Trying to forecast which teams will rise and which will fall is a tall task. Every NFL season, an underdog like the Detroit Lions fools the experts while a powerhouse like the Philadelphia Eagles falls short of expectations.
The 2024 season promises to have more surprises in store. This article will take a look at three sleepers who could disrupt the status quo, making deep runs in the playoffs for the first time in years.
New York Jets: Rising Expectations
With a healthy Aaron Rodgers returning, the New York Jets could be flying under the radar heading into 2024. The Jets have beefed up their offensive line enough to produce a solid ground game led by Breece Hall and protect their aging signal-caller well into the future. There’s also the defense which is one of the stronger units in the NFL, ranking fourth and 12th in 2022 and 2023, respectively. By adding defensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu in the first round, Robert Saleh wants to only make the Jets defense better
Wide receiver Garrett Wilson figures to be a prominent part of the future and his chemistry with Rodgers will go a long way in determining how far the Jets go in 2024. It’s been 22 years since the Jets won a division title so to say they are due is an understatement. Furthermore, they won seven games apiece in 2022 and 2023 with poor quarterback play, so if they can get Rodgers to play like he did in Green Bay, they can upstage the Bills and Dolphins in the AFC East and make a Super Bowl run.
Atlanta Falcons: Sleeper Potential
Since blowing a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots seven years ago, the Falcons have fallen off the mountain, rattling off six consecutive losing seasons. Much of the disappointment has come from poor quarterback play. However, this past offseason, the front office made several significant changes, hiring defensive guru Raheem Morris as head coach and signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a massive $180 million deal to give the offense a lift. In case Cousins disappoints or gets hurt, they drafted college star Michael Penix Jr. with the first overall pick, who is ready to step up when needed.
The Falcons have weapons outside of the quarterback position, too, which makes them a team to watch. Bijan Robinson is considered one of the most talented running backs in the NFL, and Drake London and Kyle Pitts are littered with potential, just waiting for a good quarterback to throw them the ball. The team also went out and traded for four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Matthew Judon, hoping to improve their pass rush. The NFC South is very winnable, and the NFC is not considered nearly as deep as the AFC, giving the Falcons a chance if they can get to the postseason.
Los Angeles Chargers: Proven Winner Now In Charge
When the front office persuaded head coach Jim Harbaugh to leave Michigan, where he had just won a national championship, and join the Chargers, they did so with the intention of immediately taking a big step forward. Most believe the Chargers have been one of the NFL’s most underperforming teams in recent years. Justin Herbert consistently ranks as one of the top passers in the game, yet the Chargers have yet to win a playoff game since he arrived.
Harbaugh has a proven track record which should give Chargers fans hope. Aside from his outstanding college resume, Harbaugh has a most impressive 44-19-1 record in the NFL, coaching the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2012. In four seasons with the Niners, Harbaugh never had a losing season and won at least 11 games in three of his four years there.
The Chargers are two years removed from a disappointing wild-card loss in Jacksonville and have many of the same pieces in place. The front office drafted offensive tackle Joe Alt in the first round with the intention of pounding the football and protecting Herbert, who missed the final month of 2023 with an injury. They also added talented wide receiver Ladd McConkey to replace the aging Keenan Allen, who left for Chicago. Beating out the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West is a tall task, but if the Chargers can make the postseason, given Harbaugh’s experience, they could make a deep run.
Betting Trends and Insights
As you look at where you may want to invest your money this upcoming season of the NFL, it is going to be an absolute must that you keep an eye on the latest NFL betting odds. Those odds really can tell you quite a bit: pinpointing the underdog teams that might just offer top-value propositions against their more favored opponents.
Furthermore, betting on such trends on a sports betting podcast features ways to open up your view with a general outlook and gives a more in-depth insight into easily blending expert opinions with statistical logic. This not only gives you a better understanding of what is at play but also gives you the knowledge to make better and wise betting choices.
Conclusion: A Season of Uncertainty but with Opportunity
The 2024 NFL season will boast loads of predictability, combined with moments that will provide surprises where the big favorites will meet big expectations and the underdogs will thrive. The three teams discussed in this article–the Jets, Falcons, and Chargers–all have their eyes on upsetting the experts’ predictions and making a deep playoff run that no one saw coming.
It’s an ongoing drama where every win, every loss, and everything in between makes NFL Football a perennial thrill.
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