The AFC East looks to be the toughest division in all of sports this season. And even if it’s not, it’s certainly going to be the most entertaining.
But could this be the rare year in which the division’s New York teams finish 1-2?
Fans of the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets – and the whole New York sports betting populace – would love it.
The Bills have won the division in each of the last three seasons. The Jets haven’t won it since 2002.
EmpireStakes.com – your source for NY sports betting apps – looked back to see the last time the pair has finished 1-2.
The answer? It’s been a quarter-century. Back in 1998, the Jets finished 12-4 and the Bills were 10-6.
It seemed far from likely even a year ago, but could it happen again?
How Will AFC East Break Down?
The Bills have yet to make the Super Bowl during the Josh Allen era. They are still the favorites to win the AFC East, but they will have some stiff competition in 2023. And, yes, primarily, that could be the Jets. You will
The Jets are one of the up-and-coming teams in the NFL. They added three-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason. Their Super Bowl 58 odds have shifted dramatically since the trade, as have their odds to win the AFC East.
But we can’t forget about the Dolphins, who made the playoffs last season.
Or the Patriots, who won the AFC East in nearly every season from 2003-2019.
So, what are the odds that the Bills or Jets can win the division this year? Let’s take a look at how the AFC East odds have changed for the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets via BetMGM NY from the opening line, before free agency, before the NFL Draft, etc.
1-2 Can Happen, but Bills Best Bet at Top
Despite the Jets adding Rodgers this offseason, it’s the Buffalo Bills that remain the favorites to win the AFC East. That makes sense considering the Bills have won this division in three consecutive seasons and have won at least 10 games in four consecutive years.
The Bills still have one of the best rosters in the NFL, but there is a bit more value on them now to win the division after seeing their odds shift from +100 at the beginning of the year to +125 in June. If you are still a believer in the Bills to win the division, getting them at +125 is likely the best price you will get all year. If that grabs you now, you will want to be armed with NY sportsbook promos.
The biggest shift in the division has come from the Jets, who were +500 to win the division in February. Since then, their odds of winning the AFC East steadily have increased as they now have the second-best odds to win the division. They officially jumped the Dolphins in early March as the rumors of a Rodgers trade started to swirl. And by the draft, their odds have moved all the way up to +225.
The odds have settled a bit for the Jets as they are now +250 to win the AFC East, which is still good enough for second place in the division. Those are appealing odds for a team that just added one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to their roster. But with the AFC East being so deep and with the Bills being such a juggernaut at the top of the division, it’s probably not wise to bet on them right now until we see what the offense will look like with Rodgers under center.
However, this division certainly looks like it will come down to the Bills and Jets, as they are the top two teams in the AFC East heading into the 2023 season.
