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This NFL team has surprisingly good odds to win its division in 2023
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

This NFL team has surprisingly good odds to win its division in 2023

It's always fun to guess which NFL teams will win their division before the season has even started. But if you were looking at futures bets on DraftKings ahead of Week 1, you probably noticed one team that has good odds to top its division despite having a rocky 2022.

DraftKings lists the New York Jets at +270 odds to top the AFC East this season. While that may not sound like much on its own, the Miami Dolphins -- who finished with a better record and made the playoffs in 2022 -- are listed at slightly longer +300 odds.

The Jets unsuccessfully rotated through three quarterbacks last season and ended 2022 on a six-game losing streak. How does a team like that suddenly have somewhat favorable odds to win their division in 2023?

The easy answer is that Aaron Rodgers has made the Jets' stock go up. Despite having a down season in 2022, the long-time Packers gunslinger has generated a lot of excitement in East Rutherford. In his first preseason game since 2018, Rodgers played two series and completed 5-of-8 passes for 47 yards with a touchdown. While that doesn't sound like much -- and is, of course, preseason play -- the positive production has to have fans and pundits alike more intrigued by the Jets now.

It didn't hurt that Garrett Wilson caught all of his passes from Rodgers and was the one to score the TD.  The Ohio State product is coming off of an impressive rookie campaign where he recorded 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns, which is all the more impressive considering the state of New York's quarterback room. It's no wonder Wilson is being compared to Davante Adams now that Rodgers is a Jet.

But if the Jets really want to top the AFC East, their offensive line will have to be better than it was last year. New York's o-line was a major liability in 2022 and has already been publicly undressed in the preseason during a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers. Suffice it to say, the Jets' offensive line is going to have to be much better at protecting Rodgers than they were protecting Zach Wilson if they want a shot at topping their division.

After that, all the Jets have to do to top the AFC East is to be better than the Buffalo Bills. Who, by the way, are the +120 favorites to top the division and are listed at +500 to win the conference, second only to the Kansas City Chiefs at +330.

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