Is everyone tired yet about hearing that Tom Brady left the greatest dynasty in NFL history, the New England Patriots, for one of the worst overall franchises in modern history, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
Brady’s choice has dominated the NFL offseason, but it also has hugely affected betting markets. For example, odds to win the AFC East. Brady took over as New England’s starting quarterback very early in the 2001 season when Drew Bledsoe was injured, and since then the Patriots won the division in all but two seasons.
In 2002, New England and the New York Jets both finished 9-7, but the Jets won the tiebreaker and the division. That was the last time the Patriots won fewer than 10 games. In 2008, Brady went down with a season-ending injury in Week 1, but the Patriots still won 11 games behind Matt Cassel and tied for first with the Miami Dolphins, who won the tiebreaker. That was the last time the Pats missed the playoffs.
New England remains a very slight +125 favorite to win the AFC East again this season with the Buffalo Bills right behind at +130. They haven’t won the AFC East since 1995.
The Baltimore Ravens are -200 to win the AFC North for a third straight season. Led by NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, the Ravens finished with an NFL-best 14-2 record last year but were stunned in the Divisional Round of the playoffs by Tennessee. The Pittsburgh Steelers get starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back from injury this year and are +350 second-favorites.
The biggest division favorites in the AFC are the Kansas City Chiefs at -450 in the AFC West. They have won it four years in a row and have by far the best quarterback in the division (if not the NFL, although Jackson is no slouch) in Patrick Mahomes. The Los Angeles Chargers begin life without long-time starting quarterback Philip Rivers and are +900 third-favorites. The Raiders are +1200 to win the division in their first year in Las Vegas.
Finally, in the AFC South the Indianapolis Colts are +155 favorites after adding Rivers in free agency and trading for 49ers Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The Titans are right behind at +165. The defending division champion Houston Texans are +300 after trading star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
