Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (right) and tight end Travis Kelce are back in pursuit of their third consecutive Lombardi Trophy. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Kansas City begins the 2024 season last season: atop the NFL power rankings.
The Chiefs open the defense of consecutive Super Bowls and bid for a historic three-peat at home, facing a team capable of knocking them from a cushioned perch in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens.
Even-keeled Andy Reid and the Chiefs will not get too worked up to hold the top spot in the subjective ranking in September, has proven that winning the Super Bowl does not mean the best in the fall.
There are new and old contenders in the NFC, bidding to win the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans in February. But who can beat Patrick Mahomes?
We’re asking NFL writers to help stack the field ahead of Week 1.
32. New England Patriots: Prepared to take lumps in the transition from Bill Belichick to Jerod Mayo, need the Patriots playmakers to take a step forward.
31. Minnesota Vikings: Not only will they miss Kirk Cousins, the Vikings are likely to be an early seller to back up to trade away many valuable draft picks. Minnesota has a first-round pick in 2025 (and two fifth-round picks), but will head coach Kevin O’Connell be coaching next year’s rookie class?
30. Las Vegas Raiders: A possible step up for the Raiders’ defense. Two steps back could be a reality on the other side of the ball, where Gardner Minshew enters Week 1 as the starter.
29. New York Giants: When stacked against the rest of the NFC East, the Giants appear to have a Triple-A roster and too many holes to overcome.
28. Denver Broncos: Here comes the season to pay – and pay to pay – Russell Wilson.
27. Tennessee Titans: new identity in Nashville. It will take Brian Callahan a season or two for the roster to mesh with his plans.
26. New Orleans Saints: Barring the unexpected, head coach Dennis Allen’s hot seat hits full sizzle with a rough schedule that includes the Cowboys, Eagles and Chiefs in the first five weeks.
25. Seattle Seahawks: We’re sold on Mike Macdonald as a defensive mastermind, even if the personnel isn’t up to par. And doubts linger about the viability of the offense with Geno Smith at the helm.
24. Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn took over in Washington and the Commanders could have hit a home run with No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels, but the franchise’s arrival as a likely contender is a year or two away.
23. Carolina Panthers: Inspired by yet another coaching change, Carolina is on pace early in the season but no team can be eliminated from consideration in the NFC South
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert was hit with doubts about his durability and evidence of crutches Keenan Allen (Bears) and Austin Ekeler (Commander) were shown the door in what sets up as a .500-type finish for Jim Harbaugh’s NFL return.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Injuries hit in the preseason and Pittsburgh hitched to Russell Wilson. This could work with the Steelers’ stacked LB corps if only head coach Mike Tomlin knew where the juice was coming from on offense.
20. Atlanta Falcons: Paying a premium for Kirk Cousins puts Atlanta closer to the top of the division, but the Falcons can only climb further if 2023 first-rounder Bijan Robinson and a rebuilt defense perform today.
19. Arizona Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray, WR Marvin Harrison Jr., TE Trey McBride and rookie RB Trey Benson give the Cardinals a scary offense for the coming year, but Arizona’s defense lags sorely behind.
18. Chicago Bears: In a different division, the Bears could be stronger playing as the worst story for the first time coming from a 7-10 season with No. 1 Pick Caleb Williams making a buzz in Chicago.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Credit GM Jason Licht for (somehow) getting the band back together in a spendy offseason to help maintain the Bucs’ status as the team to beat in the NFC South.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott was MVP runner-up last season without much of a running game. Are the undersold Cowboys a legitimate contender?
15. Jacksonville Jaguars: Fading in December does not inspire confidence. If Doug Pederson can inspire a comeback, Jacksonville could be the team no one wants to see after Christmas.
14. Los Angeles Rams: General manager Les Snead and Sean McVay went from chasing proven all-stars to building a roster to hammering pearls in the draft a few seasons ago.
13. New York Jets: A roster with blue-chip talent and a Hall of Fame quarterback may not be enough if the depth is proven again in 2024. Best of luck convincing Aaron Rodgers to lean towards the team’s strength – its defense.
12. Indianapolis Colts: head coach Shane Steichen inspired confidence in his debut season, overcoming injuries to QB Anthony Richardson and RB Jonathan Taylor to steer the Colts to contention. With Richardson and Taylor back, finishing first in the AFC South is not out of the question.
11. Miami Dolphins: A star-studded supporting cast eases some heat on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with a new contract in hand. Pass rush – Bradley Chubb is out until October, as is No. 3 WR Odell Beckham Jr. – can mandate shootouts for Miami until reinforcements arrive.
10. Buffalo Bills: Rebuilding a step too far, but frustration could push the Bills into a major remodel — under a new coach — in the offseason.
9. Cleveland Browns: Grimacing out of concern for the Browns’ misfortune at quarterback. Deshaun Watson returned from shoulder surgery with a steady offensive line and was made by a fearsome defense, but RB Nick Chubb started the season on the PUP list. Watson’s guaranteed annual salary of $46 million means he was paid $11.5 million per win to go 8-4 in his first two seasons with the Browns.
8. Houston Texans: Can Houston jump from good – division champion, playoff win last season – to great in the second year of DeMeco Ryans and CJ Stroud partnership? All focus on Stroud and his various offensive weapons. Houston’s defense also had a serious impact.
7. Philadelphia Eagles: Change was the theme for the Eagles again in the offseason with new coordinators and playmakers in the fold. If head coach Nick Sirianni captains Philly to a slow start, he may be next to go out the door.
6. Cincinnati Bengals: With fingers crossed that Ja’Marr Chase walks through the door before the Patriots land in Cincinnati for Week 1, the Bengals have proof they can hang with the AFC’s best when Joe Burrow takes the field.
5. San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams re-enters the team picture just in time for San Francisco to sail into the 2024 regular season. A good early schedule – Jets, Vikings, Rams, Patriots, Cardinals – should help Brock Purdy and Friends find foothold
4. Detroit Lions: Watch out if the young defensive playmakers emerge ahead of schedule. If not, Detroit might not be a bully until next season.
3. Baltimore Ravens: Based on the regular season, Baltimore is the team to beat in the postseason. Then January happened, and John Harbaugh had a month to wonder what the Ravens would have done with the workhorse back. They found one, and Derrick Henry could be the missing piece in 2024.
2. Green Bay Packers: Buy Jordan Love and remodel the Green Bay defense and bump the Packers ahead of the heavyweights in the NFC by the slimmest of margins.
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Complacency in check, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs take aim at history. A three-peat would make Mahomes and Andy Reid in four rings in six seasons.
–Field Level Media
