The NFL landscape is ever changing, each year a handful of teams make a leap into the playoff conversation as well as the ones who fall out of it. Heading into the 2024 season, I’ll look at a few teams who are trending in opposite directions.
Last year, the Buffalo Bills edged out their competition to win the AFC East, but the outlook in 2024 doesn’t appear to be so promising. Buffalo is never truly out of contention due to being led by one of the best QBs in the league, Josh Allen. Sustained success is nearly impossible without a true franchise quarterback, but that caliber of player comes at a high cost. Allen will account for over 23% of the Bills salary cap in 2024, now that is the going rate being that its on par with other top QBs in the league, but it creates some tough team building decisions.
New Look Bills
The Bills team will be different in 2024 due to some moves they were forced to make in the offseason. Former All-Pro Stefon Diggs was traded to Houston in the all-common disgruntled WR/salary cap move that happens more and more in the NFL. Pro Bowl players Mitch Morse, Jordan Poyer and Tre’ Davious White were all released while WR2 Gabe Davis signed with the Jaguars in Free Agency.
The losses of Diggs and Davis make for a new look offense in Buffalo. With Josh Allen at the helm, younger talents like Dalton Kincaid, James Cook and Khalil Shakir are expected to step up along with offseason additions Curtis Samuel (free agency), Ray Davis and Keon Coleman (draft). Joe Brady was awarded the Offensive Coordinator position after successfully filling in as an interim for the fired Ken Dorsey in 2023. A healthy Von Miller will look to lead the defense in 2024 as it looks like star linebacker Matt Milano will miss the season with a torn biceps. Bills Mafia was looking forward to the game changers return after he missed the final 12 games of the 2023 season with a fractured leg.
It looks like it could be a transition year for the Buffalo Bills. Playing in a tough division coupled with key veteran losses could mean a slow start. I expect Buffalo to get better as the season progresses but may be too little too late as playoff time comes around, but again, you can never truly count out a team with a QB as good as Josh Allen.
Indianapolis Colts Continue to Grow
For every team on the decline, there is always one on the rise who will take their spot. The Indianapolis Colts made big strides last year and should continue to grow in the 2024 season. Last years #4 overall pick Anthony Richardson is healthy – if he can stay that way it will mean problems for the rest of the NFL. “AR5” showed flashes of immense talent in his 4 games played last year while his season was cut short with injuries. Rookie Head Coach Shane Steichen showed an elite ability to build a winning game plan no matter what kind of talent he had at his disposal. After the Richardson injury, the Colts still managed a winning record with backup QB Gardner Minshew and almost won the AFC South, coming up just short in a winner take all 23-19 loss to the Houston Texans during the final week of the regular season.
General Manager Chris Ballard continues to build through the draft rather than spending in Free Agency. Last season the Colts locked up “WR1” Michael Pittman Jr. and former All-Pro running back Jonathon Taylor to long term deals who along with Richardson, will be the focal point of the offense going forward. With the injury concern of AR5, Ballard brought in 39-year-old QB Joe Flacco to serve as the backup – the same role which afforded him the opportunity to propel the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs last year. Late season hero Gardner Minshew signed with the Las Vegas Raiders this past offseason – where he has a chance to be the starter. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley returns with key players DeForest Buckner, Kenny Moore and Zaire Franklin while adding #15 overall pick Laiatu Latu to help bolster their pass rush.
Season of Change
The AFC South Champion Houston Texans are getting all the hype along with QB CJ Stroud, but nobody is talking about the Colts. They have their own franchise QB they believe in, along with a sneaky talented roster that is good enough to take the next step into the playoff picture. Buffalo has a proven QB and playoff tested coaching staff that has its work cut out for it to meet the expectations of the ever-faithful Bills Mafia. There are many teams who will rise above expectations while others falter at them in 2024, which will prove to be another season of surprises and change in the NFL.
What teams do you think will be on the rise or decline in the 2024 season? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below along with any topics you would like to see me write about. It’s a long season and I want to cover as many of your suggestions as I can. As always, I appreciate the support and can’t wait to get this football season officially started.
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