JetNation NFL Power Rankings

With the 2024 NFL season kickin off today, the JetNation NFL Power Rankings offer a snapshot of the league’s top contenders. With teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs leading the way, the rankings highlight squads poised to dominate. Who will rise, and who will falter? Here’s a look at the top 10 heading into week one.

JetNation Power Rankings

1. San Francisco 49ers – this spot has been traditionally reserved for the champions, but with the Niners signing Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams, there are just are no holes anywhere on this roster. I don’t expect much resistance from the NFC West, so the Niners should be in position to stay home in the playoffs.
2. Kansas City Chiefs—Most folks forget that the Chiefs posted a lackluster 11-6 record in the regular season last year. It doesn’t matter because they went 4-0 in the postseason. Defense is the secret in KC. The Chiefs defense seems to like being overshadowed by Mahomes, Kelce, and…Swift. The Chiefs may again seem uninterested in the regular season, but they will be in top form in December.
3. Detroit Lions – the Lions had the Niners and let them off the hook in the NFC Championship. Detroit used its first two draft picks on their porous secondary. That was their only weakness. Vegas is rooting against the Lions as they seem to be connected to an overwhelming number of futures bets. The wise guys might be onto something here.
4. Philadelphia Eagles – not many have the Eagles in the top five to start the season. It’s okay. Finishing a season 1-6 will do that. The Eagles added three defenders at the top of their draft and replaced both coordinators in the offseason. The Eagles can still run the ball even when everyone knows they will run it. That will always be a winning formula in the NFL. The Birds will rebound and be a factor in the NFC.
5. Baltimore Ravens – everyone is tired of the Ravens being on the doorstep of a championship. Like the Chiefs, the regular season is almost of no interest. Without getting past Kansas City in the postseason, this will again be a failed campaign. Derrick Henry was the last thing anyone wanted to see in the Baltimore backfield. He will batter opponents and close out enough games for Baltimore to win the AFC Central again.
6. Green Bay Packers – the Pack might be a surprise so high in the rankings, but they shouldn’t be. Green Bay ended last season with a road playoff win in Dallas and had the lead all the way until 1:07 left in the fourth quarter in San Francisco. There is a ton of talent on the roster, and quarterback Jordan Love is ready for an MVP-type year.
7. New York Jets – the Jets addressed the only weakness on their roster in the offseason. If free agents Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses stay healthy, and if first-rounder Olu Fashanu can provide competent depth in his first season, the Jets can wreck the party in the AFC. The defense was and remains championship-caliber, and Breece Hall could be the league’s leading rusher. The Jets need production from 2^nd-year defender Will Smith or someone else to offset the absence of Hassan Reddick. If Reddick ends his holdout or the Jets find someone else to add pressure on the passer, and Aaron Rodgers plays most of the regular season games, the Jets will be a problem.
8. Houston Texans – The Texans are a dark horse candidate for the AFC crown. If C.J. Stroud avoids the sophomore slump, the Texans could run away with the AFC South and find themselves at home for at least one playoff game. Adding Stephon Diggs will give an already potent offense more firepower. Houston needs more from their front seven to avoid teams to run them off the field like they did in the season-ending game against the Ravens.
9. Miami Dolphins – the Dolphins found success against the league’s bottom feeders last year, but they were ineffective against winning teams. The offense will hide some of the blemishes, but whether Miami did enough to patch its holes this offseason remains a question.
10. Buffalo Bills – Was Stephon Diggs enough of a distraction that Buffalo somehow gains by subtracting his 107 catches and 1,183 yards? There is a definite feel of a closing window around the Bills. Josh Allen is still calling the signals, and the Bills have enough to beat anyone on any given Sunday, but their margin for error is razor-thin.

Nick Ferraro

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