Breaking down the NFL Power Rankings as we approach the final week of pre-season. Injuries and roster turnover will certainly change the outlook of these ranks! Make sure to drop your thoughts and feedback in the comment section!
No. 10: New York Jets
Expectations have seemingly never been higher for the New York Jets. A season of good quarterback play was stolen from them after four snaps last year when Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles on the first drive of the season. Now healthy and motivated to make a comeback, Rodgers has a stacked offensive lineup and an improved offensive line surrounding him in a pivotal legacy season. The Jets also have a defense stacked with talent. One of the best rosters in the NFL, the Jets will go as far as Rodgers and the coaching staff are able to take them.
No. 9: Dallas Cowboys
Uncertainty surrounds the future of the Dallas Cowboys, with both QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb seeking new deals as they enter a contract year. Regardless, the Cowboys still have one of the best rosters in the NFL on both sides of the ball. They are stacked with talent but seem to underperform every year once the postseason begins. Can Prescott and company finally get over the hump this season?
READ MORE: Giants leaning heavily on young offensive lineman to rise to the occasion
No. 8: Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow is back, healthy, and looking better than ever as he enters the 2024 season. The former No. 1 pick missed 7 games due to injury last season but is re-entering a Cincinnati Bengals offense that added even more talent this offseason. This will be a pivotal season for Burrow and company as they aim to remind the league why they are among the top contenders in a stacked AFC.
No. 7: Buffalo Bills
QB Josh Allen will keep the Buffalo Bills contending for as long as he is under center. However, the Bills have taken a hit in the power rankings after a disappointing offseason. Several AFC teams rank ahead of them after doing far more to upgrade their roster than Buffalo. The Bills lost star WR Stefon Diggs via trade and star LB Matt Milano due to an injury. Their roster doesn’t look as strong entering this season as it did last year, but Allen and his supporting cast are still good enough to rank among the league’s contenders.
READ MORE: Giants’ rookie running back escapes injury, eyeing full return
No. 6: Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers look like one of the NFL’s most dangerous teams after a historically good first season as a starter from QB Jordan Love. The Packers subsequently made Love one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL this offseason after a 36-touchdown campaign last season. Love and the Packers are stacked on both sides of the ball. A young team still growing, the potential for the Packers to turn into a powerhouse is legitimate.
No. 5: Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are one of the most dangerous teams in the NFC. Their tantalizing defense combines with their explosive offense to create one of the most stacked rosters in the NFL. After narrowly losing the NFC Championship Game last season, the Lions are hungrier than ever to make their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. And they have more than enough talent on the roster to contend for the championship.
No. 4: Houston Texans
The Houston Texans might be the NFL’s most exciting young and up-and-coming team this season. Second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud has limitless potential after an incredible Rookie of the Year season in 2023. He’s entering the second season of his career with a loaded arsenal of weapons featuring Tank Dell, Nico Collins, and newly-added Stefon Diggs. The Texans look like they could be contenders for the first time in a long time this season.
No. 3: San Fransisco 49ers
The San Fransisco 49ers were just a few plays away from winning their sixth Super Bowl last season. Alas, the Kansas City Chiefs once again got the better of them, but that will only fuel the 49ers further as they enter the 2024 season more motivated than ever to bring home another Lombardi Trophy. Whether or not the team trades away WR Brandon Aiyuk is still unknown — and the result could affect their chances of winning a championship. But for now, the 49ers are still a high-octane offense led by QB Brock Purdy and RB Christian McCaffery paired with a stifling defense. They will compete for a championship again this season.
No. 2: Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is coming off his second MVP campaign and leading a stacked Baltimore Ravens roster. They are loaded on both sides of the ball and added some new firepower on offense with RB Derrick Henry. Arguably the NFL’s best rushing attack last season has gotten even better with this addition. The Ravens looked like the only AFC team that could knock off the Chiefs last season, but ultimately came up short in the postseason. Perhaps their upgraded roster will get the job done this time around.
No. 1: Kansas City Chiefs
The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the Chiefs get faster. The reigning Super Bowl champs added rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy in the first round of this year’s draft, adding more elite speed and explosiveness to a dangerous Kansas City offense. As long as HC Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes are still at the helm, the Chiefs will be perennial Super Bowl contenders.