Patriots have longest Super Bowl odds of the Bill Belichick era
Since becoming New England's head coach in 2000, Bill Belichick has won six Super Bowls and established himself as one of the greatest coaches in history.
Despite this, oddsmakers don't expect him to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for a seventh time this season.
In an article regarding New England's remaining needs heading into the 2023 season, ESPN's Mike Reiss pointed out that the team is 70-1 to win Super Bowl LVIII.
It's the longest odds Belichick has faced during his 24 seasons as the Patriots' coach and since owner Robert Kraft purchased the franchise in 1994.
According to OddsChecker, some sportsbooks have New England's Super Bowl odds at 75-to-1, the eighth-highest of any team.
Following an 8-9 season where the offense struggled under Matt Patricia's incompetent play-calling coupled with quarterback Mac Jones' stunted development, it's no surprise the Patriots aren't considered Super Bowl contenders.
The Patriots have taken steps to turn the offense around and have enjoyed a better offseason than in recent years. OC Bill O'Brien's re-hiring and the additions of former Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and ex-division rival tight end Mike Gesicki highlight their offseason moves.
Although the moves have been respectable, they aren't enough to keep up with the competition. With Josh Allen still in Buffalo, Miami adding Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Rodgers (probably) heading to the Jets, New England seems destined to finish last in the AFC East.
Even so, Reiss noted that one reason to be optimistic about New England's season is that it won Super Bowl XXXVI after entering the season at 50-1 odds.
The Patriots were 14-point underdogs to "The Greatest Show on Turf" Rams in that game, the second-largest upset in Super Bowl history.
However, Tom Brady was the quarterback back then, and now he's enjoying his second retirement. While Jones won a national championship as a starter in his Alabama days, he hasn't proven he can carry a team to a division title, let alone a championship.
A Belichick-led team drafting in the top 10 would be shocking, but if it happens as oddsmakers predict, it could spell the end of Jones' tenure in New England.
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