It is hard to believe, but we have managed to eclipse the halfway point of the NFL season, and while some teams are living up to the hype, others? Well, let’s just say they’re leaving fans with more questions than answers.
Every team—and, of course, their fans—come into the season with high hopes, big plans, and a few key players they’re counting on to deliver.
But for one reason or another, those dreams don’t always come to fruition.
Let’s take a look around the league and call out every NFL team’s biggest disappointment so far in 2024!
What’s the biggest disappointment for your favorite NFL team in 2024?
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Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr. came out of Ohio State as far and away, the most hyped non-quarterback prospect, and fans expected him to be the next game-changing wide receiver. But here we are, halfway through the season, and while he’s had a couple of impressive games, he just hasn’t been the consistent weapon the Cardinals hoped for. His chemistry with Kyler Murray seems spotty, and it’s clear that Arizona’s offense hasn’t fully figured out how to utilize him. They’ve invested in a lot of young talent, but if Harrison can’t find that next gear, the Cardinals will be hard to take seriously as a legit contender, even in a division as open as the NFC West.
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Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts
The Kyle Pitts experiment continues to be a rollercoaster of potential and frustration. Atlanta thought they had a unicorn in Pitts—a tight end who could reshape the offense a la Rob Gronkowski for the New England Patriots. But once again, he’s had flashes of brilliance mixed with inconsistency, leaving the Falcons wondering if he’ll ever become the weekly threat they envisioned.
Baltimore Ravens: Defensive Inconsistency
With Lamar Jackson playing MVP-caliber football, the Ravens are very serious Super Bowl contenders. There is no doubt about that, but they will need to be sure of that defense because the unit has been wildly unpredictable. Some games, they look like the shutdown defense Baltimore fans expect, clamping down and dictating the game. Baltimore needs to find a way to raise its level on the defensive side of the ball and stop letting up big plays and lesser NFL teams hang around.
Buffalo Bills: Secondary Woes
The Bills’ secondary has been okay in stretches, but for the most part, rather shaky—and not a bonafide strength like it used to be, as they’ve been plagued by injuries and inconsistent play.
To make matters worse, the departure of Tre’Davious White and Jordan Poyer still looms large, as their departure left a huge gap that, frankly, hasn’t been sufficiently filled.
The offense has firepower, but if Buffalo’s defense can’t hold its ground, they might be in for another disappointing playoff exit.
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young Confirmed Bust in Year 2
Granted, the expectations weren’t sky-high after such a challenging rookie season, but drafting Bryce Young was supposed to be the turning point, the move to get Carolina back on track. But his rookie season quickly deteriorated into a complete disaster.
Fans, however, were hopeful that he’d be able to turn it around this season, but it has largely been more of the same, as the former No. 1 overall pick has been overwhelmed by blitzes, missed on big throws, and generally struggled to adapt to the pro level.
Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams Inconsistency
Caleb Williams came in with a college highlight reel that had Bears fans buzzing, but NFL defenses play the game at a different level from the college boys. He’s had some dazzling plays, but his deep ball and pocket awareness have been shaky, and the Bears offense has been unexpectedly muted for most of the season.
Cincinnati Bengals: Slow Start
Another slow start for the Cincinnati Bengals—and, man, was this one a disappointment. Their NFL fans in Cinci were jazzed up for Joe Burrow to be back in action, but Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow can’t carry the whole team.
The Bengals’ inability to close out tight games has become glaring as the losses continue to pile up, putting their postseason hopes in serious jeopardy.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Starting Quarterbacks Halfway Through The Season
Cleveland Browns: Ownership Trying to Get Their Money’s Worth with Deshaun Watson
The Cleveland Browns made a significant investment in Deshaun Watson, signing him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract in 2022, which has been an unmitigated disaster, both on the field and in the court of public opinion.
But rather than cut their losses and accept the sunk cost, the owners forced Stefanski and co. to keep trotting the quarterback out there, despite the fact that he was clearly not able to hack it anymore, leading to one of the worst and most disappointing Browns seasons in recent history.
Dallas Cowboys: Running Game
Dak Prescott’s big numbers with CeeDee Lamb haven’t been enough to turn the Cowboys into contenders. Dallas has struggled to find consistency in a competitive NFC East, and their absence of a running game is a big reason why. But I guess that’s what happens when you turn to the likes of Ezekiel Elliott as the solution at this stage in his career.
Denver Broncos: Wide Receiver Play
Thrown into the fire, Bo Nix has shown resilience but not without some growing pains. The rookie QB has had moments of brilliance, but the offense’s inconsistency has been evident and a large part of that is the wide receiver’s inability to get separation and create opportunities for Nix to get the ball downfield.
Detroit Lions: Defense’s Injuries
The Lions have been a force offensively, and their defense was playing great ball, but the loss of Aidan Hutchinson is a crushing disappointment for an NFL team with serious Super Bowl aspirations. It feels unavoidable that there will come a time in the playoffs when they need their elite pass rusher, and unfortunately, they just won’t have him.
Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love’s Injury
Although backup Malik Willis has filled in admirably, Jordan Love had injuries that have interrupted his momentum and created challenges in Green Bay’s pursuit of the Lions in the NFC North race. The Packers’s young core is holding its own, but they’ll need Love back at full strength to make a true playoff push.
Houston Texans: Protection Issues for C.J. Stroud
C.J. Stroud has shown he can play at this level, but his offensive line is putting him at risk on nearly every snap. Houston’s near the bottom in sacks allowed, and Stroud’s taking a beating week after week.
Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson
You know things aren’t going well with your top draft pick when you turn to an ancient Joe Flacco to take over the reins at this point in the season, but that is precisely the state of affairs in Indianapolis. It is starting to look like the Colts may have to move on from Anthony Richardson entirely soon.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence’s Regression
Trevor Lawrence was supposed to take the Jaguars to new heights, but his season has been a major disappointment. Jacksonville’s offense looks out of sync, and Lawrence’s struggles have left this NFL team grasping at straw in what could’ve been a winnable AFC South.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes’ Interceptions
Patrick Mahomes is still terrifying defenses, and there is no denying that… But he’s also leading the league in interceptions—a stat that’s uncharacteristic for him. That said, the Chiefs remain unbeaten, so this is really nitpicking… But it will be interesting to see as the season wears on if water returns to its level and Mahomes precision improves.
Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce in Over his Head
When the Raiders turned to Antonio Pierce, there was a spark, a fresh start that fans hoped would be a reset for this franchise. But the harsh truth of NFL head coaching has set in quickly. Pierce might be a motivator, but as the weeks go by, it’s becoming painfully clear that his inexperience is taking its toll. This NFL team’s game management is erratic, the play-calling lacks identity, and the Raiders’ offense and defense don’t seem to be on the same page.
Los Angeles Chargers: Injured Playmakers
This was supposed to be Joshua Palmer’s big moment, his chance to turn the Chargers’ receiving corps into more than just the Allen-and-Williams show. With both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams out of the picture, Palmer had a prime opportunity to step in and prove he could be more than a WR3. Chargers fans weren’t expecting him to become an elite WR1 overnight, but year four seemed like the time for Palmer to start producing like a serious threat. Unfortunately, he has been nowhere to be found for most of the season.
Los Angeles Rams: Playmaker’s Health
While Matthew Stafford’s health was a question mark coming into the season, it was actually his playmakers that have been the problem… and not just the elder stateman, Cooper Kupp, but also his much younger running mate, Puka Nacua. Needless to say, it’s affecting the Rams’ consistency.
While Stafford has shown he can still keep the team in games, they will need their big guns to be ready to roll if they are going to make a run at the playoffs this season.
Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa’s Injuries
The Dolphins knew what they were getting into with Tua Tagovailoa. The talent is absolutely there. However, durability has been a question since day one, and this season, it’s the elephant in the room in Miami. Coming off multiple concussions over the past few years, Tua’s health is more than just a subplot—it’s the storyline that could make or break this team’s 2024 NFL season and maybe even its future—especially with how dire things looked for that offense without him under center.
Minnesota Vikings: Losing Christian Darrisaw
Christian Darrisaw’s injury has been a major blow to the Vikings’ offensive line. Without their star tackle, Minnesota’s protection has a big question mark, and while they haven’t completely nosedived, it seems like it’s affecting Sam Darnold’s ability to make plays. Darrisaw’s absence could be the difference between a playoff run and a season that fizzles out too soon.
New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo’s Growing Pains
Jerod Mayo took over a challenging situation, stepping in for a legend, Bill Belichick, and while he’s injected energy into the team of late, there’s still a long way to go. The offense has been quite limited, and the defense, while impressive in spurts, has been inconsistent. New England’s future looks uncertain, and Mayo’s job isn’t getting any easier as he tries to keep the Patriots competitive in a tough AFC East.
New Orleans Saints: Derek Carr’s Struggles
The Derek Carr experience in New Orleans hasn’t exactly been the revival story Saints fans were hoping for. Coming in, Carr was supposed to be the steady hand to guide this offense, a seasoned QB with the grit and arm to lift the Saints back into contention. But instead, it’s been a carousel of injuries, and New Orleans is left wondering if they’ll ever see the Carr they signed up for. When he went down with an oblique injury, this NFL team looked horrible with Spencer Rattler, and now their season has all but been written off as a loss.
New York Giants: Daniel Jones’ Benchings
Daniel Jones’s time in New York is almost definitely up, as he’s already been benched once this season. The Giants offense has struggled to put points on the board, and Jones’s horrible play has only added to their woes.
New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers Underperformance
Despite high hopes for the season, the Jets’ gamble on Aaron Rodgers has been a letdown. Even with a reunion with Davante Adams, Rogers hasn’t found his rhythm. The Jets are slipping out of playoff contention, and the future hall-of-famer’s play has been a major reason why.
Philadelphia Eagles: Struggles in the Secondary
While the Eagles have started to pick up their level on both sides of the ball, their Achille’s heel has been opposing offenses, exposing their secondary on the regular, making it clear this group isn’t quite living up to the reputation the Eagles have on defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers: George Pickens Inconsistency
George Pickens is that guy—electrifying, unpredictable, and sometimes, well, a bit of a wild card. Steelers fans have had a front-row seat to Pickens’ talent and his antics this season, and while the former makes him a game-changer, the latter? Let’s just say it’s a bit of a mixed bag. He seemed completely checked out with Justin Fields under center, but now Steelers fans have optimism seeing the budding relationship with Russell Wilson.
San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Aiyuk’s Absence
As if his initial holdout weren’t bad enough, now Brandon Aiyuk’s season-ending injury has been a major blow to the 49ers. Especially considering the fact that Christian McCaffrey hasn’t been available to spearhead the rushing attack.
Seattle Seahawks: Defensive Letdowns
The Seahawks’ defense has been a major disappointment this season, struggling to contain opponents in key situations. Despite this NFL team’s strong start, defensive lapses have cost them games and put them behind the eight ball in a winnable NFC West.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Wide Receivers Injury
The Buccaneers knew that losing both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for any stretch would be a challenge, but this season, the toll has been rougher than expected, especially knowing that the latter will be out for the year.
Tennessee Titans: Will Levis isn’t the Guy
It’s clear that Will Levis isn’t quite living up to the billing after early excitement last year. You see flashes of potential in some throws, but the mistakes and turnovers have piled up, and he’s been all but cast aside in Nashville.
Washington Commanders: Slow Defensive Start
Jayden Daniels has been the story on offense, and he’s doing his part, but the defense was supposed to be the backbone of this NFL team, especially in a tough NFC East. It will be interesting to see if that holds them back come playoff time.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Halfway Through The Season
