Betting on the Jets to be the last undefeated team in the NFL season presents an intriguing opportunity for those looking to place futures bets at long odds.
Even with the regular season just weeks away, it’s essential to remember that last year’s award winners had surprisingly high odds late in the season.
For example, Lamar Jackson was sitting at 15-1 for the MVP award just before the end of the season. Kevin Stefanski had odds of 80-1 for Coach of the Year in mid-December, and Joe Flacco was a whopping 250-1 for Comeback Player of the Year when he took over as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns late in the season.
Related: Best early NFL futures bets by Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica
With that perspective, here are some long-shot bets that could yield significant returns.
Pittsburgh Steelers to Score Fewest Points in Regular Season
This season-long bet looks promising based on the Steelers’ preseason performance.
An old saying goes, “When you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterback.” The Steelers are currently in that situation with two quarterbacks vying for the starting position.
In a recent game against the Buffalo Bills, the offense, led by Russell Wilson, managed only one first down in 14 dropbacks, showcasing his struggle to regain form. Justin Fields fared only slightly better, contributing to a mere three points against Buffalo’s backups.
The Steelers face a challenging schedule this year, including several outdoor games late in the season, which could further hinder their offensive output.
Acquiring Wilson and Fields for minimal cost may not have been the bargain the Steelers hoped for, as their on-field performance suggests.
Robert Saleh to Win 2024 NFL Coach of the Year
Betting on Robert Saleh for Coach of the Year is appealing, especially with the New York Jets’ potential this season. Typically, this award goes to coaches who lead teams to exceed low expectations. However, Saleh is a media darling and is coaching a franchise that has not seen the playoffs since 2010, the longest drought in North American professional sports.
The previous record holder for the longest playoff drought was the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. When they finally broke through in 2023, their coach Mike Brown won Coach of the Year by a significant margin. A similar scenario could unfold in the NFL this season with Saleh at the helm.
New York Jets Last Undefeated Team in 2024 NFL Season
Regarding the Jets, they do face a tough opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. However, after that, they are likely to be favored in several upcoming games.
Their schedule includes matchups against the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots (twice), Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, and a home game against the Bills.
If Aaron Rodgers and his teammates can secure a minor upset in San Francisco, the Jets could have a strong chance of building a winning streak early in the season.
