There’s one assure in each NFL season — no less than one workforce will come out of nowhere and obtain contender standing. This may very well be a workforce going from the underside of a division to the playoffs or may very well be one embarking on a deep playoff run after being on the cusp of the postseason within the prior season.
Final season’s Detroit Lions completely match the invoice of the latter, making it to the NFC Championship Sport after falling simply shy of a postseason berth in 2022. Injured gamers therapeutic, new additions, rookies rising and/or a key participant taking his sport to a different degree are all contributing elements that set off NFL shock tales.
Which groups are candidates to make the playoffs in 2024 after lacking out a yr earlier?
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are sometimes an attractive choose as a workforce to make noise going right into a season, they usually usually disappoint. However now with new head coach Jim Harbaugh, there’s purpose to imagine star quarterback Justin Herbert will likely be even higher.
And whereas the Chiefs are poised to run the AFC West once more en path to pursuing a 3rd straight Tremendous Bowl, the remainder of the division is wide-open. In order questions proceed to encompass the Broncos and Raiders, a wholesome Herbert may advance his sport to a different degree underneath the tutelage of a former NFL Professional Bowl quarterback as his new coach.
Cincinnati Bengals/New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers and the Jets technically qualify and ought to be an apparent contender, particularly if the offense can come near matching the protection. Nevertheless, the Bengals deserve recognition, too. A Joe Burrow-led Bengals workforce has already proved it might probably grasp with anybody when at full power.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are arguably the perfect broad receiver duo in soccer. However in contrast to the Jets, Cincinnati’s protection may maintain the workforce again from preventing for an additional Tremendous Bowl look.
Chicago Bears
The ascension of one other star quarterback may very well be why the Chicago Bears shock the NFC in 2024. Regardless of enjoying in a troublesome division with the Packers and Lions anticipated to battle it out for the NFC North crown, the Bears would possibly be capable to match anybody offensively, no less than on paper.
If every little thing goes as deliberate, the Bears, a franchise identified for protection, will take pleasure in their most prolific quarterback ever in Caleb Williams. Think about veteran receivers Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore and rookie Rome Odunze and Chicago may very well be a harmful workforce that is troublesome to cease. It is also very potential Williams and the Bears are nonetheless a yr away from totally clicking on all cylinders.
Atlanta Falcons
Although some had been confused when the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 general choose, Atlanta despatched a transparent message to the remainder of the league when it signed four-time Professional Bowler Kirk Cousins.
Assuming Cousins stays wholesome after an injury-plagued 2023, the Falcons offense ought to be potent with receiving threats like Kyle Pitts and Drake London and Bijan Robinson on the bottom.
