1 Roster Flaw That Can Derail the 2024 Season for Each NFL Super Bowl Contender
Every NFL team faces obstacles on the road to the Super Bowl, including the top-tier contenders. Some of them won't be able to overcome those roadblocks.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars both collapsed toward the end of the 2023 campaign, with each losing five of their last six regular-season games. The Eagles then lost handily in the Wild Card Round, while the Jaguars missed the playoffs entirely.
The Eagles replaced both their offensive and defensive coordinators this offseason, which suggests they believe that coaching factored into their late-season slide.
The Jaguars fired their defensive coordinator, Mike Caldwell, but they also struggled with turnovers, giving the ball away 12 times in their last five outings. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was responsible for 10 of those turnovers.
Using DraftKings' current Super Bowl odds, we've highlighted one roster flaw that could derail each title contender before Super Bowl LIX.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes Faces Insurmountable Pocket Pressure
1 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +550
The Kansas City Chiefs signed wide receiver Marquise Brown in free agency and moved up in the first round of the 2024 draft for fellow speedster Xavier Worthy. Even with Rashee Rice likely facing a suspension at some point this season, the Chiefs have covered their bases at wide receiver.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes could be uncomfortable in the pocket, though, which could significantly impact Kansas City's passing game.
The Chiefs offensive line will likely have a new full-time starter at left tackle. Kansas City hasn't re-signed Donovan Smith, who started 12 games last season. Meanwhile, right tackle Jawaan Taylor gave up five sacks and committed 20 penalties during the 2023 campaign, according to Pro Football Focus.
Kansas City selected Kingsley Suamataia in the second round of the 2024 draft, but as Bleacher Report scout Brandon Thorn noted, he may need some time to tighten up his technique before taking the field.
"Overall, Suamataia has the physical tools of a starting tackle with an unrefined skill set that is built on flashes rather than proven consistency," Thorn wrote. "But he'll be only 21 when he gets drafted, and he has the runway to add polish to his game and bridge that gap within his first contract in an RPO/play-action-based system that can help bring him along slowly."
The Chiefs could plug in 2023 third-rounder Wanya Morris at left tackle, where he started four games last season, but he isn't a proven starter.
If the Chiefs don't sign a veteran tackle with starting experience, they may regret it.
San Francisco 49ers: Offense Crumbles Due to Unreliable Depth Behind Trent Williams
2 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +600
At 35, Trent Williams is still one of the league's best left tackles. He's coming off his third consecutive first-team All-Pro campaign.
The San Francisco 49ers can only hope that Williams stays healthy through his 14th season. They otherwise have a low-end starting right tackle in Colton McKivitz—who allowed nine sacks last year, according to Pro Football Focus—and an uninspiring group of reserve tackles.
The 49ers did sign offensive tackles Brandon Parker and Chris Hubbard in free agency. But the former has played only 14 offensive snaps over the past two years, and the latter has mostly played right tackle in his 10-year career.
Before McKivitz took over the starting job at right tackle last offseason, he played on the left side in a pinch, but not enough to earn trust as a viable fill-in starter if the 49ers have to shuffle their offensive line combination.
According to The Athletic's Matt Barrows and David Lombardi, rookie third-rounder Dominick Puni will see early reps at guard, though he primarily played tackle at Kansas.
If Williams goes down, the 49ers offense could fall with him. In the two games that he missed last season, San Francisco scored only 17 points in each game and lost both.
Baltimore Ravens: Offensive Line Changes Leave Lamar Jackson Vulnerable in the Pocket
3 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +900
Do you notice a running theme with the top three teams favored to win Super Bowl LIX? Like the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Ravens could have issues with their offensive line this season.
The Ravens traded right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets this offseason, and they lost guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson in free agency. Meanwhile, left tackle Ronnie Stanley has missed 36 games since his 2019 All-Pro campaign.
Ben Cleveland, whom the Ravens selected in the third round of the 2021 draft, likely will have a chance to show that he's more than a fill-in starter at guard. But quarterback Lamar Jackson may have to use his legs to escape constant perimeter pocket pressure.
Stanley has missed at least four outings in each of the past four seasons. Rookie second-rounder Roger Rosengarten will have a shot to start at right tackle, though he's in competition with Daniel Faalele and perhaps versatile offensive lineman Patrick Mekari for the spot.
Jackson has dropped down to 205 pounds, his lowest weight since 2018, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. While he could bulk up before Week 1, the dynamic signal-caller may want to stay lean in case he has to frequently exercise his elusiveness in a muddy pocket.
With that being said, if Jackson takes too many hits, he's prone to injury. Between 2021 and 2022, he missed 10 games, all between November and January. Across those two seasons, Jackson logged 245 carries and took 64 sacks.
With multiple changes along Baltimore's offensive line, play-caller Todd Monken should design run-heavy game plans that feature running back Derrick Henry until the front line proves it can protect the quarterback.
.jpg?w=256 "Rams Jaguars Football")
Detroit Lions: Subpar Intermediate Pass Coverage Leaves Gaping Hole in Defense
4 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +1200
The Detroit Lions addressed their hole at cornerback this offseason by acquiring Carlton Davis from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and taking Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the first two rounds of the 2024 draft.
With those additions, the Lions may have turned one weakness into a strength. However, they still lack a reliable coverage linebacker.
Safety Brian Branch can line up in the box to help the linebackers on passing downs, but he played most of his snaps in the slot last season.
Linebacker Jack Campbell, a 2023 first-rounder, allowed a 128.2 passer rating, an 80.6 percent completion rate and two touchdowns in coverage last season.
The Lions' veteran linebackers didn't make much of an impact on passing downs, either. Alex Anzalone allowed a 97.2 passer rating and two touchdowns in coverage, while Derrick Barnes didn't log a single pass breakup.
Don't be surprised if offensive coordinators attack the Lions defense with tight ends and slot receivers to expose their coverage liabilities in the middle of the field.
Buffalo Bills: QB Josh Allen Self-Destructs Without a Lead WR
5 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +1200
This season, the Buffalo Bills are poised to find out if Josh Allen can elevate a wide receiver corps or if he needs a go-to target to perform at a Pro Bowl level.
In March, the Bills traded wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. Allen threw for 4,200-plus yards and at least 29 touchdowns in each of the past four seasons with Diggs on the roster, but he barely eclipsed 3,000 passing yards in a season and threw only 30 touchdowns across his first two seasons before Buffalo acquired Diggs.
Even with Diggs on the roster, Allen has had some head-scratching performances. Some of those involved questionable decision-making from the pocket, leading to game-changing turnovers. In fact, Allen threw a career-high 18 interceptions last season.
To replace Diggs, the Bills signed Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency and selected Keon Coleman in the second round of the 2024 draft. But the collection of incoming receiver talent may not be enough to replace Diggs' production and bail Allen out of bad decisions.
Valdes-Scantling has a career 50.3 percent catch rate, while Coleman has the tough task of taking on a big role in the passing game as a rookie.
Cincinnati Bengals: Offensive Imbalance Results in Predictable Game Plans
6 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +1300
Entering his fifth season, Joe Burrow is one of the league's top quarterbacks.
In Burrow's second season, he won 2021 Comeback Player of the Year and helped the Cincinnati Bengals reach Super Bowl LVI. He followed up with a Pro Bowl year in 2022.
However, because of Burrow's injury history, the Bengals should be cautious about laying the burden of their Super Bowl hopes solely on the aerial attack.
Over the past four seasons, Burrow has missed 13 games because of injuries. Last season, Cincinnati contended for a playoff spot without him as backup quarterback Jake Browning helped lead the team to a 9-8 record. The Bengals ultimately missed the playoffs, though.
The Bengals have done a better job of protecting Burrow, who's taken fewer sacks every year since he led the league in the category in 2021. However, they should make a stronger commitment to the run game for extended stretches. Since Cincinnati drafted Burrow in 2020, the club has ranked 17th or worse in both total carries and rushing yards every season.
This offseason, the Bengals traded away running back Joe Mixon, who's rushed for 1,034-plus yards in two of the last three seasons. They signed running back Zack Moss to replace him, but he's primarily served in a backup role through his four NFL seasons.
Despite Burrow's injury issues last year, Cincinnati is showing great confidence in him and its aerial attack. It essentially swapped out a Pro Bowl-level running back for a committee ball-carrier this offseason.
Burrow will continue to light up defenses with wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins downfield, but the offense may be underwhelming on the ground. Opposing defenders could tee off on Burrow in the pocket, drop an extra defender in coverage and dare Cincinnati to run the ball against lighter boxes to slow down its aerial attack.
Houston Texans: Poor Short-Yardage Run Defense Is an Achilles Heel in Close Games
7 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +1600
The Houston Texans made notable moves this offseason to improve a playoff-caliber roster. They don't have any glaring holes on either side of the ball.
However, the Texans struggled to keep rushing attacks out of the end zone when their opponents advanced the ball deep in their territory last season.
In 2023, Houston allowed 19 rushing touchdowns, which ranked 27th leaguewide. It gave up 15 of those rushing scores on plays within 10 yards of the goal line.
The Texans attempted to bolster their defensive line by signing Danielle Hunter, Folorunso Fatukasi and Denico Autry this offseason. Hunter and Autry logged a combined 35 tackles for loss last season, and the former led the league in that category.
They should be able to shore up Houston's run defense. But with Autry entering his age-34 campaign, the Texans should beware of a potential drop-off in his production.
Super Bowl-winning teams need crucial stops in pivotal situations, sometimes at the goal line. If the Texans don't present more defensive resistance inside the 10-yard line, they could lose some close games in heartbreaking fashion.
Dallas Cowboys: No Spark on the Ground to Balance Dak Prescott-Led Offense
8 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +1700
Dak Prescott may have to prove to the Dallas Cowboys that he's worth a big-money extension with some consistency in a pass-heavy offense.
Last season, Dallas ranked 14th in both carries and rushing yards. Prescott posted MVP-worthy numbers, throwing for 4,516 yards, a league-leading 36 touchdowns and only nine interceptions.
However, when Dallas fielded the ninth-ranked ground attack in 2022, Prescott tied Davis Mills for the most interceptions (15) in the league. Perhaps he felt lingering effects from a thumb injury that required surgery earlier in that year.
Which version of Prescott will the Cowboys see in the upcoming campaign? They'll need Prescott to perform at the level he did during the 2023 regular season.
Dallas lost running back Tony Pollard in free agency and brought back Ezekiel Elliott, who recorded a career-low 3.5 yards per carry last season with the New England Patriots. Elliott might be more effective behind the Cowboys offensive line, but his rushing-yards-per-game average has significantly declined since his 2019 Pro Bowl campaign.
If Prescott turns the ball over as often as he did in the second half of the 2022 campaign or his last outing against the Green Bay Packers, Dallas could have a disastrous 2024 season.
Without a spark plug in the run game, Prescott must avoid the urge to press through the air.
Philadelphia Eagles: Interior of Offensive Line Loses Its Push Without Jason Kelce
9 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +1700
The Philadelphia Eagles lost one of their best players and arguably the glue guy of their offensive line, Jason Kelce, who retired this offseason.
Cam Jurgens, who started 11 games at right guard last season, will shift to center to replace Kelce. That will open up another void on the interior.
Tyler Steen, a 2023 third-rounder, will compete against Day 3 drafted rookies Trevor Keegan and Dylan McMahon for the right guard position.
With inexperienced starters at center and right guard, the Eagles' short-yardage "Tush Push" may lose some of its efficacy. Also, running back Saquon Barkley may not see clear running lanes between the tackles.
Philadelphia's ground attack could be a work in progress as the new starters find their footing on the offensive line's interior. As a result, quarterback Jalen Hurts may face constant pressure up the middle as he tries to bounce back from a year of regression under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
The Eagles offense could have a rocky transition without Kelce at the pivot.
Green Bay Packers: Shallow Cornerback Depth Fails to Compensate for Injuries
10 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +1900
The Green Bay Packers have two former first-rounders at cornerback, Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, but they have missed 33 games combined over the last two years. Though Alexander and Stokes played only 10 games in total last season, Green Bay still ranked within the top 10 in passing yards and touchdowns allowed.
The Packers haven't added any notable veteran cornerbacks this offseason, and they didn't draft one (Kalen King) until the seventh round. The seem to have confidence in Corey Ballentine, whom general manager Brian Gutekunst said "played exceptionally well" last season.
Though Ballentine had a solid showing in 2023, allowing an 81.2 passer rating and two touchdowns while logging seven pass breakups and an interception in coverage, he's started only 10 contests across five seasons. If the Packers lose Alexander or Stokes for an extended period, they may need a more impactful replacement in the secondary.
The Packers will play against a few potential high-powered passing attacks that they didn't see during the regular season last year. They're hosting the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers, all three of whom fielded top-10 passing offenses in 2023.
Within the NFC North, the Chicago Bears' aerial attack could rack up yards with Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen as key new additions to their offense. The Detroit Lions also had the second-ranked passing attack last season.
Gutekunst should've addressed the cornerback position much earlier than he did in the 2024 draft.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
.jpg?w=480 "Rams Jaguars Football")
.jpg?w=480 "49ers Texans Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Rap Shuts Down Rodgers Rumor 🤫")
.jpg?w=600 "Kyler Rocking No. 1 ☝️")
.jpg?w=600 "Vid of Bills' New Stadium 👀")
