The 2024 NFL regular season is wrapping up this week. Some teams were considered playoff contenders before the season, while others have exceeded expectations. It’s time to look at the biggest surprises and disappointments from the 2024 NFL season.
Expectations early on for the Vikings were not high. They drafted JJ McCarthy and signed Sam Darnold, but McCarthy tore his meniscus and missed the season. The team turned to Darnold, and in a division with Green Bay and Detroit, the season seemed lost.
Sam Darnold was written off as a backup QB to bridge the gap for McCarthy next year. This team was rebuilding, and nobody expected them to be believably competitive in 2024.
At the end of 2024, the Vikings are 14-2 and Sam Darnold has revived his career. Justin Jefferson has over 1,300 receiving yards, Jordan Addison has found his groove, and Aaron Jones has over 1,000 rushing yards. The Vikings offense is top 10 in passing yards, receiving yards, and touchdowns.
The Minnesota Vikings have clinched a playoff berth, and they have a real shot at winning at least one postseason game. For a team that was rebuilding just four months ago, the Vikings are one of the biggest surprises in the NFL.
The New York Jets went into 2024 with some fans hoping they’d win the AFC East. The Patriots were rebuilding, the Bills roster didn’t look great (more on them later), and the Dolphins were on rocky footing. It looked like Aaron Rodgers would finally come in and turn things around in New York.
In the 2024 season, the Jets have fired head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas, while achieving a 4-12 record. New York’s offense looks worse than ever even with the addition of Davante Adams. They also currently rank 31st in the NFL in rushing yards.
The New York Jets are likely looking at another rebuild. There’s uncertainty around Rodgers returning in 2025, and with a new front office on the way it’s time to start fresh. They still have a talented roster, but leadership is desperately missing.
Some might not consider the Bills deserving of this list. They’ve reached the playoffs in each of the last five years and they have arguably the best quarterback in the NFL with Josh Allen. They were written off by many people going into 2024.
During the offseason, the Bills lost Stefon Diggs, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde (who has since rejoined), Tre’Davious White, and Gabe Davis, among many others. With a lack of veterans in the locker room, it was easy to assume the Bills would fail.
Fast forward and the Bills are the number two seed in the AFC and Josh Allen is the MVP front-runner. They’re the only team to beat the Chiefs in 2024 and are closer than ever to a Super Bowl win. Given the expectations early on, it’s surprising to see Buffalo play at this level right now.
It might be strange to call the Texans a disappointment. They’ve won the AFC South again, and their defense is fourth in the NFL in sacks (47), and second in interceptions (19). After a breakout year for CJ Stroud, many people expected the Texans to make a deep playoff run this season.
In 2024, Houston has one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines and CJ Stroud is making mistakes, seemingly out of fear. The playcalling has been questionable at best, and injuries have plagued their season.
The Texans still have a talented, young roster that can be great for years to come. They haven’t pieced everything together yet and that’s alright, but they missed the mark this year.
It would be difficult to find anyone who predicted this kind of season for the Broncos. Coming out of the Russell Wilson deal, they drafted Bo Nix 12th overall and still sat bereft of star power.
Bo Nix was underestimated in a loaded rookie QB class. With guys like Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, and Drake Maye, Nix was lost in the shuffle. On a team that was counted out, expectations were low.
Going into Week 18, Bo Nix has over 3,400 passing yards, 29 total touchdowns, and a 65.1 completion percentage. He’s neck and neck with Jayden Daniels for offensive rookie of the year, and the Broncos are still in the hunt for the NFL playoffs. Denver has their franchise QB, and 2024 was a massive success for their rebuild.
The 2024 Bengals have been a massive disappointment for a variety of reasons. Joe Burrow returned from injury, and it felt like the AFC North would be a two-team race between Cincy and Baltimore.
The Bengals are a team on both ends of the scale. Burrow leads the NFL in passing yards, Ja’Marr Chase is leading in receiving yards, and they’re one of the highest-scoring teams in the league. So how are they 8-8 and likely to miss the playoffs?
The Bengals’ defense is 26th in the NFL in sacks, and 29th in points allowed per game. While Burrow and Chase are running up the scoreboard, their defense is allowing the same from opponents. Seven of their eight losses came within one possession. Cincy needs to pay Ja’Marr Chase and get their stars some help on the other side of the ball.
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