Now that we are past the NFL Draft, teams for the most part know what their rosters will look like entering training camp, although there could be a surprise post-June 1 release and there’s always the threat of serious injuries in OTA, etc.
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
The sportsbooks generally know what teams are too, so let’s check on the updated win totals around the league.
To absolutely zero surprise, the New England Patriots lead the NFL at a total of 11 wins, and the over is a -140 favorite. The Patriots annually have the highest win total because of Tom Brady. You didn’t really think the three-time league MVP was going to retire this offseason did you? Brady had one of his best seasons in 2017 at age 40, including throwing for a Super Bowl record 505 yards in a wild loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Patriots have won at least 10 regular-season games every year since 2003 and have gone under or tied that 11-win total only three times in that span.
The champion Eagles and state rival Pittsburgh Steelers each are given a win total of 10.5 for the season ahead, with the under set at -145 for both. The Eagles tied the Patriots, Steelers and Minnesota Vikings for the most wins in the league last year at 13.
The last time the Eagles won 13 games and went to the Super Bowl was the 2004 season. They lost that game to New England and slipped to six wins the next year. Whether Philly tops 10.5 wins could depend on whether star quarterback Carson Wentz makes it back from his torn ACL and LCL in his left knee by Week 1.
Wentz believes he will, but the team won’t rush its franchise player and has a fine backup in Nick Foles, the Super Bowl MVP.
No team in the NFL has a better quarterback/running back/wide receiver combo than Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. Could this be Bell’s final season with the Steelers, though? The club slapped the franchise tag on him for the second straight year and it’s not financially feasible to do so a third time next offseason if the teams can’t agree on a long-term deal.
The Vikings have a win total of 10, with both over and under at -115. Minnesota dumped starting quarterback Case Keenum this offseason for Washington Redskins free agent Kirk Cousins.
On the other end of the spectrum: the Cleveland Browns. They had the second 0-16 season in NFL history last year and have totaled once victory the past two years. Oddsmakers give the Browns a win total of 5.5, with the over a slight favorite. That’s tied for the fewest wins with the Arizona Cardinals.
