have an easier job winning the NFC North after Aaron Rodgers left Green Bay and after all the changes Minnesota went through this offseason. The Lions may be dark horses in the league, but I think they are one of the 2023-24 NFC Championship favorites.

Seattle Seahawks (+1300)

Talking about the teams who are better now than in 2022, the Seattle Seahawks are definitely in that group. Few people believed the Seahawks would experience a winning season after Russell Wilson’s departure, but they did it (9-8) and made the playoffs with Geno Smith under the center. Smith had a season of his career – he won the Comeback Player of the Year Award and made it to his first Pro Bowl. He recorded 4,282 passing yards for 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Smith also added a career-high 366 rushing yards. It was like Wilson never left.

Seattle did get first-round picks from that trade with Denver and selected CB Devon Witherspoon and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Witherspoon will be a starter in the secondary, while Smith-Njigba joins DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, making one of the most talented receiving corps in the NFL. With running back Kenneth Walker III and tight end Noah Fant, Seattle’s offense will surely average over 23.9 PPG (9th) they averaged last season.

The Seahawks’ defensive line is still pretty thin, so it would be surprising if they win their first NFC title since the 2014-15 season. Still, I believe they are contenders because the Rams and Cardinals will not pose a threat, while the 49ers could have a weaker season.

2023-24 NFC Championship Best Bet

 

Philadelphia Eagles (+330)

The most obvious pick for the 2023-24 NFC Championship Best Bet – Philadelphia. Honesty, the Eagles really have the best team in the conference, which they proved last year with a 14-3 record and the conference title. It was their second NFC crown in six years, but the Birds were edged out 38-35 by the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl.

Perhaps the most complete quarterback in the league, Jalen Hurts, is attacking the MVP Award in his fourth year in the NFL. He threw for 22 touchdowns and six picks in 2022, along with 13 rushing TD, more than any other QB in the league. He led the third-best offense that averaged 28.1 PPG. After adding first-rounders DT Jalen Carter and LB Nolan Smith in the 2023 NFL Draft, the defense looks stronger. It was already a Top 10 D (allowed 20.2 PPG), and I think it will enter the Top 5 in the upcoming campaign.

Now, let’s switch to offense. WR A.J. Brown erupted for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns, while WR DeVonta Smith added 1,196 and seven touchdowns. WR Quez Watkins, TE Dallas Goedert, and RB D’Andre Swift are all solid offensive players, so I don’t think somebody can stop the Eagles.