Patriots Valley: Coach Bill Belichick's All-Time Low Super Bowl Odds

The Belichick/Kraft Patriots are used to being on top of the mountain. But right now? They're not just in The Valley of the Sun in Phoenix; they're in a Super Bowl "valley'' as well.

PHOENIX - Over the course of the last 23 years, when New England Patriots bosses Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick convened with the rest of the league higher-ups at the annual NFL owners meeting, they could sort of strut their way into town.

Six Super Bowl titles and almost perennial contention will do that for a franchise.

But this week, at the owners meetings here in Phoenix?

The Patriots are not strutting.

They are, in fact, stumbling, at least in the judgment of oddsmakers, who have the Patriots facing the longest preseason Super Bowl odds of any edition of the Belichick-era club. ... ever.

According to the latest from Caesars Sportsbook, the Patriots are 70–1.

Is there any precedent for this? And is there any possible positive news out of this?

When Belichick took over in 2000, that edition of the club was also given 70–1 odds ... but a year later won the Super Bowl. And Kraft? He bought the team in 1994 with New England facing 100-1 odds to win it all, but the Pats went 10–6 and made it to the playoffs.

Part of the downslide, of course, is the departure from New England the legendary QB Tom Brady. The Belichick/Brady partnership ended in 2020, and since that time the Patriots have gone 25–25 in the regular season, including a losing season (8–9) last season.

Also factoring in to these odds? The AFC East gauntlet. So often easy pickings over the years for the Patriots, the Bills are now a powerhouse, the Dolphins have spent two years adding talent, and the Jets figure to get QB Aaron Rodgers in trade.

The Belichick/Kraft Patriots, amid rumors that the two bosses are in a bit of a conflict, are used to being on top of the mountain. But right now? They're not just in The Valley of the Sun in Phoenix; they're also in a valley in terms of Super Bowl odds.

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