Picture Credit: All-Pro Reels
Halfway through the 2024 NFL season, it’s time to check in on where things stand across the league. The elite teams have fully separate themselves from the bottom feeders, with a sparse middle class existing in between. Currently, nine teams have only two wins, while seven teams have two losses or less heading into Week 10. The contenders, for the most part, aren’t surprises. Teams like the Chiefs, Lions, Ravens, and Bills were already thought to be among the league’s best. A few franchises, however, seem to be spiraling into disaster. The Cowboys and Jets were both thought to be fringe contenders at the least, but both teams sit firmly outside of the playoff picture. At the midpoint of the season, let’s take a look at where teams stand.
32. Carolina Panthers (2-7)
Panthers fans, if there are any of you left, I offer my deepest condolences. Your franchise has been run into the ground by poor ownership and clueless roster-building. Bryce Young is not the answer Carolina hoped he would be, but the issues here run far deeper than just one player. This is the worst defensive roster I can remember, especially with Derrick Brown injured.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
Las Vegas fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy this week after an abysmal start to the year in which they’ve trotted out a carousel of subpar quarterbacks. Brock Bowers has been the one and only bright spot in this organization in 2024. Davante Adams escaped this franchise. I hope that Maxx Crosby gets the opportunity to do the same.
30. Cleveland Browns (2-7)
The fact that the news of a long-term injury to the Browns’ starting quarterback came as a relief to most fans speaks volumes about the state of this franchise. Deshaun Watson was playing some of the worst football I’ve ever seen at a professional level before his injury. Jameis Winston is certainly an improvement, but Cleveland’s season is already too far gone.
29. New Orleans Saints (2-7)
New Orleans fired head coach Denis Allen after a loss to Carolina that continued a seven-game losing streak. For about a decade, this organization has kicked the financial can down the road in hopes of remaining relevant. They’ve finally reached the end of that road. The next two to three years may be difficult to endure for Saints fans.
28. New England Patriots (2-7)
The goal of this season for New England was never to contend for anything. It was to see what they have in Drake Maye. While inconsistent, Maye has shown the creativity and arm talent that made him the third pick in this year’s draft. This is a very poor roster, but the Patriots at least have some direction moving forward.
27. Tennessee Titans (2-6)
Over the offseason, Tennessee poured all of its resources into supporting Will Levis in hopes of discovering whether he is the franchise quarterback they hope he is. They have their answer. In his five starts this season, Levis has thrown for five touchdowns and seven interceptions, with an offensive grade of just 44.9 from PFF.
26. New York Giants (2-7)
This is about where I expected the Giants to be heading into the year. This team was never supposed to be competitive. New York’s franchise quarterback is not currently on the roster. Malik Nabers, when healthy, has been a bright spot in an otherwise unwatchable offense. If I were a Giants fan, I’d be asking to hit fast-forward to 2025.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7)
To be completely honest, I’m surprised that Doug Pederson still has a head coaching job. The Jaguars were supposed to be division champions at best and wild card contenders at worst this season. Instead, they’re already looking ahead to the draft. Serious changes need to be made in Jacksonville.
24. Dallas Cowboys (3-5)
The Dallas Cowboys are a dumpster fire. Before Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury, the Cowboys already seemed to be on the outside of the playoff race, with a shallow roster and a lame-duck head coach. With Dak out for the foreseeable future, this team’s playoff hopes are destroyed. It’s time for a complete rebuild in Dallas.
23. Miami Dolphins (2-6)
Tua Tagovailoa’s most recent concussion is to blame for most of Miami’s struggles this season. However, I think the catastrophic result of one injury goes to show the blunder in the Dolphins’ roster-building strategy. Instead of adding depth pieces better than Skylar Thompson, Miami drafted yet another speedy running back. This franchise has leaned so hard into their identity that it shatters at the slightest crack.
22. New York Jets (3-6)
I want so badly to forget about the Jets and move on. After pushing the chips to the center of the table, New York has started 3-6, fired their head coach, and demoted their offensive coordinator. Only because of the state of the AFC wild card race, we’re forced to pay attention to this team for at least a few more weeks.
21. Indianapolis Colts (4-5)
This was supposed to be Anthony Richardson’s breakout year. After six starts this season, Richardson was benched for 39-year-old Joe Flacco. Richardson still shows the inaccuracy and poor decision-making that were expected to be ironed out by now. Flacco may be enough to make a push for a wild card spot, but I have low expectations for this team moving forward.
20. Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
With five losses in their last six games, we can safely count Seattle out of the Playoff race. As much as I enjoy watching Geno Smith, the offensive line gives him no time to work through progressions. Many people, myself included, were fooled by the Seahawks’ 3-0 start. Reality has set in, and this team is no more than what they were expected to be at the start of the year.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (4-6)
The Bengals are one of the best 4-6 teams I can remember, but that doesn’t change their record. Joe Burrow is playing some of the best football of his career, but it hasn’t been enough so far. If a couple of plays this season go differently, Cincinnati could be 7-3 and look like Super Bowl contenders. As explosive as this team can be, time is running out to get back on track this season.
18. Denver Broncos (5-4)
I’ll admit that I didn’t give Sean Payton enough credit in my preseason predictions. Outside of Patrick Surtain II and a quality offensive line, Denver’s roster is among the worst in the league without question. Payton and the Broncos have managed a 5-4 start with impressive wins over teams like the Buccaneers and Jets.
17. Chicago Bears (4-4)
It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for Caleb Williams and the Bears. Despite a slow start for Williams, Chicago jumped out to 4-2 and appeared to be firmly in playoff contention. In the last two games, however, the Bears have averaged just 12 points while allowing 23.5 on average. What was supposed to be an elite defense is no more than league average. Matt Eberflus may be on the way out.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
After winning the NFC South for three consecutive years, the division title seems to be slipping away from the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has one of the best scoring offenses in the league, but their depleted defense has been unable to hold up against elite opponents. With injuries to key players on offense, I don’t see the Buccaneers turning this season around.
15. Los Angeles Rams (4-4)
Early season injuries to Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and a few key members of the offensive line robbed the Rams of the offensive brilliance they’ve shown in years past. Since Kupp and Nacua returned to the lineup, Los Angeles is averaging 28 points per game. Though they currently stand at 4-4, this team is a darkhorse wild card contender in the second half of the year.
14. Arizona Cardinals (5-4)
I’ll take a bit of credit for this pick. In my preseason predictions, I had Arizona as my surprise playoff contender. If the playoffs started today, the Cardinals would take the fourth seed in the NFC. Sure, that may be more due to the shortcomings of San Francisco than Arizona’s own success, but very few fans or experts would have expected this team to have a winning record at the midway point.
13. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
I’ve consistently given the injury excuse for the 49ers this season. At some point, though, they have to start winning games. Despite ranking top-10 in both scoring offense and scoring defense, San Francisco sits at 4-4. They’ve left the door to the NFC West title wide open. Fortunately for them, the rest of the division has failed to walk through it.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
Don’t look now, but the Los Angeles Chargers are firmly in a wild card position. Justin Herbert is playing efficient, turnover-free football. The Chargers defense has allowed the least points in the league after finishing in the middle of the pack in 2023. I’m unsure whether this formula will hold up against true contenders, but in a weak AFC, LA should find themselves in the playoffs.
11. Houston Texans (6-3)
I had the Texans in the top five of my preseason power rankings. Most experts agreed. After nine games, one glaring weakness is tanking this team’s Super Bowl chances. The offensive line has been unable to give C.J. Stroud any kind of time in the pocket. Stroud has been pressured more than any quarterback in the league not named Geno Smith this season. Houston still has a firm grasp on their division, but their protection issues must be addressed if they’re going to regain contender status.
10. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
Minnesota has cooled off after a 5-0 start, but the strengths of this team remain the same. Brian Flores, with the versatile tools he has on defense, is capable of shutting down any offense in the league. Sam Darnold, outside of a few inexplicable mistakes each game, is playing the best ball of his career. The Vikings may not be the Super Bowl contender they looked like early on, but they’re levels above what they were initially expected to be.
9. Atlanta Falcons (6-3)
The preseason narrative surrounding the Atlanta Falcons was that Kirk Cousins would transform this skill-rich offense into a juggernaut. While the offense hasn’t been quite what it was expected to be, it’s a unit capable of winning important games. Atlanta has quietly built themselves a two-game cushion atop the NFC South.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Many fans and experts criticized Mike Tomlin’s decision to bench Justin Fields for Russell Wilson after Fields led the team to a 4-2 start. Wilson has silenced the critics, leading the Steelers to two consecutive wins with a 111.9 passer rating and no interceptions. I have my questions about how this team will perform come playoff time, but there is no doubt they have outperformed expectations thus far.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
In my preseason predictions, I had the Eagles in the Super Bowl. Nine weeks into the season, I still don’t know what this team is. The surplus of talent on offense is enough to keep them competitive against any opponent, but the coaching instability has me hesitant to put any kind of faith in this team. With a tough schedule ahead, are we headed for another late-season collapse in Philadelphia?
6. Green Bay Packers (6-3)
The LaFleur-Love combination has my trust. When Jordan Love is healthy, those two can cook up something to cut through any opponent. Early in the season, Packers’ fans were hoping to see one of these young receivers make the leap to become a consistent top option for Love. While that hasn’t happened, the offense has maintained a high level of efficiency.
5. Washington Commanders (7-2)
Halfway through the season, Jayden Daniels is almost a lock for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Along with Kliff Kingsbury, Daniels has completely transformed the Commanders’ offense and unlocked the explosiveness of players like Terry McLaurin. The trade deadline move for Marshon Lattimore should provide a needed boost to the defense. I’ve admittedly been slow to hop on the Washington bandwagon. With the Steelers and Eagles coming up on the schedule, the Commanders will prove whether they belong in the contender conversation.
4. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
Lamar Jackson is playing the best football of his career in 2024, and he won the MVP last season. He currently has the fifth-highest EPA per dropback in the last 14 years, according to TruMedia. Derrick Henry has scored a touchdown in every game so far this season. Is this duo enough to finally get this team over the hump?
3. Buffalo Bills (7-2)
Prior to the season, many expected Buffalo to take a step back from contention as they transitioned into an era without previous stars like Stefon Diggs and Jordan Poyer. Halfway through the year, the Bills are running away with their division and are firmly in contention for a Super Bowl appearance. Josh Allen’s MVP-level play is keeping this team afloat at the moment.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-0)
Kansas City is currently enjoying a 14-game winning streak dating back to last season. While they’ve rarely dominated games in 2024, the Chiefs consistently find a way to win. With a reliable number-one receiver in Deandre Hopkins, I expect this offense to turn things around in the second half of the year. For now, there’s one team that’s playing better football.
1. Detroit Lions (7-1)
Detroit has been the most dominant team in the NFL since their Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay. Jared Goff has been playing the most efficient ball of his career, and the offensive line has overpowered every opponent that has challenged them. With the addition of Zadarius Smith to the defensive line, this team has the inside track to a Super Bowl appearance.
