With the painful seven-month wait for football finally over, it’s time to re-commit your Sundays to the butts in the couch, cheat meal days, and refresh your phones every 10 seconds for fantasy football updates. We are back, folks! So, let’s waste no more time and dive into our Week 1 edition of the 2024 NFL power rankings!
Which NFL teams are vying for the top spot in week one of the 2024 power rankings?
32. Carolina Panthers (32)
The Panthers have already been dealt one frustrating blow, with rookie running back Jonathan Brooks having to be placed on the list of physically unable to perform. That means Brooks, who’s recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in his final season at Texas, is out at least four games.
Bryce Young and the new-look Panthers open their 2024 NFL season with a road game against the NFC South rival New Orleans Saints.
31. New England Patriots (30)
Despite strong performances by Drake Maye in the preseason, the Pats are going with Jacoby Brissett as their Week 1 starter. It’s the less-risky play, but Brissett has physical limitations as a passer, so the Pats’ ground game will have to carry the bulk of the load here.
30. Denver Broncos (31)
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Bo Nix earned the starting job after crushing it in preseason play. Now we see if Sean Payton can unlock Nix’s potential right out of the gate.
In surprise moves, the Broncos cut ties with standout wide receiver Tim Patrick and pass-catching RB Samaje Perine. Denver fans can only hold their breath and hope that the new-look set of playmakers will be enough for Nix to produce.
29. New York Giants (29)
Expectations are awfully low for the Giants heading into 2024. Such is life when you lose your best offensive player, Saquon Barkley, and run it back with one of the league’s worst starting quarterbacks in Daniel Jones.
Prized rookie receiver Malik Nabers and a stout front seven led by Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeau, and newcomer Brian Burns are the main reasons for optimism in the Meadowlands this year.
And if the Giants are as bad as we expect, they’ll just be in contention to snag a top QB prospect in the 2025 draft!
28. Tennessee Titans (28)
The Titans made three notable trades ahead of the roster cut deadline. Quarterback Malik Willis was sent to the Green Bay Packers, and cornerback Elijah Molden was sent to the Los Angeles Chargers.
GM Ran Carthon made one more blockbuster addition by acquiring linebacker Ernest Jones from the Los Angeles Rams.
Will Levis and the Titans kick off their 2024 season with a road tilt against the Chicago Bears in Caleb Williams’ NFL debut?
27. Minnesota Vikings (26)
Sigh. Vikings fans just can’t have nice things.
First, they lost NFL rookie QB JJ McCarthy for the season after he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Then the superstar tight end had to be put on the PUP list, meaning he’s out at least four games.
In two interesting roster moves, the Vikings waived 2022 first-round pick Lewis Cine and traded second-round pick Andrew Booth to the Dallas Cowboys.
At least Justin Jefferson will be worth watching again.
Also Read: 5 NFL Teams That Will IMPROVE This Season…And 5 That Will DECLINE In 2024
26. Washington Commanders (27)
Jayden Daniels won the starting job without issue and will debut against Baker Mayfield’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. What a chess match that will be, with the dual-threat signal-caller going up against Tampa’s vaunted front seven.
In one of the more surprising roster deadline moves, the Commanders also punted on 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson and traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles. That is interesting because the Commanders don’t have a true WR2 outside of Terry McLaurin.
25. Las Vegas Raiders (25)
Head coach Antonio Pierce named Gardner Minshew II the starting QB over sophomore Aidan O’Connell. Cross your fingers, Vegas fans, and hope Minshew can be the answer.
Hey, Minshew did well with a “meh” set of playmakers in Indianapolis last year. Maybe a career year awaits with Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Brock Bowers, and Zamir White as his main weapons.
24. Arizona Cardinals (24)
We are not sold on the Redbirds as a playoff contender in 2024, but we are excited to see what a Kyler Murray-Trey McBride-Marvin Harrison Jr.-James Conner offense can do.
Murray brought the Arizona offense back to life upon his return from a season-ending ACL tear last year. A full year with McBride and a future superstar at receiver in Harrison Jr.? One thing’s for sure: Arizona will not be boring this year.
23. Seattle Seahawks (22)
Seattle shook up their defense through three trades ahead of roster cuts: Out goes Darrell Taylor and Michael Jackson, in come Michael Barrett and Trevin Gipson.
The Taylor trade with Chicago was a bit of a head-scratcher, considering he put up 9.5 sacks two years ago. And it’s not like the Seahawks are wealthy with pass-rushers.
In another blow, stud offensive lineman Abraham Lucas was placed on the PUP list to start the year, keeping him out for four games. And this is an o-line that lost Damien Lewis to Carolina in free agency.
Geno Smith and company really got their work cut out for them, folks.
22. New Orleans Saints (23)
Aside from the Chase Young signing and the first-round selection of Oregon State offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga, it was a relatively quiet offseason in the Big Easy.
The Saints are banking on new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to help Derek Carr’s group build an identity after a frustrating 2023 NFL season. We’re not sold on Carr these days, but the Saints’ fortunes of playing in the NFC South means a playoff spot is very much within reach this year.
21. Indianapolis Colts (21)
The Colts won nine games last year, even though Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor combined to play just 17 games. So if those two are healthy, the Colts are a sleeper team to monitor in the AFC.
Here’s hoping A-Rich can stay healthy after missing all but four games in his rookie year. The Colts kick off their NFL season with a home tilt against the AFC South rival Houston Texans.
20. Los Angeles Chargers (20)
Justin Herbert is nursing a foot injury, and the Bolts screwed up last year by not having a suitable backup option in place. So GM Joe Hortiz acquired one of the league’s best backups in Taylor Heinicke, via trade with Atlanta and bolstered his secondary by snagging Elijah Molden from Tennessee.
Here’s hoping Herbert is healthy, though, and good to go for the NFL season opener and Jim Harbaugh’s LA debut against the Las Vegas Raiders.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (19)
No significant trades, signings, or injury developments in Tampa. The reigning NFC South champs are running it back with practically the same core as last year.
It won’t be as easy this time, though. The Bucs face a tougher schedule than last year and have a more imposing divisional foe in the Atlanta Falcons, who are now the team to beat after signing Kirk Cousins in free agency.
18. Chicago Bears (18)
All the talk in Windy City is about Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense, and understandably so. However, GM Ryan Poles made two savvy trades for ex-Seahawks pass-rusher Darrell Taylor and former Browns defensive lineman Chris Williams.
And with a full year of Montez Sweat there, the Bears’ front seven has the potential to be one of football’s best. Couple that with the firepower at Williams’ disposal, and the Bears have the makings to be a dark horse Super Bowl contender.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (16)
Trevor Lawrence and the Jags have all the talent to be a Super Bowl contender this year. But it’s hard to trust a team that was ice-cold in the first half of 2022, red-hot in the second half, red-hot in the first half of 2023, then ice-cold again in 2023.
Which version of the Jaguars will we get? They should be a top-10 team, but they could also be a bottom-10 team. Doug Pederson’s group is middle-of-the-pack for now until we get a better understanding of who they really are.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (15)
The Steelers dropped a spot here because they were unable to complete a trade for Brandon Aiyuk. GM Omar Khan upgraded at QB this year, but who’s the No. 2 receiver behind George Pickens? Someone has to fill that void with Diontae Johnson, who is long gone.
Anywho, Week 1 is here. So that means we can finally say this on behalf of Russell Wilson:
“Steelers country, let’s ride!”
15. Los Angeles Rams (17)
A modest surprise to see the Rams trade Earnest Jones, but the move also signals Sean McVay’s full confidence in his young guys, so let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.
Unlike last year, the Rams’ main core players are all healthy heading into Week 1. And their NFL season opener doesn’t get any juicer, with Matthew Stafford returning to Detroit again to take on the Lions in a rematch of last year’s thrilling Wild Card Round Game.
14. Atlanta Falcons (14)
The Falcons are healthy and ready to roll, and for the first time since 2018, they have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
Kirk Cousins takes over as the captain of their star-studded offense. Ex-Patriots star Matthew Judon is gearing up to form a super pass-rushing duo with Grady Jarrett. If the Falcons live up to their potential, they’ll win the NFC South and emerge as a Super Bowl contender in the NFC.
13. Miami Dolphins (13)
The good news: Head coach Mike McDaniel was handed a well-deserved contract extension that runs through 2028.
The bad news: Top pass-rusher Bradley Chubb and No. 3 wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. are opening their NFL season on the PUP list. Miami has enough weaponry to survive OBJ’s absence on offense, but Chubb’s trip to the list puts the vulnerable defense in another bind.
Miami’s defense will be tested early, with the Jacksonville Jaguars coming to town in Week 1.
12. Buffalo Bills (12)
One of the more compelling stories entering the regular season is how the Buffalo offense will function without Stefon Diggs. Can Josh Allen get it done with Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling as his wide receivers?
And will the giant overhaul on defense pay off? Stay tuned. A good challenge awaits with Kyler Murray’s Cardinals visiting Buffalo in the season opener.
11. Dallas Cowboys (11)
Well, Jerry Jones finally got the CeeDee Lamb contract done with. And in terms of all-in moves, he signed a four-time Pro Bowler…
That former Pro Bowler is past-his-prime RB Dalvin Cook. So, will the Dallas backfield be Cook and Ezekiel Elliott? That would have been epic five years ago. Anyway, you do you, Jerry.
10. New York Jets (10)
As we saw last year, the Jets’ season depends entirely on a healthy Aaron Rodgers. If he plays the entire NFL season, New York will be a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl in the AFC.
Arguably the juiciest matchup of Week 1? Rodgers and the Jets vs. his boyhood team, the San Francisco 49ers, on Monday Night Football.
9. Cleveland Browns (8)
The Browns drop one spot here because of the unfortunate news that Nick Chubb will miss at least the first four games of 2024. Jerome Ford did an admirable job in Chubb’s place last year, but the latter has been a top-five RB since his 2018 rookie year.
The Browns need Deshaun Watson to actually play like a $230 million man more than ever. Chubb is out, and they have one of the toughest schedules for 2024. A season opener against Dak Prescott’s Dallas Cowboys gives Kevin Stefanski’s squad the chance to make an early-season statement.
8. Green Bay Packers (9)
Losing stud running back AJ Dillon for this NFL season stings, but it’s a good thing the Pack signed a star running back in Josh Jacobs to lead the backfield.
The offense is still set up nicely with Jordan Love and his young receiving corps. If Christian Watson can stay healthy for a full year, there’s no telling how much this Green Bay offense will take off.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (7)
Like the Jets and Rodgers, the Bengals would be a Super Bowl contender if Joe Burrow were on the field. If he isn’t, they’re a middle-of-the-pack team.
So hold your breath, Bengals fans, and hope Burrow can stay healthy this year. If he is, your team will have every opportunity to win the Super Bowl.
6. Houston Texans (6)
What does Houston do for an encore after shocking the NFL last year with ten wins and a division crown? The arrivals of Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, and Danielle Hunter raise the bar of expectations for CJ Stroud’s squad, who have all the tools to be a championship contender.
They won’t be flying under the radar anymore, so it’ll be fascinating to see how DeMeco Ryans and the company handle the increased expectations.
5. Baltimore Ravens (5)
Here we go. How does Lamar Jackson respond to having his second MVP season dashed on his home field by the Kansas City Chiefs? The Ravens can’t ask for a better Week 1 challenge with a trip to KC for the NFL Kickoff Game.
That game could determine who has home advantage in the AFC, so a season-opening win in Kansas City would be a great boost of confidence for John Harbaugh and company.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (4)
We all know what the Eagles are capable of. They almost won the Super Bowl two years ago and won 10 of their first 11 games in 2023 before inexplicably collapsing over the final month.
The Eagles are loaded with superstar talent, especially on offense. It’s about clearing the mental hurdles and regaining the confidence and swagger that made them a near-champion two years ago.
3. Detroit Lions (2)
For the first time in — possibly ever, really — the Lions enter an NFL season with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. It feels good, but isn’t it Motown faithful?
Dan Campbell’s group has the pieces to win a championship. They were this close to a Super Bowl appearance last NFL season. Let’s see if they can learn from the heartbreaking NFC title game loss to San Fran and finish the job this time.
2. San Francisco 49ers (3)
With the Brandon Aiyuk drama finally resolved, the 49ers take back the No. 2 spot ahead of Week 1.
After months of testy negotiations, Aiyuk and the 49ers finally agreed to a mammoth four-year extension worth $120 million. With the core back together, Kyle Shanahan’s squad can focus on the redemption tour following last year’s gut-wrenching Super Bowl loss to Kansas City.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
The defending champions got even richer ahead of Week 1, bringing back old friend JuJu Smith-Schuster following his release from New England. They also signed ex-Broncos RB Samaje Perine and added former Patriots QB Bailey Zappe to their practice squad.
The final checks have been cleared. Patrick Mahomes and the defending champs are locked, loaded, and ready to begin the three-peat. See you at Arrowhead in the season opener against Baltimore!
Also Read: NFL Suspends Former Offensive Player Of The Year For The Start Of The 2024 Season
