Who benefited based on the just completed preseason and who took a step back according to the numbers in Las Vegas?
Three teams took big steps forward, a couple absorbed significant drops. The Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Commanders and Jacksonville Jaguars all had their win total for the season jump a game. The Bengals are up to 10½ wins, the Jaguars 9½ and the Commanders 8½. All a full game added now from when the preseason opened.
The Bengals also had their Super Bowl odds drop from 20 to 1 to the numbers now posted on them winning Super Bowl LXI to 18 to 1. Obviously, they see that Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow appears healthy and ready to lead his team back into the playoffs. Some of the anticipated success for the Bengals can also be attributed to two of their opponents in the AFC North Division dropping in expectations, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
The two teams that took the biggest hits on their odds for win totals based on preseason play are the Green Bay Packers and aforementioned Browns. Their win totals have dropped a full game with the Packers now set at 9½ and the Browns 5½.
Mike Tomlin ended his 19-year run as head coach of the Steelers following their loss to the Houston Texans in the playoffs last January. Tomlin has a record that will likely never be broken, in his 19 seasons with Pittsburgh he never coached a losing campaign. His replacement, Mike McCarthy, who held the same position previously with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, is looking to extend the Steelers consecutive winning seasons.
We don’t think so.