NFL Teams with Best Odds to End Super Bowl Drought This Season

You might have already heard, but the Cleveland Cavaliers just won the 2016 NBA title. The team's victory in Game 7 of the NBA Finals gave the Cavaliers their first league championship and ended a 52-year title drought for the city of Cleveland.

The last time a major sports team won a championship for Cleveland was in 1964, when the Browns claimed the NFL title. Of course, that was the year before the Super Bowl was created, so Browns fans are still waiting to see their team hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Browns fans aren't alone, however. In all, 13 NFL teams have yet to win a Super Bowl. This means close to half the league is unfamiliar with the taste of Super Bowl glory. Some teams—like the Browns and the Detroit Lions—have been waiting for their tastes since the Super Bowl's inception.

There's always hope in professional sports, of course, as the Cavaliers showed this past weekend. Can one of the unlucky 13 teams end its Super Bowl drought in 2016?

We're going to take a look at the 2016-17 Super Bowl odds for these 13 franchises—as presented by our friends over at Odds Shark—and count down the five franchises with the best chances of ending their droughts this season.

The Long Shots

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The Browns are currently tied for the longest Super Bowl odds in the league.

13. Cleveland Browns: 100-1 Odds

The Browns own four NFL titles, but none have come during the Super Bowl era. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like this is going to change in the near future. The current incarnation of the franchise—the one that returned to Cleveland as an expansion team in 1999—has been an utter disaster.

Cleveland may finally be on the right track, though. The Browns are rebuilding with a full influx of youth under a highly regarded head coach in Hue Jackson. The problem is this team is now incredibly young and unproven—and a bevy of quality starters left in the offseason. Do not expect the Browns to join the Cavaliers on the parade route this year.

12. Tennessee Titans: 75-1 Odds

Like the Browns, the Tennessee Titans are a young, rebuilding team facing long Super Bowl odds. The biggest difference between the two is Tennessee has found a potential franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota, while the Browns are letting guys like Josh McCown and Robert Griffin III battle for their starting job.

Offseason additions like DeMarco Murray, Rishard Matthews and Derrick Henry help the Titans' chances. However, being a step above the Browns doesn't mean the Titans are a team that should be booking Las Vegas victory parties this year.

11. San Diego Chargers: 66-1 Odds

The San Diego Chargers own an AFL title, but they haven't won a championship since merging with the NFL. Despite a disappointing 4-12 record in 2015, there's reason to believe the Chargers can at least be a dark horse this season.

San Diego has a quality quarterback in Philip Rivers, which many of the teams on this list cannot say. The Chargers also seemed to have a strong offseason, bringing in the likes of speedy receiver Travis Benjamin, rookie pass-rusher Joey Bosa and cornerback Casey Hayward. If San Diego can get some semblance of a running game going and improve its 21st-ranked scoring defense (24.9 points per game allowed), it should at least have a chance of contending in the AFC West this season.

10. Detroit Lions: 66-1 Odds

Like the Browns, the Detroit Lions own four NFL titles but have never been to a Super Bowl. The odds are long that this will change in 2016, but it's not entirely impossible. Detroit did manage to rip off six wins over the final eight games of the 2015 season.

Detroit has a good, if not great, quarterback in Matthew Stafford and a few other quality pieces on offense. However, the team lost its biggest offensive weapon when star wideout Calvin Johnson decided to retire in the offseason.

"Obviously we used to feature Calvin, and everybody kind of got theirs after that," Stafford recently told SiriusXM NFL Radio. "It's going to be, I think, tougher for defenses in a certain way in that they don't know who we're going to. There's no guy to key in on."

Regardless of how Stafford might feel, losing Johnson hurts. Having to get by playoff teams like the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers just to compete in the NFC North hurts even more.

The Hopefuls

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Blake Bortles (pictured) and the Jaguars could be surprise contenders in 2016.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: 50-1 Odds

Realistically, the Jacksonville Jaguars probably deserve to have better odds than they currently hold. The team took some positive strides in 2015, not reflected by a 5-11 record.

Jacksonville has a potential franchise quarterback in third-year man Blake Bortles. The Jags also have a premier wide receiver in Allen Robinson. With budding stars in place, the Jaguars committed to this year's offseason.

Jacksonville signed the likes of Malik Jackson, Tashaun Gipson, Chris Ivory and Prince Amukamara in free agency. The team then went and constructed a stellar draft class that includes top-tier rookie talents like Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack. This is a rising team that became dramatically better in the offseason.

Still...the Jaguars deserve to be trendy AFC South favorites but not legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

8. Philadelphia Eagles: 50-1 Odds

Oh, the City of Brotherly Love. At one point, Philadelphia was known as a city of champions—and the Eagles have earned three NFL championships, by the way.

If an entire house (or possibly a city?) of cards falls in the right alignment, the Eagles might again be champions in 2016.

There is plenty of talent on this Philadelphia team. Despite having a muddled quarterback situation—with Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel and rookie Carson Wentz in the mix—the Eagles have more reason than some to believe in their most important position.

There's also the fact the Eagles have a roster talented enough to narrowly miss out on an NFC East title in 2015. Philadelphia finished last season 7-9 and certainly has something to build on this year. Does it have a strong enough foundation upon which to build a title run? The odds say no.

7. Atlanta Falcons: 50-1 Odds

Unlike some teams on this list, the Atlanta Falcons began the 2015 season with red-hot status. At some point early last year, the Falcons were trendy title favorites.

Atlanta won six of its first seven games before suffering a midseason slump that really never ended.

That promising start last season is part of the reason Falcons fans should believe in their team's chances this year. A bigger part is the presence of former Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Ryan and superstar receiver Julio Jones. Ryan and Jones are two of the top players at their respective positions in the NFL.

If Atlanta can continue building a defensive resurgence under second-year head coach Dan Quinn, this should be a team that is tough to contend with in 2016.

6. Buffalo Bills: 50-1 Odds

The Buffalo Bills have a couple of AFL championships on their resume, but they haven't won a league title since 1965. As of right now, the team is looking like a regular-season power—not a true Super Bowl contender.

Buffalo finished with a 9-7 record and a top-tier defense two seasons ago. Pro Football Focus rated the Bills seventh overall in defense for the 2014 season. Unfortunately, the Bills took a step back in both record (8-8) and in defense (rated 25th overall by PFF) after Rex Ryan took over as head coach last year.

Buffalo should not be an afterthought this season, but it is still a long way from being a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

5. Houston Texans: 33-1 Odds

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Texans defensive end J.J. Watt might just be the best defender in the NFL today.

The Houston Texans were far from perfect in 2015 yet were good enough to finish the season with a 9-7 record, an AFC South title and a playoff berth.

Having a defensive star like J.J. Watt and an offensive power like DeAndre Hopkins undoubtedly aided the Texans' cause last season.

However, the biggest reason to believe in Houston's chances this year is the fact the team was able to deliver a 2015 division title with subpar quarterback play. Pro Football Focus rated Houston just 24th in passing last season.

The Texans, of course, signed a potential franchise quarterback in Brock Osweiler this offseason. If Osweiler can provide more-than-marginal quarterback play this season, the Texans should be a bigger force than they were in 2015.

So far, Osweiler's presence seems to at least be a positive.

"So far, he's been exactly what we've expected," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said of Osweiler, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. "He works extremely hard. He's a very bright guy. He's a good communicator with his teammates."

Houston has the appearance of a franchise close to contention. Earning a championship now rests on Osweiler's ability to take hold as a leader and guide the team past mere playoff participation.

4. Minnesota Vikings: 20-1 Odds

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If QB Teddy Bridgewater can continue improving, the Vikings could develop into an NFL force.

Like the Texans, the Minnesota Vikings won their division in 2015. The difference is the Vikings didn't simply beat out the best of some also-rans to claim their playoff spot—the Green Bay Packers, perennial playoff participants, stood in the way of an NFC North title.

There are a number of reasons to believe the Vikings can build upon last season's success and compete for a Super Bowl title in 2016. The presence of legendary running back Adrian Peterson and emerging quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is high among them.

The Vikings have also become a defensive force under head coach Mike Zimmer. Last season, Pro Football Focus rated Minnesota eighth in the NFL in overall defense.

The Vikings came within a few plays of besting the Seattle Seahawks in the opening round of last year's postseason. Minnesota should be right back in the playoff hunt this year, and it could have an even better chance at a title after adding key pieces in the draft.

Rookies like receiver Laquon Treadwell might just add enough firepower for the Vikings to finally end their Super Bowl misery in 2016. The odds aren't outlandish.

3. Cincinnati Bengals: 18-1 Odds

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Does QB Andy Dalton have what it takes to lead the Bengals to a Super Bowl?

The Cincinnati Bengals have never won a league championship, but they've at least had the honor of participating in two Super Bowls.

The current incarnation of the Bengals franchise is undoubtedly talented—it's been to the postseason for five consecutive years. Yet there's reason to doubt Cincinnati's chances of ending its Super Bowl drought in 2016.

The team has lost its first game of the postseason in each of the past five years. Getting to the playoffs means nothing if you can't get past your first opponent.

There are some top-notch players on this Bengals team, like wideout A.J. Green, running back Giovani Bernard and quarterback Andy Dalton. Had Dalton not suffered a serious thumb injury toward the end of the 2015 season, the Bengals might have ended their Super Bowl drought.

However, the Bengals will have to do more than reach the postseason before we become big believers in their title quest.

2. Arizona Cardinals: 14-1 Odds

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Time is likely running out for Carson Palmer to lead the Cardinals to a championship.

The Arizona Cardinals were one of the hottest NFL teams during the regular season last year. The franchise finished with a 13-3 record and claimed the NFC West title. On top of that, veteran quarterback Carson Palmer had the best season of his lengthy career.

Palmer ended last season with more than 4,600 yards passing, 35 touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 104.6. His healthy presence was the biggest reason for improvement over Arizona's 11-5 record in 2014.

Unfortunately, Palmer's stellar performances couldn't continue through the NFC Championship Game. The Carolina Panthers trounced Palmer (six turnovers, a 43.2 passer rating) and the Cardinals on the conference's biggest stage.

Last year's NFC Championship Game might provide both the biggest reason to believe in the Cardinals this year and the top reason to doubt them.

On one hand, we know that a few more pieces—and Arizona added guys like pass-rusher Chandler Jones and rookie defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche this offseason—could be enough to get the Cardinals over the proverbial hump.

On the other hand, we know the Carolina Panthers are likely to hold a firm grip at the top of the NFC for the foreseeable future. Arizona has a solid chance of ending its Super Bowl drought this year, but the Cardinals aren't the favorites to accomplish the goal.

1. Carolina Panthers: 11-1 Odds

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Cam Newton has established himself as an elite quarterback.

The Carolina Panthers are the clear favorites to end their Super Bowl drought in 2016. Carolina has now been to the big game twice but hasn't won a league championship since becoming a franchise in 1995.

The Panthers owned both the NFL's best regular-season record in 2015 (15-1) and its highest-scoring offense (31.2 points per game). On top of everything, quarterback Cam Newton played well enough to earn league MVP honors—and he might be even better this year.

"I haven't peaked," Newton recently said, per Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. "I haven't climaxed as a player, and that's what I need to get better at."

Carolina looked to be on a clear path to the Lombardi Trophy last year before the team ran up against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. Denver possessed a defense rated first overall by Pro Football Focus and a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Peyton Manning.

Manning has since retired, and the Broncos lost a few defensive pieces—like Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan—in the offseason. This helps Carolina's Super Bowl chances because the franchise's biggest obstacle might not come from its own conference—it didn't last season.

The Panthers might not be the consensus favorite to win the Super Bowl this year. However, they should be considered the team most likely to put a first Lombardi in the trophy cabinet.