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We are now in the business part of the 2024 NFL season, a point in the calendar where early season rust can no longer be used as an excuse. While a lot can change between now and January, we are starting to see who will be in Playoff contention, as well as those who better start planning for next season.
Of course, some things are predictable: The Kansas City Chiefs are nicely placed in the NFL odds comparison as they look to complete their quest for an unprecedented three Super Bowl wins in a row. Yet, there have been surprises with the San Francisco 49ers – the team that most tapped as the Chiefs’ rivals once again – having a sluggish start.
However, we can also look at some teams that have been defying expectations thus far. We aren’t talking about absolute underdogs, but teams not ranked at the top of the odds preseason but who have been purring along nicely all season thus far. Who are they, and how serious is their candidacy? Let’s look at four we have been loving so far:
With a 5-0 start going into their Bye Week, no team in the NFL has seen their Super Bowl odds cut more than the Vikings. Sportsbooks aren’t fully convinced that they can keep it up, but with big victories over the Packers at Lambeau Field, the 49ers, and the Houston Texans (see below), you cannot fail to be impressed. They have a fairly easy schedule across the winter, too. The Vikings are going to the Playoffs, undoubtedly, and it’s just a question of how far they can go when they get there.
While they tasted defeat at the hands of the Vikings, the Texans have been more or less perfect elsewhere. Wide receiver Nico Collins has been nothing short of a revelation, leading the NFL in receiving yards as it stands. CJ Stroud, too, has shown his worth at quarterback. Some of the pressing questions that were raised about the Texans preseason remain, but while they haven’t been blowing teams away, their ability to see tight games over the line is impressive. They perhaps aren’t ready yet to be Super Bowl contenders, but the young core is starting to gel.
Vying with the Vikings as the surprise package of the season, everyone expects the Commanders to cool off sooner rather than later. You’d argue that much depends on the continued good form of QB Jayden Daniels. The Heisman Trophy winner has been a revelation in a Washington uniform, already setting records as a rookie QB. Whether he can keep this up or inexperience bites in the Playoffs remains to be seen, but after years in the wilderness, it’s finally exciting to be a Washington Commanders fan.
The Lions had the shortest Super Bowl odds on this list in preseason, so it’s only mildly surprising that they are doing well. Yet, few pundits seemed to be enthused about them in preseason. Going 3-1 before their Bye Week wasn’t bad, but you also got the sense that the results didn’t match their performances. There’s a good team in there somewhere. Here’s the kicker, though: The Lions have an absolutely brutal run of games from mid-October through November, including matchups against the Texans and Vikings. We should reserve judgment until we see what shape the Lions are in when they exit that stretch.