The 2024 NFL Season is just weeks away, so let's be optimistic in this article and give one reason why each team can finish with a winning record. It would take some large miracles for certain teams to finish with a winning record, but you just never know. For example, the 2023 Houston Texans were often projected to win just a handful of games last year, but they managed to win 10.
And even in 2022, the lowly New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars each won nine games in the regular season. It is not impossible for some lesser thought of teams to finish with a winning record, and it's also not impossible for some highly thought of teams to lose more.
But for the purposes of this piece, let's give one reason why each NFL team can finish with a winning record in the 2024 season.
One reason why each team can finish with a winning record in 2024 NFL Season
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens - Team maintains decent injury luck and Lamar Jackson stays in the lineup
Joe Burrow staying healthy will help the Cincinnati Bengals tremendously in 2024. Burrow has now suffered two season-ending injuries, and this latest one to his wrist could be something to monitor. Well, if Burrow can put this wrist injury behind him for good, the Bengals will be just fine. In the two years that Burrow has played most of the season, the Bengals have gone to the Super Bowl and to the AFC Championship Game.
Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow's wrist injury is a thing of the past
Joe Burrow staying healthy will help the Cincinnati Bengals tremendously in 2024. Burrow has now suffered two season-ending injuries, and this latest one to his wrist could be something to monitor. Well, if Burrow can put this wrist injury behind him for good, the Bengals will be just fine. In the two years that Burrow has played most of the season, the Bengals have gone to the Super Bowl and to the AFC Championship Game.
Cleveland Browns - Deshaun Watson returns to his Houston Texans self
If Deshaun Watson can regain the form he had when he was on the Houston Texans, the Cleveland Browns are going to be an elite football team, but even if Watson is just OK, that could be enough for the Browns to finish with a winning record, as their defense is just that good. But we all know that this team is going to live or die with Watson, so he is the one to pay attention to in the 2024 NFL Season for this team.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are capable enough for nine or 10 wins
Can Russell Wilson and Justin Fields be capable enough to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a winning record in 2024? Well, the QB trio of Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, and Mitchell Trubisky helped lead this team to 10 wins in 2023, so you’d think that Wilson and Fields could do the same. The issue here is that Wilson and Fields are both no good, but you never know.
The Steelers have never finished with a winning record in the Mike Tomlin era, so it might not be likely that 2024 is the first for that.
AFC South
Houston Texans - CJ Stroud doesn't fall-off and defense at least remains the same level as 2023
The Houston Texans 2023 season was just outrageous, so they should be on pace for a huge year in 2024. In fact, I am personally projecting this team to win this Super Bowl, so them finishing with a winning record should be nothing. As long as QB CJ Stroud does not fall off a huge cliff, and as long as their defense can remain at the same level as they were in 2023, the Texans will be just fine.
But I assure you that this franchise is thinking more than just a winning record for the 2024 NFL Season.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Jaguars enjoy better injury luck and play as their talent and coaching indicate
The Jaguars were firmly in the driver’s seat to have a top seed in the AFC last year, but injuries seemed to derail their year. They’ve been 9-8 over the last two seasons and just need to take the next step. Their head coach/QB duo of Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence should be plenty good enough for a deep playoff run, and the roster does have a good bit of talent, so at some point, the Jaguars need to breakout.
As long as this team does not again get hammered by injuries, and if their roster talent can play up to their own levels, the Jaguars will be a force in 2024.
Tennessee Titans - Will Levis manages to make the sophomore leap
The Tennessee Titans have a huge uphill battle to finish with a winning record in the 2024 NFL Season, and it’s going to boil down to second-year QB Will Levis being able to make the year two leap that so many other passers have done. If he can do that, the Titans are going to be excellent in 2024, but there was not a ton to like from Levis in year one.
And while the roster on offense is much better, it’s not quite good enough to compete with the big-dawgs in the AFC at this point.
Indianapolis Colts - QB Anthony Richardson stays healthy and takes a year two leap
Anthony Richardson hardly played during his rookie season due to injuries, so all eyes are on him in year two, as the Colts look to take the next step and enter into a new era. They won nine games last year with Gardner Minshew taking most of the snaps, so that tells you just how good they can be in 2024 if Richardson is legit.
That’s simply what this year is going to boil down to for the Colts. Head coach Shane Steichen is clearly an excellent offensive mind, but if his QB cannot stay healthy, this is a totally different story.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen proves losses at WR don't mean much
Josh Allen will now be throwing to players not named Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. His top WRs for the 2024 NFL Season figure to be Keon Coleman and Curtis Samuel. Yikes. Well, Allen can prove that Diggs and Davis weren’t total losses in 2024. The ball is in Allen’s court, as this seems to be more of a transition year for the Bills, who did have to part with some veteran players to get their cap situation in line.
It’s clear that they are not a Super Bowl contender, and they did struggle a good bit in 2023. Can Josh Allen still be productive without viable receivers in 2024?
Miami Dolphins - Roster talent and strong coaching is enough for another double-digit win season
The Miami Dolphins should really have no issue finishing with a winning record in the 2024 NFL Season. This is an extremely talented team with insane coaching, and they have finished with a winning record in both years of the Mike Macdonald era. Unless something crazy happens, the Dolphins should again find themselves with 9-11 wins and making a playoff push in 2024.
New York Jets - Defense remains strong and Aaron Rodgers proves he's still capable
The New York Jets need Aaron Rodgers to prove that he is still capable. We all know that the defense is very good, and there should not be much change with that unit for the 2024 NFL Season, but the wild card is obviously Rodgers, who tore his Achilles right at the beginning of the 2023 NFL Season. The last full year he played was in 2022 with the Green Bay Packers, and that year was not super efficient.
The Jets will go as Aaron Rodgers goes.
New England Patriots - Drake Maye explodes onto the field and has Justin Herbert-esque rookie season
Yeah, this might be the hardest team to find an argument for them to finish with a winning record this year, but since rookie QB Drake Maye does have a lot of similarities to Justin Herbert, it may take Maye to have a 2020 Justin Herbert type of season if the Patriots want a winning record in 2024.
That sounds impossible given their situation, but it’s not until proven otherwise. I do not expect the Patriots to win more than a few games, but Drake Maye can certainly prove me and many others wrong.
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs - Chiefs simply play normally
The Kansas City Chiefs just need to show up every week and they’ll finish with a winning record. There is no secret formula here for this team, who has now won three Super Bowls over the last five seasons and are very clearly in a dynasty period. The Chiefs did struggle a bit in 2023, but still played well enough to win the whole thing.
I cannot imagine how much better this team can be if the WR room gets figured out and their tackle play is more efficient. This could be the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row, which would then give them four over the last six seasons
Denver Broncos - QB Bo Nix's rookie efficiency and added talent on defense leads to one or two more wins from 2023
I mean, we have seen QB Gardner Minshew play on winning teams before, so I guess that side of things is very possible. The Raiders aren’t going anywhere with Minshew or Aidan O’Connell, but those are their QBs for the 2024 NFL Season. If Minshew can play well enough to keep the offense afloat, and HC Antonio Pierce can field a good enough defense, the Raiders might have a small chance to scrape together nine wins in the coming year.
It would be a heck of a coaching job, and it’s very likely not going to happen, but you just never know.
Las Vegas Raiders - Antonio Pierce's leads defense to top ranking, offense is serviceable enough with Gardner Minshew
I mean, we have seen QB Gardner Minshew play on winning teams before, so I guess that side of things is very possible. The Raiders aren’t going anywhere with Minshew or Aidan O’Connell, but those are their QBs for the 2024 NFL Season. If Minshew can play well enough to keep the offense afloat, and HC Antonio Pierce can field a good enough defense, the Raiders might have a small chance to scrape together nine wins in the coming year.
It would be a heck of a coaching job, and it’s very likely not going to happen, but you just never know.
Los Angeles Chargers - Jim Harbaugh and his staff re-align Chargers on the right track
The LA Chargers do have a path to winning football in 2024, but their coaching staff will have to do most of the lifting, as the roster itself isn’t great and QB Justin Herbert is simply not as good as people think he is. This could be a nine win team of all goes well and the injury luck is there, but don’t expect much else.
Jim Harbaugh has won everywhere he’s gone, so that could remain the same for his new stop, the Los Angeles Chargers.
NFC North
Chicago Bears - Top-7 defense and modest production from Caleb Williams
The Chicago Bears should be in line for a top defense in the 2024 NFL Season, as the unit ended the 2023 season holding opponents to less than 20 points per game, which bodes well for Matt Eberflus and his unit. If that holds true, and if rookie QB Caleb Williams can bring modest production, I don’t think it’s out of the question for the Bears to come away with at least nine wins in 2024.
They still might be a year away from the playoffs, but a winning record is very much in reach if most goes well in the coming year.
Green Bay Packers - Jordan Love proves that 2023 wasn't a fluke
I have truly seen some people say that Jordan Love’s 2023 season was a fluke. To be fair, he has not put together a full season of elite football, as his 2023 breakout year was more so after the first month and a half, as that is when he truly turned it on. Well, nothing is stopping Love from proving to us that 2023 was not a fluke.
And if that is the case, the Packers may win way more than nine games in 2024. Heck, they could get close to 12 wins if Love turns out to be an elite passer, which I believe he is truly right on the cusp of. The Packers went 9-8 in 2023.
Detroit Lions - Lions just simply play their brand of football
The Detroit Lions should truly have no issue finishing with a winning record in the 2024 NFL Season. They won nine games in 2022 and 12 games in 2023. The three-win improvement might be too tall of a task for 2024, but them at least finishing with the same record should be likely. As long as they can play their own brand of football, they’ll be just fine.
Minnesota Vikings - Vikings coaching staff works another miracle with another backup-caliber QB
The Vikings coaching staff would need to work another miracle at quarterback. They won seven games in 2023 and won more than expected with a slew of backup QBs. With Sam Darnold likely starting for this team, the staff may have another challenge to get this team to a winning record. While Darnold is a capable backup, having a winning record with a very good QB is hard enough.
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - QB Baker Mayfield plays as well as 2023 and Todd Bowles keeps defense solid
Baker Mayfield played quite well in the 2023 NFL Season, helping lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to nine wins, a division title, and one playoff victory. Mayfield will need to play just as good in 2024 if the Bucs want to finish with a winning record, and Todd Bowles will need to ensure his defense remains up to snuff as well.
The Bucs will not be great in 2024, but they have a chance to again be pretty solid.
Atlanta Falcons - QB Kirk Cousins' steady QB play and defense finishes out as an average unit
The Atlanta Falcons could get some much-needed steady QB play from Kirk Cousins, who signed with the team after six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. As I have said before, the Falcons ceiling is limited with Cousins under center, but they can still scrape together nine or 10 wins in 2024 if Cousins Achilles responds the way he hopes.
This can be a disciplined, winning football team in the 2024 NFL Season.
Carolina Panthers - Dave Canales helps develop Bryce Young into top-15 QB
Dave Canales did help Geno Smith play out of his mind in 2022 and Baker Mayfield play the best football of his career in 2023. There is really nothing stopping Canales from working his magic on Bryce Young in 2024. Young was not great in 2023 by any means, but that does not mean he can’t be stellar in 2024.
In fact, if Dave Canales could get Bryce Young to be a top-15 QB, the defense, led by stud defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, could play well enough for the Panthers to be a shockingly good team in 2024, perhaps inching out a nine-win season.
New Orleans Saints - Team takes advantage of another easy schedule, again field average offense and defense
The New Orleans Saints had a very easy schedule in 2023, fielded a top-10 offense and defense, but only finished with a 9-8 record. By all accounts, the Saints felt incredibly average in 2023, and that is their ceiling with Dennis Allen and Derek Carr. They won’t be any different of a team in 2024, I don’t think. They’ll have another easy schedule and again be in line for nine-ish wins.
It’s good enough to not be an embarrassment, but they aren’t a playoff threat or anything like that.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles - Newly hired coordinators stabilize both sides of the ball
The Eagles now have Kellen Moore running the offense and Vic Fangio running the defense. Two of the more successful coordinators in the NFL lately, Philly could be right back on track if both men are able to fix the units, which were inconsistent at best in 2023. This also shined a huge light on head coach Nick Sirianni and his ability to lead a team.
Can the Eagles rebound with two new coordinators for the 2024 NFL Season?
Dallas Cowboys - Dak Prescott and the offense again show elite play
The Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott will again need to field a top-tier defense if the team wants to finish with a winning record. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is gone, so the defense could take a hit under new DC, Mike Zimmer. This puts more pressure on the offense to perform at a high level. And they surely can, but with the added pressure, will the unit pull through?
New York Giants - Brian Daboll and his staff re-create 2022 season
The New York Giants are a lost cause, but the team does have a lot of the same faces from 2022, when they shocked the NFL and finished with nine wins. It will take another miracle coaching job from Brian Daboll and his staff if this can happen again. Daniel Jones is shaky at best, but the defense does have some very good players.
The Giants ceiling may genuinely be nine wins, but I suppose it’s possible until it isn’t.
Washington Commanders - Dan Quinn's gritty coaching leads to stingy defense
The Washington Commanders will need some immediate coaching excellence from Dan Quinn on defense if they want to be successful in 2024. It’s a weird hire, though, as they got rid of Ron Rivera to hire Quinn. You probably can’t convince me that Quinn is an upgrade over Rivera. But anyway, Quinn will need to bring some urgent change on defense, and the offense with rookie QB Jayden Daniels will need to show modest production in year one for the Commanders to be relevant.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers - It's business as usual in 2024
In four of the last five seasons, Kyle Shanahan has finished with double-digit wins, so there should be no issue again in 2024. The one thing to note here is that the 49ers have had some shaky injury luck here and there, so a major injury to someone like Brock Purdy could spell the end of their season. However, I do not anticipate that happening, so the Niners should again be in line for at least 11 wins and perhaps the top seed in the NFC once again.
Los Angeles Rams - Rams young foundation takes another leap in 2024
The Los Angeles Rams raced to the finish line in 2023 and somehow came away with a 10-7 record. Their young foundation was awesome in 2023, and with that class perhaps taking a leap and another strong class in 2024 coming aboard, the Rams could stand atop of the NFC when it’s all said and done.
They also have a Super Bowl-winning head coach/quarterback duo with Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford.
Arizona Cardinals - Kyler Murray plays at MVP level and defense stabilizes
I actually have the Arizona Cardinals at eight wins in the 2024 NFL Season. This team was as good of a four-win team as you can get in 2023. To me, the coaching staff is the right fit and their QB, Kyler Murray, will be another year removed from his 2022 ACL injury. This should give him another bump in play, and a more stabilized defense could have the Cardinals shocking many.
Murray would likely have to play like an MVP candidate for the Cardinals to win at least nine games, but it’s not impossible.
Seattle Seahawks - HC Mike Macdonald coaches top-5 defense and maintains competent offense
The Seattle Seahawks would need a miracle to finish with a winning record in 2024, as Mike Macdonald would likely need to coach a top-5 defense. I mean, that is definitely possible, as his work with the 2023 Baltimore Ravens was outstanding. Beyond that, QB Geno Smith and the offense will need to be at least in the middle of the pack.
That is also possible, so a winning record might not be totally out of the question, but Smith himself was not great in 2023.
There you have it; one reason why every NFL team could finish with a winning record in 2024.