Atlanta and Houston Leading the Way With the “NFL Worst Record Odds” For the 2022 Season

Which of the Struggling Franchises are Ready to Take the Next Step?

Much of the attention leading into the 2022 NFL odds for worst record season will focus on whether the Los Angeles Rams can win back-to-back Super Bowls or who might be the team to take the next step and win it all.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are teams that are far away from being title contenders and it is crowded when looking at the NFL teams with the worst odds for the upcoming season.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the teams who had eight of the top 10 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft also lead the way with the lowest expected win totals for the upcoming season.

Atlanta Falcons

Franchise quarterback Matt Ryan is now in Indianapolis while Foye Oluokun, the NFL’s leading tackler, is now a Jacksonville Jaguars.

Atlanta has been adding pass catchers with tight end Kyle Pitts going early in the 2021 draft and the Falcons making Drake London the first receiver selected in the 2022 draft. Who will be throwing them the ball? That is another matter.

Cornerback A.J. Terrell is among the best in the NFL, but even his presence didn’t stop the Falcons from allowing the second most points in the NFC a season ago.

The expectations are low with the odds almost the same for Atlanta to finish either over or under the projected win total of 4.5. The Falcons are among the best contenders in the odds for the NFL worst record odds in 2022.

Houston Texans

The good news is that the Cleveland Browns will help the Houston rebuilding project thanks to the number of top drafts picks they sent to the Texans for embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson. Losing stars like Watson, receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and defensive lineman J.J. Watt in recent years have been tough for the fans.

Davis Mills was the second most productive rookie quarterback in 2021 but he needs plenty of help. Houston scored the fewest points in the AFC in 2021 and one has to wonder if the Texans will be much better on offense in 2022.

The odds are almost the same to go either over (-105) or under (-125) the projected win total of 4.5. The Texans are no strangers to being among the favorites in the odds to have the NFL worst record odds.

Seattle Seahawks

What is life going to look like in Seattle without franchise quarterback Russell Wilson and defensive dynamo Bobby Wagner?

The Seahawks got plenty in return when dealing Wilson to Denver, however, neither Geno Smith nor Drew Lock is looking like the long-term answer at quarterback. Receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are back while promising tight end Noah Fant and offensive tackle Charles Cross, a top-10 draft pick, are part of the pieces Seattle received in the Wilson trade.

The odds are at -105 for Seattle to go over the expected win total of 5.5. It won’t be easy playing in a division with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams as well as fellow 2021 playoff teams Arizona and San Francisco.

It isn’t often when the Seattle Seahawks show up in the odds to have the NFL worst record odds.

Jacksonville Jaguars

With back-to-back No. 1 overall picks, there should be better times coming in Jacksonville. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a disappointing rookie season. It didn’t help that fellow first-round pick Travis Etienne missed all of 2021. He has been drawing rave reviews for his work in camp.

The defense was addressed with the selection of Georgia’s Travon Walker with the top pick and several key free agent signings.

The odds are at -130 for Jacksonville to top the expected win total of six so that is something to consider for those who bet on the NFL.

New York Jets

What is this world coming to when the impossible-to-please Jets fans actually approved of the work done by the team in the most recent NFL draft.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner and receiver Garrett Wilson will address needs on both sides of the ball. The Jets traded into the first round to add a pass rusher (Jermaine Johnson) and took perhaps the top running back in the draft with a second-round selection of Breece Hall.

All the smart draft picks will make the Jets better, but how much better? Quarterback Zach Wilson is getting more attention for his personal life than his work trying to improve from a forgettable rookie season.

The odds are pretty close for the Jets to go either over (-125) or under (-105) the expected win total of six in the upcoming season.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers deserve credit for trying to address the quarterback issue. Bringing in former star Cam Newton didn’t work. The jury is still out about the trade for former No. 3 overall pick player Sam Darnold. The Panthers paid a smaller price to take former No. 1 draft pick, Baker Mayfield, off the hands of the Cleveland Browns. The Panthers also took Matt Corral in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Whoever the quarterback ends up being, having a healthy Christian McCaffrey to hand the ball off to will be a huge help. The two-time 1,000-yard rusher has played in a total of 10 games over the last two seasons. The Panthers used the sixth pick to take offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu so that should help the offense.

Losing sack leader Haason Reddick is a big blow for the defense.

The odds are almost even for the Panthers to go either under or over the expected win total of 6.5.

Chicago Bears

Trading away Khalil Mack and also being without second-leading tackler Alec Ogletree is a curious way to try to improve the defense. The offense will be without most of its veteran receivers including Allen Robinson II.

This will be the season when the keys of the offense are handed to quarterback Justin Fields. With questions at the receiver and on the offensive line, it is not the best situation for a young quarterback to be walking into.

The odds favor the Bears finishing under the projected win total of 6.5 in 2022.

Detroit Lions

It is hard to say that projects to finish with at least seven wins are progress, however, when the team is Detroit, which has won six, three, five, and three games over the last four seasons, picking up seven wins would be a start.

There should be playmakers coming in on both sides of the ball with defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and receiver Jameson Williams going second and 12th in the 2022 NFL Draft. Keeping running back DeAndre Swift and tight end T.J. Hockenson healthy will be crucial.

The odds of going over the expected win total of 6.5 is -135 compared to +105 to go under so finally there are reasons to be optimistic for Lions fans.