Even the defending Super Bowl champions have some questions that need answered. Here is one burning question for each NFL team ahead of the 2024 season.
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals - Can Joe Burrow even play a full season?
Joe Burrow has never played a full season in the NFL and has now suffered two season-ending injuries. This is a problem for the Cincinnati Bengals in the long-term. Is Burrow injury-prone? Could it simply that he's never had a competent offensive line?
Baltimore Ravens - Has this team maxed themselves out?
The Baltimore Ravens have continually failed in the postseason during the Lamar Jackson/John Harbaugh era. Are they maxed out? Is this duo simply not good enough to make a Super Bowl run?
Cleveland Browns - What is the deal with Deshaun Watson?
Deshaun Watson has looked quite awful during his brief stint in Cleveland thus far. Has he simply lost it? He is washed up? He's got the worst contract in all of sports and is probably running out of time to prove that he can still be a top QB in this league.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Does Russell Wilson have enough left in the tank?
Now on his third team in four seasons, Russell Wilson might be running out of time in the NFL, and it's shaping up to be a sad ending. It's not likely that Wilson goes out on top, as he's played quite poorly over the last 2.5 seasons.
The Steelers are the latest team to take a gamble on Wilson, and he does seem to have enough around him on offense to prove to everyone that he's still got it.
AFC South
Houston Texans - Is this team now in a Super Bowl window?
Their 10-7 season in 2023 with a rookie QB and rookie head coach makes you think that they now have a wide-open Super Bowl window. GM Nick Caserio hit a grand slam with CJ Stroud and DeMeco Ryans. Is this team good enough to get into Super Bowl contention?
Indianapolis Colts - Just how good can Anthony Richardson be?
The 2023 Indianapolis Colts win nine games with Gardner Minshew playing most of the season. If Anthony Richardson can even max out as a top-12 QB in this league, the Colts could be dangerous. It's worth wondering just how good this insane, dual-threat athlete can be.
Tennessee Titans - Does Will Levis make the year two jump?
The Tennessee Titans have a geriatric WR room, but it's still quite talented. There's also been some reinforcements added to the offensive line, so as of right now, there appears to be enough for Will Levis to prove himself. But that's the thing; is Levis good enough to be a franchise QB, and will me make that desired year two jump?
Jacksonville Jaguars - Is Trevor Lawrence... overrated?
Trevor Lawrence and the entire Jacksonville Jaguars team had a down year in 2023. Lawrence himself was quite inefficient, and through three years, he's got one decent season. His 2022 year wasn't anything that special, so it's worth wondering if Lawrence may actually be a bit overrated.
AFC East
Miami Dolphins - Can the team win late in season when the weather gets colder?
It's a valid concern and something that has impacted this team late in seasons in the Mike McDaniel era. Is this team simply in capable of winning when it's chilly outside? They have a Super Bowl-caliber roster and might have a top-10 head coach, so this might be the only thing in their way, which is frustrating.
New York Jets - Can Aaron Rodgers prove he's not washed up?
Honestly, the entire AFC will go as Aaron Rodgers goes. If he regains his recent MVP form, the Jets might just win it all. If he's washed up, that gives other teams the chance to leapfrog New York in the AFC hierarchy. It's got to be an anxious time for the Jets organization. They are all-in on a 40 year old man who is recovering from a torn Achilles.
Buffalo Bills - Who separates themselves in the WR room for Josh Allen?
Both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are no longer in the picture, so which wide receiver in this room can separate themselves from the rest? Will it be free agency signing Curtis Samuel, or could it be 2024 rookie Keon Coleman? Is it someone else?
New England Patriots - Will the team be patient with Drake Maye and the rebuild?
The New England Patriots have the worst roster in the NFL, and Drake Maye might need a year to clean up his game anyway. Will the Patriots be patient with Maye and the rebuild? Will they rush him out there prematurely, potentially damaging his confidence? New England should be extremely patient unless Maye proves to be a high-end player come Week 1.
AFC West
Denver Broncos - Is Bo Nix going to stabilize the QB position for the Broncos?
It remains to be seen, but there have been positive reports coming out of Broncos OTAs thus far, so maybe there is something here with Nix. Denver has tried just about every single possible solution to fix the QB problem besides a first-round rookie, until the 2024 NFL Draft.
There is a ton of pressure on Bo Nix.
Kansas City Chiefs - Will the WR room perform any better in 2024?
With Rashee Rice dealing with off-field issues and maybe getting suspended, who knows how good the Chiefs WR room will be in 2023. They clearly were just fine with a below-average group of offensive play-makers, so you have to think that this team could ascend into a higher tier if their play-makers stepped up in the coming season.
Los Angeles Chargers - Can Jim Harbaugh finally unlock the Chargers potential?
We keep hearing just how good the LA Chargers can be with Justin Herbert if they had a competent head coach. Well, here we are; the team hired Jim Harbaugh, a very good head coach at every level. Can the Chargers finally break their curse and actually start winning consistently?
Las Vegas Raiders - What direction does this team plan to go?
What are the Las Vegas Raiders trying to do? They overpaid for FA quarterback Gardner Minshew, and did not draft a QB in 2024. This team just has no clear direction, and the roster is filled with aging veterans and young players. It's hard to get a pulse on this franchise.
NFC North
Detroit Lions - Is there enough here for a Super Bowl run?
Do the Detroit Lions have enough roster talent and good enough coaching to make a Super Bowl run? I personally think that the Lions do make it to the Super Bowl in 2024, but I predict they lose to the Houston Texans. The Lions have made huge strides the last few seasons and are trending extremely upwards.
Minnesota Vikings - Can JJ McCarthy beat out Sam Darnold for starting job?
It would not surprise me to see JJ McCarthy sitting to begin his NFL career. Sam Darnold has actually played quite well over the last two seasons and is somehow still in his mid-20s. Darnold isn't going to go down lightly, and McCarthy recently turning 21 years old might give the Vikings time to sit him on the bench.
Green Bay Packers - Is Jordan Love legit, or was 2023 an outlier?
Jordan Love ended the 2023 NFL Season on an MVP tear. Was that just an outlier, or is Jordan Love that legit? If Love was as good as he was to end 2023, the Packers will make a deep playoff run. However, if this was a 2022 Geno Smith type of deal, Green Bay will be looking for a new QB next offseason.
Chicago Bears - Can Caleb Williams do what no one has done?
The Chicago Bears have never had a QB throw for 4,000 yards in a season. Could he note only be the first to do that, but cement himself as one of the only franchise quarterbacks that the Bears have ever had? You cannot overstate just how much pressure Williams has to perform in Chicago.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons - Can Kirk Cousins fix their recent QB woes?
The Atlanta Falcons have dealt with some poor QB play ever since Matt Ryan was traded to the Indianapolis Colts. Desmond Ridder was not good, so the team signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal. Can Cousins, coming off of a torn Achilles, fix the Falcons recent QB issues? If so, the team will win double-digit games in 2024, but they'll also have a more modest ceiling with Cousins under center.
New Orleans Saints - Is this the last year of he Carr/Allen era?
Probably. The New Orleans Saints did have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL in 2023 and only managed a 9-8 record. They did not qualify for the postseason. If 2024 is more of the same, there is no reason to keep Derek Carr or Dennis Allen around. Frankly. this might be their last chance before a huge rebuild comes to town.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Can they build on their mini-breakout year in 2023?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were by no means great in 2023, but they did go 9-8 and did win a playoff game. Can they build on this success in 2024? Was this just an outlier year? Will losing offensive coordinator Dave Canales impact them more than they think? So many questions that need answers.
Carolina Panthers - Can Dave Canales get the most out of Bryce Young?
If Bryce Young does not show enough in year two, I think a conversation needs to be had. Canales worked wonders with Geno Smith in 2022 and Baker Mayfield in 2023. Is Bryce Young in 2024 his next successful experiment?
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys - What is going on with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb?
Why have the Dallas Cowboys done nothing this offseason? This team has turned into even more of a laughing stock, which is impressive. Various quarterbacks and wide receivers getting new contracts has left the Cowboys with insanely high price tags to retain Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
Philadelphia Eagles - Was their 2022 season simply an outlier?
It sure looks like it, especially for QB Jalen Hurts, who has been below-average every year of his career save 2022. If the Eagles are closer to their 2023 version next year than their 2022 self, I do believe big changes would come to the team. New coordinators Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio are under a ton of pressure.
New York Giants - Why did they pass up on a QB for Daniel Jones and Drew Lock?
Just terrible process from the Giants have left them having to choose between Daniel Jones and Drew Lock as their starting quarterback for the 2024 NFL Season. This being their current QB room means a huge mistake was made. They had apparently wanted to trade up for Drake Maye. How do you go from wanting Maye to no QB at all?
Washington Commanders - Was all this change for the better?
New ownership, new general manager, new head coach, and new starting quarterback. The Washington Commanders have undergone a ton of change recently. Is it the proper change to fix this dysfunctional franchise?
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers - Is this the year they finally get over the hump?
The San Francisco 49ers seem to make the NFC Championship Game every season. They're 0-2 in Super Bowls since 2019 and are always among the best teams in the NFL. At some point, they have to get over the hump, right? Maybe not; maybe Kyle Shanahan simply isn't a good enough head coach to bring a Super Bowl back to the city.
Arizona Cardinals - Can this team quietly win a bunch of games?
They won four games in 2023. Could they double their win total in 2024? The Arizona Cardinals were a frisky team in 2023, so the added talent this offseason could lead to them winning more than people think. Do not be surprised if this team is in the Wild Card hunt about halfway through the season.
Seattle Seahawks - Can 2022 Geno Smith return?
I don't think he can, but it'll be interesting to see if the new coaching staff will be able to help the defense finally reach their potential and help Geno Smith return to his old self. If not, the 2024 season will be more of an evaluation year, and at that point, more roster changes could come.
Los Angeles Rams - Does the Stafford/McVay era have one final Super Bowl run?
They won the Super Bowl in 2021, but that was three seasons ago now. The LA Rams did go 10-7 in 2023, so perhaps this new group of young players can help fuel one final Super Bowl run in the Matthew Stafford/Sean McVay era. Stafford is now in his age-36 season and might not have much longer in the NFL.