A year ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers surprised everyone and won their first 11 games of the 2020 season. Upon reflection, it’s really no surprise the Steelers stayed unbeaten for so long. Of their first 11 opponents, seven finished the season with losing records.
Is there a team out there that could do the same in 2021? It’s possible. In 2019, both the Patriots and 49ers went 8-0 before a loss. The LA Rams did the same in 2018.
NFL Betting Bonuses and Promotions
The last unbeaten comes down to a couple things. Of course, there is the quality of play. A team like Tampa Bay or Kansas City is likely to be favored in most or even all of their games in 2021. It’s more than performance though. There is also the schedule.
It’s also not just the schedule, in this case. It’s where games fall on the schedule, and that leads us to our pick for the NFL team that will be the last to be undefeated in 2021.
2019 Repeat?
In 2019, the San Francisco 49ers won its first eight games on its way to a Super Bowl run. Their first loss that year was to NFC West foe Seattle. Last season, the 49ers were decimated by injuries which caused head coach Kyle Shanahan’s team to finish 6-10.
The benefit of that finish though is what many are considering the NFL’s easiest schedule in 2021. Now, the Niners do play in the NFC West which will likely be the NFL’s toughest division. But, they have seven games against teams projected to win seven or fewer games.
The season opens with the Lions followed by the Eagles. Then, the 49ers face two formidable opponents in Green Bay and Seattle. Luckily, both games are at home. Still, those games are followed by a road game at Arizona and then the Colts at home.
The 49ers may have an easy schedule, but the games just don’t fall right to be the last unbeaten.
Dak Is Back
Like San Francisco, the Dallas Cowboys suffered some key injuries last year, none more important than the loss of QB Dak Prescott. That led to a 6-10 finish and a pretty favorable schedule in 2021.
The big issue is Week 1. The Cowboys will travel to defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay for the annual NFL Thursday Kickoff on Sept. 9. If Dallas can pull off the upset, the schedule has some smooth sailing until the Cowboys hit November.
After the Bucs, Dallas is at the Chargers then has three straight home games with Philly, Carolina, and the NY Giants. New England, Minnesota, Denver, and Atlanta are all winnable games. The Cowboys could be 9-0 heading to Kansas City on Nov. 21.
Bucs Win
But, what if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the season opener (as it is favored to do)? Then, the last unbeaten may very well be the Bucs. Besides the Rams on the road in Week 3, the Bucs could be unbeaten heading to Indianapolis on Nov. 28.
They do play at New Orleans on Oct. 31, but remember the Saints do not have Drew Brees at quarterback anymore. Should the Bucs get past Indy, they play Buffalo on Dec. 12. The schedule gods put that one in Tampa Bay.
The Pick
For the first time in the era of the salary cap, a Super Bowl champion returns all 22 of its starters on offense and defense. Tampa Bay heads into the 2021 with high expectations and the only thing preventing them from another Lombardi Trophy is the injury bug.
That said, back Tampa Bay (+600) to win that season opener, beat the Rams in Week 3, and be the last undefeated team in the NFL in 2021.
NFL Odds to Be Last Undefeated Team in 2021
San Francisco 49ers +600
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +600
Buffalo Bills +800
Kansas City Chiefs +800
Baltimore Ravens +800
Green Bay Packers +1100
Los Angeles Rams +1400
Tennessee Titans +1600
Cleveland Browns +1600
Minnesota Vikings +2000
New England Patriots +2000
New Orleans Saints +2000
Seattle Seahawks +2500
Dallas Cowboys +2500
Miami Dolphins +2500
Carolina Panthers +2500
Pittsburgh Steelers +2800
Los Angeles Chargers +3500
Washington FT +3500
Jacksonville Jaguars +3500
Arizona Cardinals +4000
Atlanta Falcons +4000
Chicago Bears +4000
Indianapolis Colts +5000
Cincinnati Bengals +6500
New York Giants +6500
Philadelphia Eagles +8000
New York Jets +8000
Las Vegas Raiders +10000
Houston Texans +15000
Detroit Lions +20000
