Rating high 2024 challengers to potential Chiefs three-peat: Bengals, Texans amongst 11 candidates to blow up

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are the NFL’s present dynasty, rivaling the Tom Brady-era New England Patriots as soccer royalty. They usually don’t have any plans to decelerate, with reigning Tremendous Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes declaring instantly following 2023’s title that he has eyes on a possible three-peat. Might the Chiefs really seize a 3rd straight Lombardi Trophy? Mahomes’ monitor report suggests as a lot. Within the meantime, we’re taking an early have a look at candidates to spoil such a run.

Rather a lot can change between now and the beginning of the 2024 season. However listed here are 11 completely different golf equipment who’ve no less than some motive to consider they’ll dethrone Mahomes and Co. subsequent February:

Deep sleepers

• The Atlanta Falcons now have a sturdy quarterback in Kirk Cousins to go together with ascending talent items and an underrated protection in a wide-open division. However Cousins’ historical past suggests they will be extra regular than particular.
• The Dallas Cowboys nonetheless have among the recreation’s high playmakers on each side of the ball, however Dak Prescott’s offensive line has extra questions than at any level in current reminiscence. And this franchise has lengthy succumbed to big-game hurdles.
• The New York Jets have an improved line for returning quarterback Aaron Rodgers, in addition to a confirmed protection. However Rodgers is a giant query mark at age 40, regardless of his Corridor of Fame resume from Inexperienced Bay.

Honorable mentions

• The Baltimore Ravens may as soon as once more use extra receiving assist for reigning MVP Lamar Jackson. However Derrick Henry’s bruising fashion ought to assist the run recreation, and Justin Madubuike’s return ought to assist anchor the powerful protection.
• The Buffalo Payments turned over a giant chunk of the lineup for cap functions, they usually’ve struggled to recover from the hump. However they are going to be a risk so long as Josh Allen is below middle, and the James Cook dinner-Stefon Diggs combo stays elite.
• The Inexperienced Bay Packers are nonetheless very younger, reliant on a number of up-and-comers at move catcher. However Josh Jacobs ought to maintain Matt LaFleur’s floor recreation intact, and Jordan Love’s bought such a excessive ceiling as a gifted gunslinger.

High contenders

5. Detroit Lions

Jared Goff could also be extra strong than spectacular below middle, however a sterling offensive line goes a good distance, and he is nonetheless bought one with Zeitler coming aboard and Graham Glasgow returning to a unit additionally that includes star deal with Penei Sewell. The dynamic younger duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown offers house run pop, and the entrance seven ought to be barely improved, too. The largest hurdle is likely to be recovering from 2023’s emotional street again to the playoffs below never-say-die coach Dan Campbell.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

This looks like an actual boom-or-bust operation right here — a group that might make these rankings look extremely foolish if it could possibly’t shed the dysfunctional stink that was the tip of their 2023 marketing campaign. On paper, that is nonetheless an all-star offense with Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and a top-tier line welcoming Barkley’s dynamism. However embattled coach Nick Sirianni has new coordinators on each side of the ball, so it might take time for all of the items to turn into cohesive.

3. Houston Texans

Houston may gain advantage from a wide-open AFC South, however the greatest motive the Texans ought to be on everybody’s radar is second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, who flashed MVP stuff in 2023. So long as his entrance and outdoors weapons keep wholesome, he ought to be primed to sling it once more. DeMeco Ryans‘ protection, in the meantime, ought to be even higher in assist, with Hunter and Al-Shaair bringing an imposing physicality to the entrance seven. The short- and long-term future appears vivid.

2. Cincinnati Bengals

Whereas everybody flocks to foretell one other Ravens run or a giant leap by the quarterback-shuffling Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals are busy making ready to reintroduce the Joe Burrow-Ja’Marr Chase-Tee Higgins triumvirate to the NFL. Neither Burrow nor Higgins was totally wholesome in 2023, and whereas contract talks loom over Higgins, all indicators level to his return. Rankins and Stone are underrated defensive provides, nevertheless it comes again to the quarterback right here: when upright, Burrow is a game-changing level guard.

1. San Francisco 49ers

It is the straightforward reply, however that does not imply it is the fallacious one. San Francisco has doubled down on its front-seven investments, shortly changing leases like Chase Younger with dependable vets like Collins and Floyd. Offensively, in the meantime, Brock Purdy continues to be coming into his personal because the poised figurehead of Kyle Shanahan’s multipurpose assault. The well being of key weapons Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel is all the time value monitoring, however the 2023 runner-ups stay one of many NFL’s most balanced.