Three Underdog Super Bowl Contenders For 2024
The National Football League is still months away from starting, but it isn't too early to look at who could make a deep playoff and potentially, a Super Bowl run. With free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft now complete, it is time to make some predictions.
Today, I will be predicting three underdog Super Bowl contenders for the 2024 NFL season. These three teams are not projected by many to have a shot at the Super Bowl, but I will explain why they should not be counted out.
***Odds used from FanDuel Sportsbook
Pittsburgh Steelers (+5000)
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a complete turnaround this off-season. After entering the off-season with 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, former Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky, and 2018 third-round pick Mason Rudolph, all three are now on different teams. Instead, the Steelers traded for 2021 first-round pick Justin Fields and signed recently released Broncos quarterback and future Hall of Famer Russell Wilson.
The Steelers finished the 2023 season at 10-7 and fell to the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. One of their weaknesses was poor quarterback play. After upgrading its offensive line and adding former Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson and drafting Michigan receiver Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh's offense is set to be better in 2024.
With an already elite defense and a top coach in Mike Tomlin, the Steelers have a good chance at winning its first playoff game since 2017 and even making a Super Bowl run as well.
Green Bay Packers (+1900)
After entering what seemed to be a long rebuild after trading away Hall Of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers are already back to being Super Bowl contenders again. 2020 first-round quarterback Jordan Love out of Utah State started his first full season with the team.
Although Green Bay was once 2-5 during midseason, Love led the youngest team in the NFL to a 7-3 record including wins over the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, and a playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys. While the team fell short against the San Francisco 49ers, this season proved that the team has a real shot at contending for a Super Bowl in 2024.
One of the biggest weaknesses for Green Bay was its defense, which had a lot of money invested in very talented players who were underperforming. In response, the team fired defensive coordinator Joe Barry, hired former Boston College coach, Jeff Hafley, signed star safety Xavier McKinney, drafted three safeties in the 2024 NFL Draft, and drafted Penn State star cornerback Kalen King, who was one of the top cornerbacks in college before struggling in the 2023 season.
Green Bay also upgraded its offensive line with first-round tackle Jordan Morgan, swapped veteran running back Aaron Jones for Josh Jacobs, who was the 2022 NFL rushing leader and signed Vikings kicker Greg Joseph to create competition for the starting kicking job after Anders Carlson missed a field goal late in the loss to San Francisco.
The Green Bay Packers have done a lot this off-season to make them Super Bowl contenders. Are you buying the hype? I am!
Indianapolis Colts (+5500)
The Indianapolis Colts are coming off a 9-8 season where the team narrowly missed the playoffs and the AFC South division title. While the Texans could run away with the division again in 2024, that doesn't mean the Colts should be counted out.
After winning nine games despite rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson missing the majority of the season, the team should be better with the former Florida quarterback under center. He showed many flashes before his injury and has a chance to be one of the NFL's most electric duel-threat quarterbacks.
While the Colts' off-season wasn't that exciting as they didn't make big splashes in free agency, the team did re-sign receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and cornerback Kenny Moore III. In the draft, Indianapolis drafted their top defensive prospect in Laiatu Latu and another star in projected first-round receiver Adonai Mitchell, who fell to them at No. 52.
The Colts have a good coach, a good offensive line, the potential to have one of the best offenses in the NFL and a solid defense. If they get hot, the Lombardi could return to Indianapolis in the near future.
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