NFL futures: Top five NFL teams to be the last unbeaten in 2024

Philadelphia Eagles, 12-1

Nick Sirianni's team won 10 of their first 11 games last season, with their one blemish being a loss to a dreadful New York Jets team in Week 6. (And narrowly getting past the lowly Washington Commanders in overtime in Week 4, but who's keeping track?) They spiraled downward in miraculous fashion after that, but heck, that start to the season makes those 12-1 odds of being the last undefeated team look pretty good.

However, Philadelphia's early-season schedule is a mixed bag. They kick off the 2024 campaign against three teams they didn't face last season: The Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. Since all three teams are wild cards heading into this season, betting on Philly to be the last undefeated feels like more of a gamble.

Kansas City Chiefs, 10-1

Remember, the Chiefs' title-defending campaign didn't start off on the right foot and they lost to the Detroit Lions by one point on "Thursday Night Football." And even though they won six straight after that before being upset by the Denver Broncos, some of those wins were really close.

Kansas City starts this season against the Baltimore Ravens, who have beaten them in three of the last four meetings in the Patrick Mahomes-Lamar Jackson era. They then face the Cincinnati Bengals with a presumably healthy Joe Burrow under center. Their schedule looks smooth after that, but those first two games are a big reason why the defending champs are listed at 10-1 and not the overall favorite.

Miami Dolphins, 10-1

Mike McDaniel's team was tough to beat early in the season and got off to a 3-0 start before inevitably falling to the Bills in Buffalo in Week 4. The Dolphins host Josh Allen and company in Week 2, which doesn't install any more confidence since the Bills won last year's matchup in Miami by a touchdown.

The Dolphins kick off the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have won two of the last three games in the overall series. There's also a Week 4 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, who surprisingly upset Miami last season. Even at reasonably 10-1 odds, the Dolphins will have to pull off some serious magic to be the last undefeated team this season.

Detroit Lions, 8-1

Expectations are high for Eminem's favorite team, and for good reason. They won six of their first seven games last season, and their schedule to start off 2024 suggests a similar result.

After kicking off the campaign with a rematch against the L.A. Rams — who Detroit beat by one point in the wild-card round last season — the Lions play two teams they have defeated in recent years in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals. 

The only opponent that really threatens the Lions at 8-1 odds of being the last undefeated team is the Seahawks in Week 4 since Seattle has won the last five meetings overall.

San Francisco 49ers, 15-2

Get past the Brandon Aiyuk hoopla and it looks like the Niners are going to give the league a run for its money yet again. But can they be the last undefeated team two years in a row?

San Francisco ranks 18th in strength of schedule according to Sharp Football Analysis, so a first-place caliber team should fare very well to kick off the new season. Plus, Sports Illustrated points out that the Niners' toughest stretch of schedule doesn't occur until Week 12 when bad road weather and travel fatigue can become a factor. 

Kyle Shanahan's men do have an interesting Week 1 matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets, but the Niners are early 5.5-point favorites in that Monday Night matchup. Week 2 against the Vikings in Minnesota is a tricky one to predict since the Niners lost there last season 22-17. Although this Vikings team will be different with either Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy under center, so San Francisco's chances of taking an early 2-0 season lead look very promising.