The 2023 NFL season is in full swing, but so far this season, the one common denominator has been the success of the underdogs. Yes, the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs are currently on fire in the AFC. Also yes, the team they defeated at Super Bowl LVII back in February, the Philadelphia Eagles, also looks set on claiming the NFC once more. But in and amongst that, there, has been a plethora of success for the underdogs.
All one needs to do is take a look at the first game of the season. An upstart Detroit Lions side headed to Arrowhead Stadium to face off against the heavily favored Chiefs and managed to walk away with a narrow one-point victory. Elsewhere this term, a Cleveland Browns side that has reached the playoffs just three times since 1990 has secured big wins against heavyweights such as the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers.
What we're trying to say is, that if you're continually backing the favorites on the spread market, you may very well be opening yourself up to disappointment. The underdogs have been more than holding their own this term and even when they have lost, most have covered the spread by only losing by a slender margin. Let's take a closer look at three underdog teams that you should be paying attention to this season, teams that have the potential to make a statement and spring a few shocks with their performances. So, let's jump in and see why the Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, Washington Commanders, and New Orleans Saints are the teams to watch out for.
After a rough 2022 season, many fans had lost faith in the Houston Texans. They finished last season with a paltry 3-13 record. To put that into perspective, only the Chicago Bears had a worse season.
In the close season, the NRG Stadium side made waves by drafting a new franchise quarterback in the form of C.J. Stroud as well as linebacker Will Anderson Jr. as the second and third overall picks. And although they didn't immediately begin to gel, in recent weeks, things might be looking up for them. They began the season with disappointing losses at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts however, a stunning upset victory on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars resurrected their season.
Since then, the Texans have knocked off both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints. In their defeat against the Atlanta Falcons, they managed to cover the spread as the underdog, and with games on the horizon against the likes of the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans on the horizon, further favorable results may well be just around the corner. Backing the Texans at +15000 to lift the Lombardi this season is one of the less popular Super Bowl 58 odds, however, it would be reasonable to pick them on the overspread as a part of your parlay.
You might not think of the Los Angeles Rams as underdogs, especially considering the fact that their talented roster led them to the Lombardi at Super Bowl LVI last February. However, since then, the SoFI Stadium outfit has struggled in their tough division alongside the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has struggled with injuries since his crowning moment just over 18 months ago, while wide receiver Cooper Kupp looks like a shadow of his former self.
But despite being underdogs on numerous occasions so far this term, the Rams have already picked up upset victories against the likes of the Seahawks and the Colts. They have also covered the spread in narrow defeats on the road against the Bengals, at home to the 49ers, and at home to the Eagles. their recent defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys was somewhat of a setback however, with games against the Packers, Cardinals, and Browns to come, they will be on the positive on the spread more often than not a few more times before the season is out.
Moving on to the Washington Commanders. This team has seen its fair share of ups and downs in recent years, but they're already surprising a lot of people this season. For one, they have a strong defense that has only gotten better after they added some key players in the offseason. And while their offense might not be the flashiest, they know how to get the job done.
They have twice narrowly been defeated by the NFC Champion Eagles already this term, the first of which went all the way to overtime. They have also picked up victories against the likes of the Falcons, Broncos, and Cardinals. they have been on the receiving end of thumping defeats against the Bills, the Bears, and the Giants and as such, oddsmakers will make them even bigger underdogs, something which punters should be looking to cash in on.
