2024 NFL Odds: Will any team go 17-0 in the regular season?
Achieving a perfect season in the NFL has always been a nearly impossible task, but it’s even harder now that the regular season has been expanded to 17 games.
Since the introduction of playoffs, only four teams have completed undefeated seasons: the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the 2007 New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears in 1934 and 1942. The Dolphins went on to win the Super Bowl, the Pats lost in the Super Bowl and the Bears lost both years in what was then called the NFL Championship Game.
The Carolina Panthers are the most recent team to vie for a perfect season, but they ultimately finished with a 15-1 record in 2015 before losing in the Super Bowl.
The point is, while perfect seasons are rare, they’re also possible. Let’s take a look at perfect season contenders in 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are an easy pick for a perfect season as they look for an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl victory. Patrick Mahomes and co. have played in six straight AFC Championship games and their offence has only improved with the additions of speedsters Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy.
Chris Jones anchors an elite defensive group and head coach Andy Reid is a future Hall of Famer who has instilled a willing culture into the franchise. Ironically, that winning culture is what should make you wary of the Chiefs going 17-0 in the regular season. This team is all about the playoffs. When they lock up a spot, they’ll rest their starters at the end of the year, so I’m expecting a late-season loss or two.
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners are built very similar to the Chiefs. They have a dynamic offence led by Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey, they have a strong defensive unit led by Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, and they one of the best head coaches in the NFL in Kyle Shanahan.
After losing three Super Bowls in five seasons, San Francisco is hungry to win. If I was picking a specific team to go 17-0 in the regular season, I’d take the 49ers.