It’s that time of year again.
The The 2024 NFL season is in the middlethis is a good time to take stock of each team’s accomplishments. It’s safe to say that the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens will be playoff teams in the AFC, barring major injuries.
In contrast, the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots are all looking at mock drafts as they wait to see how they can improve their disastrous offseason.
But which teams will exceed initial expectations? After high hopes this season, which are the tires? All this affects the assessment process.
Baltimore Ravens
Class: A
After an 0-2 start with losses to the Chiefs and Raiders, Baltimore has turned into a juggernaut. Derrick Henry is on pace for a 2,000-yard rushing season, and Lamar Jackson has a real chance to reach 5,000 yards and win back-to-back MVP awards. For Baltimore and Jackson, the Super Bowl is the only mountain to climb for this group and what it will look like going forward.
Buffalo Bills
Grade: A-
It’s been a dream season for Josh Allen and the Bills. Instead of competing nationally, Buffalo was seen as a team that would reboot, but that was not to be. The Bills added receiver Amari Cooper and are likely to have quarterback Matt Milano back from a triceps injury. With the AFC East foreclosed, Buffalo is now in contention for the AFC’s top seed, something that hasn’t been secured since 1993.
Cincinnati Bengals
Class: S
It’s not much different from previous Bengals seasons. Cincinnati started 1-4, but has since rallied to get back into the playoff race with an offense led by Joe Burrow and his MVP-reminiscent numbers. If the Bengals can figure out their defense, they could go up against the Ravens and Steelers for the AFC North.
Cleveland Browns
Class: F
What could be a bigger disaster than the Browns? Deshaun Watson was brutal now entered the season with a torn Achilles. Cleveland also traded Cooper because he had one win. The big question is whether the Browns will let go of Kevin Stefanski at the end of the season, or if he’ll stick around for another year.
Denver Broncos
Grade: A-
Denver was expected to be one of the league’s worst after losing some defensive players in the offseason before drafting quarterback Bo Nix in the first round. However, with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph putting on a master class, the Broncos are in postseason contention despite the Knicks’ struggles. If Denver makes the playoffs, Sean Payton will be the favorite to win Coach of the Year.
Houston Texans
Grade: B+
Texans are where they want to be. C.J. Stroud has been pretty good for the most part, Will Anderson Jr. is on pace to lead the league in sacks, and Nico Collins is a good bet to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards despite his injury backup job. However, Houston has struggled against good teams at times and has dropped down the rankings quite a bit. The Texans will obviously compete, but have yet to put together four quarters against another quality opponent.
Indianapolis Colts
Grade: B-
It is difficult to put a price on foals. Anthony Richardson took his seatand the defense was terrible. Still, Indianapolis is right there for a playoff spot because Shane Steichen is a great coach, has a solid skill set, and Joe Flacco remains one of the most valuable backup quarterbacks in recent memory. To make the postseason, Indy must overcome a weak, late stretch of its schedule.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Class: F
The Jaguars committed $275 million to Trevor Lawrence this offseason, and that supposed faith has so far not been rewarded. While Lawrence was far from the only problem, he wasn’t the solution to the Jacksonville team’s disappointment. Barring a remarkable turnaround, this could be Doug Pederson’s final year in Jacksonville after making the playoffs in his first campaign in 2022.
Kansas City Chiefs
Class: A
Despite Patrick Mahomes’ injuries and a terrible statistical year, the Chiefs are still favorites to win. Why? Kansas City has the best defense, coaching staff and quarterback in the sport, along with a wealth of experience. Although the Chiefs have warts, they are a very viable threat to win a third consecutive Super Bowl, it would become history.
Las Vegas Raiders
Class: D
The Raiders were expected to be average, but they didn’t even hit the low bar. Antonio Pearce was disastrous in late-game situations, and the fourth quarter of Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O’Connell killed any hope of a decent offense. Factor in Davante Adams’ trade to the New York Jets and a slew of injuries, and Las Vegas is having another rough season.
Los Angeles Chargers
Grade: C+
Jim Harbaugh established his own culture in the franchise. The Chargers are now the No. 1 ranked team on defense. Whether that’s the right strategy with Justin Herbert is an entirely different story for another time. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is in the mix for a playoff spot and could be trending toward .500. Not a bad start considering where the Chargers have been.
Miami Dolphins
Price: Incomplete
It is impossible to give true value to dolphins. They were without Tua Tagovailoa for the rest of the year due to another concussion. When Tagovailoa was in Miami, he was decent and unimpressive. But with the bottom AFC playoff picture so slimy that dolphins are able to walk properly and stretch.
New England Patriots
Class: D
Jerod Mayo had very little to work with in his first season as head coach, but he also made some mistakes, like calling his team soft after a loss to the Jaguars. What matters going forward is Mayo’s improvement and how Drake Mayo plays over the last couple of months.
New York Jets
Class: F
This could be the biggest disaster for a New York team since last year’s Jets. Despite the acquisition of Adams and a healthy year from Aaron Rodgers, New York is barely alive to make the playoffs, firing coach Robert Saleh. One has to wonder if this is the last season for Rodgers as well.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Grade: A-
Mike Tomlin continues to be a magician. The Steelers are running under center, the talent at the skill position is mostly George Pickens and little else, and the AFC North is an underdog. Still, Pittsburgh is in a good position to make the playoffs, albeit with a tough schedule over the final nine weeks of the season. The Steelers need to sweep Cleveland and then pick up another game or two from the Bengals and Ravens to stay comfortably in the race.
Tennessee Titans
Grade: C-
The Titans have been loaded with big acquisitions this offseason, including pairing cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, Tony Pollard and receiver Calvin Ridley with new coach Brian Callahan. None of that worked. Snead has dealt with injuries, Ridley has been ineffective due to poor quarterback play, and Callahan wonders if this season will change.
