The AFC looks a lot like most expected in 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs are cruising ahead in the AFC West with an undefeated record, the Houston Texans took a step forward after a breakout 2023, and the Baltimore Ravens overcame early stumbles to get back on top in the AFC North.
But the NFC has been flipped upside down … mostly.
It’s no surprise that the Detroit Lions, who came up a few points short of a Super Bowl appearance last year, are looking like contenders once again. But the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders? They were +10000 and +15000, respectively, to win the Super Bowl when September began.
Instead, the Vikings have a stingy defense that has recorded at least two takeaways in every game and they’ve had surprisingly strong play out of Sam Darnold. And the Commanders offense has been completely unstoppable with rookie Jayden Daniels putting up historic numbers.
Perhaps one or both of those teams will turn back into a pumpkin at some point. For now, there’s a clear tier of contenders, with three teams from each conference, separating from the pack:
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
- Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) [Last week: 2]
- Minnesota Vikings (5-0) [Last week: 1]
- Detroit Lions (3-1) [Last week: 3]
- Houston Texans (4-1) [Last week: 5]
- Baltimore Ravens (3-2) [Last week: 4]
- Washington Commanders (4-1) [Last week: 7]
The Chiefs looked more like the steamroller we’ve become to accustomed to seeing in recent years, and the Vikings’ Sam Darnold looked more like the journeyman most expected to see in 2024. But the power rankings only required some tinkering at the top, because the NFL’s top tier of teams looked the part Sunday.
The newcomers are the Commanders, who slid up after dropping another avalanche of points. Their Week 6 game against the Ravens could be a more telling sign of their legitimacy as contenders, though.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
7. Atlanta Falcons (3-2) [Last week: 10]
8. Green Bay Packers (3-2) [Last week: 14]
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) [Last week: 6]
10. Buffalo Bills (3-2) [Last week: 9]
11. Denver Broncos (3-2) [Last week: 16]
12. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) [Last week: 13]
13. San Francisco 49ers (2-3) [Last week: 8]
Kirk Cousins has found his footing in Atlanta, and Jordan Love is back after an injury cost him time early in the year. Now those two teams are looking more like contenders in a conference that is still very much in the air.
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