We have never been more back than we are right now. Welcome back to what again will be a weekly occurrence, my top 10 NFL teams entering each week. Preseason is over and we just had a great weekend of college football, but there are NFL games to be played, I can’t wait for Thursday. Here are my top 10 teams entering the 2024 season.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2023 SB Champs)
Regretfully, the Chiefs put themselves into the top spot by default after another Super Bowl win with a three-peat on their minds. As long as Patrick Mahomes is in KC then the Chiefs will be just fine, but this roster looks more like a Mahomes-led squad than last year’s team. Travis Kelce once again is the focal point of this offense but with the emergence of Isiah Pacheco last season in the run game, and the additions of Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown at wideout, there’s more pure talent on this offense than last year. One thing to watch will be how this defense looks compared to the previous season. Severely underrated as a unit last year, the Chiefs’ defense took some losses highlighted by L’Jarius Sneed but retained Chris Jones. Can this defense be elite again?

2. San Francisco 49ers (2023 NFC Champs)
Once again the roster on paper champions, this 49ers team comes into 2024 with massive expectations. Similar to the 2023-24 Boston Celtics, it’s truly championship or bust for Kyle Shanahan’s team in the Bay Area. The offense should be among the best in the game once again, but the absence of Trent Williams due to his contract situation could loom large if this lingers into the season. The defensive line is much better, and Nick Bosa should have an easier time getting to the opposing QB with Leonard Floyd rushing the passer on the opposite side. The secondary looks suspect on paper, but we’ve seen this story before from the 49ers. This team might take a few weeks to find its groove with all the injuries and issues through training camp but should be among the top three teams in the league yet again by Week 6.

3. Detroit Lions (lost in NFC Title game)
I have very lofty expectations for the Lions this season, and I think those expectations are very much warranted. The Lions brought back most of their offense from last season including OC Ben Johnson, and improved their defense through free agency and the draft. For me, the biggest of those moves was acquiring DJ Reader in free agency to help out the run defense immensely. The secondary is almost completely reworked after being among the worst in the league last season, and the linebacker core is stout. Offensively this will once again be one of the best units in the league, but has the defense improved enough to be thinking Super Bowl in Detroit?

4. Baltimore Ravens (lost in AFC Title game)
It’s hard not to feel for this Ravens team after the devastating home loss in the AFC Title game last season, causing expectations to rise to another level yet again in Baltimore this season. It’s time for Lamar Jackson to perform in the playoffs, and there’s no excuse with the team around him not to get it done. Derrick Henry comes over from the Titans after 8 brilliant seasons in Nashville and should add an element that this offense has been missing for years. Zay Flowers is another year older and should be better, but so is this offensive line where questions remain at multiple positions. Lamar has to get to a Super Bowl and win it at some point, and as they say, there’s no time like the present.

5. New York Jets (missed postseason)
This one might come back to bite me (yet again), but there’s no denying how loaded this roster is. The Jets had massive expectations last season before an Aaron Rodgers Achilles tear four snaps into the season caused Super Bowl dreams to turn into Zach Wilson nightmares. Wilson is gone, Rodgers is healthy, and this team is even more stacked than it was last season. The defense should be one of the best in the league, and if Rodgers gives the Jets serviceable QB play, the Jets could be playing football into late January for the first time since 2010.

6. Green Bay Packers (lost in NFC Divisional)
There won’t be a grace period for Jordan Love and the Packers this season, a reality that should scare the rest of the NFC. Fresh off signing a 4-year 220 million-dollar deal, the Packers will have to deal with the reality of expectations for the first time in the Jordan Love era. This receiver core is young and awesome and Josh Jacobs adds another layer to the run game. The line is a bit of a question mark heading into the season. Defensively, Rashan Gary and Jaire Alexander lead the unit, but Alexander will have to stay on the field, something he’s struggled to do in two of the past three seasons. The defense and offensive line will truly dictate if Green Bay is a true contender, but if things fall into place, there’s no reason to think they can’t be just that.

7. Houston Texans (lost in AFC Divisional)
The Texans come into the season with a chance to be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the NFL this season. After a masterful rookie season, all eyes are on C.J. Stroud to solidify himself as a top 5 QB. The additions of Stefon Diggs and Danielle Hunter on both sides of the ball add a veteran presence that this team was somewhat lacking last season. As long as Diggs isn’t a headache, this offense, along with the addition of Joe Mixon, will be among the best in the league. Defensively, Hunter and Will Anderson lead a stout pass rush, with Derek Stingley Jr. leading DeMeco Ryans’ secondary. A sophomore slump is possible, but the sky’s the limit for this young squad.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (lost in NFC Wild Card)
The most disappointing team in the NFL last season underwent quite a few changes this offseason, headlined by the hiring of Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio at OC and DC respectively, and the signing of Saquon Barkley. The relationship between Jalen Hurts and HC Nick Sirianni is probably still damaged beyond repair, raising questions as to why Sirianni is still employed in Philly. This roster is talented enough to win the Super Bowl, but the dynamic in the locker room and amongst the coaching staff could easily be a major problem yet again for this team. I expect a bounce-back year from Hurts & Co. in Philly, but championship aspirations coming off last year’s collapse could be a bit premature.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (missed postseason)
A lost year in 2023 for Cincy has now raised eyebrows about what the future of this team truly is. Joe Burrow will of course be a part of that, but who else will remain a major question. Joe Mixon is gone, Tee Higgins is surely in his final year with the Bengals, Ja’Marr Chase wants a record-setting deal, and Trey Hendrickson requested a trade. The key to the Bengals’ success in 2024 starts and ends with the health of Joe Burrow, and all of a sudden the Super Bowl run two years ago seems like it was a long time ago. Burrow needs to lead the Bengals deep into the postseason yet again to retain his top 3 QB status, and this team around him is good enough to do so, at least for this season.

10. Miami Dolphins (lost in AFC Wild Card)
It’s a different year and the same old Dolphins for me until further notice, but that doesn’t mean this team doesn’t crack the top 10. The defense underwent massive changes, but I love the hiring of Anthony Weaver from Baltimore to be the DC. Tua and HC Mike McDaniel are here for the long haul, both securing extensions this past offseason. The offense will be electric and the defense will be solid. The only question that remains with this team is how can they figure out how to win a big game in December and January. Tua is still waiting for that signature win, maybe it finally happens this season.