Mahomes Tops Odds To Lead NFL Playoffs In Passing Yards
- Arizona had eight consecutive drives resulting in either zero first downs, a fumble, or an interception — The longest streak to open a playoff game since the Raiders in the '80 Divisional Round
- Mahomes -130 favorite to lead in passing yards
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Chiefs fans currently have few options for regulated betting. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Which Quarterback Will Lead the 2021-22 NFL Postseason In Passing Yards?
Here’s hoping some NFL bettors didn’t wager on Arizona’s Kyler Murray to lead this postseason in passing yards. Murray was a +2500 longer shot entering Monday’s Wild-Card Weekend finale at the Los Angeles Rams and the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick looked completely overmatched in his first-ever playoff game as the Cardinals were dominated 34-11.
Arizona had eight consecutive drives resulting in either zero first downs, a fumble, or an interception. That was the longest such streak to open a playoff game since the Raiders in the 1980 Divisional Round against the Browns. Murray went 19 of 34 for 137 yards and two interceptions, one pick returned just 3 yards for a touchdown, the shortest pick-six in league playoff history.
Murray and the Cards had been 6-0 against the spread as road underdogs entered Monday. The only road team to win on Wild-Card Weekend was San Francisco in Dallas.
Now that we are down to an Elite Eight in the postseason, let’s recalibrate the odds for which QB leads the playoffs in passing yards.
Shocker: Mahomes Favored On Prop
Needless to say, any quarterback who played on Wild-Card Weekend is going to have a yardage head start on this prop. The Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes threw for 404 yards in an easy win over Pittsburgh, has a 94-yard lead in passing yards, and is -130 favorite to lead overall. Kansas City is the AFC favorite and it’s hard to see anyone from the NFC catching Mahomes if the Chiefs reach Super Bowl 56.
However, it’s very possible they lose this Sunday at home to Josh Allen (+250) and the Buffalo Bills, who won easily in Kansas City earlier this season when Allen was the better QB than Mahomes. Allen threw for 308 yards on Wild-Card Weekend in a rout of New England.
Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady (+550) is fourth among playoff passers after throwing for 271 yards in a pretty easy win over Philadelphia. The Bucs host Matthew Stafford (+1600) and the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Stafford had been 0-3 in the playoffs before beating the Cardinals on Monday night. He “only” threw for 202 yards because the game was out of hand early and L.A. was running the ball so well.
The two starting QBs who didn’t play on Wild-Card Weekend were the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (+1600) and Tennessee Titans’ Ryan Tannehill (+4000). The two other betting options are the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow (+2000) and San Francisco 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo (+6500). Cincinnati is at Tennessee on Saturday and San Francisco visits Green Bay.
