2024 Preseason Power Rankings
Predicting how an NFL season will play out is always a fickle business, but someone has to do it. Based on our offensive and defensive rankings that we put out this week, we took a holistic approach and power ranked all 32 NFL teams. Here's our view on the best heading into 2024
Kansas City Chiefs
Our 3rd ranked defense and 5th ranked offense tops our list of teams heading into 2024. The defending Super Bowl Champs have the Patrick Mahomes factor and they have earned the right to be at the top of the heap heading into the season.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers came up just short of a title a season ago. They ranked in the top 5 on both sides of the ball according to our offensive and defensive rankings. If they can avoid the dreaded Super Bowl hangover, they’ll be a huge factor yet again.
Detroit Lions
The Lions were painfully close to a Super Bowl appearance last year and brought back mostly the same cast of characters to our 2nd ranked offense. They’re hoping to improve their defense and pay it off in 2024.
Houston Texans
The Texans checked in as our 6th ranked offense and 6th ranked defense heading into 2024. With an established C.J. Stroud, they’ll be looking to take the next step in their development as a team with a deep playoff run.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have won 12 games three years in a row, but they’ll be judged by what they can do in the post-season which hasn’t been much since Dak Prescott became the starter in 2016. If they have another early exit, Will Dak remain the Cowboys Quarterback?
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens were the best team in football for most of 2023, but fell short to a dynasty in the making in the AFC Championship game. They’ll get their shot at revenge right away in a week 1 Thursday night showdown on September 5th in Arrowhead.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have elite speed and playmakers everywhere, but can Tua elevate his game to playoff level competition? That’s the big question mark along with getting enough defensive support to not have to win games in shootouts.
Buffalo Bills
Stefon Diggs is out of town and so are a number of key defensive figures for the Bills. Josh Allen will have to continue to be superman for the Bills to remain contenders in 2024, but we don’t doubt he can.
Cincinnati Bengals
When Joe Burrow has remained healthy, the Bengals have made nothing but deep playoff runs including a Super Bowl appearance in his 2nd year. They’ll need him and the Jamar Chase/ Tee Higgins duo to stay on the field to reach their full potential this year.
Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love and his young weapons showed last season that they can produce on offense. New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will try to provide enough support on that side of the ball to make the Packers a true Super Bowl contender.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns had the best defense in the NFL last season, but they’ll need Deshaun Watson to at least show a glimmer of his former self to be considered true contenders. In a loaded AFC North, they’ll be scratching and clawing for a chance at the playoffs.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles took a major step backward in 2023 suffering from the usual Super Bowl hangover, but with two new coordinators in town, they’ll be looking to rebound and get back to their 2022 form and compete with the Cowboys for the NFC East.
LA Rams
Puka Nacua was a revelation for the Rams last season and if Cooper Kupp is healthy and looks anything like 2021 Cupp, Matthew Stafford could do a ton of damage. Aaron Donald is gone, but they’re hoping a young defense can hold up and give them a shot at the NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have a new regime in Mike McDonald and staff and if he can make their defense look anything like the 2023 Ravens that he led, they could be a big problem for opponents in 2024. The NFC West could be loaded.
New York Jets
All the excitement entering last season for the Jets got delayed to 2024 after 4 snaps when Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles. Now, they’re hoping Rodgers can deliver on the promise of contention as they bring back one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons felt like they had everything they needed last year except serviceable quarterback play. They went out and got Kirk Cousins to solve that problem. Coming off a torn Achilles himself, they’re hoping he’s enough to win a watered down NFC South.
Chicago Bears
The Bears, like any team with a rookie quarterback, are a high variance team. If any of these rookies are going to be difference makers right away, it’s likely Caleb Williams. With plenty of weapons around him, if Williams is as promised, the Bears could make a push for the playoffs.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence is not a bad quarterback, but in the roster of AFC signal callers, he moves to the middle of the pack pretty quick. After getting the big contract this off-season, the Jags desperately need Lawrence to elevate the team around him.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints have been led by their defense ever since Drew Brees retired and their stuck in mediocrity with Derek Carr leading their offense. They could compete in the NFC South, but I wouldn’t look for much from this team come playoff time.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield surprised everyone last season by leading the Buccaneers to the playoffs. It could happen again in this division, but I don’t think anyone from the NFC South is winning a playoff game in 2024.
Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is returning for a full healthy season and the Cardinals added Marvin Harrison Jr. to an ascending receiving corp. The defense plays hard but probably doesn’t yet have the talent to compete in the NFC West.
LA Chargers
Jim Harbaugh is a proven winner in the NFL and everyone thinks Justin Herbert is the right answer at quarterback, but the Chargers turned over a lot of roster spots this off-season and it’s hard to imagine the rebuild coming to fruition in 2024.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were a border line playoff team last year with Gardner Minshew at the helm. If Shane Steuchen can work his magic with Anthony Richardson, they could take a major step forward. That said, we don’t know a ton about Richardson yet, so he’ll have to stay healthy and prove it on the field.
Las Vegas Raiders
Maxx Crosby is one of the best defensive players in football and the Raiders could be good on that side of the ball, but outside of Davante Adams, there’s not much there on offense. Antonio Pierce will have them competing, but there’s probably not enough talent for the playoffs in 2024.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers should probably be higher on this list, on the simple fact that they always finish above .500. That said, in a loaded AFC North with Russell Wilson starting at QB, this could be the year that Mike Tomlin impressive streak ends.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings showed improvement on defense last season and Brian Flores has them playing hard. It’s a bummer that J.J. McCarthy got hurt eliminating the chance to develop him in 2024. Sam Darnold can probably not lead Minnesota to anything better than a bottom 2 finish in the NFC North.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans added a few marquee free agents this off season including Calvin Ridley and L’Jarius Sneed, but Will Levis will have to take a major step forward to make them contenders this year in a division with 2 other second year QB’s taken ahead of Levis in the 2023 draft.
New York Giants
Brian Daboll may have just done too well in his first season with the Giants, because it resulted in a contract extension for Daniel Jones. Jones and Daboll will see if they can recapture some of that 2022 magic this year, but we’re not betting on it.
Denver Broncos
Sean Payton is a proven NFL coach, but he’ll have to struggle through the growing pains for a rookie quarterback. The good news is, Bo Nix had more college starts than anyone in history, so he may just be more seasoned than the average rookie and that’s what the Broncos will need to stay out of the cellar in the AFC West.
Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels has played a lot of football as well and he was nothing short of amazing in his Heisman campaign at LSU last season. He’ll need that to translate to the NFL if the Commanders are going to have a chance this season and Daniels was probably throwing to better weapons in college last season than he has now.
New England Patriots
The Patriots have been in disarray since Tom Brady took his talents to Tampa and they’re hoping Drake Maye is the answer at quarterback. Veteran Jacoby Brissett has been named the week 1 starter, but it’s not likely a return to the playoffs for New England, either way.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers traded up for the number 1 pick in 2023 to take Bryce Young and then had the worst record in football. Young will have to make major strides in year 2 if Carolina is going to avoid that fate again.
As we dive in, we look forward to the conversation, debate, and your feedback. Hit us at @fieldvisionmi on X, @fieldvisionsports on Instagram, or on our website www.fieldvisionsports.com.
