NFL power rankings 2024: Jets, Bears, Chargers make big leaps; Steelers, Broncos crash in way-too-early projections

Vinnie Iyer

NFL power rankings 2024: Jets, Bears, Chargers make big leaps; Steelers, Broncos crash in way-too-early projections image

Super Bowl 58 is here to close the 2023-2024 NFL season. That makes it the best way-too-early time to look at how all 32 teams stack up against each other for the 2024 season.

There are still many of questions with new coaches for a quarter of the league and possible big personnel changes, upgrades and downgrades, through upcoming NFL free agency and the draft in the following two months.

Before March and April arrive, here's Sporting News' look ahead to every team's outlook in the race for Super Bowl 59 ahead of the 2024 offseason:

MORE: Updated NFL first-round mock draft from 1-32

NFL power rankings 2024

1. San Francisco 49ers (final 2023 regular season ranking: 2)

The 49ers are locked and loaded for one more season on Brock Purdy's cheap QB contract and should be heavy NFC favorites. They also will be better with an improved offensive line and secondary.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (9)

The Chiefs have two big free-agent concerns on defense with tackle Chris Jones and L'Jarius Sneed. They should be able to limit the departure damage there and also look to find more youthful for Patrick Mahomes at wide receiver and offensive tackle.

MORE: Breaking down Super Bowl 2025 futures odds

3. Baltimore Ravens (3)

The Ravens should feel confident they can build on Lamar Jackson's second MVP season by upgrading more at running back and wide receiver. They will need to hope they don't lose much in the defense minus Mike Macdonald.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (19)

The Bengals will get Joe Burrow back and they have the salary cap money and draft acumen to compensate for whatever he might lose around him offensively and also going back to work addressing some defensive holes.

Joe Burrow
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5. Detroit Lions (5)

The Lions will have even more hype as a potential playoff power coming off their breakout run to the NFC championship game with Dan Campbell not losing his coordinators and Brad Holmes has the capital overall to keep filling more holes via free agency and the draft.

6. Buffalo Bills (8)

The Bills had to be inspired by Josh Allen responded so well in the new offense down the stretch and possibility of giving him a new young go-to wide receiver. Sean McDermott's biggest challenge will be replenishing his defensive front.

SN's 2023 NFL AWARDS: Campbell, Holmes take top coach, exec honors

7. Dallas Cowboys (3)

The Cowboys flopped again in the playoffs and took a big defensive coaching hit inside the division with Dan Quinn leaving for the Commanders. But their offense can keep building momentum around Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb and look for them to stay with the complementary attack from the other side.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (7)

The Eagles also had a rough ending to the season after an amazing start with the Super Bowl hangover catching up to them with defensive hits and piling injuries. Nick Sirianni has to get them back on track toward top contention or there will be change here as he feels the same high-expectation heat as Mike McCarthy.

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9. Houston Texans (13)

C.J. Stroud will stay in the same offense with dynamic receivers and a likely big upgrade to come in the running game. DeMeco Ryans is just getting started with his defensive pieces and scheming, too.

10. Miami Dolphins (6)

Tua Tagavoila and Tyreek Hill are coming off big seasons together but the Dolphins need to expand the repertoire of their explosive offense with more receiving depth. They also need much more from the defense, which they hope to get fresh from the Ravens in new coordinator Anthony Weaver.

11. Green Bay Packers (16)

The Packers' offense is on the uptick with Jordan Love and their youthful energy. They also worked to fix the defense, which did improve in the playoffs, by moving on from Joe Barry and replacing him with Jeff Hafley. 

12. New York Jets (25)

The Jets should get former Packer Aaron Rodgers back as their starting QB to reset into the 2023 hype and also clean up a lot of offensive issues with. They should add more help from Rodgers and also expect their defense to go back to being a strong complementary force.

Aaron Rodgers, Robert Saleh
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13. Los Angeles Chargers (30)

The Chargers are a talented team in a lot of core areas, starting at QB with Justin Herbert. There are in need with some key personnel tweaks with limited resources, but just the coaching of Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter will get so much more from both sides of the ball.

14. Jacksonville Jaguars (12)

The Jaguars need a big year from Trevor Lawrence ahead of his massive second contract to help get the offense back on track. They also need to fix plenty with the scheming and personnel on both sides of the ball. They're one of the biggest wild cards, as they could boom better than 2022 or flop worse than 2023.

15. Los Angeles Rams (10)

The Rams are in full rebooting mode defensively as they need a big second wave in the youth movement to help Aaron Donald with Raheem Morris gone. Their offensive upside is there to put them right back in playoff contention for Sean McVay.

16. Cleveland Browns (4)

The Browns had an incredible season while surviving at QB mostly without Deshaun Watson in which the Myles Garrett-le defense was their calling card and also became well short-handed offensively. It will get tougher in a tough division with the Ravens and Bengals bound to be a head of them.

Justin Fields
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17. Chicago Bears (21)

Whether it's Justin Fields or another starting QB, the Bears have the ample resources under Ryan Poles to stay aggresssive and further stack the roster for Matt Eberflus. New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was a great get, and so will be more pop in the passing game and pass defense.

18. Atlanta Falcons (24)

The Falcons have seemed to be "a quarterback away" for the past three seasons under Arthur Smith. Now they've smartly pivoted in trying to do it in the McVay Rams way with Morris and Zac Robinson. Watch out for them jumping up to win the still weak NFC South.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15)

The Buccaneers will try to hold off the Falcons to repeat again in the division, but Baker Mayfield without Dave Canales with Mike Evans in free agency raises some questions. Todd Bowles defense needs to worry about the secondary with some shakiness and Antoine Winfield Jr also being a free agent.

20. Indianapolis Colts (14)

The Colts held up well offensively in Shane Steichen's system with Gardner Minshew, so it will fun to see what Anthony Richardson can do in a full season. Expect GM Chris Ballard to help clean up the defense, too.

21. Minnesota Vikings (23)

The Vikings are uncertain to keep Kirk Cousins as their starting QB, which would affect their playoff return chances even more after trying to keep it together without him in the second half. The defense needs a few more pieces, too, for Minnesota to not finish last in a tougher division.

22. Arizona Cardinals (26)

There's promise with a fully healthy Kyler Murray and the Cardinals having the capital to improve much around him. Jonathan Gannon got the defense on the right track with limited personnel, too. Consider them a playoff sleeper.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers (11)

The Steelers have plenty of offensive questions remaining, starting with deciding on the best course at QB in a new offense, whether it's Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph or someone else. The defense needs more rebuilding to be trusted in more than battles of attrition.

24. Seattle Seahawks (17)

Geno Smith is adjusting to a new offense after working well with Canales and Waldron. The Seahawks are also facing a big change defensively and leadership wise with Macdonald. Like the Vikings, it will be a challenge to not finish in the cellar.

Geno Smith
(Getty Images)

25. New Orleans Saints (20)

The Saints are hoping for better offensive results with Derek Carr, but they might be close to the ceiling there. The defense is still a little behind in rebuilding for Dennis Allen, who's still on the hot seat.

26. Las Vegas Raiders (22)

The Raiders at least have some continuity with Antonio Pierce as the defensive-minded head coach for Maxx Crosby and others, but they also need to find a QB answer and still have familiar holes on both sides.

27. Denver Broncos (18)

The Broncos look intent on moving on from Russell Wilson under Sean Payton, likely with a high draft pick. They will need to go backward a little and develop before they can go forward again, helped by diminished expectations.

28. New York Giants (27)

The Giants are also not expected to do much but there's a lot of pressure on Daniel Jones to get it right in the offense, despite having more personnel concerns around him. The defense is also undergoing transition without Wink Martindale.

Caleb Williams (13) and Kliff Kingsbury (right)
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29. Washington Commanders (31)

The Commanders have plenty of buzz around them for everything except their latest defensive-minded head coach, Dan Quinn, Will the new GM try to go get DC native Caleb Williams for new OC Kliff Kingsbury? That could be a game-changer for this organization.

30. Carolina Panthers (32)

The Panthers will be happy to Canales, trying to "quarterback whisper" Bryce Young the way he did brilliantly for veterans Smith and Mayfield. That's a big get to get the offense in the right direction, but that will take time, right along with maximizing the defensive talent.

31. New England Patriots (28)

The Patriots will have the first season without Bill Belichick coaching them in the 2000s. They not only need to find a true franchise QB, but help for him and hope they can keep up some of the uncanny defensive scheming of the GOAT HC.

32. Tennessee Titans (29)

The Titans were quick to move on from Mike Vrabel once the winning playoff-bound luster was gone. They've got fo fix plenty around Will Levis to field a necessary efficient offense. At least Brian Callahan's hire is a good start there.

Vinnie Iyer

Vinnie Iyer Photo

Vinnie Iyer, has been with TSN since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. A native of St. Louis, Mo. but now a long-time resident of Charlotte, N.C. Vinnie’s top two professional sports teams are Cardinals and Blues, but he also carries purple pride for all things Northwestern Wildcats. He covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including player evaluations, gambling and fantasy football, where he is a key contributor. Vinnie represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network. Over his many years at TSN, he’s also written about MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, tennis, horse racing, film and television. His can’t-miss program remains “Jeopardy!”, where he was once a three-day champion and he is still avid about crossword puzzles and trivia games. When not watching sports or his favorite game show, Vinnie is probably watching a DC, Marvel or Star Wars-related TV or movie.