The NFL unveiled the 2024 schedule on Wednesday night. Oddsmakers quickly went to work setting early betting lines for the upcoming season.
There’s not much optimism surrounding two of last year’s worst teams. As noted by sports betting analyst Ben Fawkes, the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots are underdogs in every game this season on DraftKings Sportsbook.
No team has gone winless since the NFL expanded to a 17-game season in 2021. The Detroit Lions (2008) and Cleveland Browns (2016) are the only teams to ever go 0-16.
The Panthers are the only team not given a single primetime game in 2024. It makes sense not to favor them over anyone after they went 2-15 with a minus-180 point differential and the No. 32 offense last season.
Yet six games within the NFC South will give them chances to avoid infamy under new head coach Dave Canales. They’ll face other beatable opponents in the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and Arizona Cardinals.
On the other hand, New England has the 10th-toughest strength of schedule while playing in a formidable AFC East. All of their 2024 opponents at Foxborough finished with a winning record except the New York Jets, who welcome back Aaron Rodgers, and the Los Angeles Chargers, who hired Jim Harbaugh.
Yet the Patriots ranked No. 7 in total defense despite playing most of the 2023 season without Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez. Jerod Mayo could lead them to more wins than anticipated if getting better quarterback play from Jacoby Brissett or rookie Drake Maye.