NFL Analysis
10/25/24
10 min read
Making Sense Of NFL's Contenders and Pretenders This Season
We are nearly halfway through the 2024 season, and one of the most challenging aspects of the NFL is trying to decipher the contenders from the pretenders. We know the Chiefs, Ravens, and Lions are all great teams, but what about the rest?
There are 12 teams with 3 or 4 wins this season, but only a handful of them will make the playoffs. Here are our thoughts on those 12 teams, whether or not they are contenders or pretenders for the remainder of the year.
Which NFL Teams Are Pretenders or Contenders
Seattle Seahawks (4-3) 
The Seattle Seahawks started the season with a 3-0 record, only to lose three straight games. However, a big reason was the injuries to their defensive line. They played the Lions on Monday Night Football and were without all four starting defensive linemen. They are getting healthier, and you saw them dominate the Falcons in Atlanta in Week 7.
Seattle’s offense is among the top eight in the NFL (25.7 PPG) and is one of the most balanced units in the league. Kenneth Walker is having a career season, and Abraham Lucas (starting right tackle) is expected back in the upcoming weeks.
If Mike Macdonald can figure out the defense, they will have a legitimate chance to win the NFC West this year. They don’t own the tiebreaker with San Francisco, but they have a much friendlier schedule moving forward. Buy the Seahawks now, as they should really start to rack up the wins in the upcoming weeks.
Verdict: Contenders
Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
The Arizona Cardinals will have a chance in any game in which Kyler Murray plays. Despite an awful roster around him, they’ve managed to beat some quality teams this year, including the 49ers and the Chargers. He's just so dynamic and such a unique player that he can win games singlehandedly.
Still, their defense is just too far away from being a legitimate contender this season. Arizona has the 26th-ranked DVOA defense after seven weeks, and it might only get worse after the injury to Dennis Gardeck (torn ACL). The Cardinals don’t have the pass rushers to threaten opponents, and eventually, that will come back to bite them.
The Cardinals' only hope is for the offense to continue to improve and for Marvin Harrison Jr. to turn into a superstar in the second half of the season. But with the NFC being as deep as it is, don't expect a run to the playoffs for the Cardinals.
Verdict: Pretenders
San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
It’s really tough to judge the San Francisco 49ers due to all of their injuries on both sides of the ball. Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is done for the season, and that will significantly hurt their offense. However, Christian McCaffrey could return in the upcoming weeks, which would be a huge boost.
San Francisco has played a difficult schedule to start the season, and two of its losses came within the division when it led in the fourth quarter. The 49ers must finish games better, but that will probably come once they get healthier.
This might prove to be foolish, but we will give the 49ers the benefit of the doubt due to their track record.
Verdict: Contenders
Chicago Bears (4-2)
The Chicago Bears have looked fantastic this season, and Caleb Williams has improved each week. For that reason alone, the season has already been successful for the Bears.
It’s also fair to point out that their four wins have come against the Panthers, Rams, Titans, and Jaguars. Heading into Week 8, those four teams had a combined six wins.
The Bears' schedule gets a lot harder, and they will play three straight divisional games in November. Chicago could end up with nine or 10 wins this season, but until it can prove that it can beat higher-quality teams, we will list them as a pretender.
This team is well on its way to becoming a legitimate threat in the NFC sooner rather than later.
Verdict: Pretenders
Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
A 4-3 start for the Atlanta Falcons is pretty impressive, considering all of the additions and changes they have made during the offseason. Their Week 7 loss to the Seahawks was discouraging, but that was only one game, and the Falcons have looked great in the NFC South.
The expectation is that Kirk Cousins will get healthier as the season progresses and that the offense will continue to improve.
The only real question about the Falcons is whether their defense is good enough to get big stops when they need them against quality opponents. Raheem Morris is a fantastic defensive mind, and you would think that his defense would get better as the season goes on.
They are relying on a lot of older players on both sides of the ball, and that's the only reason to be cautious here. But the Falcons do have the look of a team that could make some noise in the playoffs.
Verdict: Contenders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)
Just a few days ago, it wouldn’t have been even a question regarding Tampa Bay’s playoff status. However, after losing Chris Godwin (ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring) to long-term injuries, it feels like this season just wasn’t meant to be.
Outside of just their injuries, the defense has taken a major step backward in 2024. It has allowed the second-most yards in the NFL and the fifth-most points (26.0 PPG). Without a high-flying offense, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have no chance in the NFC.
The injuries are unfortunate because Tampa Bay had a legit shot of coming out of the conference this year.
Verdict: Pretenders
Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
If the Dallas Cowboys weren’t so beat up on the defensive side of the ball, you could make a case that they could be contenders in the second half of the season.
After all, this is a team that has won 12+ games in each of the past three seasons.
With Micah Parsons, Daron Bland, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Marshawn Kneeland all expected to miss multiple games moving forward, their defense won't get better anytime soon. And their schedule is too tough in the upcoming month to stay afloat.
Dallas might look stronger by the end of the season, but it isn't a legit contender in the NFC.
Verdict: Pretenders
Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)
The Philadelphia Eagles are a top-heavy team, and they will only go as far as their superstars can take them. One of the most telling stats about the Eagles is that they are 28-9 when A.J. Brown starts.
They are 1-2 this season without him on the field, and their passing attack looks broken when he's not in the lineup. As long as Brown can stay healthy, the Eagles will have a shot against any team in the league.
The hope is that they don't have to be so dependent on Brown in the second half of the season. Saquon Barkley is coming off one of the best games of his career, and if Jalen Hurts can get back to his 2022 level, the Eagles could be the team to beat in the NFC East.
There is still something missing with this team, and they are hard to trust in big moments, but we will side with their talent and call them a contender moving forward.
Verdict: Contenders
Denver Broncos (4-3)
There is a pretty good chance that the Denver Broncos wind up in the AFC playoffs, given their schedule and how good their defense has been this season.
They have the No. 3 ranked DVOA defense, and that’s with Patrick Surtain II missing a few games. However, they aren’t a real contender due to their offense, specifically their quarterback. Bo Nix has shown flashes, but he is far too inconsistent, and it’s hard to trust him in big games.
Denver isn’t loaded with playmakers either, so this is far from a Brock Purdy situation in San Francisco. The good news is that it is way ahead in terms of its rebuild, and it could easily get to nine wins this season.
However, the Broncos aren’t a threat to any playoff-caliber team in the AFC this year.
Verdict: Pretenders
Los Angeles Chargers (3-3)
The Los Angeles Chargers are so close to being 5-1 and leading the AFC West. But just like in most seasons for the Chargers, injuries and bad luck have cost them in big games. The lack of a consistent weapon in the passing game has already become evident, and teams are now loading up to stop the run.
The good news for Los Angeles is that Justin Herbert is healthy now and is playing some of the best football of his career. They have the No. 1 ranked scoring defense, and we know that Jim Harbaugh is one of the top coaches in the league.
Eventually, it will figure out ways to close these games, so we will call the Chargers a contender in the shallow AFC. But for them to be considered a true Super Bowl contender, they've got to find a reliable target for Herbert moving forward.
Verdict: Contenders
Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)
The Cincinnati Bengals are a flawed team, and it never seems like their offense and defense can click at the same time. After a rough stretch to start the season, the defense has improved and has gotten better each week. However, the offense has now fallen into a slump, and it can't find any consistency.
But we are going to give the Bengals the benefit of the doubt because of Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. As long as those two players are on the field, they can legitimately beat any team in the league.
We saw that last year as the Bengals stomped the 49ers in San Francisco, and they went toe-to-toe with the Chiefs in 2024. Cincinnati has a lot of things it needs to clean up if it wants to go on a big run, but there is no doubt that it has the right quarterback to accomplish that.
Verdict: Contenders
Indianapolis Colts (4-3)
The Indianapolis Colts have a talented roster, but their success in 2024 will depend on the development of Anthony Richardson. Truth be told, this team looked more dangerous with Joe Flacco under center, unlocking Michael Pittman and Josh Downs. With Richardson, the offense looks clunky, and his inaccuracy has greatly crippled the offense.
Indianapolis doesn't have a suffocating defense that can overcome poor quarterback play, so it's hard to trust it against quality opponents. Until that unit improves or Richardson figures out his accuracy, this will continue to be a good but not great team in the AFC South.
Verdict: Pretenders
