Patriots, Eagles look like Super favorites
Worst odds to win it all? Try Bills, Chargers, Cards,
COMMENTARY
By Bill Williamson
NBCSports.com contributor
updated 3:21 a.m. ET Sept. 12, 2004
Welcome to the NFL, where the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were horrible last season, could just as easily win the Super Bowl as the New England Patriots, who have taken home two of the past three Lombardi Trophies.
Every season, some team stuns us. We shouldn't be surprised anymore, but we are. The question isn't if there will be a surprise team that makes a serious Super Bowl run; it's which team?
So, what's going to happen in 2004? We'll take a look at the odds of every NFL team, in alphabetical order.
Arizona:
100-1: Dennis Green was a great hire as coach, but this is still a NFL burial ground. Green has a better chance of getting cheapskate owner Bill Bidwell to pay the lunch tab than winning a championship.
Atlanta:
10-1: This is a sexy pick. If Michael Vick stays healthy, the Falcons will make a long run. If he gets hurt again, it's a Braves' town again.
Baltimore:
30-1: If the Ravens fail to make the playoffs, Brian Billick's genius nameplate needs to be confiscated.
Buffalo:
100-1: No, it's not going to happen. The Bills are so far away from the playoffs, they aren't even in danger of embarrassing themselves in the Super Bowl again.
Carolina:
10-1: The Panthers, who reached the Super Bowl last season, should have won their rings while they had their chance. It's not going to happen again. This team will hang around all season because the defense is good. But they had their chance.
Chicago:
80-1: The Bears are lucky the Cubs are in the midst of another collapse because the football season is not going to a Lovie-Dovey time in the Windy City, either.
Cincinnati:
12-1: Getting a feeling about this one. Might be worth a greenback or two. The Bengals have the makings of a team on the rise.
Cleveland:
30-1: Actually had a dream the Browns will beat the Buccaneers, 10-7, in overtime to win it all. What does it mean? Stay away from the Browns, and I'm really weird.
Dallas:
12-1: Maybe the best sign of a Cowboys' Super Bowl run will be if Keyshawn Johnson and Bill Parcells scream at each other on the sideline. It worked for Johnson and Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay.
Denver:
15-1: See Brian Billick. Although Mike Shanahan could make a 1,000-yard rusher out of Martha Stewart, he has yet to win a playoff game since John Elway retired.
Detroit:
50-1: The citizens of Detroit will not have to worry about getting offended by Jimmy Kimmel for making Super Bowl celebration jokes.
Green Bay:
25-1: It's a sad revelation, but Brett Favre isn't enough. He's close but not enough.
Houston:
80-1: Remember, the Panthers and Jaguars made to the title games in their second seasons. The Texans are in their third season, so maybe this is their season, but don't count on it.
Indianapolis:
4-1: Tony Dungy may finally be ready to pop the champagne.
Jacksonville:
70-1: Will the Jaguars become the first team to play in the Super Bowl in their home stadium? No.
Kansas City:
10-1: Once again, the Chiefs' defense will again bring Dick Vermeil to tears. But for the wrong reasons.
Miami:
15-1: Here are the odds of the Dolphins folding again in December. 1-1. Stay away.
Minnesota:
20-1: If the Vikings realize the season doesn't end in mid-October, they may have a shot to be a surprise team.
New England:
3-1: The NFL doesn't like dynasties, but Bill Belichick doesn't seem to care.
New Orleans:
25-1: Every season, this team slips further away from Super Bowl contention. The result may be Jim Haslett slipping away from the Big Easy.
New York Giants:
70-1: Tom Coughlin has a better chance of being a cruise director for Royal Caribbean than wining a title this season.
New York Jets:
12-1: If Chad Pennington stays healthy, this may be a smart play. Really.
Oakland:
60-1: Be patient, you'll get your chance to coach the Raiders just like everyone else in America. But this season, it's Norv Turner's turn.
Philadelphia:
4-1: This better happen this season for the Eagles' sake. If not, you'll see a new plateau in the Ugly Philly fan.
Pittsburgh:
40-1: Why is Bill Cowher still there?
St. Louis:
10-1: Have you noticed Mike Martz has aged more in the past two years than Bill Clinton did during MonicaGate?
San Diego:
250-1: The Chargers make the Cardinals look like a good play.
San Francisco:
90-1: If the 49ers played a college schedule, they wouldn't be a BCS shoo-in.
Seattle:
8-1: Many people think this is the year. The year for what? For the Seahawks to finally put it together or the year Mike Holmgren gets the gate?
Tampa Bay:
20-1: Without Keyshawn Johnson and Warren Sapp, the Buccaneers will surely be quieter, but will they be better?
Tennessee:
25-1: Jeff Fisher deserves better. Too bad the perennially good Titans couldn't ever win it all because their chance is over.
Washington:
30-1: Joe Gibbs will be a great story to watch all season. But wasn't that supposed to be the case with Steve Spurrier?
Bill Williamson writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the NFL for the Denver Post.
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