Patriots Given +800 Odds to Go 16-0 in 2019; Dolphins Odds of Going 0-16 Set at +350

• The New England Patriots have won their first two games of the season by a combined score of 67-3
• The Miami Dolphins lost their first two games of the season, getting outscored 102-10
• The Dolphins are a good bet to go winless as that looks like what the franchise is aiming for

The quest for perfection will be a popular topic of conversation this NFL season. The New England Patriots look strong enough to go 16-0, while the Miami Dolphins look bad enough to go 0-16. With odds on the board for both teams, which of the two is the best bet to stay perfect?

Odds New England Patriots Go 16-0

*Odds taken 09/17/2019.

Patriots Have A Tough Schedule … Eventually

There’s no question that the Patriots have the look of a team that can go 16-0. They’re loaded on both sides of the ball. On offense, they were more than competent, and then they added a Hall of Fame-caliber player in Antonio Brown. With Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman also around, Tom Brady has lots of weapons to work with.

On defense, their unit looks like one of the strongest we’ve seen in the Bill Belichick era. Through two games this season, they’ve allowed just three points. They have elite playmakers at every level and they should be able to help Brady and company out – instead of just hanging on for dear life. Dating back to Super Bowl 53, they have surrendered a grand total of six points in their last three games.

While the Patriots’ schedule is filled with cupcakes in the coming weeks (Jets twice, Giants, Redskins), things will get tougher for them eventually. They have to play Cleveland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City. They also have two games with an upstart Buffalo team that could push them.

For the Patriots, there’s at least one loss in there somewhere. I wouldn’t bet on them going undefeated.

Patriots Have Suffered Some Losses, More Could Come

One of the keys to remember with this type of prop is that it’s easier to bet on things going wrong than things going right. With the Patriots, an injury could derail them. With the Dolphins, an injury helps your cause.

We’ve already seen the Patriots get stung with injuries – especially along the offensive line. Center David Andrews is out for the year and tackles Marcus Cannon and Isaiah Wynn are hurt. That’s a lot to lose off of an offensive line that protects a 42-year-old quarterback.

And keep in mind the Antonio Brown situation could lead to a suspension. It feels like every day there’s news coming out with him – including now two sexual assault claims. He’s also a diva, which could upset the locker room.

It’s conceivable that they lose him at some point in the season, which would hurt their quest for perfection.

Odds the Miami Dolphins Go 0-16

*Odds taken 09/17/2019.

Dolphins Are a Good Bet to Go Winless

The Miami Dolphins have played two games so far this season and have lost by a combined score of 102-10. Worse yet, it doesn’t look like their opponents are even trying their hardest. The Patriots were up by a couple of scores last week and simply allowed the Dolphins to self-destruct with back-to-back pick-sixes.

Even though we’re entering the third week of the season, the Dolphins effort levels make it feel like it’s Week 17. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is a mess and Josh Rosen just doesn’t look like he has it. The offensive line is horrendous, they can’t run the ball, and the defense has been stripped for parts.

The [Miami] offensive line is horrendous, they can’t run the ball, and the defense has been stripped for parts.

Speaking of which, expect the Dolphins to do more of that in the coming weeks. They just traded 2018 first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2017 first-round pick Laremy Tunsil, and now running back Kenyan Drake also wants out. Whoever can get moved will be moved, which is a scary thought as this team – in its current form – is already losing by 40+ per week.

What’s going to happen when there’s even less talent?

Dolphins Schedule Has Some Winnable Games

The Dolphins’ schedule actually looks forgiving; there are certainly some winnable games on the calendar. They face the Jets twice, Bengals, Redskins, and Steelers, who are now without Ben Roethlisberger.

The challenge is that the Jets should have Sam Darnold back by the time they square off, the Bengals aren’t good but they’re not this bad, and the Steelers still have a quality coaching staff and defense.

If the Dolphins had a strong offensive line or at least some talent on defense, I’d expect a win down the road. As it stands now, I actually like the Dolphins at +350 to go winless this season. That seems like exactly what the franchise is hoping for.