It is never too early to speculate about win totals, even though the NFL season is four months away.
Each team's projected win totals were released by Caesars Sportsbook. We asked our 32 NFL Nation writers to handicap the win totals of the teams they cover based on the initial Caesars numbers listed below.
There is a lot of optimism from our reporters about the teams they cover, a little pessimism and the occasional push here and there. Whether it is optimism about running it back with a winning team, giddiness about offseason additions or adopting a wait-and-see approach for rebuilding situations, NFL Nation is here to provide eager bettors with early advice.
Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Over/under: 11.
Buffalo won 11 games last year but should have won more. The Bills should win more than 11. Thanks to the additions made throughout the off-season, this roster is better than it was in 2021. This roster should win at least 12 games because of the tough schedule in the Bills' division.
Over/under: 8.
There are seven games that Miami should win if it considers itself a playoff contender. Miami should clear 8.5 if it takes care of business in those games and pulls out a couple of swing games.
Over/under: 8.
The team needs a few things to happen to hit the over, starting with quarterback Mac Jones making the often-discussed second-year jump. There are big questions at the defensive backs and the offensive coaching staff, where MattPatricia and Joe Judge are taking on lead roles.
Over/under is 5.5.
The Jets have an over/under that is greater than their average win total over the past six seasons. Shame on them if they cannot win at least six games. The Jets have improved their personnel on both sides of the ball to the point where they should be playing meaningful games in December. The difference between 6-11 and 9-8 will be the development of Wilson.
Over/under: 9.
Baltimore will hit the over as long as Lamar Jackson is healthy, which was a major issue last year. Jackson has a winning percentage of.755 since he took over as the starter midway through the season. Over the past three seasons, Baltimore has been without Jackson.
Over/under: 9.
The Bengals exceeded expectations with a 10 win season. If Cincinnati wants to have a chance of hitting double digits, it will need another strong defensive year and an offense that clicks like it did in wins over Kansas City and Baltimore.
Over/under: 9.
If Deshaun is suspended under the league's code of conduct policy, Cleveland will have a hard time topping the current over/under. The team has the ability to easily reach 10 victories against this schedule.
Over/under is 7.5.
The quarterback situation will need to be settled quickly for the over to hit. Whoever takes over the starting job will have to hit the ground running if they want to succeed.
Over/under: 4.5
Taking the over requires some faith in an improved offense behind quarterback Davis Mills, but even with a tough schedule, I will take the over in Houston.
Over/under: 9.
If the Colts expect to meet or surpass that total, they can't rely on Jonathan Taylor as much as they did last season. If the Colts expect to go toe-to-toe with their schedule, the young receivers, led by Michael Pittman Jr., will have to step up.
Over/under is 6.5.
If Doug Pederson leads the team instead of Urban Meyer, it will make a huge difference, but to hit the over, quarterback Trevor Lawrence has to make major strides in his second season. The fact that Pederson has given him three assistants who were former college or pro quarterbacks and the team added receiver Christian Kirk and tight end Evan makes it seem reasonable.
Over/under: 9.
Tennessee has won nine or more games in each of the last three seasons. The schedule features a visit to Buffalo to face the Bills. Although it is not a walk in the park, the Titans should be able to win 10 games.
10 is over/under number.
The Broncos will likely have to break their losing streak to the Chiefs, win most of their home games and be in a position to break a six-year playoff drought if they hit that over/under of 10.
Over/under: 10.
The past four seasons, the Chiefs have won at least 12 games. They have not played a schedule like the one they will face this season, after each of their rivals in the West loaded up. If the Chiefs survive an opening six-game stretch that includes two division games, they can hit the over.
Over/under: 8.
The Raiders are coming off a 10-win playoff season, improved across the roster, and joined the 21st century with an elite playcaller in new coach Josh McDaniels. The offensive line still has to protect Carr, who will need time to deliver the ball downfield to college bestie Davante Adams.
10 is over/under.
On paper, 10 wins should be doable, but fall into an 0-2 hole against a pair of AFC West foes and that climb back will be difficult. It should be smooth sailing if you win both games.
Over/under: 10.
A year ago, the Cowboys won 12 games, but they don't have many players this year. The big free-agent splashes have not been made by them. The draft didn't generate a lot of buzz. So why did it happen? They are tied with Washington for the easiest strength of schedule.
7 is over/under.
Seven wins seems ambitious. This would be a three win improvement over last season. Is the chance that Jones stays healthy and a new coaching staff enough to get the four wins it would take to hit the over?
9 is over/under.
The strength of the schedule and the fact that they won nine games last season might cause the over/under of 9 to be a little low. The trade for A.J. Brown should help the quarterback in his second season as the starter.
Over/under is 7.5.
When injuries and COVID-19 derailed Washington's season, an over/under would mean just a half-win better than 2021. The Commanders have upgraded at quarterback and should have a better offense. They don't face the caliber of quarterbacks they did last season.
Over/under is 6.5.
The Chicago Bears aren't a team that is built to contend for the playoffs, let alone a division title. The Bears will play 13 games in a row before getting a week off late in the season. If they want to hit the over, they might have to rely on their defense to carry the load with some early wins as Justin Fields builds chemistry with his new teammates.
6 is over/under.
To hit the over, the quarterback needs to show that he can be productive with anyone other than Sean McVay. In his career without McVay, he is 3-17-1 with a QBR of 33. All of that is not his fault. The Lions will have a lot of offensive weapons around them in 2022, including receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, running back D'Andre Swift, and tight end T.J. DJ Chark and Jameson Williams were added via free agency and the draft. The defense needs to step up as well.
Over/under: 11
The oddmakers don't think coach Matt LaFleur can put together a fourth straight 13 win season. In his first three seasons as their coach, LaFleur has done that. They could go over again if they can make up for the loss of Adams. The past three seasons, they were perfect without Adams.
9 is over/under.
Take the over. The Vikings roster has a higher floor than most other teams. Over the past nine seasons, it has averaged nine wins per year. This team should win at least 10 games with a fresh coat of paint on the offense and defense.
Over/under is 5.5.
Based on the roster as currently constructed, the Falcons aren't high on the odds. Atlanta will fall under the over/under mark of five wins this season, but could surprise a bit, particularly in the front seven on defense.
6 is over/under.
The over/under is one win more than the team has had in each of the past three seasons. The last time the team had consistent quarterback play was during the 11-5 season in 2017: Carolina hasn't had a winning season since. Whoever is at quarterback is needed to surpass six wins.
Over/under is 7.5.
The oddsmakers don't think the Saints can overcome the loss of their coach. Despite setting an NFL record with 58 starters used, the win total of 7.5 is too low. Adding first-round pick Chris Olave will revive the offense if quarterback Jameis Winston and wideout Michael Thomas are healthy.
Over/under: 11.
They went 13-4 last season despite their receiving corps being decimated by injuries in the last quarter of the season. That was against a 29th-ranked schedule, with opponents finishing a combined 126-145 the year before. The opponents finished a combined 154-134-1.
9 is over/under number.
They will need a strong start to get to that number. Their season is full of tough stretches, and with a history of late-season collapses, reaching nine wins may be a stretch.
The number is over/under.
I will take the over. The Rams had the second toughest schedule last season and still won 12 games.
10 is over/under number.
The number of games the Niners won last season before making a deep postseason run feels right for a roster that remains mostly intact. There is more than one possible variation with this group because of the expected ascendance of Trey Lance to the starting quarterback job.
6 is over/under number.
I'm taking the over, but barely. That might seem overly optimistic for a team with a major question mark at quarterback, but there is enough talent elsewhere on their roster to win seven games. That will require a notable upset.
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