Chicago Bears Favored to Be Most Improved 2023/24 NFL Team
- The Bears are favored to be the most improved team in the NFL in 2023-24
- Chicago finished with a league worst 3-14 record in 2022
- Check out the complete list of odds, plus our pick to be the NFL’s most improved team in 2023-24
Who is this year’s Jacksonville Jaguars? That’s the question online sportsbooks posed themselves this week, when looking to establish the NFL franchise with the best chance at being the most improved team in 2023-24.
The Jags earned that honor last season, improving by six games in the win column, going from 3-14 to 9-8 en route to an AFC South title. This year, it’s the Chicago Bears that have been pegged by oddsmakers to experience the biggest turnaround, after a truly horrific 2022 campaign.
Most Improved NFL Team Odds
| Team | 2022 Record | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 3-14 | +210 |
| Denver Broncos | 5-12 | +425 |
| Houston Texans | 3-13-1 | +700 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4-12-1 | +800 |
| New Orleans Saints | 7-10 | +850 |
| New York Jets | 7-10 | +1100 |
| Cleveland Browns | 7-10 | +1400 |
| LA Rams | 5-12 | +1800 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7-10 | +1800 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 9-8 | +2200 |
| Detroit Lions | 9-8 | +3500 |
| Carolina Panthers | 7-10 | +3500 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 9-8 | +4000 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 6-11 | +4000 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 10-7 | +4000 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 4-13 | +4000 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-8 | +6500 |
| Miami Dolphins | 9-8 | +6500 |
| Green Bay Packers | 8-9 | +6500 |
| Tennessee Titans | 7-10 | +7500 |
| Washington Commanders | 8-8-1 | +8000 |
| New England Patriots | 8-9 | +10000 |
| New York Giants | 9-7-1 | +10000 |
| LA Chargers | 10-7 | +10000 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 12-4 | +10000 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 13-4 | +15000 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8-9 | +15000 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 14-3 | +15000 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 12-5 | +15000 |
| Buffalo Bills | 13-3 | +15000 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 14-3 | +25000 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 13-4 | +25000 |
Chicago won only three games last season, and earned the number one pick in the Draft as a result. They sold that pick for a kings ransom to the Carolina Panthers, and the haul they received, along with some key free agent signings, has vaulted them to the top of this market.
The Bears are currently +210 to be the NFL’s most improved team, followed by the Denver Broncos at +425 and the Houston Texans at +700.
Chicago currently boasts a line of 7.5 in the NFL win totals, with the juice heavily shaded to the over. It’s not hard to make an argument for why they should be favored to be the most improved team, but there’s also reason to be pessimistic about their chances.
Odds as of June 19 at DraftKings. Check out SBD’s DraftKings review and claim a DraftKings promo code to bet on NFL Futures. Also check out all of the top sports betting apps during the NFL oddseason.
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Don’t Back the Bears
The Bears added DJ Moore, a legit number one receiver, along with stud linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards. They’ve tried to address their offensive line woes by selecting tackle Darnell Wright in the first round, and they play in a wide open division.
https://twitter.com/ChiSportUpdates/status/1669064560265797655
There is no definitive number one team in the NFC North, with each of the other three teams having major question marks. That part is key to identifying a profitable wager in this market, as the eventual winner is going to have to rack up a ton of wins inside their division.
That’s what Jacksonville did last year, as its fellow AFC South teams cratered all around them. It’s not hard to envision a situation where the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers all regress, opening up plenty of winnable games for Chicago.
The issue is whether or not their QB play is going to be good enough. For all the excitement Justin Fields created with his legs last season, his passing numbers were atrocious. Fields finished 34th out of 34 qualified candidates in passing DVOA.
Justin Fields Passing Stats – First Two Seasons
| Season | YDS | CMP% | TD / INT | Sack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,242 | 60.4 | 4.4 | 55 |
| 2021 | 1,870 | 58.9 | 4.7 | 36 |
He threw for only 2,234 yards, the fewest of any QB with at least 14 starts, and had the worst EPA (expected points added) per pass attempt in the league. To make matters worse, he’s taken the most sacks ever by a player in his first two years in the NFL (91).
A lack of talent at receiver was a big issue, but it doesn’t matter who’s lining up at that position if Fields doesn’t have time to throw. Chicago’s offensive line was among the worst in the league last year, and one first round selection isn’t going to solve that problem over night.
On the other side of the ball, the Bears ranked dead last on defense per DVOA. Edmunds and Edwards will shore up the linebacker position, but there’s still a major need at corner and pass rusher. Bottom line, there are too many red flags to back Chicago at such short odds.
Buy the Jets
One team you should consider investing in however, is the New York Jets. No team has made as many impactful moves to bolster their team as New York, highlighted by trading for Aaron Rodgers.
The four-time MVP should be motivated and will be surrounded by wealth of talent at the skill positions. The Jets were already one of the best defenses in the league a season ago, and bolstered that unit as well through free agency and the Draft.
You ever just stop and remember we have @AaronRodgers12? 😁 pic.twitter.com/jXgk8JONCW
— New York Jets UK & IE (@NYJetsinUK) June 18, 2023
They play a last place schedule and three of their four toughest out of division games (KC, PHI and LAC) are at home. It’s also possible the AFC East is wildly overrated. The New England Patriots appear destined for another underwhelming season, while this version of the Buffalo Bills may have peaked.
The Miami Dolphins look dangerous, but only as long as Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy. Tagovailoa has major injury concerns, and has yet to make more than 13 starts in a season.
New York is very live to put together a 12-5 or 13-4 campaign, which should be good enough win this market. Backing them at +1100 should be a popular choice.
Pick: New York Jets (+1100)
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As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
