It’s been a super summer of sports, with the Olympics, Euro 2024 and Copa America grabbing most of the attention in the media. Yet, for many football fans, the summer is all about getting ready for the fall and the beginning of the new NFL season.
That kicks off on Thursday, September 5th, with the Baltimore Ravens visiting the Kansas City Chiefs for the opening game of the regular season. As it happens, that promises to be a blockbuster matchup as the pair are both ranked among the favorites for Super Bowl LIX.
Yet, the Chiefs and Ravens aren’t alone in being considered contenders this season. In fact, there are arguably a dozen teams with serious chances. Below, we look at each of those teams:
Kansas City Chiefs
The Super Bowl LVIII and LVII champions are co-favorites in the NFL odds for the 2024/25 season, and why not? The Chiefs have taken a mostly “if it’s not broken, why try to fix it attitude,” making minor tweaks to an already great offense and maintaining a superlative defensive setup. A real chance of the first “three-peat” in NFL history.
San Francisco 49ers
We aren’t being lazy by putting last season’s runner-up in the no.2 spot behind the Chiefs. The 49ers have been one of the best teams in the NFL over the past five seasons, and they probably merit a Super Bowl win. There are some contract issues to sort out, but the 49ers should be the team to beat in the NFC again.
Baltimore Ravens
We mentioned that the Ravens were among the favorites, and that bears out in the sportsbooks’ odds for the new season. Yet, there have been a lot of changes in Baltimore, from key coaches to the player roster. It wouldn’t be a shock if the Ravens went far, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the team implodes either.
Detroit Lions
The Lions were once close to being a laughingstock in the modern NFL, a characteristic exacerbated by that horrendous run of losing every Playoff game over a 32-year period (1991-2023).
Things changed last season when the Lions went all the way to the NFC Championship, losing narrowly to the 49ers. They have improved in the offseason. Can they handle the pressure of being contenders?
Cincinnati Bengals
The three-time Super Bowl runners-up have become a force again under coach Zac Taylor. While last season was poor, they should welcome back a healthy Joe Burrow at quarterback, and safety Vonn Bell also looks like a smart acquisition. They’ll improve on last season, no doubt, but how far can they go?
Buffalo Bills
Often tagged as the unluckiest team in NFL history, the Bills’ 0-4 Super Bowl record weighs heavy on a fanbase desperate for success. The Bills have been busy in the offseason, including trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. As such, there are questions, but the team is still good enough to compete. They’ll just need to grab some of that luck that has abandoned them over the last half-century.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles had a disappointing season last time around, failing to build on that Super Bowl LVII appearance. But the Eagles go into the new season with a roster brimming with experience and little talent. Questions hang over the coaching setup, but the Eagles can certainly fly high in the Playoffs.
Houston Texans
A lot of football pundits have tagged the Texans as the team to watch across the 2024/25 NFL season. They have a potential superstar quarterback in CJ Stroud, who will be all the better for getting his rookie season under his belt. Will Anderson is also an elite player entering his sophomore season. This roster has Super Bowl champions written all over it, but will it be next season?
Green Bay Packers
A slightly surprising run to the Playoffs last year saw the Packers triumph over the Cowboys before coming unstuck against the 49ers in the Divisional Round.
It’s a young team brimming with promise, but next season might be a little too soon for the Packers to win a 5thSuper Bowl.
Dallas Cowboys
It’s approaching 30 years since the world’s most valuable sports team appeared in a Super Bowl, but one wonders if it will be next season. After all, the Cowboys lost some valuable players in the offseason. They are still good, but it’s debatable whether they are great.
New York Jets
For many, two words sum up the potential of the Jets next season – Aaron Rodgers. He’s 40, and he’s coming off a serious injury, but he is a winner when at his best. There are other questions about the health of this roster. If everyone is fully fit, and Rodgers’ head is in the right place, they can win it all.
Miami Dolphins
Some might argue that the Rams, Falcons, and even the Chargers would deserve the final place on this list, but the Dolphins get the nod, albeit narrowly. There’s been a few changes in Miami, and questions remain over the offensive setup. Yet, they should sneak into the Playoffs. And if some players coming back from injury hit the ground running, there will maybe be more than that.
