Chiefs, Lions Lead Super Bowl Contenders

There are less than seven months between the end of the Super Bowl and Week 1 of the next regular season. But the long, arduous journey of the waiting game known as the offseason is over, and the 2024 NFL season is here. So naturally, it’s time to dive into the league with our NFL Power rankings.

Preseason power rankings always seem, at least to some extent, to be a fool’s errand. think we know what we know about these teams. However, in 18 weeks, a lot can change in what we know and, more importantly, what these teams show us. But hey, we have to make some predictions and projections, right? So that’s what we’ll do. And while we’ve still ranked every team, we’re also putting all 32 NFL teams into tiers.

We break down the NFL rankings and kick off the season with a quick look at each team and why they’re where they are.

32. New England Patriots

The fact that Jerod Mayo is starting Jacoby Brissett instead of Drake Maye tells me two things: one, this team has no intention of winning games in 2024, and two, this offensive line is a disaster. Don’t have faith in the Patriots, because they may not have faith themselves.

31. Carolina Panthers

This should looks better for the Panthers in Year 2 with Bryce Young with an improved receiving corps and some pieces to build. This roster just isn’t in a position to compete adequately yet.

30. New York Giants

There are some solid fundamentals on this Giants team, but ultimately the fact that Daniel Jones is almost certainly not one of them, behind a weak offensive line, doesn’t give me much hope for the G-Men.

29. Tennessee Titans

Maybe Will Levis and the Titans could help prove me wrong, because I like the way they’ve started to reshape the roster and coaching staff around Brian Callahan. But I fear we may still be a ways off from that, which will result in significant competition.

28. Washington’s Commanders

Seriously, watching Jayden Daniels is one of the things I’m most looking forward to this season and if the O-line is decent, this could be a good offense. The defense is a bit bland though, and the rookie development issues are also in play.

27. Indianapolis Colts

Maybe it will make him look silly, but I’m still not entirely sure why everyone is convinced that Anthony Richardson is some kind of savior for the Colts. Until he stays healthy and proves it in 17 games, consider me suspicious of what’s going on in Indianapolis.

26. Denver Broncos

I’ve never been shy about my lack of faith in Bo Nix, but I do believe Sean Payton could do it. The rest of the Broncos’ roster is a much bigger concern, though, and it could be a tough few years in Denver, even with Nix.

25. Las Vegas Raiders

It’s hard to know what to make of the Raiders, given the improvement in their terrible defense and the doubts at quarterback. Personally, I don’t believe the Silver and Black will be a big deal this season.

24. New Orleans Saints

If we were ranking head coaches, Dennis Allen might be at the bottom of the list. Couple that with Derek Carr’s extreme mediocrity, and the Saints don’t seem to be going anywhere fast, even in a weak division.

23. Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold could be the ultimate test of how good Kevin O’Connell’s offensive mind is. The Vikings have definitely improved beyond the quarterback position, but the team may not be there yet.

22. Arizona Cardinals

Even with some improvements on defense and Marvin Harrison Jr. joining Kyler Murray for a full season, the Cardinals are hitting a chord of being playful but not yet at a level where they can contend or compete. But hey, maybe they’ll push for a playoff spot by building on last year’s late-season momentum.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars seemed to be perpetual underdogs last season, but the group should be better in 2024. How much better is a question we await.

20. Los Angeles Chargers

There are questions about the Chargers’ skill set and some on defense that are certainly worth noting. And yet I won’t write them off because history has taught us that Jim Harbaugh often finds a way, and Justin Herbert should certainly help in that regard.

19.Seattle Seahawks

Mike Macdonald should provide some energy for the Seahawks defense, but I also expect Ryan Grubb at OC to do the same for Geno Smith and the offense. In a division that could be exhausting, I worry about Seattle’s ceiling.

18. Chicago Bears

Call me a prisoner of the moment or whatever, but I am excited and optimistic about the Caleb Williams era. With the pieces Ryan Poles has put in place around his prized new quarterback on both offense and defense, the Bears will be a tough ask for any opponent.

17. Atlanta Falcons

Kirk Cousins’ health is indeed a concern for the Falcons, but the organization has clearly gone all-in in its bid to take control of the NFC South. Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons are entering the battle for Raheem Morris, which would make Atlanta higher than it deserves.

16. Cleveland Browns

Honestly, I’m completely divided on the Browns. On the one hand, we should have full confidence in this defense and the playmakers on offense. On the other hand, the offensive line is already short and we don’t know if Deshaun Watson can still throw the ball. So a spot in the middle of the 32 teams seems appropriate.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Have the Buccaneers lost some of their secret sauce with the departure of Dave Canales? To me, the Bucs know exactly who they are with Baker Mayfield, and perhaps more than we would like to admit, that could take the team down a pretty long road.

14.Pittsburgh Steelers

If Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields can give the Steelers something resembling competent play at quarterback, this team could be dangerous with the defense they have in place. That’s a big, big “if” in this scenario, though, so waiting and watching might be the best approach.

13. Los Angeles Rams

Losing Aaron Donald to retirement obviously won’t help the Rams, but anyone who doubts Sean McVay with a healthy Matthew Stafford and this cast of weapons is just plain stupid at this point. The Rams can probably keep up with most teams in the league.

12. New York Jets

What will Aaron Rodgers look like after his Achilles injury? That’s basically what this Jets season comes down to. We know the receivers are good, the line should be better and the defense is borderline elite. What we get from Rodgers returning is key to the season, though.

11. Houston Texans

The Texans seem to be everyone’s favorites, but for good reason. C.J. Stroud was phenomenal as a rookie, and he’s even better now. I still have my doubts about the ceiling for this team, but they are the legitimate favorites in the AFC South and a virtual playoff berth.

10. Green Bay Packers

I’m drunk on Jordan Love Kool-Aid and I’m not afraid to say it. What he showed in the second half of last season was great, and as the young Packers roster around him continues to improve and the defense hopefully continues to improve under new DC Jeff Hafley, this team could become something special.

9. Cincinnati Bengals

There are legitimate questions about Joe Burrow’s health, but I have full confidence in the Bengals if that turns out not to be an issue. Of course, the confusion surrounding Ja’Marr Chase’s contract worries me a bit, but there are foundations for a potential contender.

8. Buffalo Bills

I feel obligated to have the Bills in the top eight, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little concerned. Josh Allen is still one of the “guys” in the NFL, but the skill positions look noticeably worse, as does the defense. I’m not saying Buffalo will collapse, but there could definitely be some growing pains, especially early in the year.

7. Philadelphia Eagles

Speaking of teams I have doubts about, the Eagles fell apart disastrously late last season. I think Kellen Moore should help, and this roster remains incredibly talented, but my biggest doubts are with Nick Sirianni, who could do more harm than good in Philly.

6.Miami Dolphins

Yes, I know it was a different team, when *checks notes* it gets a little cold. But Mike McDaniel has given you every reason to believe the Dolphins offense is one of the best in the league, while I think the defense may be a little too sloppy. I’m ready to get injured again in Miami.

5. Dallas Cowboys

All the Dak Prescott (and CeeDee Lamb before him) contract drama has masked one simple fact: the Cowboys will still be very good, at least in the regular season. Sure, they have the worst running backs in the league. But last season was nothing to write home about either, and they still won 12 games.

4. Detroit Lions

It could be argued that the Lions choked out a Super Bowl berth just last season in the NFC Championship Game. This roster looks even stronger and deeper. We should have full confidence in Dan Campbell and his staff, and the Lions are my NFC pick to play in the Super Bowl, even if another must-win pick beats them.

3. San Francisco 49ers

I’m starting to convince myself that I’m suffering from a 49ers Super Bowl hangover. Christian McCaffrey, who’s already struggling with a calf injury, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams being reluctant, and my general dislike for Brock Purdy all have me wondering about this team, as do some of their defensive failures. This may seem like a silly thought quickly, but consider my antennae raised.

2.Baltimore Ravens

Listen, John Harbaugh is definitely one of the top five coaches in the league, and while I wonder what the defense looks like after Mike Macdonald, adding Derrick Henry to this offense just seems unfair to the defenses that will have to stop him and Lamar Jackson in the run game. I can’t express how excited I am to watch this team and what they’re capable of this season.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

The champions are the champions, looking to become champions for the third time in a row. Patrick Mahomes now has an offense that should be much more functional around him, and it looks like the Chiefs will continue that same streak of dominance, perhaps even more impressively, in the 2024 campaign.