2022 has arrived and it’s time to take stock 2021 in the NFL. Let’s see together what has happened in recent months.
Let’s look back on that season through the prism of teams that were great and terrible against the spread (ATS) in terms of the NFL odds.
There are two clear leaders in terms of NFL game betting that were profitable, and two teams that played last weekend reminded us why they have struggled.
Let’s give you the best and worst of NFL 2021 against the spread in the sportsbook.
Best: Dallas Cowboys
ATS Record: 12-3
The Dallas Cowboys are 12-3 against the spread through 15 games. Part of this is certainly attached to the reality that the Cowboys reside in the very weak, very vulnerable NFC East.
The Cowboys have handled the NFC East very easily. Their closest game was a win at Washington in which they took a huge lead and then made a ton of mistakes but still won without too much drama.
Yet, while being in the NFC East is certainly a huge boost for the Cowboys, they have won against the spread in much tougher conditions and circumstances.
Recall the Sunday Night Football game that they won in Minnesota against the Vikings when quarterback Dak Prescott was not available due to injury.
Dallas rode its defense to beat the Vikings 20-16 with Cooper Rush at quarterback.
Dallas also won at the New England Patriots and beat Justin Herbert and the Chargers in Los Angeles, another key early-season win that looks really good right now.
Dallas also won on the road in New Orleans against the Saints, something the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers failed to do. Dallas is a solid team that will have at least one and possibly two home games in the playoffs.
Best: Green Bay Packers
ATS Record: 11-4
Aaron Rodgers has had a typically great season, carrying Green Bay through all sorts of obstacles and difficulties.
Rodgers beat the Arizona Cardinals on the road as a straight-up underdog. Green Bay also beat Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.
The Packers also own narrow wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, and their two losses since the season opener were by a combined nine points.
The win at the 49ers on Sunday Night Football in Week 3 was a pivotal and important victory that solidified this team’s belief. The Packers haven’t really looked back since that moment in the Bay Area.
They’ve been great to those who bet online.
Worst: New York Jets
ATS Record: 5-10
The Jets simply are a bad team that plays way too many really bad games.
The Jets occasionally play well, but they usually serve up a total clunker. They just don’t play many average games. They either exceed expectations, as they did in wins over the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals, or they completely stink.
There’s very little in between about this team, which is why it has so many losses against the spread.
Worst: Jacksonville Jaguars
ATS Record: 4-11
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a league-worst 2-13 overall and 4-11 against the spread. The Jaguars and the New York Giants are the two worst ATS teams in the NFL.
Jacksonville has an atrocious offense. Urban Meyer was fired after 13 games and he was the worst possible coach for rookie and No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars have to get a high-quality offensive play-caller and schemer as its head coach for next season.