Ranking 10 2024 Super Bowl contenders at the NFL season's halfway point
The 2024 NFL season has reached its halfway point with the trade deadline in the books and Week 10 on the horizon.
It's now time to size up the 10 best teams in the NFL and rank their chances at winning a Super Bowl this season. Good teams like the Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals didn't make this list even though their chances at January football are high right now.
We decided to pick the 10 teams we feel are best situated at the moment to make waves in January and potentially separate themselves from the pack once playoff football gets going.
Now, second-season collapses are nothing new, and some of these teams may face regression as the fall goes on. Some of these teams will only get stronger in that timespan, too. We'll just have to see how the rest of the schedule shapes out.
For now, here are the 10 teams we feel the most confident in, with the top team not a huge surprise.
10. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons crack the bottom of this list because their offense is as good as it's been since that fateful 2016 season when the team won the NFC. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is playing really sound football right now. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is unleashing the team's impressive arsenal of offensive playmakers to good effect. If this team had a respectable defense, it would be higher on this list. However, the defensive line woes in particular will make a January push harder. However, this offense can really make things hard for opponents if it gets up early in the game.
9. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have come back down to Earth a bit after their inspired 5-0 start, losing two games to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams and squeaking out a home win over the Indianapolis Colts. However, Kevin O'Connell's team still looks plenty poised for a playoff berth right now. The offense is getting more out of Sam Darnold than expected, in part helped by having the best wide receiver in football with Justin Jefferson. Brian Flores' defense has looked formidable, if not infallible. At the least, Minnesota would not be a fun wild-card game for any team right now.
If it can gather some of that early-season momentum this month and gets some lucky breaks in January, this Vikings team could potentially make a run.
8. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay's dispiriting loss to the Lions on Sunday may dampen expectations that this Packers team can win a Super Bowl this season. However, on a good day, the Packers can beat most any team in the NFL. Therein lies the question. Matt LaFleur has won games with Malik Willis at quarterback this season, so you can't ever count this team out. However, Jordan Love's inconsistencies under center and his durability will dictate how far Green Bay can get in January. When he's on, he's tremendous. When he's making mistakes, other teams can capitalize.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
This Steelers team keeps grinding along at an impressive clip, even after benching Justin Fields for a healthy Russell Wilson. Mike Tomlin's team always outperforms expectations, but leading the AFC North at this point in the season is downright impressive. The Baltimore Ravens will still be favored to win the division by year's end, but the Steelers are a nightmare wild-card matchup. As long as this team stays healthy, it's got what it needs to cause problems. Adding both wide receiver Mike Williams and outside linebacker Preston Smith at the deadline helps this quest a good bit.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
If this Eagles team can stay healthy, the offense is going to be an absolute nightmare in January. Running back Saquon Barkley is playing some of the best football in his career, and quarterback Jalen Hurts looks much better with a healthy receiver room at his disposal. Philadelphia's defense is also settling in more to expectation. The team is 4-0 since its Tampa Bay Buccaneers debacle. The team's two upcoming meetings with the Washington Commanders will say a lot about whether this Philly team is going to tell us a lot about how high this team's ceiling is. However, you love the floor and particularly the problems they could cause as a visiting wild-card team in January.
5. Buffalo Bills
The Bills have quarterback Josh Allen playing at a high level. That alone makes them a bona fide Super Bowl contender. While Buffalo has never gotten over the hump to make it to a championship team under this regime, perhaps it'll be different this time out? At the least, you can take it to the bank Buffalo makes the playoffs and gives any opponent a heyday. Having Allen will do that.
4. Washington Commanders
The Commanders feel kind of like this year's Houston Texans. They're getting MVP-level quarterback play from sensational rookie Jayden Daniels, and the defense is playing much better than previously expected. Washington's biggest test coming up will be how it compares to the resurgent Eagles in the division. Adding cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the deadline was a very smart move that should boost the secondary. The Commanders are riding high on the great vibes of a regime change and a new quarterback, but like the 2023 Texans, we're not sure how far that goes against more experienced teams. The playoffs look great. After that, we're not sure.
3. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have the best offense in the NFL, led by an MVP favorite at quarterback with Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry playing at an outrageously high level. This Baltimore offense can score on anybody in the NFL, and that obviously matters in the playoffs. The real question is if this defense can do enough to win the Ravens a title. It's a 14th-ranked unit in DVOA, which might be good enough. After last year's AFC title game loss, the Ravens have a lot to prove come playoff time. We're pretty certain the team will get the opportunity to do so.
2. Detroit Lions
The Lions look unstoppable, even when they're not quite at their best. Winning on the road in Green Bay in the rain is just beyond impressive. Adding defensive end Za'Darius Smith at the deadline was a savvy move to help replace some of Aidan Hutchinson's impact. We're not sure any team in the NFC can really match Detroit right now. They may glide their way to a Super Bowl berth as long as injuries don't bubble up in the second half of the season. What a franchise turnaround.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs may well complete the Super Bowl three-peat. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins looks like a dream for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, particularly after his 2-touchdown performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night. That's what this team has been missing on offense, an explosive veteran playmaker who can stretch the field and contest in the end zone. With Kansas City's defense also playing well, there's a reason this team is still undefeated. It's any given Sunday, of course, but nobody wants to play the Chiefs right now for a reason.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ranking 10 2024 Super Bowl contenders at the NFL season's halfway point
