JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser's pre-Week 1 2024 NFL power rankings. And we all know how important these are …
Rank.Team (2023 record) | Comment
(11-3)
1
Kansas City Chiefs
Champs on top until they’re not
(12-5)
2
San Francisco 49ers
NFC’s most consistent good team year after year
(13-4)
3
Baltimore Ravens
Hard to see them not going deep in postseason again
(12-5)
4
Detroit Lions
Still feels like a team on the rise
(11-6)
5
Philadelphia Eagles
Must show late-season slide was a blip and not a trend
(9-8)
6
Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow’s back healthy – and that means a lot
(12-5)
7
Dallas Cowboys
Twelve regular-season victories each of the last three seasons
(11-6)
8
Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen still plays quarterback for the Bills
(11-6)
9
Cleveland Browns
Quietly one of NFL’s strongest teams in 2023
(10-7)
10
Houston Texans
One of a few teams very much on the rise
(9-8)
11
Green Bay Packers
One of a few teams very much on the rise
(11-6)
12
Miami Dolphins
Playing host to Duuuuuuval in Week 1
(10-7)
13
Los Angeles Rams
Even without Aaron Donald they feel like a contender
(7-10)
14
New York Jets
He’s baaaaack – and he makes them dangerous
(10-7)
15
Pittsburgh Steelers
You just know they’ll matter in January
(9-8)
16
Jacksonville Jaguars
Put ‘em here to start and see where they go
(9-8)
17
Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson the No. 1, 2 and 3 stories here
(9-8)
18
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Defending NFC South champions feel overlooked entering ‘24
(5-12)
19
Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh or not, Justin Herbert won’t be down long
(9-8)
20
Seattle Seahawks
The post-Pete Carroll era begins
(7-10)
21
Chicago Bears
A team on the rise, but how quickly will a rookie quarterback star?
(7-10)
22
Atlanta Falcons
Maybe not that far away
(7-10)
23
Minnesota Vikings
Post-Cousins era begins in Twin Cities
(4-13)
24
Arizona Cardinals
A few signs of life late in 2024
(9-8)
25
New Orleans Saints
Just outside looking in for three consecutive seasons
(8-9)
26
Denver Broncos
Eight consecutive seasons missing the postseason
(8-9)
27
Las Vegas Raiders
Minshew Mania on The Strip
(6-11)
28
New York Giants
Two playoff appearances since 2011
(6-11)
29
Tennessee Titans
The post-Yulee Bulldozer era begins
(4-8)
30
Washington Commanders
Last double-digit victory season: 2012
(4-13)
31
New England Patriots
The post-hoodie era begins
(2-15)
32
Carolina Panthers
Shut out in last two games of 2023
