Super Bowl 50: AFC drama as Broncos overtake Patriots

Broncos steal home field advantage in AFC as Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals clash on Wild Card Weekend

Payton Manning of the Denver Broncos
(Image credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Carolina Panthers are the favourites to win Super Bowl 50 after a dramatic end to the NFL regular season.

The Panthers, who have lost only one game all season, saw off Tampa Bay Buccaneers to confirm their status as number one seeds in the NFC and overall favourites for the title, but most of the drama took place in the rival AFC as the New England Patriots surrendered home field advantage in the playoffs by losing to Miami.

That shock defeat allowed the Denver Broncos, who welcomed quarterback Payton Manning back to the fold, to steal the top seeding in the AFC. The Broncos beat the San Diego Chargers to finish with an identical record to the Patriots, but are ranked above them as they emerged victorious when the two teams met in November.

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However, the bookies still favour the Patriots over the Broncos in the Super Bowl betting.

The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens to finish the season with a record of 12-4, but missed out on a bye as they lost to both the Patriots and Broncos in the regular season.

The battle for the AFC wild card spots also went down to the wire. The New York Jets blew their chance against the Buffalo Bills, allowing the Pittsburgh Steelers to grab the final playoff berth and set up a clash with divisional rivals the Bengals next weekend.

That game is the pick of the Wild Card Weekend fixtures, with the Steelers rated a better bet for the Super Bowl than the erratic Bengals, who have lost their last six playoff games and last won a knockout match in 1991.

Here's how the play-offs will pan out:

Wild Card Weekend

Saturday 9 Jan:

Kansas City at Houston (9.35pm)

Sunday 10 Jan:

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati (1.15am)

Seattle at Minnesota (6.05pm)

Green Bay at Washington (9.40pm)

Divisional Weekend

Saturday 16 Jan:

Highest ranked AFC winner at New England (9.35pm)

Sunday 17 Jan:

Highest ranked NFC winner at Arizona (1.15am)

Lowest ranked NFC winner at Carolina (6.05pm)

Lowest ranked AFC winner at Denver (9.40pm)

Championship Weekend

Sunday 24 Jan:

AFC Championship (8.05pm)

NFC Championship (11.40pm)

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