As the 2024 NFL season reaches its midpoint, several teams have fallen short of their preseason expectations. But while teams are seemingly dropping by the wayside left, right, and center, one team that is staying right on course is the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. Led by the sensational Patrick Mahomes, the Arrowhead outfit has romped to Super Bowl glory in each of the last two seasons, and now they are aiming to make history as the first team to ever complete a three-peat of Lombardi trophies.
Perfect Chiefs Stay on Course
Their start to the 2024 season has been nothing short of sensational. The Chiefs are currently the league’s only undefeated team and are sitting pretty with a perfect 9-0 record. It looked like that would come to an end in their week 10 divisional clash against the Denver Broncos as the Colorado outfit had a game-ending field goal attempt at the end of the quarter, with the three points being enough for the victory. Somehow, though, the Chiefs managed to block Wil Lutz’s close-range effort to seal an improbable victory.
They will now face off in a mouthwatering clash with the Buffalo Bills at Highmark on week 11 in a battle of AFC heavyweights. The New York State outfit is one of the reasons for football becoming one of the most popular Canada sports, thanks to the Toronto Series, which brought the NFL to the Great White North for the first time.
Although the gridiron still lags some way behind ice hockey and the NBA in terms of popularity, Bills quarterback Josh Allen is doing his utmost to lead his side to success, and that will surely only galvanize more supporters north of the border. But while both KC and Buffalo are flying, some teams most certainly are not. Here are the four biggest flops in the NFL so far this season.
New York Jets
The New York Jets kicked off the 2024 season with renewed vigor, propelled by the return from injury of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The four-time MVP winner was traded to the Big Apple last year, but a season-ending injury seven minutes into his debut against the Buffalo Bills derailed his Jets career before it could even get going. He returned this season and was expected to help the Green Machine snap its franchise-worst 13-year playoff drought, with the acquisition of key players like Mike Williams and Davante Adams – A-Rod’s primary target in Green Bay – expected to aid him in his quest.
Unfortunately for the MetLife Stadium faithful, the reality has been starkly different. With a paltry 3-7 record, the Jets have faced a turbulent season, marred by a misfiring offense that cost head coach Robert Saleh his job. There were signs of life as Rodgers managed to roll back the years on week nine to mastermind a win against the high-flying Houston Texans, but another drab affair on week ten on the road at the Arizona Cardinals has all but ended their charge already.
Cincinnati Bengals
Ever since they reached the Super Bowl at the back end of the 2022 season, the Cincinnati Bengals have become genuine contenders to lift the Lombardi for the first time. Joe Burrow is arguably a top-three quarterback alongside Mahomes and Allen, but despite scintillating performances from the former Heisman winner, Cincy simply can’t pick up wins. They continue to lose games in the most brutal fashion possible.
Despite league-leading numbers from Joey B, the Bengals currently sit with a mightily disappointing record of 4-6. They have only managed to pick up wins against lowly opponents, namely the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and the Las Vegas Raiders. To make matters worse, they have lost out by just one point on the road against conference heavyweights, losing to a last-gasp field goal in their week two encounter with the Chiefs before failing on a two-point conversion on week nine against the divisional rival Baltimore Ravens.
The prolific Burrow is aptly supported by Ja’Marr Chase, who is arguably the best wide receiver in the league. However, on defense, the Bengals simply can’t contain even the weakest of opponents. They will now need to win pretty much all of their remaining games if they are to make it to the playoffs, a difficult task because they still have to play their AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers both home and away.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys started the season with a promising outlook, especially considering their regular season performances in each of the last two campaigns. They were eager to build upon these previous successful terms and finally translate their regular season form into playoff success, proving the naysayers wrong in the process. Unfortunately for them, their form has fallen off a cliff.
They were blown out by the lowly New Orleans Saints in week two and that set the tone for what was to come. Another drubbing at the hands of the Detroit Lions was just around the corner and a season-ending injury to Dak Prescott has compounded their issues. America’s Team has lost its last five games on the spin, and the recent mauling at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles was yet another low point in an era of lows.
