Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws a move in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings in the course of the recreation at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities We’re lower than six Sundays away from the primary full week of the soccer season.
NFL coaching camps are underway throughout the nation, and the preseason is already upon us this week. Let’s rank the highest 5 NFL groups as we head into NFL coaching camp.
5. Detroit Lions
The Lions are primed to be one of many NFL’s high groups after an NFC Championship look final season.
Dan Campbell has introduced much-needed stability to the group, and govt vice chairman Brad Holmes has seemingly pressed all the fitting buttons.
The Lions might be a regression candidate due to how properly final season went, however they’re too gifted throughout, and so they retained most of everybody from final season’s thrilling playoff run. Offensively, Ben Johnson will search for Jared Goff to distribute the soccer evenly, like he did final 12 months.
Defensively, Campbell could have Aidan Hutchinson and the boys rolling with one other 12 months of expertise below their belts.
4. Houston Texans
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) celebrates with vast receiver Nico Collins (12) after a landing in the course of the fourth quarter in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports activities The Texans are the darlings of this NFL offseason, which isn’t at all times a terrific factor.
They made a bunch of flashy offensive decide ups to assist quarterback C.J. Stroud after a stellar rookie season. Buying and selling for vast receiver Stefon Diggs and working again Joe Mixon ought to assist Stroud proceed to thrive. The Texans weren’t complacent, and that is why they’ll discover much more successs in 2024.
Defensively, the Texans seemed excellent of their playoff win over Joe Flacco’s Cleveland Browns.
The Texans needs to be actually good once more. A playoff lock, with the potential to make far more noise.
3. San Francisco 49ers
Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers working again Christian McCaffrey (23) reacts after a play in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens within the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports activities The 49ers have been affected by distractions this offseason, however that’s by no means slowed them down earlier than. They should work out some holdout conditions with Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk, however as soon as they do, they need to be primed for one more run within the NFC West.
Bear in mind, they simply went by way of a few of these contract complications with Jimmy Garroppolo, Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel. They’re approach too loaded of a roster to not be a playoff lock.
If Kyle Shanahan can get out of his personal approach when the lights are the brightest, it wouldn’t shock anybody if the Niners have been proper again within the Tremendous Bowl dialog this winter.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Oct 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) warms up earlier than the sport in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports activities The Ravens are the most effective crew in what’s broadly anticipated to be the hardest division in soccer, the AFC North. If that division is pretty much as good as we expect it will likely be, a number of groups will make the playoffs by way of wild card.
The Ravens are the reigning champions of that division, headlined by quarterback Lamar Jackson, who had a really full and sound season. They added Derrick Henry, so the Ravens run recreation needs to be as deadly as ever.
1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are trying to find their third consecutive Tremendous Bowl. supply: Getty Pictures This NFL season actually boils right down to stopping Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
They received the Tremendous Bowl with an offense that was removed from stellar for a lot of the 12 months. So, after all, they upgraded this offseason.
Marquise Hollywood Brown is an effective addition. So is Xavier Worthy. They’re bringing Chris Jones again to anchor the protection. The Chiefs are nonetheless the NFL’s crew to beat.