Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Kansas City begins the 2024 season where it wrapped last season: atop the NFL power rankings.
The Chiefs open defense of consecutive Super Bowls and a bid for an historic three-peat this week at home, facing a team capable of knocking them from the cushioned perch in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens.
Even-keeled Andy Reid and the Chiefs won't get too worked up over holding the top spot in subjective rankings in September, having proved that winning a Super Bowl doesn't mean being your best in the fall.
There are contenders new and old in the NFC, bidding to win the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans in February. But can anyone beat Patrick Mahomes?
Reuters asked its NFL writers to help rank-stack the field ahead of Week 1.
32. New England Patriots: Prepared to take lumps in a transition from Bill Belichick to Jerod Mayo, the Patriots need playmakers to take a step forward.
31. Minnesota Vikings: Not only will they miss Kirk Cousins, the Vikings are likely to be early sellers to make up for trading away many valuable draft picks. Minnesota has its first-rounder in 2025 (and two fifth-round choices), but will head coach Kevin O'Connell be around to coach next year's rookie class?
30. Las Vegas Raiders: A step up is possible for the Raiders' defense. Two steps back might be reality on the other side of the ball, where Gardner Minshew enters Week 1 as the starter.
29. New York Giants: When stacked against the rest of the NFC East, the Giants appear to have a Triple-A roster and too many holes to overcome.
28. Denver Broncos: Here comes a season of paying -- and paying for paying -- Russell Wilson.
27. Tennessee Titans: New identity in Nashville. It will take Brian Callahan a season or two for the roster to mesh with his plans.
26. New Orleans Saints: Barring the unexpected, head coach Dennis Allen's hot seat reaches full sizzle with a brutal schedule including the Cowboys, Eagles and Chiefs in the first five weeks.
25. Seattle Seahawks: We're sold on Mike Macdonald as a defensive mastermind, even if the personnel aren't up to par yet. And doubt persists about the viability of the offense with Geno Smith at the helm.
24. Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn takes over in Washington and the Commanders might've hit a home run with No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels, but the franchise's arrival as a contender is likely a year or two away.
23. Carolina Panthers: Inspired by yet another coaching change, Carolina treads water early in the season but no team can be eliminated from consideration in the NFC South
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert is being hit with durability doubts and proven crutches Keenan Allen (Bears) and Austin Ekeler (Commanders) were shown the door in what sets up as a .500-type finish for Jim Harbaugh's NFL return.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Injuries hit in preseason and Pittsburgh hitched to Russell Wilson. That might work with the Steelers' stacked LB corps if only head coach Mike Tomlin knew where the juice comes from on offense.
20. Atlanta Falcons: Paying a premium for Kirk Cousins puts Atlanta closer to the top of the division, but the Falcons' rise can only track higher if 2023 first-rounder Bijan Robinson and a rebuilt defense carry the day.
The NFL's Vince Lombardi Trophy Photo: Photosport
19. Arizona Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray, WR Marvin Harrison Jr., TE Trey McBride and rookie RB Trey Benson give the Cardinals the makings of a scary offense for years to come, but Arizona's defense lags sorely behind.
18. Chicago Bears: In a different division, the Bears might be a stronger play as a worst-to-first story coming off a 7-10 season with No. 1 pick Caleb Williams creating buzz in Chicago.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Credit GM Jason Licht for (somehow) getting the band back together in a spendy offseason to help maintain the Bucs' status as the team to beat in the NFC South.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott was MVP runner-up last season without much of a running game. Are the Cowboys being undersold as a legitimate contender?
15. Jacksonville Jaguars: Fading in December doesn't inspire confidence. If Doug Pederson can inspire a rebound, Jacksonville can be the team nobody wants to see coming after Christmas.
14. Los Angeles Rams: General manager Les Snead and Sean McVay went from chasing proven all-stars to build their roster to hammering gems in the draft the past few seasons.
13. New York Jets: A roster with blue-chip talent and a Hall of Fame quarterback might not be enough if depth becomes the proving ground again in 2024. Best of luck convincing Aaron Rodgers to lean into the strength of the team -- its defense.
12. Indianapolis Colts: Head coach Shane Steichen inspired confidence in his debut season, overcoming injuries to QB Anthony Richardson and RB Jonathan Taylor to steer the Colts into contention. With Richardson and Taylor back, a first-place finish in the AFC South isn't out of the question.
11. Miami Dolphins: A star-studded supporting cast eases some heat on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with a new contract in hand. Modest pass rush -- Bradley Chubb is out until October, as is No. 3 WR Odell Beckham Jr. -- might mandate shootouts for Miami until the reinforcements arrive.
10. Buffalo Bills: Rebuilding is a step too far, but frustration could push the Bills into a major remodel -- under a new coach -- in the offseason.
9. Cleveland Browns: Grimacing out of concern for the Browns' misfortune at quarterback. Deshaun Watson returns from shoulder surgery with a steady offensive line and is backed by a fearsome defense, but RB Nick Chubb starts the season the PUP list. Watson's guaranteed $46 million annual salary means he was paid $11.5 million per win to go 8-4 in his first two seasons with the Browns.
8. Houston Texans: Can Houston jump from good -- division winner, playoff win last season -- to great in the second year of DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud's partnership? All the focus is on Stroud and his array of offensive weapons. Houston's defense has some serious clout, too.
7. Philadelphia Eagles: Change was a theme for the Eagles again in the offseason with new coordinators and playmakers in the fold. If head coach Nick Sirianni captains Philly to a slow start, he might be next out the door.
6. Cincinnati Bengals: With fingers crossed Ja'Marr Chase walks through the door before the Patriots land in Cincinnati for Week 1, the Bengals have proof they can hang with the AFC's best when Joe Burrow takes the field.
San Francisco 49ers players in a huddle. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
5. San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams re-entered the team picture just in time for San Francisco to set sail into the 2024 regular season. A fortunate early schedule -- Jets, Vikings, Rams, Patriots, Cardinals -- should help Brock Purdy and Friends find their footing.
4. Detroit Lions: Watch out if the young defensive playmakers emerge ahead of schedule. If not, Detroit might not become a full-blown bully until next season.
3. Baltimore Ravens: Based on the regular season, Baltimore was the team to beat in the postseason. Then January happened, and John Harbaugh had months to wonder what the Ravens would've done with a workhorse running back. He found one, and Derrick Henry could well be the missing piece in 2024.
2. Green Bay Packers: Buying Jordan Love and the Green Bay defensive remodel and bumping the Packers ahead of the heavyweights in the NFC by the slimmest of margins.
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Complacency in check, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs take aim at history. A three-peat would put Mahomes and Andy Reid at four rings in six seasons.
-Reuters