The 2021 win totals are everywhere. NFL season predictions and MVP tips are dominating the internet ahead of the new campaign. With a matter of days until the start of the 2021 NFL season, football fans around the world will be diving into Sidelines odds comparison. A new season brings opportunity aplenty for NFL followers to bet, whether projecting the Super Bowl winners or searching player props ahead of Week 1.
The blank slate of a new season is exciting. For all the speculation and projections, it’s a time to focus on games actually being played. There are always surprises (good and bad) in an NFL season, and that’s what makes it so captivating to follow.
These three teams all have what it takes to be one of those surprises and exceed their 2021 NFL win totals.
Browns
Sitting at a projection of 10.5 wins, the Cleveland Browns are at the center of NFL discussion ahead of the 2021 regular season.
The big names of Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr guarantee attention. With the postseason drought finally coming to an end, expectations are high in Cleveland. For the first time in decades, Cleveland can be viewed as legitimate Super Bowl challengers.
Their division is more competitive than some. It’s still a relatively friendly looking schedule, though, with games against the Texans, Bears and Chargers in the first five weeks. Taking on the Chiefs in Week 1 is daunting, but life gets easier after that.
Cleveland went 11-5 last season. Matching that record seems like the bare minimum for the team from Ohio.
Cardinals
Widely given a win total of 8.5, the Arizona Cardinals’ seemingly low number is as much about their division as the talent on the roster.
Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins are the basis of an elite offense. The Red Birds then added veteran help in JJ Watt and Malcolm Butler. While they went just 8-8 last season, and all three of their division rivals are contending, the Cardinals and Murray are a good bet to take another step forward.
It’s a rough schedule for the Cards, but a busy offseason is enough to back them to reach nine wins.
Cowboys
Dak Prescott (providing the shoulder issue is only minor) is back to lead the Dallas Cowboys. Their offense was explosive before Prescott’s injury last season, and it should be unstoppable in 2021.
Prescott is under center, joined by Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott and Michael Gallup. Dallas has a rough start against the defending champion Buccaneers, but this offense alone will strike fear into opponents.
The defense let them down last year. Sitting in the bottom five in a raft of defensive categories, the Cowboys went all out to improve in 2021. Micah Parsons was the headline pick in the draft, but the Cowboys made several other exciting defensive selections. Keanu Neal brings an invaluable veteran presence, too.
Going over nine wins is a lock, particularly given the strength of their division.
