The 2024-2025 NFL season begins this week and with it comes all the excitement of fantasy football, sports betting, and, of course, the hopes and dreams of fans around the country. Seven teams in each conference made the playoffs last year, but even more teams did not.
In this article, we will take a brief look at four teams that missed the playoffs in 2023-2024 that are worth a look this season. This is not a prediction – we are not saying these teams will make the playoffs – but rather a selection of four teams that should be interesting to watch for one reason or another. All futures odds provided by FanDuel.
New York Jets (+160 to win the division, +850 to win the AFC, +1,800 to win the Super Bowl)
Well, here we are again. Last year, I said that the Jets would be one of the most interesting teams to watch in the NFL because they were led by future first-ballot Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers in his first season not with the Green Bay Packers. And then he suffered a season-ending injury just a few plays into the first game.
Rodgers is back this season and looked strong in training camp, so he we go again. He has what should be a very dynamic offense around him, including explosive wide receiver Garrett Wilson and potential elite running back Breece Hall. After WR2 Mike Williams, there’s not a ton of established depth at the skill positions, but the top of the depth chart is among the best in the NFL. The revamped offensive line should be stout, as well.
The defensive side is tops, led by two-time first-team All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. Depth on the defensive line is the only real concern.
If Rodgers stays healthy, the New York Jets are expected to be Super Bowl contenders. It doesn’t help that they have to get through the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, and Buffalo Bills, but it should be a fun season.
Chicago Bears (+340 division, +1,500 NFC, +3,500 Super Bowl)
As a Packers fan, I am not thrilled to be writing about the Bears, but there is no doubt that #1 overall draft pick and Bears starting QB Caleb Williams has already been turning heads before even playing in a regular season game. If nothing else, he is a reason to check in on Chicago this season.
defense should be elite this year
Unfortunately for the rest of the NFC North, he is also in as good of a position as a top draft pick could hope for. Though the team struggled mightily to start last season, they finished with five wins in their final eight games on the back of one of the best defenses in the league. And that defense should be elite this year.
Top brass has given Williams an excellent – on paper – receiving corps of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and heralded rookie Rome Odunze to go along with a strong running game. The offensive line was a weakness last year, but that was more because of injuries than anything else, and four of the five starters return.
For the Bears, this season will hinge on how quickly Caleb Williams can figure out the NFL game and if they can stay away from the injury bug. As bad as the team’s record was last year, the Bears were also one of the most banged up teams. But that helped them get a second top-ten pick, so maybe one step back for two steps forward?
Atlanta Falcons (-145 division, +1,200 NFC, +2,600 Super Bowl)
Falcons’ fans were frustrated last year that their offense wasn’t better with potential big-time playmakers in running back Bijan Robinson (the common refrain was that he didn’t get the ball nearly enough), wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts. But with a change in quarterbacks from Desmond Ridder to Kirk Cousins, there is excitement in the air in the ATL.
Of course, Cousins is coming off a torn Achilles tendon and has to learn a new offensive system, so you never know how things are going to work out.
Atlanta’s defense has been terrible for years – they have had by far the worst pass rush over the past five seasons. They added Pro Bowlers Justin Simmons (safety) and Matthew Judon (edge) to try to improve things. Should the Falcons end up with at least a mediocre defense, they should be fine in an otherwise weak division.
Even when good, the Falcons have often felt like an afterthought in recent years and might never shake losing Super Bowl LI to the New England Patriots after being up 28-3, but with a new quarterback and an offense of young stars, the team should be one to watch, regardless of the end result.
Los Angeles Chargers (+390 division, +2,100 AFC, +4,000 Super Bowl)
Jim Harbaugh led the Michigan Wolverines to the NCAA national championship last season and then bolted for the NFL to coach the Chargers. There is usually one spotlight coaching hire in the NFL every year and this is it. Because of his name and past success in both college and the pros, there will be high expectations going into the 2024 season.
don’t have much depth or established talent on offense
The problem is, this team might not be any good. The Chargers lost their best two receivers and don’t have much depth or established talent on offense. They do have Justin Herbert at QB and while he has seemed on the cusp of stardom, he hasn’t quite gotten over the hump yet. To be fair, he only played 13 games last year because of injuries. It will be interesting to see what he can do with this offense if healthy (and he’s dealing with a foot injury already).
On defense, it’s all about health on the defensive line. If Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack stay upright, opposing signal callers could be in deep trouble. The Chargers have a steep hill to climb to become contenders – or even make the playoffs – but if any new coach can turn the team around, it’s Harbaugh.