Las Vegas has revealed their 2019 Super Bowl odds, and I’ve gotta say, I’m not on board with a few of them. A few make sense, like the favorite to win it all as well as the favorite to pick first in next year’s draft, but a couple of them have left me scratching my head. So here are their rankings, starting with their playoff teams, and then a list of all 32 teams according to odds with an opinion on each team from yours truly.
2019 NFL Power Rankings (According to Las Vegas)
AFC Playoffs
1. New England Patriots
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Cleveland Browns
WC. Los Angeles Chargers
WC. Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC Playoffs
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. Chicago Bears
4. Philadelphia Eagles
WC. Green Bay Packers
WC. Dallas Cowboys
32. Miami Dolphins (200-1)
This is a fair ranking for the Dolphins. They have a couple of pieces on the defensive side of the ball, but no playmakers to speak of on offense. Their most proven commodity on offense shouldn’t be their backup quarterback, especially when that backup quarterback is Ryan Fitzpatrick.
31. Arizona Cardinals (200-1)
I think the Cardinals had a solid draft, but the success of this team rides on the tiny shoulders of Kyler Murray. If Murray is as good as he’s supposed to be, this team could make a real splash this season, but if he’s anything less, this team had the worst record in football for a reason last year.
30. Washington Redskins (100-1)
I can’t say I understand this one. I thought the Redskins had a really strong off-season, and people forget, they were in the playoff conversation for the first half of last season. Their schedule isn’t that daunting and I feel like the only reason they’re ranked so low is because their division looks to be pretty competitive this season.
29. Tennessee Titans (100-1)
This one I understand. The Titans have the least talented roster in the AFC South, and I smell a quarterback controversy on the back burner. I could see a couple bad teams on this list making a series post-season run, but I can’t wrap my mind around the idea of the Titans finishing anywhere but dead last in the division.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (100-1)
The Buccaneers are a fascinating team. Bruce Arians is a quarterback magician, and I think he’ll be able to drag something out of Jameis Winston, but the rest of the roster, plus an incredibly competitive division, doesn’t give me a lot to be excited about.
27. New York Giants (100-1)
I honestly don’t understand how the Giants and the Redskins have the same odds. This team will have either Eli Manning or Daniel Jones under center and outside of Saquon Barkley, I don’t know what Giants fans should be excited about this season.
26. Detroit Lions (100-1)
I expect the Lions to finish somewhere between 14th and 26th, so this is fair. For the time being, they’re just kinda doomed to NFC Purgatory, and I honestly don’t know what it’s going to take to liberate them. Maybe Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson coming out of retirement?
25. Cincinnati Bengals (100-1)
Take everything I just said about the Lions, copy/paste here.
Jokes aside, I think the Bengals will be better in 2019, but they’re still the worst team in the AFC North. It’s literally impossible for the fourth team in the division to make the playoffs, and a think a post-season berth is somewhat vital to making a Super Bowl run.
24. Buffalo Bills (100-1)
I like the Buffalo Bills. I think they’re a well-coached team with a solid defense. However, I don’t like Josh Allen. I think it’ll take a lot for him to be the kind of quarterback that can compete in the AFC East. This feels like a good spot for them… for now.
23. Oakland Raiders (80-1)
The Raiders are so funny. They could end up being a wild card team, they could end up going 0-16, they could play in Mexico, London, Canada, and even Oakland and I wouldn’t be surprised.
22. New York Jets (80-1)
As a diehard Raiders fan, the New York Jets should not have the same Super Bowl odds as the Silver and Black. I think the Jets could potentially make a playoff run this season, based on some of the additions they’ve made in the off-season. Way too low.
21. Denver Broncos (80-1)
I get this one. The Broncos have pieces on defense, and Vic Fangio is only going to improve that. But offensively, I still have my doubts. Joe Flacco is not, has never been, and will never be anyone’s savior. Questions about the offensive line and playmakers on that side of the ball hurt my confidence in this squad.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (60-1)
I think the Jags should be a few spots higher than this. I’ve been back on the Jaguar bandwagon this off-season, and assuming Jalen Ramsey and Tom Coughlin get things straightened out, this unit will be dangerous.
19. Carolina Panthers (60-1)
Supposedly Cam Newton is healthy for the first time in a few years, so they could make a playoff push, but I’m not sure I buy it. Even at 100%, he hasn’t returned to M.V.P. form and their most dangerous weapon has been Christian McCaffrey. Let’s see what the Panthers do in a competitive NFC South.
18. Baltimore Ravens (40-1)
I think the Ravens defense will be fine, but I need to see a lot from this offense. Can Lamar Jackson stand in the pocket and be a field general? Is Hollywood Brown big enough to play in the NFL? Will this offensive line hold up? I have too many questions to bet on this team but too much common sense to bet against them.
17. Seattle Seahawks (30-1)
I like the Seahawks as a darkhorse Super Bowl contender this year, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have questions about them. Can D.K. Metcalf play receiver in the pros? Is Russell Wilson’s contract going to hurt the team? Will the defense be able to play at the same level without Earl Thomas and Frank Clark?
16. Houston Texans (30-1)
I think the Houston Texans could be really, really dangerous this season. I’ve said before that I think Deshaun Watson could find himself in the M.V.P. conversation this season. The only reason I don’t say they should be ranked higher is that A. Indy is dangerous and B. I want to see Houston’s offensive line in play before I say anything rash.
15. Atlanta Falcons (30-1)
I think this is just barely low for the Falcons. I think people are counting them out because of all the injuries they suffered last year. It seemed like their entire defense was on injured reserve last season, and if you look at Matt Ryan’s numbers, he quietly had a fantastic year. They should be bumped up a few spots.
14. San Francisco 49ers (25-1)
This is way, way, way too high for the 49ers. I don’t get what Vegas is seeing at all here. Jimmy Garoppolo? Nick Bosa? This team had the second worst record in the NFL last year, and they picked at nine the year before that. There are a number of teams below them on this list that I buy before I’d invest anything in the 49ers. Swap them with the New York Jets.
13. Minnesota Vikings (25-1)
This is a solid spot for the Minnesota Vikings. They have talent on both sides of the ball and they had a good off-season. I could see them sneaking into the playoffs as a wildcard team but I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up on the outside looking in for the second straight year.
12. Dallas Cowboys (25-1)
I don’t get why the Dallas Cowboys are ranked this low. Their front seven remained intact this off-season, and it should only get better. Not to mention they added reliable redzone target, Jason Witten, fresh out of a horrible stint in the MNF booth. I think they should be the highest ranked team in the division.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (20-1)
For all the doom and gloom of Pittsburgh’s off-season, I think the Steelers will be just fine. They’ve always had a revolving door at wide receiver, and I think they’ll survive losing Antonio Brown and likely make the playoffs, as a wildcard team.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (16-1)
The Chargers are more dangerous than people are giving them credit for. So far, they’re still healthy, which they haven’t been in years past, and I think they have a real shot to take the AFC West.
9. Cleveland Browns (16-1)
This is the perfect spot for the Cleveland Browns. Just high enough to be taken seriously, but so high that they’re being overhyped. I really believe in this unit. Shh, Baker Mayfield is gunning for offensive player of the year.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (14-1)
I think the Eagles would be ranked higher if they had a better secondary or more confidence in Carson Wentz as the full-time quarterback. I think the young quarterback will be just fine, and the Eagles will compete for the NFC East again this year.
7. Green Bay Packers (14-1)
I think the Packers are accurately ranked here. I think they could have a big resurgence now that they’ve committed to fixing the defense, protecting Rodgers, and of course, a regime change.
6. Chicago Bears (14-1)
Chicago’s defense carries them this high, but I have questions about their offense. Is Tarik Cohen a feature back? Is Mitch Trubsiky going to take that next step this year? And when will they start giving Khalil Mack the ball on offense so he can carry that unit too? I’m not sold on Chicago in 2019.
5. Indianapolis Colts (10-1)
I think the Colts should have the second highest odds in the AFC. I’m all aboard the Indy bandwagon this year, and yet another strong off-season only greases the tracks for another strong run.
4. Los Angeles Rams (8-1)
The defending NFC Champions belong up here just based on how talented they are 1-53, but I have questions. How much developing is Jared Goff going to do? Can Aaron Donald win DPOTY three years in a row? And what in the world is going on with Todd Gurley’s knees?
3. New Orleans Saints (8-1)
This makes sense. The Saints are loaded on both sides of the ball and they didn’t really get worse during the off-season. I could honestly see them having better odds, but the NFL hasn’t really done much to fix their officiating and they’ll probably start 0-2 just to remain consistent.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1)
I honestly think the Chiefs are about three or four spots too high. I wasn’t in love with their off-season, though they did finally get rid of arguably the worst defensive coordinator in football, and the Tyreek Hill drama has yet to be resolved. They’ll still be good in 2019, but I don’t think they’re the second best team in football.
1. New England Patriots (6-1)
The New England Patriots are the defending Super Bowl Champions and they had a strong off-season. What did you expect Vegas to think?
Narcissistic Penguin 