2024 NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stack Up Entering Training Camp?
2024 NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stack Up Entering Training Camp?0 of 32
Jared GoffKevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Each and every day, we get closer to the 2024 regular season openerâa rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.
We’re also one big step closer to that glorious Thursday eveningâbecause training camps are getting underway across the league. Rookies have already reported. Some veterans have as well. Soon, all 2,880 players on active rosters will be in camp (minus any holdouts).
Mind you, this isn’t OTAs or minicamp. This isn’t shorts and shells. This is pads. This is hitting (at least some). This is for realâgenuine, everyday preparations for the season to come.
There will still be some roster changes made between now and
the first week of September. Some of the veteran free agents still floating
around will find new homes. Others will be affected by the unfortunate injuries
that strike in camp and the preseason every year. Depth charts will be shaken
up as well, either by those injuries or young players unseating veterans in the
starting lineup.
Still, to a large extent we know now what NFL rosters and
lineups will look like come the regular seasonâwho all 32 teams will roll out
there in Week 1 as they try to punch a ticket to the Big Easy and Super Bowl
LIX.
The bookends likely won’t catch many people off guard, but there’s a surprise or two thrown in.
32. New England Patriots1 of 32
Drake MayeJessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Gone is the time when the New England Patriots perennially entered training camp as a Super Bowl contender. Fresh off the team’s worst season since going 2-14 in 1992, the Pats are more punching bag than powerhouse. There are multiple questions facing the franchise on both sides of the ball.
The biggest of those questions is at quarterback, where the Patriots hit the reset button in the offseason with the addition of veteran Jacoby Brissett and rookie third overall pick Drake Maye. Fellow rookie head coach Jerod Mayo told reporters that he’s been impressed by what he’s seen from Maye so far this summer.
“I thought Drake did a great job not only progressing on the field, but also off the field,” Mayo said. “You can already tell like he is going to put in that extra work. You know, I walked by the quarterback meeting room, he’s just in there by himself, watching film. Those are the things that you want to see. I am excited to see his growth going forward.”
The general consensus appears to be that Brissett will be the starter under center, at least to start the season. But at some point this season, New England is going to turn to the player they hope is the franchise’s future at the game’s most important position.
But with a limited array of offensive weaponry around him and the AFC’s worst offensive line (in the opinion of Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network) in front of him, whoever plays quarterback in Beantown in 2024 faces an uphill battle.
31. Carolina Panthers2 of 32
Bryce YoungJohn Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Carolina Panthers were the NFL’s worst team last yearâa two-win mess of a team that missed the postseason for the sixth consecutive season and finished the year dead last in total offense and 29th in scoring defense.
Part of those struggles were due to a rocky first season from quarterback Bryce Young. But former Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme told The Zach Gelb Show he believes the arrival of new head coach Dave Canales will mean big things for Young in 2024.
“I truly believe you’re gonna see what you saw with Geno Smith two years ago in Seattle, when he had that kind of resurgence of his career under Canales,” Delhomme told Gelb. “I think Baker [Mayfield] last yearâBaker did a great job. Some of my notes as I look back last year when we played Tampaâis that Baker is getting the ball out quick, he’s very decisive, he’s gettin’ it out quick, he’s taking shots when he has to. But he was moving, he was getting rid of the footballâand that’s something that Dave incorporates. And I believe you’re gonna see that in this offense.”
However, Davenport is skeptical that the Panthers will be markedly improved this year.
“It’s still way too early to start calling Young a bust,” he said, “and the Panthers did make a concerted effort to improve the weapons around Young this year. But there are significant issues at every level of the Panthers defenseâissues that could force Young to match opponents score for score this seasonâand that’s hardly a recipe for success for a team that won twice last season.”
30. New York Giants3 of 32
Daniel JonesLuke Hales/Getty Images
Two years ago, the New York Giants not only made the postseason but stunned the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round. But given how the team looked during a miserable 2023 campaign, it feels more like that postseason trip came 22 years ago.
The Giants enter training camp with a whopping 11 new coaches on staff, and general manager Joe Schoen told reporters that both he and head coach Brian Daboll are trying to learn from last year’s tumultuous, injury-marred season.
“I’m sure there is a lot we all learned about ourselves going through that and, as leaders, myself included, we all have to get better in terms of how we handle those situations,” said Schoen. “I think we’re all going to reflect this offseason on how things went and what we can do better. I would put Dabes in that category as well.”
However, Moton sees another long season comingâlargely because in his opinion the Giants have a problem at quarterback.
“Daniel Jones likely has one more year to prove that he’s the Giants’ franchise quarterback,” he said. “By the end of the year, the team will realize it needs to move on from him. Jones doesn’t have the arm to stretch the field, and according to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football, he takes terrible sacks. So, even though the Giants revamped their offensive line in the offseason, Jones’ inability to get the ball out to his playmakers could negate any upgrades in the trenches. Coming off a torn ACL, Jones needs to process and break down what he sees in defenses faster, or he could put himself in a precarious position.”
“Without Saquon Barkley,” Moton continued, “who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, Jones may have a lot more responsibility to move the ball through the air, which isn’t a recipe for success with just one dynamic pass-catcher in rookie wideout Malik Nabers. Unless the defense plays at an elite level every week, Big Blue will have another rough season.”
29. Denver Broncos4 of 32
Sean PaytonMatthew Stockman/Getty Images
The Denver Broncos didn’t just hit the reset button in the offseasonâthey smashed it with a sledgehammer. When the Broncos showed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson the door, they ate the largest dead cap hit in the history of the NFL.
The Broncos replaced Wilson with a combination of veteran Zach Wilson and rookie Bo Nix, and for Adam Rank of NFL.com, success in 2024 lies in the latter showingâŠsomething.
“I hate to say this, because Denver is a great sports town with awesome fans, but all you really need from this season is to figure out if Bo Nix can play ball at this level,” Rank wrote. “If he comes in and enjoys a rookie season akin to that of, say, Justin Herbert, then you know you’re money. Maybe Nix doesn’t hit that level in Year 1, but his encouraging highs comfortably exceed the growing pains. That’ll play. Frankly, if Bo and the Broncos have one of those seasons where they score points and routinely compete, but still end up with a pretty high draft slotâŠthat’s not bad.”
For Knox, being competitive may be just about all Denver can hope for this season.
“We’ll find out soon enough whether Russell Wilson held back Sean Payton’s Broncos in 2023,” he said. “Denver will open on the road in Seattle, face two 2023 playoff teams (Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay) and battle a Raiders team it hasn’t beaten since 2019 within the first five weeks. It’s a tough stretch that could give Payton pause about starting rookie Bo Nix to open the season. Unfortunately, it’s tough to see Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson stringing together many wins in the interimânot with a receiving corps that lacks proven options after Courtlan Sutton and newcomer Josh Reynolds.”
“The Broncos could still surprise and make things interesting down the stretch. They seemed to find an identity late last season as their defense gelled, and they have the 13th easiest schedule based on 2023 winning percentage (.495),” Knox continued. “However, cutting ties with Wilson’s contract limited Denver’s free-agency flexibility, and I just don’t think the roster is talented enough to climb all the way out of an early hole.”
28. Arizona Cardinals5 of 32
kyler Murray
Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has already gotten his big paydayâa five-year, $230.5 million pact with $160 million guaranteed. But now, after back-to-back down seasons caused by an ACL tear in 2021, Murray has to show he’s worth all that cheese.
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing told reporters that he has every confidence that Murray can recapture his 2021 form.
“He’s the type of guy that gets better every day,” Petzing said. “Sometimes it’s physically, sometimes it’s mentally, sometimes it’s a leadership perspective. But when you take the job as seriously as he does, I think you’re always going to see that growth. I think it’s something that he’s always looking to be a better player, be a better teammate, be a better leader, so the more opportunities he gets to do it, the more he learns from it, just like we do as coaches.”
Murray has a new No. 1 wide receiver to target this year in Marvin Harrison Jr. and a rising young tight end in Trey McBride. Veteran James Conner and rookie Trey Benson could be a solid duo in the backfield. Tackle Jonah Williams was brought in to fortify the offensive line.
But there are still questions about that offensive front. And Arizona’s pass-rushers. Jalen Thompson and Budda Baker are a formidable duo at safety, but the team’s cornerbacks could be an area of weakness.
Improvement from back-to-back four-win seasons may be a genuine possibility for the Cardinals. But getting past Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco and out of the NFC West basement isn’t going to be easy.
27. Washington Commanders6 of 32
Austin EkelerJohn McDonnell/ for The Washington Post via Getty Images
In what’s something a theme for the teams at the bottom of these Power Rankings, there are massive changes underway in the nation’s capital. The Commanders brought in Dan Quinn as the team’s head coach and spent the second overall pick on Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Veteran running back Austin Ekeler, who also joined the team in free agency, told reporters that he has been very impressed by what he’s seen from the former LSU standout.
“He’s an absolute stud out there slinging it,” Ekeler said. “I love his leadership that he’s shown early on. You know, he’s texting me about routes, he’s calling me out in practice, ‘Hey, Ek, this is what we need to do on this,’ or ‘What did you see on this choice route?’ He’s got all of the right stuff that I love to see from a quarterback that he’s been bringing out in the first couple weeks that I’ve met him. Looking forward to his growth, and we have a lot of veterans like you mentioned that we brought in to help set the culture.”
The Commanders did indeed bring in a number of veteran free agents, whether it was Ekeler on offense or linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu on defense. But Washington also has arguably the worst offensive line in the league and potential issues at edge-rusher even after the acquisition of Dorance Armstrong.
Washington’s 2024 season will hinge largely on how quickly Daniels acclimates to the NFL. And given what’s around him, Daniels’ first season will likely feature its share of ups and downs.
26. Tennessee Titans7 of 32
Will LevisJohnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images
Like many NFL teams, the Tennessee Titans are hitting the proverbial reset button in 2024. Quarterback Will Levis is entering his first full season as the starter. Running back Derrick Henry is gone, replaced by Tony Pollard. There’s a new head coach in Brian Callahan.
Given all the changes, expectations for the Titans are low in 2024. But Levis told CBS Sports that he and his teammates are looking forward to proving pundits and fans alike wrong this season.
“We want to make a playoff run,” Levis said. “That’s the biggest goal for us. Obviously, every team’s goal is going to win a Super Bowl, but we’re going to take it one game at a time. We know we’ve got a tough schedule, and all we want to do is play within ourselves, learn from each other, love each other, and prove a lot of people wrong. We know that there’s a lot of doubters out there that don’t think that we’re gonna be worth anything this year.”
Sobleski thinks Tennessee may just be able to surprise some people this year.
“The Titans are a fascinating projection, because they’ll likely find themselves at or near the bottom of the AFC South again this year,” he said. “Although, the potential to make a significant leap is possible if everything falls right. Of course, any success Tennessee experiences will be dependent on the growth of quarterback Will Levis. The organization made sure this offseason that Lewis should be better protected, while having more weapons around him to flourish as a sophomore.”
“By adding veteran center Lloyd Cushenberry III and rookie left tackle J.C. Latham, the entire left side of Tennessee’s offensive line should be significantly improved (not to mention the hire of Bill Callahan as the position coach),” he continued. “The trio of DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd at wide receiver has the potential to be very good, as long as the ball is delivered on time. Finally, Tony Pollard will never be Derrick Henry, though the Titans’ new RB1 does present different qualities as a natural target in the passing game. There’s a lot to like about the overhaul Tennessee conducted this offseason.”
25. Las Vegas Raiders8 of 32
Maxx CrosbyDylan Buell/Getty Images
The 2023 season was quite the roller-coaster ride in Sin City. After a miserable start to the season, the Raiders fired head coach Josh McDaniels and benched quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. With young quarterback Aidan O’ Connell and interim coach Antonio Pierce leading the way, Las Vegas won five of their last nine games to finish the season 8-9.
Now Pierce has the job for good, and O’ Connell will battle free agent-acquisition Gardner Minshew to start under center.
For Bleacher Report’s resident expert on all things Silver and Black (Moton), that competition under center may determine how much respect the Raiders get nationally, but it will be edge-rusher Maxx Crosby and the defense that keeps Vegas in games.
“The Raiders will not get respect in the power rankings until Aidan O’Connell or Gardner Minshew gives us a reason to believe the team has a decent starting quarterback,” he said. “Though ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that O’Connell has a “slight edge” in the Raiders’ quarterback battle, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed didn’t see much separation in an uninspiring competition for the open position during spring practices. Reed wrote that he’s concerned about the Raiders’ quarterback situation, which sets the table for O’Connell or Minshew to exceed expectations or validate modest projections for the team’s offensive production in the upcoming season.”
“The Raiders may go as far as their defense takes them,” Moton continued, “which may be enough to keep them competitive every week, though their offense has to do its part for the team to string together quality wins.”
The Raiders aren’t a threat to the Chiefs in the AFC West. But the rest of the division is hardly loadedâhow does something in a nice second-place finish grab you?
24. Minnesota Vikings9 of 32
Justin JeffersonMichael Reaves/Getty Images
Life comes at you fast in the NFL. Just two years ago, the Vikings were a 13-win NFC North champion. Now, after bidding goodbye to long-time quarterback Kirk Cousins, the Vikings have gone from contender to rebuilder, with veteran Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy vying for the right to replace Cousins.
Most expect that McCarthy will become the team’s starter sooner rather than later. But Vikings head coach Kevin O’ Connell cautioned reporters not to underestimate Darnold’s chancesâespecially in the early-going.
“Ultimately, I’m pretty sensitive to the quarterback journey,” O’Connell said. “You look at our quarterback room right now and a guy like Sam Darnold, what his quarterback journey was and types of situations that maybe weren’t ultimately conducive to him becoming the best version of himself. I think he’s learned from a lot of those things and now has an opportunity to apply all those things he’s learned in a pretty darn good situation, throwing to Justin Jefferson and Jordan [Addison] and T.J. [Hockenson] and the rest of our guys.”
Quarterback isn’t the only question mark in the Twin Cities this seasonâthe Vikings were 24th in the NFL in pass defense a season ago and dead last in the NFC against the pass two years ago.
“If McCarthy is a quick study under center and if Minnesota’s secondary can hold up, the Vikings have a good chance of topping their over/under win total of 6.5 at BetMGM,” Davenport said. “There’s talent in the front seven defensively, the Vikes added Aaron Jones in the backfield and the team has the NFL’s best wide receiver in Justin Jefferson. But if quarterback play is an issue and the secondary is a sieve, this could also easily be a last-place team.”
23. New Orleans Saints10 of 32
Alvin KamaraKevin Sabitus/Getty Images
In Derek Carr’s first season as the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, the team won nine games and narrowly missed the postseason. As Trevor Sikkema wrote for Pro Football Focus, that record is indicative of the team’s quarterbackâgood, but not great.
“What you see is what you get from Carr at this point,” he said. “His PFF passing grade has finished between 77.5 and 83.5 in four of the past five seasons. Now, I want to be clear, he is more good than bad. His turnover-worthy play rate has never been above 3.3% over that span, and his big-time throw percentage has been as high as 6.7%. But it has long felt like Carr leaves too many plays out on the field. In 2023, Carr passed for 25 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, but he recorded 17 big-time throws to 14 turnover-worthy plays, a much closer ratio. He remains a frustrating player to watch due to the dichotomy of what he’s capable of versus what he puts on tape.”
Frankly, that’s rather the Saints as a wholeâgood, but not great. Chris Olave is an excellent young receiver, but there’s not much behind him on the depth chart. Running back Alvin Kamara was once of the most feared all-purpose backs in the league, but he has averaged less than four yards a carry twice in the last three years. Stalwart edge-rusher Cameron Jordan had the worst season since his rookie season a year ago.
Could the Saints win an NFC South that may be the worst division in the league? Yes. Are they good enough to make any sort of noise in the postseason? Probably not.
22. Chicago Bears11 of 32
Caleb Williams
Quinn Harris/Getty Images
For a seven-win team that finished in last place in 2023, there’s more than a little hype surrounding the Chicago Bears in 2024. That’s what happens when a team not only possesses the first overall pick but is aggressive in surrounding the quarterback they take with that pick with offensive weaponry.
That’s exactly what the Bears did. In addition to drafting Caleb Williams at No. 1, the Bears also took Washington wideout Rome Odunze in the top-10, signed running back D’Andre Swift in free agency and traded for veteran wideout Keenan Allen.
In Moton’s opinion, those new faces give the Bears a legitimate chance to be one of the NFL’s surprise teams this season.
“Last year,” he wrote, “the Bears finished with a 7-10 record, but because of a trade with the Carolina Panthers, they had the No. 1 overall pick. The Bears selected Williams, who will set them up for a leap from a non-playoff squad to a viable contender in the NFC. No one should be surprised if Williams becomes the first player in Bears history to throw for 4,000-plus yards in a season with Keenan Allen, DJ Moore and Rome Odunze as his top three wideouts. In Chicago’s last six games, the club went 4-2, and its defense allowed an average of 15.5 points per game. If the defense remains stout, the offense just needs to be solid to give the Bears a real shot at a double-digit win season.”
Moton’s prediction won’t be easy in an NFC North with an excellent Detroit Lions team and a solid Green Bay Packers squad. But it’s hard to deny that these Bears are betterâespecially if Williams is close to as advertised.
21. Seattle Seahawks12 of 32
Geno SmithChristian Petersen/Getty Images
Two years ago, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year after leading the team to the postseason. Last year, Smith’s play regressed relative to 2022 and Seattle narrowly missed the postseason.
That sets up what could be a make-or-break season for the 34-year-old. But Smith told reporters that he’s not worried about his job security. In fact, he thinks he has yet to hit his ceiling as a player.
“I’m still getting better,” Smith said. “I’ve made leaps and bounds physically, I’m still getting stronger at my age. I don’t know if that’s rare or not, but that’s something I’m doing. I’ve gotten faster, I don’t think I’ve ever thrown the ball as good as I am right now. I’m in a really good place, just accuracy wise, and I can throw the ball farther than I ever have. That’s the reason why I think I can still improve, because I work hard and I push myself, and I’m seeing the improvements within myself. The outside noise never bothered me and never will; I know internally what I can do, and I know I’m still not a finished product.”
Smith isn’t the only question mark in the Emerald City this year. There’s a new, untested head coach in Mike MacDonald. Multiple potential areas of concern defensively, including a completely revamped linebacker corps.
If things break the right way for the Seahawks, Seattle has the ability to win 10 games and get back to the postseason. But the Seahawks could just as easily lose 10 games and face an offseason in 2025 filled with some difficult decisions.
20. Los Angeles Chargers13 of 32
Jim HarbaughAllen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
After a miserable 2023 season, the Los Angeles Chargers decided it was time for a change at the top. And from the moment that Jim Harbaugh was announced as the team’s new head coach, he has been leaving his stamp on the teamâespecially on offense.
Harbaugh took a buzzsaw to the skill-position players in Los Angeles. Running back Austin Ekeler is gone, replaced by veterans Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins and rookie Kimani Vidal. Wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen were also jettisoned, with rookie Ladd McConkey being brought in in an effort to offset those losses.
All of those personnel changes have left Knox dubious about the Chargers’ first season with Harbaugh at the helm.
“I want to be higher on the Chargers, I really do,” he said. “They have one of the league’s better quarterbacks in Justin Herbert, and I have to believe that Jim Harbaugh will find ways to elevate the rest of the roster. However, Brandon Staley can only take so much blame for the lackluster product we saw in Los Angeles last year, and I don’t believe the roster got substantially better in the offseason. Losing players like Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler hurts, and while I love the selections of Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey, a fairly one-dimensional offense feels likely this season. That will place a lot of pressure on injury-prone running back JK Dobbins and a defense with its fair share of question marks.”
“Maybe Harbaugh works some magicâhe took the 49ers from six wins to the NFC title game in his first season in San Franciscoâbut it feels to me like L.A. is still a year away from a serious playoff push in a loaded AFC.”
19. Jacksonville Jaguars14 of 32
Trevor LawrenceBryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Eleven games into the 2023 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t just look like the best team in the AFC South. They looked the part of a legitimate Super Bowl contender. But the Jaguars collapsed down the stretch, losing six of their last seven games to miss the postseason altogether.
Back in March, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said that the team fully remembers last year’s collapseâand they are hell-bent on avenging it in 2024.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever get over it,” Pederson told reporters. “For me, I think it’s going to be my motivation, my fuel moving forward. I’ve got to continue to message the team in the right way. We have to have that confidence and that swagger that you’re going to get the job done on game day.”
The Jaguars aren’t without talent. Trevor Lawrence was considered an ascending talent at quarterback before getting banged up and struggling with turnovers last season. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley departed in free agency, but he was replaced with veteran Gabe Davis and rookie Brian Thomas Jr.
Defensively, Josh Allen-Hines and Travon Walker are a rock-solid duo of pass-rushers. Foyesade Oluokun has quietly become one of the league’s most prolific tacklers. On paper, the pieces are there for the Jaguars to compete in the AFC South, and this team won a playoff game two years ago.
Of course, games aren’t played on paper. And after the Jags fell completely apart over the second half a year ago, some measure of skepticism is reasonable. For the Jaguars to climb in these rankings, they’ll need to show that last season’s faceplant was a fluke by stacking some wins early.
18. Indianapolis Colts15 of 32
Anthony RichardsonJustin Casterline/Getty Images
The 2023 season was a disappointing one for the Indianapolis Colts. It wasn’t terrible by any stretchâthe Colts won nine games and were in the hunt in the AFC South right through Week 18. But with electrifying rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson sidelined most of the season, Indy’s ceiling was capped.
We didn’t get to see a ton of Richardson in 2023, but one scout told Athlon Sports he saw enough to realize that the fourth overall pick last year has the ability to be a real difference-maker in the pros.
“Saw enough out of Richardson to understand he’s a cross between Lamar Jackson and Cam Newton as a runner and has some real upside as a passer,” the scout said. “If he played a full season, I think he would have been challenging C.J. Stroud for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.”
Knox thinks the Colts may well need a difference-maker under center to compensate for a defense that scuffled a year ago.
“I’m optimistic about Richardson’s return from season-ending shoulder surgery, even though I do expect the second-year QB to experience some growing pains in 2024,” he wrote. “It won’t always be perfect, but the dual-threat signal-caller should have more highs than lows in a Shane Steichen offense that also features Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs and Adonai Mitchell. The big question is whether Indy’s offense can help carry a defense that ranked 24th overall and 28th in points allowed last season. It may not, and the Colts may again be fringe contender, just as they were with Gardner Minshew under center last season.”
“Yet, the league’s 10th-easiest schedule (tied, .491) should give the Colts a chance. If Richardson can provide more stability than Minshew did last season, Indianapolis could be back in the playoffs for the first time since the all-too-brief Philip Rivers era.”
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers16 of 32
Lavonte DavidPerry Knotts/Getty Images
Granted, Tampa Bay’s 9-8 2023 season wasn’t outstanding. But the Bucs did win the NFC South for the third straight year and blasted the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round.
Still, you don’t generally see Tampa mentioned among serious Super Bowl contenders in the NFC. Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht told reporters that the team has essentially become used to a certain level of national disrespect.
“We’re kind of used to it,” Licht said. “I sometimes feel like, down here in Tampa, we’re in witness protection. I don’t want to say we get **** on, but there’s kind of a lack of respect. You can go on, like Lavonte David, I think, is a Hall of Fame-type player. He doesn’t get enough credit as he should. Mike Evans just recently started getting talked about as a future Hall of Famer. So, we’re used to it, but you kind of use it as ammo.”
Knox is with Lichtâthe Buccaneers are being slept on this seasonâat least somewhat.
“I expect plenty of folks to write off the Buccaneers again in 2024. They’ll point to last year’s rare Baker Mayfield “good” season as a fluke and the Kirk Cousins-led Falcons as reasons why Tampa won’t win the NFC South,” he said. “Yet, there’s something to be said about knowing how to compete in a division, and the Bucs have that figured out. They also have a very talented roster that didn’t simply fall apart as soon as Tom Brady called it a career. I have serious questions about Tampa’s cornerback room and backfield, and I don’t view it as a serious contender in the NFC. However, it would take a major regression for the Bucs to not at least be in the divisional mix late in the season. And now that the 29-year-old Mayfield has finally found a little stability, there’s a real chance that the Buccaneers are even better than they were a year ago.”
16. Atlanta Falcons17 of 32
Bijan RobinsonTodd Kirkland/Getty Images
So, there are a few changes in Atlanta this yearâchanges that have ratcheted up expectations in 2024.
There’s a new head coach in Raheem Morris. The team doubled down at the quarterback position, giving Kirk Cousins $45 million a season over four years and then using their first-round pick on Washington signal-caller Michael Penix Jr.
Cousins is rehabbing an Achilles tear that ended his 2023 campaign. But as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote, if the 35-year-old is healthy, he might just be what it takes to put the Falcons over the top in the NFC South.
“Cousins might have flirted with the MVP had he stayed healthy for 17 games,” he said. “He was pacing for 5,000 yards and 38 touchdowns before going down midseason with an Achilles tear. His completion percentage of 69.5% was 4.6 percentage points higher than expected. Cousins ranked fourth in QBR inside the pocket (68.1), which is on brand for the pure pocket passer who turns 36 in August.”
The weapons are there offensively in wide receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney, tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson. The Falcons quietly have one of the better offensive lines in the league. On that side of the ball at least, the Falcons have all the ingredients to compete for a division title.
The Falcons were also quietly 11th in the league in total defense a year ago. If Morris can get a consistent pass rush from a team that was in the bottom half of the league in sacks last season, the Falcons might just be in business.
15. Cleveland Browns18 of 32
Myles GarrettRyan Kang/Getty Images
On many levels, the Cleveland Browns have one of the most talented and balanced rosters in the NFL. The Browns fielded the NFL’s No. 1 defense in 2023, led by edge-rusher (and Defensive Player of the Year) Myles Garrett. Even with Nick Chubb sidelined by a torn ACL, the Browns were able to run the ball thanks to one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. Passing-game weapons. Talent in the defensive backfield. The pieces are all there for a deep playoff run.
Well, except for the most important one.
By just about any objective measurement, the Deshaun Watson trade and contract has been a disaster. In two years in Cleveland, Watson has played in all of 12 games. And when he has been out there, Watson hasn’t been good. His passer rating in four years in Houston was 104.5. In Cleveland it has been 81.7.
However, Watson told reporters that both he and the Browns are ignoring the naysayers.
“This culture is where it needs to be and it’s going in the right direction,” he said. “And I think not just me but multiple guys, multiple coaches, and if you don’t see that, then like I said, you’re supporting the wrong organization, and we don’t accept any negative energy. All positive and all things like that. That’s what we respect.”
They’ll just have to ignore Davenport, too.
“This team could make the postseason with Jameis Winston under centerâthe Browns won more games (11) last year than in any season since re-joining the league in 1999, and that was with five different starting quarterbacks. But to make a deep playoff run, Cleveland needs the quarterback they gave up three first-round picks and $230 million in guarantees for. The Watson who was arguably a top-five quarterback in Houston. And there has been nothing to indicate the past two years that Watson can even be that player anymore.”
14. New York Jets19 of 32
Aaron RodgersSet Number: 164426
Well, here we go again.
At this point last season, the Jets were one of the most-hyped teams in the NFL. The reason why was simpleâthe arrival of four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers in the Big Apple.
Of course, we know what happenedâRodgers made it one series into his first season with the Jets before tearing his Achilles tendon, and the Jets limped their way to a 7-10 season.
Now, with a reportedly healthy Rodgers back under center and following a busy offseason of veteran player acquisitions, the hype train has fired back up. And Moton might be willing to buy a ticketâmaybe.
“The Jets have done everythingâexcept acquire wide receiver Davante Adamsâto help Aaron Rodgers bounce back from a torn Achilles for a strong 2024 season,” Moton said. “This offseason, the Jets added Tyron Smith, John Simpson, Morgan Moses and rookie Olu Fashanu to strengthen their offensive line. They signed Mike Williams and drafted Malachi Corley to bolster the receiver group.”
“With wideout Garrett Wilson, tight end Tyler Conklin and versatile offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker already on the roster,” he went on, “Rodgers has the pass protection and pass-catchers to post numbers that could put him in the conversation for Comeback Player of the Year. If Rodgers doesn’t lead the Jets to the playoffs this year, it may never happen with him in New York.”
The Jets also have a defense that ranked third in yards per game allowed last year and surrendered less than 21 points per game. If this team plays to its potential, they can challenge the Bills in the AFC East.
But it’s the Jets, so many fans are just waiting for a disaster of some sort to strike.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers20 of 32
Russell WilsonJoe Sargent/Getty Images
The good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers is that the team hasn’t had a losing season since 2003. The bad news is that the Steelers also haven’t won a playoff game since 2015âfive postseason setbacks in a row.
In other words, the Steelers have been OK. Even good. But no more than that.
After two so-so years with Kenny Pickett under center, the Steelers threw in the towel and double-dipped at the position, signing Russell Wilson and trading for Justin Fields. Wilson is the early leader to start for the team, and tight end Pat Freiermuth told reporters that Wilson’s veteran presence is already having an impact on the locker room.
“I think that’s something that’s really good for us because we’re a young offense,” he said, “and I think seeing a guy like that who’s been in the league, won a Super Bowl, been to a bunch of Pro Bowls, been All-Pro, just seeing how he works and what it takes to get to that level, I think it’s been good for everyone, and I think I’m excited to see that for the year.”
Sobleski also hailed Pittsburgh’s effort to upgrade under center.
“Pittsburgh’s front office deserves a lot of credit,” he said. “Most organizations remain stubborn and stick with their original decision long past the point of expiration after selecting a first-round quarterback and that pick not playing well. The Steelers dumped Kenny Pickett after only two seasons and brought in veterans Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to improve at the quarterback position. To be clear, Wilson and Fields aren’t perfect by any measure. Both have their issues. At the same time, both bring aspects to the offense that are significantly better than anything Pittsburgh experienced the last two seasons. Along with what looks like a fearsome offensive line, a strong run game and Arthur Smith now calling plays, the Steelers have enough to not just squeak into the postseason, but win the AFC North.”
12. Dallas Cowboys21 of 32
Dak PrescottRichard Rodriguez/Getty Images
It has been a weird offseason in Dallas.
Following another 12-win regular season that culminated in an NFC East title followed by yet another postseason disappointment, team owner Jerry Jones said that Dallas was “all-in” on the 2024 season. That was followed by an interesting approach to the offseason.
The Cowboys essentially did nothing. They were whisper-quiet in free agency, with the biggest signing being the return of Ezekiel Elliott as a replacement for the departed Tony Pollard. The team has yet to work out extensions for quarterback Dak Prescott or wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Yes, the team’s annually dire cap situation played a part, but that never stopped the Cowboys from making moves before. And Moton thinks Dallas’ quiet offseason is going to carry a price.
“The Cowboys have gone 12-5 in three consecutive seasons under Mike McCarthy, but that streak will end this year,” he wrote. “As the Cowboys head into training camp, Ezekiel Elliott projects as their lead running back, and the offensive line could feature two rookies (left tackle Tyler Guyton and center Cooper Beebe). While Guyton and Beebe may handle their transition from college to the pros well, Elliott can’t turn back the clock. He’s a ninth-year veteran who averaged less than 3.9 yards per carry in 2022 and 2023.”
“The Cowboys may need more offensive balance to win in multiple ways,” Moton went on. “If Dallas becomes too reliant on Dak Prescott in the pocket, the offense could be susceptible to high-turnover stretches. Prescott could press too much to make big plays in a contract year. He tied Davis Mills for the league’s most interceptions (15) in 2022. With question marks across the offensive line and in the backfield, Dallas may regress offensively in a disappointing season.”
11. Los Angeles Rams22 of 32
Byron YoungScott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
When NFC Super Bowl contenders are mentioned, the Los Angeles Rams aren’t generally in the conversationâdespite 10 wins and a playoff trip last year and a victory in Super Bowl LVI.
However, while making an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN NFL expert Dan Orlovsky said that offensively at least, those who sleep on the Rams do so at their own peril.
“I think they’re going to be awesome. Awesome,” Orlovsky said. “I think the Rams are going to be as difficult an offense to contend that we have in the league. Maybe San Francisco, but like, the Rams offensive line is going to be awesome. They took Blake Corum, so their one-two with Kyren is going to be devastating. The two receivers are fantastic when it comes to winning on the edge. So, I think the Rams offense is going to be â and look, I don’t think Stafford throws for a gajillion yards because they’re going to run the ball so much.”
Did he mention they were going to be awesome?
The Rams aren’t without young talent on defense, either. Defensive tackle Kobie Turner and edge-rusher Byron Young were both excellent last year as rookies, and the team added two more potential impact players up front in the 2024 draft in Florida State teammates Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. They also brought in cornerback Tre’Davious White and safety Kamren Curl as upgrades in the secondary.
The Rams may not have the talent of their NFC West rivals in San Francisco. But they aren’t as far off as many think.
10. Miami Dolphins23 of 32
Tua TagovailoaDavid Eulitt/Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins are one of the harder teams in the league to get a bead on entering training campâlargely because you never know which Dolphins team will show up in a given week.
There were games last season where the Dolphins looked like an absolute juggernaut offensivelyâthis is the team that dropped 70 on the Denver Broncos last year. But there were also weeks where Miami struggled on both sides of the ball and didn’t look like a playoff team, much less a Super Bowl contender.
Last year’s one-and-done playoff trip led to an extensive overhaul of Mike McDaniel’s assistant coaches. McDaniel acknowledged to reporters that’s not an ideal situationâbut he added that it could be a good thing in the long run.
“It’s a challenge that you don’t like having and you prefer not having every year,” McDaniel said. “But it’s one that is welcomed and embraced if you’re able to find the right people and put the right people together to facilitate the individual and team dream that we’re all shooting for.”
“There are reasons for last year’s late fade by the Dolphins that go beyond the team itselfâMiami’s pass-rushers were obliterated by injuries late in the season,” Davenport said. “But at this point why it happened doesn’t matter as much as the fact it keeps happening. Tua Tagovailoa is looking for his megadeal, but if he wants to get his $200+ million (and McDaniel wants to keep his job), then Miami has to do more than just make the postseason. They need to win playoff games. And a Dolphins team with potential issues on the edge and along the offensive line playing in a ridiculously loaded AFC is no sure bet to do that.”
9. Green Bay Packers24 of 32
Jordan LovePatrick McDermott/Getty Images
The Green Bay Packers rode a hot second half of last season into the playoffs, where they stunned the Cowboys in Dallas in the Wild Card Round. Now the Packers are looking to build on that success. It’s a young team. A hungry team. A talented team.
The key to last year’s second-half surge was the play of quarterback Jordan Love, who erased most doubts about his long-term viability as Green Bay’s starter. Carmen Vitali of Fox Sports wrote recently that Love has the potential to be just as big for the Packers as Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers were before him.
“Throughout last season,” Vitali said, “I talked to coaches who coached against Love and even in the early going when there were some bumps in the road, everyone said Love just has that ever-coveted, indefinable “it factor.” At the halfway point of the season, you almost saw it click on Love’s face. The last 10 games of the season, he threw for 18 touchdowns against just one interception. He took the youngest team in the league to the divisional round after absolutely demolishing the Cowboys in Dallas in the wild-card round.
Sobleski agrees the Green Bay offense should be excellent. But he confessed to some concerns about the defense.
“The Packers offense may be the most exciting group to watch this upcoming season,” he said. “How Jordan Love progresses (or regresses) in Year 2 will be under a microscope. The roster features beaucoup talent at wide receiver, with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton and Samori Toure. The entire group is young and chock full of untapped potential.”
“Conversely,” he continued, “the defense isn’t as settled. Joe Barry wasn’t cutting it as the Packers defensive coordinator. So, head coach Matt LaFleur brought in Jeff Hafley from the collegiate ranks. Hafley has never called plays at the NFL level. Furthermore, the staff will be working rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, as well as safeties Xavier McKinney and fellow rookie Javon Bullard, into the lineup. On paper, the group has improved. But it may take some time to come together.”
8. Philadelphia Eagles25 of 32
Saquon BarkleyAndy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 2023 campaign was a tale of two seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles. Eleven games in, the Eagles had one loss and looked like the best team in the NFC. Then the wheels came off. Over the season’s last seven games, the Eagles would win once. They were embarrassed by the lowly Arizona Cardinals, squandered the NFC East and got spanked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the playoffs.
While appearing on The Javien University podcast, Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell said that he thinks last year’s disaster resulted from a lack of communication.
“I think it was a connection piece,” Gainwell said. “Teams like [the Kansas City Chiefs] are well-connected, upstairs and downstairs. Front office and locker room. When you have a connection, everything just clicks. But when you’ve got guys that aren’t talking to each other, you never know what’s going on.”
If that was the case, it’s not a great look for head coach Nick Sirianni, who is likely coaching for his job in 2024. Or quarterback Jalen Hurts, who got his massive payday last year. Both have no shortage of things to prove in 2024.
Make no mistakeâthe Eagles have the talent to win the Super Bowl. Philadelphia brought in running back Saquon Barkley to boost the offense and replaced departed edge-rusher Haason Reddick with Bryce Huff. Quarterback. Weapons. Offensive Line. Pass rush. The Eagles are loaded.
If Philly’s rebuilt secondary holds up better this season, the Eagles could make it all the way to New Orleans.
But expectations in Philadelphia are as high as the team’s potential.
7. Buffalo Bills 26 of 32
Keon ColemanBryan Bennett/Getty Images
There’s a level of unease surrounding the Buffalo Bills as training camp begins that is unusual for a team that has won four consecutive AFC East titles and went 11-6 a year ago.
There are legitimate concerns on both sides of the ball. With the departure of Gabe Davis and the trade of Stefon Diggs, Buffalo’s top two wide receivers from a season ago. Replacements were brought in like veterans Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and rookie Keon Coleman, but while offensive coordinator Joe Brady admitted this new group may not have experience together and lacks a true No. 1 wideout, he’s confident that quarterback Josh Allen can elevate his new pass-catchers.
“At the end of the day, there’s only one guy in that receiver room that has caught a ball from Josh (Allen) in a game,” Brady told reporters. “At the end of the day for the longest time when you had to play the Buffalo Bills you had to worry about Stefon Diggs. And that is different now, but you also had to worry about Josh Allen. It’s a quarterback-driven league and fortunately, we still have him so our offense will run through him.”
The concerns aren’t just on offense. For years, veterans Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer have manned the safety spots in Western New York. Both are goneâreplaced by Taylor Rapp and Mike Edwards.
None of this is to say that the Bills aren’t still a very good football team capable of doing damage in the AFC. But the team isn’t the runaway favorite in the AFC East that they have been the past couple of seasons.
6. Cincinnati Bengals27 of 32
Joe BurrowJason Miller/Getty Images
The Cincinnati Bengals would likely just as soon pretend that the 2023 season never happened. When quarterback Joe Burrow was lost to a season-ending wrist injury, so was any chance the Bengals had of making a deep postseason run.
Now, Burrow is healthy. And the brash young signal-caller made it clear he wants to give the entire NFL something to talk about in 2024.
“If you’re not out there and people aren’t watching you, then there’s nothing to talk about,” Burrow said on the Pardon My Take podcast. “I’m going to give people something to talk about this year. When you’re injured, there’s no dialogue between yourself and the narrative.”
“While I fully anticipate a return trip to the postseason for Cincinnati, I’m lower on the Bengals than most,” Knox said. “However, my concern has little to do with Joe Burrow’s return from yet another significant injury. Cincinnati’s offensive line still worries me. I was only marginally better in 2023 (50 sacks allowed) than it has been in past years, and while I like Amarius Mims as a prospect, the Bengals don’t have the best track record of developing young linemen. Trent Brown is a decent enough stopgap at right tackle, but he’s missed time in three of the past four seasons. There’s also likely be an adjustment period after the departures of Joe Mixon and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, though playing the Patriots, Commanders and Panthers in the opening month could help nullify that.”
“Cincinnati’s feast-or-famine defense could also be an issue,” Knox continued. “Lou Anarumo finds ways to generate big plays, but he’s still overseeing a unit that ranked 30th in yards per carry allowed, 32nd in net yards per pass attempt allowed and 31st in yards allowed last season. There are just too many variables for me to consider the Bengals a top-five team heading into the season.”
5. Baltimore Ravens28 of 32
Lamar JacksonPerry Knotts/Getty Images
Before we go any farther, let’s clear something up. Blaming Lamar Jackson for last year AFC Championship Game loss is just busted. That loss was on the Ravens staff, who decided that all but abandoning the run was a good idea. This isn’t to say that Jackson played a great gameâhe didn’t. But the “Lamar Jackson can’t win the big one” narrative is justâŠcome on, y’all.
Jackson won his second MVP award last year, posting career highs in completion percentage and passing yards. One NFC executive told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that he’s glad to see the notion that Jackson is just a “running QB” has finally been put to rest.
“How he came in, with everything stuck to that stigma as a runner, that sticks with you as a pro until you prove them wrong,” the executive said. “That’s not fair but that’s the way it’s been with him. There wasn’t any doubt who the best player in the league was last year. So, it’s long been time to put that to rest.”
However, Sobleski worries that Jackson may have to do more running this yearâas a matter of self-preservation.
“The Ravens backfield is super-exciting in theory,” he said. “Quarterback Lamar Jackson is a two-time league MVP. Derrick Henry is the best running back that’s ever played next to Jackson, even counting the iterations that were setting NFL rushing records. But the effectiveness of each this fall comes with a caveat. Baltimore’s offensive line is a work-in-progress. There’s no reason to knock Baltimore down significantly. However, the current setup should be concerning. The squad’s previous right side of Morgan Moses and Kevin Zeitler now play for the New York Jets and Detroit Lions, respectively. Left guard John Simpson also joined the Jets on a new free-agent deal. Three positions along the front five will have competition to see who emerges as the starter. As talented as Jackson and Henry are, an O-line that doesn’t gel could be highly problematic.”
Still, with an MVP quarterback, a 2,000-yard running back and the league’s No. 1 scoring defense in 2023, the Ravens have to be looked at as one of the main challengers to the Chiefs in the AFC.
4. Houston Texans29 of 32
C.J. StroudKirby Lee/Getty Images
All aboard the hype train!
There is absolutely zero question that the Houston Texans are the most-hyped team of 2024. There’s good reason for much of it. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was a revelation last year on the way to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The team added multiple veterans on both sides of the ball, whether it was wide receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon on offense or edge-rusher Danielle Hunter and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on defense. This is a team replete with talent on both sides of the ball.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio told reporters that inside the building, the team is doing its level best to tune out the outside noise.
“Yeah, I think anything that’s really discussed outside of the building doesn’t really have any relevance to us,” Caserio said. “We’re not going to spend any time on things that, quite frankly, don’t matter. Our expectations for the players is to come in with a good attitude, put a good foundation in place, be a great teammate, be resilient â because we’re going to face some things as a team, we’re going to face some things individually â and put the best version of yourself on the field each day.”
Houston is admittedly a (mostly) young team unused to being viewed as a Super Bowl contender. But in players like Diggs, Mixon and wide receiver Robert Woods, the team has some players who have participated in deep playoff runs. Woods wasn’t on the field for Super Bowl LVI against Mixon’s Bengals, but they understand what it takes to navigate the long season.
Nothing is guaranteed in the NFLâespecially in an AFC loaded with elite quarterbacks and good teams.
But make no mistakeâthe Houston Texans are legit.
3. Detroit Lions30 of 32
Aidan HutchinsonCooper Neill/Getty Images
It’s the end of the world as we know itâand fans of the Detroit Lions feel fine.
After decades of futility, the Detroit Lions won the NFC North for the first time ever in 2023. The team came within one game of the franchise’s first Super Bowl last year.
As star edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson told reporters, for him the goal this season isn’t just to win two more games than 2023. It’s to “Restore the Roar” in the long-termâto lift the Lions to heights the franchise hasn’t seen since the 1950s.
“I think everyone has put everything into this upcoming year, and I feel like for the years to come as well, because it’s not our last year we’re all playing,” Hutchinson said. “There’s a lot of great players on this team, and I think we could just have repeated success over the next few years.”
At least one of our analysts is on board with that possibilityâSobleski ranked the Lions as the No. 1 team in the NFL in his Power Rankings.
“Let’s look at this as a training camp projection going into the 2024 season and envision how the season can develop,” he wrote. “The Kansas City Chiefs are top dogs as back-to-back Super Bowl champs. Patrick Mahomes gives them a natural edge over pretty much everyone else. However, L’Jarius Sneed is now gone. Left tackle remains a question mark. Rashee Rice faces a potential league suspension. These little cracks can open the door for others to walk through.”
“The Lions were one half away from appearing in their first Super Bowl,” he went on. “If not for a couple of Josh Reynolds drops, they should have been. Detroit is ascending. Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta are entering their second seasons and should be even more dangerous. More importantly, last season’s bottom-six pass defense has been overhauled, with Carlton Davis III and Terrion Arnold now at cornerback. It’s time.”
You heard him, Lions fans. For what it’s worth, New Orleans is an absolute blast to visitâor so we’ve heard.
2. San Francisco 49ers31 of 32
Deommodore LenoirRyan Kang/Getty Images
Might as well address the elephant in the room in San Francisco. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk may have requested a trade, but unless a team makes a “Godfather” offer we’ll be shocked if he’s actually moved. Will either Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel likely be gone in 2025? Yupâthere’s only so much money to go around, and Brock Purdy’s extension is going to beâlarge. But teams with one overriding goal don’t generally trade their WR1âeven if they drafted his potential replacement this year.
And the San Francisco 49ers have one goal and one goal only this seasonâbecome the fourth team in NFL history to lose the Super Bowl and then win it the following year.
(If you’re wondering, the Dallas Cowboys (Super Bowl VI), Miami Dolphins (Super Bowl VII) and New England Patriots (Super Bowl LIII) were the first three. It ain’t easy.
While appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, San Fran cornerback Deommodore Lenoir said that the 49ers are as tight-knit as everâand committed to winning one more contest this season than last.
“We always been close, even after the Eagles loss in the NFC (Championship Game during the 2022 season),” Lenoir said. “It just brings us tighter, when we was able to get another step further. We didn’t finish it with the win, but I feel like, this year, we got to get that taste out of our mouths. We got the pieces in the locker room, and we got the players that’s willing to do it, and we got the coaches that’s willing to call the right plays. We just got to finish.”
The 49ers are as talented as balanced as any team in the league. It’s a team without a glaring weakness. And they have to be considered the favorites in the NFC (again).
1. Kansas City Chiefs32 of 32
Nick BoltonRyan Kang/Getty Images
Like it was going to be anyone at No. 1 except the two-time
defending champions.
The Kansas City Chiefs have already established themselves as the NFL’s newest dynasty. But in 2024, the team is trying to make history by doing something no team ever hasâwin three straight Super Bowls.
Star linebacker Nick Bolton admitted to reporters that he wants that three-peatâand he’s not the only player in the Kansas City locker room who does.
“Everybody talks about it,” Bolton said. “(There’s been) an undefeated season, it’s been done before. Winning back-to-back Super Bowls, that’s been done before. To be on your own in history, I think that’s special. I think everyone strives to be the No. 1 team to ever do that. We’ve got a lot of guys on our team that are gonna get a lot of credit when they get done playing, hang the cleats up, but I think being on top of the list would be three Super Bowls in a row. That’s never been done before. I know Pat (Mahomes) and Trav (tight end Travis Kelce), those guys, man, they’re hungry for it. We’re hungry for it.”
“The Chiefs are the most battle-tested team in the NFL,” Davenport said. “They have the best quarterback in the game in Patrick Mahomes. The best head coach in the league in Andy Reid. They addressed their biggest weakness from a year ago big-time with the addition of veteran wide receiver Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy. The loss of cornerback L’Jarius Sneed was admittedly a blow, but the second-best defense in the league last year in terms of both yards and points allowed isn’t just going to implode without him. Kansas City might not be the most talented team in the league. But until someone knocks them off the mountain, they are most assuredly the best.”
