3 NFL Playoff Pretenders

We see it every offseason. A squad makes a great pick in the draft, signs a terrific player in free agency, or makes a blockbuster trade. A bad team can turn good in an instant, a good team can turn bad just as fast. Some NFL teams have a ton of hype going into 2024, but is it always warranted? Here are 3 teams that I feel are overhyped this year, and why fanbases should temper expectations.

1) Chicago Bears

The first and most obvious choice here is the Chicago Bears. This is a team that has seemingly done everything right coming out of the 2023 season. Drafting Caleb Williams first overall, snagging Rome Odunze ninth overall, and making massive free agent moves with safety Kevin Byard and running back D’Andre Swift. Not to mention bringing in veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen. They have absurdly re-vamped their offense.

It's easy to expect a Texans-style turnaround for the Bears, but the hype train might be running away with this one. This offense has made huge moves, but that doesn’t always translate well. With this many new pieces, and the expectations on Caleb Williams being sky-high, I think this team struggles early on in the season. They walk into a division with a soaring Detroit Lions team, and the up-and-coming Packers. Getting swept up in the hype is a quick way to be disappointed early on in the season if they struggle. But pumping the brakes, and having patience rewarded down the line might be the smartest thing when it comes to the Bears.

2) Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins were white-hot at one point last season. They started the year 5-1 through 6 weeks and even dropped 70 points on the Broncos in week 3. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made a strong case for Comeback Player of the Year after facing scary concussion issues the year prior, along with Tyreek Hill having an MVP-level season. The Dolphins looked more legit than they had in years.

Then they ran into the Chiefs in a negative-degree playoff game, and it all seemed to evaporate. It’s easy to put it on the weather conditions, but Miami didn’t feel ready for that game regardless. Their hot streak cooled down late in the season, and they lost the division to the Bills. The lights seemed too bright for Miami when it mattered most. Now without key players like Christian Wilkins and Xavien Howard, and despite signing guys like safety Jordan Poyer and linebacker Shaquil Barrett, the Dolphins roster doesn’t feel much stronger than it did last year. Not to mention Aaron Rodgers returning to the Jets and the Bills being constant contenders, combined with a 23-season playoff win drought, the AFC is too strong of a conference for the Dolphins to be considered a real threat in 2024.

3) Green Bay Packers

If the Dolphins went down one road last year, the Packers went down the other. They started the season 2-5 through 7 games. They then went 7-3 through the last 10. They got hot at the perfect time and took that right into the playoffs. Easily blew past the Cowboys in the wild-card round, and only came up short by 3 points to the 49ers the next week. Quarterback Jordan Love needed time to develop with this team and that is exactly what happened last year.

Going into 2024 however, the Lions are still the clear front-runner in the NFC North. Green Bay is a historically successful team, and my expectations aren’t low for them. But I don’t think they’re a true Super Bowl contender in Love’s second year as a starter. By average age, the Packers have the youngest team in the NFL, and success takes time and patience. As far as expectations go in 2024, if the Packers can repeat what they did last year it should be considered a success. The future for Green Bay is bright. In the next 3-5 years they should be in Super Bowl talks, but for now, it’s all about this young team meshing together and creating an identity.

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