RADIO
Part of what makes the NFL so great is the amount of surprise contenders that emerge every year. It’s really what separates the NFL from all the other major sports leagues.
We see several teams make improvements from year to year. Whether it’s a young team gaining another crucial year of experience, an up-and-coming team adding players in the draft/free agency, or a failed contender that has a star player returning from injury, new challengers emerge every year.
Let’s examine three AFC teams that can emerge as sneaky championship contenders during the 2024 NFL season.
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New York Jets
After losing starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the opening minutes of the 2023 season, the Jets are ready to run things back in 2024. They have taken appropriate steps to address several issues that plagued the team last year, mainly the offensive line. New York added veteran tackle Tyron Smith in free agency and rookie tackle Olu Fashanu in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.
This is a team ready to take off. They just need competent quarterback play to do so. With Rodgers at the helm, it will be fun to see what this offense can do with the likes of Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson.
GARRETT WILSON 68 YARD TOUCHDOWN 🔥 🔥
That’s a 13.8 fantasy point play 😱pic.twitter.com/pkcG3CYZwZ
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) September 17, 2023
Breece Hall is too dangerous in the open field. Touchdown Jets 🙌
📺: #NYJvsNYG on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/n49QB1tZYg— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023
The NFL gave the Jets a nice rest advantage throughout the season. Per Sharp Football, the Jets rank eighth in terms of net rest advantage. This will come in handy when the Jets are fresher and their opponents have tired legs. New York also still boasts a highly talented defense. They finished third in overall defensive DVOA in 2023 per FTN Fantasy. This unit should once again be a major strength in 2024.
The Jets have a talented roster from top to bottom. Everything hinges on Rodgers. If he’s healthy and plays anything close to his ceiling, New York will be a major player in the AFC East and the AFC conference as a whole.
Indianapolis Colts
Despite losing starting quarterback Anthony Richardson for the season, the Colts still managed to win nine games in 2023 and found themselves in a “win and in” Week 18 matchup against the Houston Texans. While Indianapolis ultimately lost that game, it was still an impressive debut season for head coach Shane Steichen. It’s going to be fun watching what this team can do with a fully healthy Richardson in 2024.
This touchdown throw by Anthony Richardson was a DART while falling down. 🎯pic.twitter.com/iVpMTJ72Um
— Indy SportsOne (@IndySportsOne) October 1, 2023
The Colts also have the seventh easiest strength of schedule, according to Sharp Football. Things lay out nicely for them. Indianapolis won nine games and came within a game of the playoffs after losing their starting quarterback. With another season in Steichen’s system, Richardson and the Colts could be set to explode this year. Richardson just needs to stay healthy. If he does, then the Colts can make a serious run at dethroning the Texans as AFC South champs.
Los Angeles Chargers
Fresh off another disappointing season, the Chargers made a splash hire this offseason when they landed Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach.
🚨 🚨 🚨
The #Chargers are moving to hire #Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh as their new coach, per me, @TomPelissero and @MikeGarafolo. In town for a second interview on Tuesday, he’s not expected to leave.
Finally, the former #49ers coach is back in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/swE9SM0BqN
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 24, 2024
Harbaugh has a long history of winning wherever he goes. It’s only a matter of time before he turns around the Chargers. Even though there are several holes in the current roster, we’ve seen Harbaugh engineer quick turnarounds before. When he took over as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2011, the team had not had a winning season in eight years and had not reached an NFC title game in 14 years. San Francisco subsequently won 13 games and made the NFC title game in Harbaugh’s first season as head coach.
There’s work to be done with the Chargers’ current roster, but with a talented quarterback and a great head coach, anything is possible. Don't be surprised when Los Angeles turns heads this year.
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