We are halfway through the 2024 NFL regular season and we’ve learned several things:
- QB’s drafted 2nd overall seem to outperform the top draft pick
- Aaron Rodgers’ glory days are behind him
- It might not be a good idea to taunt the opposing team’s fans before the game has ended
These first eight games have also given us a pretty clear image of what the playoffs might look like. Although the Chiefs are the only undefeated team in the league, they are far from guaranteed to hoist the Lombardi for a third year in a row. So let’s talk about some teams that have quietly set themselves up to make a run in the postseason.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were one of the most interesting teams going into the season. They had just signed Kirk Cousins to a 4-year deal, hired Raheem Morris as their head coach, signed Darnell Mooney, and traded for Matthew Judon. The Falcons made it clear that they were ready to make significant improvements on both sides of the ball following a series of disappointing campaigns. And yet, the season got off to a less than ideal start. Atlanta went 1-2, and the division rival Saints were looking like one of the surprise contenders of the 2024 season. There were growing worries that Kirk Cousins had not yet made a full recovery from the achilles injury he had sustained in 2023. However, since Week 3, things have taken a turn for the better for the Falcons. They are 4-1 in their last 5 games, maintaining an undefeated division record (4-0), and an undefeated away record (3-0). This team is built to win tough games, which is a very important characteristic of a Super Bowl contending team. Cousins has brought the best out of Robinson, London, Pitts, and Mooney, all players who have failed to reach their full potential prior to this season.
Atlanta currently leads the NFC South by one game, though they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker on every other team. Both the Saints and Bucs have been bitten by the injury bug and don’t appear to be capable of making a run this season. The Panthers are also not a concern. There is no reason why the Falcons can’t cruise their way to a division title, and potentially a bye, to set themselves up for a deep playoff run.
Los Angeles Chargers
I really wanted to pick at least one AFC team, but yikes, there was not a lot to choose from. I was prepared to lie to myself and say that the Bengals are contenders this year, but then I realized that the Chargers have flown under the radar. It’s easy to forget that Justin Herbert is a Top 10 QB in the NFL. The biggest problem in LA is that they don’t have any reliable receivers. Sure, Ladd McConkey has established himself as a good slot option, but the inconsistencies of Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer have proven to be a real problem. In the past few games Herbert has favored Will Dissly over these two.
However, the Chargers don’t appear to be too troubled by their lack of receiver talent. They failed to enter trade discussions with both the Browns and the Titans when they were shopping Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins respectively. If LA truly believes that they can make a playoff run this year, they need to be buyers at the trade deadline. The AFC is really weak this year and it would not be surprising to see a team like the Chargers go deep into the playoffs if they are able to set themselves up for success.
John Harbaugh has done a good job with this team so far. The offensive line looks good, and the defense has allowed the fewest points per game of any team in the NFL. LA also has the advantage of playing the Chiefs twice in the regular season. Could they be the team that finally takes them down in the playoffs? It’s certainly possible.
Arizona Cardinals
I know this seems like a bit of a longshot, but stay with me. There is no denying that this Cardinals team is unreliable. However, they have had a very tough schedule so far this year, and still find themselves atop the NFC West at 4-4. They secured improbable away victories in San Francisco and Miami (who were healthy at the time). The Cardinals defense is subject to collapse at times, but the offense has shown that they are usually able to manage those woes and keep themselves in the game.
Arizona has also proved that they are able to compete with good teams. Even though they lost to both Buffalo and Detroit, both games ended within one possession. The Cardinals will see their schedule get much easier in the second half of the season. They play the Jets, Patriots, and Panthers along with four more games against their struggling division opponents. Arizona is likely to secure the division title and home field advantage through the first two weeks of the playoffs. This is definitely not a team that should be counted out.
There is nothing NFL fans would like to see more than an unlikely team making a run deep into the playoffs. Things seem gloomy in the league right now with the only undefeated team being the reigning back-to-back champions. Don’t lose hope just yet though, there is plenty that can happen in the last half of the season. Who knows, you might just find your team in the Super Bowl. Well, unless you’re a Patriots fan.
