Two Teams Whose 2024 Super Bowl Odds Are Far Shorter Than They Should Be

As the 2024 NFL season approaches, the excitement among fans and bettors alike is palpable. With Super Bowl aspirations in mind, teams across the league are gearing up for what promises to be a thrilling campaign. However, amidst the myriad of contenders, there are three teams whose Super Bowl odds for the upcoming season seem far shorter than they should be.

Every year, favorites fall by the wayside despite the bookies fancying their chances. Last season, for example, the Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Jets were among the Lombardi frontrunners, however, injuries to key players derailed their campaigns.

For the former, Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury halfway through the season that ended his side's playoff hopes. Over in the Big Apple, Aaron Rodgers was expected to lead the Green Machine back to the promised land, but his season ended six minutes into his debut, and he took his side's Super Bowl hopes with him.

This season, several teams are currently sitting in the upper echelons of the betting charts. However, if one were to look at their grueling schedules, it's clear that the bookies' predictions are optimistic at best.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles currently find themselves as +1500 eighth favorites for the Lombardi this season, and after looking at their form over the last couple of years, it's easy to see why. They reached the Super Bowl last February and threw away a ten-point half-time lead to ultimately lose to the Kansas City Chiefs, despite one of the all-time great Big Game performances from Jalen Hurts. Last season, it looked as though they would reach the Big Game once more before the wheels well and truly came off the bus.

The Lincoln Financial Field side headed into week 12 with a record of 10-1. They proceeded to lose five of their final six games, including back-to-back shockers against the lowly Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants in the final two weeks of the season. They were then humbled by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wildcard round of the playoffs, and what looked set to be a stellar season ended up being an unmitigated disaster.

They head into 2024 without Jason Kelce following the iconic center's retirement, and his leadership will be sorely missed both on the gridiron and in the locker room. Head coach Nick Sirianni has instilled a sense of purpose and determination in his players, and that was epitomized by the 36-year-old. It will be interesting to see how the team fairs without him.

Quarterback Hurts has shown flashes of brilliance - none more so than that Super Bowl clash opposite Patrick Mahomes - and his receiving corps featuring the likes of DeVonta Smith and Jalen Reagor is impressive. However, with the memories of last season's collapse and a tough schedule on the horizon, surely the Eagles should be lower down the pecking order.

Their bye week comes on week five, and at that point, Philly could find themselves 2-2 thanks to early season clashes against the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay. Then, in week six, the Eagles welcome a rejuvenated Cleveland Browns to the Linc in a clash that is another difficult one. Deshaun Watson's return is eagerly anticipated, while running back Nick Chubb is heading into 2024 off the back of a career-high 1,525 rushing yards last season.

Both teams will be listed close to -110 once the NFL week 6 odds are posted, a stark contrast to their Lombardi odds. The Eagles are +1500 as mentioned, while the Browns find themselves at +4500, and those prices will surely swap over should the Browns hand Hurts and Co. a defeat.

Baltimore Ravens

Last season, the Baltimore Ravens emerged as a force once more. After a couple of years out of the limelight, Lamar Jackson burst back onto the scene and displayed the kind of form that saw him win the MVP award unanimously in 2020.

With his dual-threat ability on full display, the former Louisville Cardinal claimed the award once again while also leading his side to the AFC Championship game. Unfortunately for the Ravens though, that ended in a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs on home turf at M&T Bank Stadium.

Their current Super Bowl odds of +1100 positions them as fifth favorites, behind the aforementioned Chiefs as well as the 49ers, Lions, and Texans. However, the AFC North title they won last season has somewhat of an asterisk next to it.

That's because the Cincinnati Bengals - the team that claimed the title in both 2021 and 2022 - were without their superstar quarterback, Joe Burrow, and as such, they dropped out of contention. Next season, Joe Brrr is back, fully fit and firing on all cylinders.

That will surely spell danger for the Ravens' divisional aspirations, never mind their hopes of going all the way. Head coach John Harbaugh has built a perennial contender in Maryland, with quarterback Jackson leading the charge.

But the reigning two-time MVP hasn't managed to shine when the pressure is on, and his record in the postseason is a dismal one, losing three games and winning just once. That will surely put off potential backers, as will a grueling schedule in the uber-competitive AFC North.