The NFL's Biggest Surprises & Disappointments (So Far)
The NFL's 32 teams are constantly changing and setting new expectations. Going into 2024, some teams were expected to be Super Bowl favorites, and some looked like hot garbage. Through the first five weeks of the NFL season, here are the teams that have either exceeded expectations or fallen far below them.
Surprise: Washington Commanders
The Commanders ended 2023 with a 4-13 record. They’re already sitting at 4-1 in 2024 with no signs of slowing down. They’re legitimate contenders atop the NFC East through five weeks. The second overall pick, Jayden Daniels, is not just making a case for the offensive rookie of the year but also for MVP of the league.
Daniels enters week six with 1135 passing yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. He’s also a killer on the ground, with 300 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Washington’s defense is still growing, but it has the highest-scoring offense in the league. The Commanders were a laughingstock just one year ago, and now they’re legitimate playoff contenders.
Surprise: Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings looked like a disaster going into week one. Kirk Cousins went off to Atlanta in free agency, and his replacement, 10th overall pick JJ McCarthy, tore his meniscus before the season even started. Minnesota had to turn to Sam Darnold for week one.
The Vikings have blown away expectations. They currently sit at 5-0, Sam Darnold is having a career renaissance, and the defense hasn’t missed a beat. Many fans wrote Minnesota off in 2024, and now they’re one of the best teams in football. It’s unclear if they’ll keep that momentum, but the hype train sure is fun.
Surprise: Atlanta Falcons
After leaving Minnesota and heading to Atlanta, Kirk Cousins has completely turned the Falcons around. Atlanta ended 2023 with a 7-10 record. Fans ridiculed the team for terrible playcalling, not getting star players involved, and a defense riddled with holes.
Five weeks into 2024, the Falcons are almost the complete opposite. Kirk Cousins threw for over 500 yards and 4 touchdowns in week five, and both Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts are getting involved in plays. Receivers like Drake London and Darnell Mooney also play up to their potential. Atlanta has gone from an afterthought to a bonafide contender.
Disappointments: Cincinnati Bengals
Calling the Bengals a disappointment might be unfair here. With over 1300 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, Joe Burrow is still Joe Burrow. The Bengals have scored over 30 points in their last three games, two of which were losses.
The blame here is on the defense. Cincy ranks 30th in rushing yards allowed, 31st in points allowed, and 24th in total yards allowed. They allowed the Ravens to score 41 points in week 5. The offense keeps games close every week, but the defense offers no relief. Seeing the Bengals at 1-4 is a massive disappointment.
Disappointments: New York Jets
The New York Jets had all the momentum going into 2023, but they fell apart when Aaron Rodgers got hurt. Even though Rodgers is back, the magic isn’t there anymore. The Jets just fired head coach Robert Saleh, Aaron Rodgers is coming off a three-interception game, and the Jets are sitting at 2-3.
The issue is that the playcalling has been inconsistent in New York. Aaron Rodgers has proved he can still play at a high level. The Jets are not playing to his strengths, and they’re not getting their best players involved. Garrett Wilson is nonexistent, and Breece Hall’s momentum is stop-and-go. Now, with a massive personnel change taking place, maybe the Jets can find a way to get back on track.
Disappointments: Philadelphia Eagles
Last but not least, here are the Philadelphia Eagles. This time last year, the Eagles were 5-0. Now, their offense is 27th in both passing and receiving yards. Jalen Hurts looks like a shell of himself, and injuries to AJ Brown and Devonta Smith have only made things worse.
After signing Saquon Barkley in free agency, the Eagles were supposed to be scarier than ever. Now, he seems to be the only bright spot on the team. The defense collapses when the game is on the line. In 2024, they have six sacks and two interceptions. They also rank 31st in tackles. The Eagles have been on a downward spiral since late last year, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
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