Super Bowl odds update: Cardinals, Cowboys vault into title picture after Week 4
Who saw this one coming? After Sunday's dominant win over the then-undefeated Rams, the Cardinals are currently the only 4-0 team in the NFL - surging into the group of Super Bowl contenders after just four weeks.
Arizona's rise up the title oddsboard was the biggest adjustment after Week 4, but it wasn't the only one. Here are the current Super Bowl odds and the most significant takeaways from Sunday's results:
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +500 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +600 |
| Buffalo Bills | +750 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +800 |
| Baltimore Ravens | +1200 |
| Green Bay Packers | +1200 |
| Cleveland Browns | +1400 |
| Arizona Cardinals | +1600 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +2000 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +2200 |
| San Francisco 49ers | +2800 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +2800 |
| Denver Broncos | +3500 |
| New Orleans Saints | +3500 |
| Tennessee Titans | +4000 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | +4500 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +6500 |
| Carolina Panthers | +10000 |
| Indianapolis Colts | +10000 |
| Miami Dolphins | +10000 |
| New England Patriots | +10000 |
| Washington Football Team | +10000 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | +15000 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +15000 |
| New York Giants | +20000 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +20000 |
| Atlanta Falcons | +25000 |
| Chicago Bears | +25000 |
| New York Jets | +50000 |
| Detroit Lions | +100000 |
| Houston Texans | +100000 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +100000 |
The Cardinals and Cowboys entered the year as trendy long-shot title bets behind electric offenses and unproven defenses. Four weeks later, both teams are among the 10 shortest contenders for the first time all season.
Start with Arizona (+1600), which jumped out to an 11-point halftime lead over the Rams and never let up in a clear statement win for Kyler Murray and Co. The current MVP favorite tossed two touchdowns to bring his season total to 12. However, the defense was arguably even more impressive, forcing Matthew Stafford into his worst game of the year and limiting L.A. to a season-low 20 points.
It was a similar story for the Cowboys (+2000), who held the previously 3-0 Panthers to a mere 14 points through the first 50 minutes before letting up on the gas. It didn't matter, as Dak Prescott threw four touchdowns to lead Dallas to a whopping 36 points - more than Carolina had allowed on the season.
It's clear these two clubs can score on anyone, which we'd already suspected entering the season. If their defenses can play to their talent level and sustain their Sunday showings, these teams' ceilings are as high as any.
49ers tumble after QB injuryFans and bettors alike have been clamoring for Trey Lance to take over as the 49ers' starting quarterback since the team drafted him in April. He finally got his shot Sunday in a way few expected - and it could jeopardize this club's Super Bowl aspirations.
The rookie replaced Jimmy Garoppolo in the second quarter of Sunday's 28-21 loss to the Seahawks after the eight-year veteran left the game with a hamstring injury. Lance threw for a pair of touchdowns but connected on just 50% of his attempts, including a few badly missed throws early on. It encapsulated the ups and downs of starting Lance, which elevates this team's title ceiling but greatly lowers its floor.
San Francisco (+2800) had already been hit hard with injuries before this game, which also saw star tackle Trent Williams leave on a cart in the fourth quarter. Health derailed the Niners' title chances a year ago, and oddsmakers are preparing for a similar story this season.
Steelers, Eagles slipping into obscurityIt's been three weeks since the Steelers (+15000) and Eagles (+20000) surprised with dominant Week 1 wins. Those are looking more like flukes than a harbinger of better days ahead for these two in-state squads.
Since holding the Falcons to six points in its season debut, Philadelphia's defense has completely fallen apart - allowing 41 points to the Cowboys last Monday night before ceding 42 points to the Chiefs on Sunday. The Eagles recorded just one sack a week ago and have generated only 26 pressures on the season, tied for the fifth-fewest in the NFL.
Pittsburgh hasn't been written off quite as dramatically by oddsmakers, but it might as well be after another lethargic showing in Sunday's 27-17 loss to the Packers. Ben Roethlisberger has now posted a passer rating of 87 or worse in all four starts this year, while the Steelers' banged-up defense has now allowed at least 24 points in three straight. It may be time to wave that terrible white towel on the AFC North's last-place club.
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.
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