NFL Power Rankings: Week 1 (2024)
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs and head coach Andy Reid watch drills during training camp, Monday, July 24, 2023, at Missouri Western State University, in Saint Joseph, MO. (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)
Editor's note: This article was published on Monday and has been updated with the news that San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams has signed a reworked three-year deal worth $82.66 million.
Do you smell that? That's the smell of the new NFL season on the horizon! The 2024 NFL season kicks off on September 5th as the Baltimore Ravens travel to take on the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game.
This season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons in NFL history. From the up-and-coming Houston Texans, the talented, mercurial Philadelphia Eagles, and the rising Detroit Lions, multiple teams believe that they have the goods to prevent the Chiefs from becoming the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
The Chiefs and the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers start the season at #1 and #2 respectively in my power rankings, but what about the rest of the league? Let's take a look at how all 32 teams stack up as the 2024 NFL regular season begins.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Led by future Hall of Famers in Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, and head coach Andy Reid, Kansas City currently has a chokehold on the league that hasn't been seen since the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick-led Patriots. The Chiefs have made six consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances (second-most all-time, only behind the Patriots from 2011-2018) and have played in four of the last five Super Bowls, winning three championships along the way. Until someone steps up and manages to knock Mahomes and Co. off their perch, the Chiefs will continue to be the favourites to stake claim to the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
2. San Francisco 49ersComing into the 2024 NFL season, you could argue that no team in the league has more pressure to win a Super Bowl this year than the San Francisco 49ers. The defending NFC champions have the best roster in football and have been one of the best teams in the NFL over the last few years, but for numerous reasons, they have yet to capture a Lombardi Trophy. During the offseason, the 49ers were involved in a lot of contract drama, as they attempted to navigate contract extensions with All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams. And while the team was able to re-sign Aiyuk last Thursday, they have yet to agree on a new extension for Williams. Sure, Williams is 36 years old, but his importance to the 49ers cannot be overstated. And with other various contract decisions on the horizon (e.g. with Pro Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy), there's a solid chance that this season represents the last chance for this iteration of the 49ers to win a championship.
For the first time in decades, the Detroit Lions will enter a season as bonafide Super Bowl contenders. Last season, the Lions won a division title for the first time since 1993 and made it to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1992. And coming into this season, you can argue that Detroit is the best team in NFC. Led by the best offensive line in the NFL, an elite group of playmakers, and a top-10 quarterback in Jared Goff, the Lions could lead the league in points scored in 2024. Combine that with a defence that was massively overhauled during the offseason and looks much improved (at least on paper) and it begins to make sense why the Lions are one of the top favourites to win Super Bowl LIX.
The Ravens enter the 2024 NFL season attempting to do something that they haven't done since 2012; make it to and win the Super Bowl. In 2023, led by reigning MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and an elite defence, Baltimore enjoyed an incredible regular season that saw them win 13 games (the most in the NFL) and dominate some really good teams. However, as previously mentioned, the Ravens were unable to get past the Chiefs at home in the AFC Championship Game. In 2024, though, the Ravens' offence could be even better than it was last year, with the addition of former rushing champion and All-Pro running back Derrick Henry. With Henry joining Jackson in the backfield, along with the fact that Baltimore still has a great defence (although they did lose some key pieces on that side of the ball during the offseason), it's safe to say that the Ravens are still one of the top contenders in a loaded AFC.
5. Houston Texans
The surprise team of the 2023 NFL season was the Houston Texans. Led by then-rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, Houston won 10 games, the AFC South division title, and a playoff game in very impressive fashion. During the offseason, Texans general manager Nick Caserio made a noticeable effort to improve the roster by trading for All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon to bolster the offence. And in free agency, Caserio managed to sign All-Pro edge rusher Danielle Hunter, who will pair up with last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year, Will Anderson Jr., to make up what should be one of the NFL's most feared pass-rushing units. If Stroud can continue to play at an elite level, don't be surprised if the Texans make it to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history this season.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
The Bengals enter the 2024 NFL season with a lot of intrigue. Last season, Cincinnati missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020, albeit they still finished the year with a 9-8 record. Their failure to reach the postseason can be blamed on the fact that superstar quarterback Joe Burrow suffered through an injury-plagued season that saw him only play 10 games in 2023. However, with Burrow now healthy once again, the Bengals have to be considered as one of the top teams in the AFC in 2024. They have to figure out that Ja'Marr Chase contract situation, though, and figure it out ASAP with the start of the regular season rapidly approaching.
The Bills will look a lot different this season compared to years past. During the offseason, Bills general manager Brandon Beane put an emphasis on making the team younger, as older veteran players (such as All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse, and All-Pro safety Micah Hyde) are all no longer on the team. However, while the Bills will be undergoing many changes in 2024, they have still two constants that they will be able to heavily rely upon: All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen and head coach Sean McDermott. As long as those two guys are leading this Buffalo team, they should be the favourites to win the AFC East and remain as one of the top contenders in the AFC in general.
The Packers come into the 2024 NFL season as one of the top teams in the NFC. In 2023, the offence (led by quarterback Jordan Love and a multitude of talented wide receivers) exploded down the stretch, helping Green Bay notch a playoff berth and embarrass the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round before narrowly falling to the 49ers in the divisional round. If Love can continue to develop into an elite quarterback and the defence (with new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley leading the charge) can play up to its potential, the Packers could make an even deeper playoff run in 2024 and maybe make their first Super Bowl appearance since 2010.
2024 can't go any worse than 2023, right? That's what all Jets fans are hoping for this season as future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns to the fold after suffering a season-ending torn Achilles just four plays into their Week 1 matchup with the Bills last year. An offence led by Rodgers, young star playmakers in running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and a much-improved offensive line combined with an elite defence gives the Jets a solid chance to snap their 14-year playoff drought and perhaps go on a deep playoff run. But if they don't...
From a pure talent standpoint, the Browns have a top-five roster in the NFL. Led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year in edge rusher Myles Garrett and Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward, the Browns arguably have the best defence in the NFL. The Browns also possess a great offensive line and talented players on offence such as All-Pro running back Nick Chubb, Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper, and Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku. The only thing that is holding this team back from being in the Super Bowl conversation is the quarterback. Can Deshaun Watson finally get back to playing at an elite level?
This offseason made it clear: the Atlanta Falcons are done with being mediocre. The Falcons have finished the last three seasons with a 7-10 record and they have not made the playoffs since 2017 (tied for the third-longest playoff drought in the NFL). But coming into this season, Atlanta looks like the most talented team in the NFC South. With the addition of Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins to an offence that already had star playmakers such as running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts, the Falcons should put up points in bunches in 2024. And if veteran newcomers Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons can help the defence, this will be a well-balanced squad that should be able to take home the NFC South division crown and host a playoff game this season.
Last year, I learned a valuable lesson: never count out a Sean McVay-coached team with a healthy roster. After a disastrous 2022 season that saw the Rams win just five games, McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford led a turnaround that saw L.A. win 10 games and make it back to the playoffs. The Rams' offence, led by Stafford, running back Kyren Williams, and an elite, All-Pro wide receiver duo of Puka Nacua (who arguably had the best rookie season ever for a wideout) and Cooper Kupp should be a fun one to watch. But I have reservations about the defence with future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald retiring combined with the fact that Raheem Morris (their defensive coordinator for the past three seasons) is now the head coach of the Falcons. That side of the ball needs to hold up their end of the bargain if the Rams are going to win their second Super Bowl in the Stafford/McVay era.
There is one guarantee with this Miami Dolphins team: they are going to score and they are going to score A LOT. Led by Pro Bowl quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a dynamic running back duo of Raheem Mostert (who co-led the league in total touchdowns last season) and De'Von Achane, along with their elite, speedy wide receiver duo of All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Miami led the league in total offence and finished second in points per game (29.2). Head coach Mike McDaniel deserves a lot of credit for building this elite offence. However, the biggest weakness of this team is on the offensive and defensive lines. It's hard to be a legit Super Bowl contender with those concerns in the trenches. Additionally, under McDaniel, Miami has struggled to beat good teams. Until that changes, the Dolphins will stay where they're at; a fun football team to watch that ultimately won't make a deep playoff run in the AFC.
The Jaguars were one of the most disappointing teams from last season. Fresh off winning the AFC South and a playoff game in 2022, Jacksonville was looked at as one of the top contenders in the AFC. But after an 8-3 start to the season, the Jags (with injuries being a prime culprit) crumbled down the stretch, as they finished with a 9-8 record and ended up missing the postseason altogether. This season, with newly paid quarterback Trevor Lawrence entering his fourth season, the pressure is on him and head coach Doug Pederson to get Jacksonville from being another afterthought in the AFC to a team that can reclaim the AFC South crown and legitimately challenge the Chiefs for conference supremacy.
The past three seasons have essentially been much the same for the Dallas Cowboys; a 12-win season that ends abruptly before the NFC Championship Game. Coming into this season, the Cowboys still have a lot of elite talent, with All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott, All-Pro wide receiver Ceedee Lamb, All-Pro offensive lineman (and future of Hall of Famer) Zack Martin, and All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons leading the way. However, Dallas also lost a lot of depth during the offseason, making them more of a top-heavy team compared to years past. There is a lot of pressure on both Prescott and head coach Mike McCarthy heading into 2024, as both enter the final year of their contracts. If the two men end up leading the Cowboys on a deep playoff run this year, look for both to remain in Dallas for the foreseeable future. But if they don't, it'll likely signal new beginnings for "America's Team".
Last season, the Buccaneers surprised a lot of people (including me) by winning nine games and the NFC South title for the third consecutive season, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, who enjoyed an incredible debut season in Tampa Bay. With Mayfield, future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans, All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs and All-Pro do-it-all safety Antoine Winfield Jr. leading the way, this is a Bucs team that has talent and championship experience (Evans, Wirfs, and Winfield were all on the Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl LV). If the new-look Falcons don't play up to their potential, look for Tampa Bay to swoop in and capture the division once again in 2024.
The Colts are one of the most interesting teams to look out for coming into this season. In 2023 (which was head coach Shane Steichen's debut season with the team), Indianapolis won nine games and nearly won the AFC South, losing in a nail-biter to the Texans during the final week of the season, which kept them out of the playoffs. This season, second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson makes his return after missing most of last season due to a shoulder injury. With Richardson leading Steichen's fast-paced, explosive offence that is designed to create chunk plays, the Colts will score a lot of points this season. But ultimately, their inconsistencies on the defensive side of the ball will keep them from making serious noise in the AFC this season.
It's the dawn of a new era in the Pacific Northwest as former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald takes over for Pete Carroll as the head coach of the Seahawks. The last two seasons have seen the Seahawks win nine games each time, resulting in them making the playoffs in 2022 and narrowly missing the playoffs in 2023. Macdonald has a lot of talent to work with on each side of the ball, with running back Kenneth Walker III and Pro Bowl wide receiver D.K. Metcalf leading the offence and stout cornerback Devon Witherspoon leading the defence. If quarterback Geno Smith can get back to playing at a level that resembles his 2022 self, the Seahawks could be a sneaky playoff team in the NFC in 2024.
Speaking of new eras, that's exactly what's taking place in Chicago this year, as highly-touted quarterback Caleb Williams makes his debut in the NFL. Williams, the number one overall pick in this year's draft, is expected to come in and play at a high level right away. And fortunately for him, the Bears front office has done a great job of surrounding Williams with a bunch of elite talent. Additionally, Chicago's defence played at a very high level near the end of last season, making some believe that they can enter the upper echelon of defences in the NFL this season. All things considered, this is a solid team on both sides of the ball that could potentially challenge the Lions and the Packers for the NFC North title in 2024.
I genuinely don't know how Mike Tomlin keeps doing this year after year. Since he took over as the head coach of the Steelers back in 2007, Tomlin has never had a losing season (i.e. a season with a record under .500). That incredible feat will once again be tested this season as the Steelers play in a very tough AFC North division that also features the Ravens, Bengals, and Browns. Pittsburgh should have a good defence, led by All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt and All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, but this team will ultimately go as far as new quarterback Russell Wilson (or Justin Fields) will take them.
Gone is Kirk Cousins, in comes Sam Darnold as the new quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. Darnold, the number three overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has struggled to live up to that billing so far in his career, but if he's ever going to do so, it will happen this season in head coach Kevin O'Connell's creative offensive scheme. Darnold will also have amazing pass catchers to throw the football to, a group headlined by All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson. However, I don't trust Minnesota's defence (particularly the secondary) to hold up in a very tough NFC North division (though I do think defensive coordinator Brian Flores is awesome). 2024 will be more of a retooling year for the Vikings.
"Who's got it better than us? Nobody"! That's exactly how all Chargers fans are feeling right now with the team hiring Jim Harbaugh to be their new head coach back in January. Though it's been nearly a decade since he last coached in the NFL, Harbaugh is one of those rare coaches who has proven to be able to win at any level with any program. Up next for him is to try to turn around the Chargers, a team that is well-known for underperforming year in and year out. With Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert under center, Harbaugh doesn't have to worry about the most crucial position in the sport, but the rest of the roster has undergone a massive overhaul. Because of that (and because they play in the same division as the Chiefs), the Chargers won't make the playoffs this season. But with "Cool Jim" leading the charge, it's only a matter of time before this team becomes a serious threat again in the AFC.
Don't sleep on this Tennessee Titans team in 2024. Year 2 of the Will Levis era is shaping up to be a fun one, as the young quarterback has new weapons out wide, such as Pro Bowl wide receiver Calvin Ridley (who bolted the division rival Jaguars to join the Titans this offseason) and former Bengals slot wide receiver Tyler Boyd. On defence, Tenneseee made a huge move by trading for former Chiefs star cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, who played a huge part in helping K.C. win each of the last two Super Bowls. While the Titans most likely won't contend for a Super Bowl this season, they do have some fun talent and it'll be interesting to see how new head coach Brian Callahan puts everything together as the season progresses.
The Saints are stuck in the worst place you can possibly be in as a sports team; No man's land. They do have a good amount of talent on each side of the ball (especially defensively), with guys like veteran running back Alvin Kamara, star wide receiver Chris Olave, All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis, and Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore. However, as currently constructed, this is not a team that can legitimately contend in the NFC, with the primary concerns being at offensive line and head coach. I don't think Derek Carr is an elite quarterback, but when your offensive line isn't good and your head coach doesn't have the greatest track record when it comes to winning games, there's only so much you can do. The glory days of Drew Brees and Sean Payton seem very far away right now in New Orleans.
The Cardinals enter the 2024 NFL season with a lot of excitement surrounding the team. Their offence has a chance to be very special, with Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray, electric rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., and star tight end Trey McBride leading the way. Head coach Jonathan Gannon also deserves a lot of credit too, as he helped his team notch a couple of surprising victories during the 2023 season. The Cardinals' defence lacks high-end talent on all three levels on that side of the ball, which will keep this team from making a playoff push this year. But look out for them as a potential NFC playoff team in 2025.
A new era begins in the nation's capital as rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels takes over as the Commanders' franchise quarterback. Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, arrives in Washington as a hard-working and very talented player who has been known to elevate the players around him on and off the football field. Under new head coach Dan Quinn, the Commanders probably won't win a ton of games in 2024, but this season is all about Daniels and if he can show that he can be the guy that eventually helps Washington get back to the elite tier in the NFC.
Ever since Peyton Manning retired after helping the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 back in 2016, Denver has mightily struggled to find an answer at the quarterback position. Enter Bo Nix as the next guy to get an opportunity to lead the Broncos out of the wilderness and back into playoff contention. Nix enjoyed an amazing collegiate career with the Auburn Tigers and the Oregon Ducks and now, he will be coached by future Hall of Famer Sean Payton, one of the best offensive minds that the NFL has ever seen. Similarly to the Commanders, the 2024 season for the Broncos will be all about the development of their rookie quarterback.
Similarly to the Saints, the Las Vegas Raiders are in a troubling situation as the 2024 NFL regular season approaches. This is a team that has some elite players on both sides of the ball, including All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams on offence and All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby on defence. They also signed standout defensive lineman Christian Wilkins in free agency to pair up with Crosby to make up one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league. However, questions persist with this team at the quarterback and head coaching positions. Can Gardner Minshew play at a high level? Was new head coach Antonio Pierce's late-season run in 2023 just a blip on the radar? The answers to these two questions will determine the future path for this Raiders team.
Coming into last season, the Giants were looked at as a team that could contend for a playoff spot in the NFC after they made the postseason in 2022 and won a playoff game during head coach Brian Daboll's debut season with the team. However, in 2023, the Giants struggled big time, as they only won six games and missed the playoffs for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. Now, Daboll will try to get quarterback Daniel Jones back on track after the former number sixth-overall pick from the 2019 draft suffered a torn ACL last year. But with All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley no longer on the team, it's safe to say that New York's offence will struggle to consistently put up points this season (rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers looks awesome though!)
Last season was an absolute nightmare for the Panthers. Quarterback Bryce Young, the first overall pick from last year's draft, struggled mightily as the team won only two games. This season, team general manager Dan Morgan made a big effort to improve the roster around Young, signing players such as Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt to improve the offensive line. Additionally, they traded for Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson and drafted wideout Xavier Legette to improve the receiving corps for Young to throw to. The Panthers aren't expected to make a playoff push this season, but if Young can have a bounce-back season and remind people why he was such a highly-touted player coming out of Alabama as a former Heisman Trophy winner, that would be a monstrous win for this rebuilding team.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. After being a playoff fixture in the AFC and an annual Super Bowl contender with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick leading the way, the Patriots have sunk to the bottom of the NFL hierarchy, coming off a season that saw them win four games and tie with the Panthers for the least amount of points scored (236 total, 13.9 ppg). The main focus for new head coach Jerod Mayo and Co. in 2024 will be to develop rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the number three overall pick in this year's draft. While veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett will start for the team in their Week 1 matchup against the Bengals, it seems like it will only be a matter of time before Maye gets his chance to show the Patriots (and the rest of the NFL for that matter) what he's got.
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