NFL · 1 year ago

NFL 2024 Season Preview: Most Overrated Team in Each NFC Division

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

NFC West: San Francisco 49ers
Are the San Francisco 49ers the best team on paper heading into 2024? Probably, but they certainly shouldn’t be expected to be the shoo-in NFC team in Super Bowl LIX. They’ll have to withstand a potential down-season as the losing Super Bowl team in the year prior, just as we saw with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, and every other team in their division got better. Trent Williams is still holding out, and the team must regroup after a tumultuous offseason. The Niners should be expected to compete for the NFC title, but I see too many potential obstacles to not put my money behind them.
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys
Heading into 2024, a cloud hangs over the Dallas Cowboys that doesn’t seem to be fading away. Despite finally cleaning up the mess with CeeDee Lamb contractually, too much is riding on this Cowboys season, and the Cowboys have shown us nothing in the past to give us the confidence that they’re up for the challenge. No NFC East team has repeated as division champions in over two decades, so we’ll expect the Cowboys to fall off, potentially as far as out of the playoffs, given that the NFC is at its strongest point in years.
NFC North: Chicago Bears
It’s almost like you can’t get enough of the Chicago Bears all offseason. As exciting as Caleb Williams has been, giving Bears fans the most hope they’ve had in decades, let’s not act like this is a ready-to-compete for a division crown in a very tough NFC North. The skill position group might be solid, but the offensive line isn’t great, the defense lacks talent, and questions surround the head coach. Frankly, the Bears should want to underwhelm so they can fire Matt Eberlus, attracting a bright offensive mind like Ben Johnson or Bobby Slowik to come in as the head coach in 2025.
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NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The NFC South may be the weakest division in all of football, and while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can repeat as champions, too many people believe in them, and I can’t figure out why. Take away my love for the Atlanta Falcons; what is there to be excited about the Bucs? Everything went perfectly for their offense last year, resulting in their then-OC Dave Canales becoming the Carolina Panthers head coach. I’m expecting their offense to hit some bumps, and with an aging defense, I see few possible paths for this squad to make the postseason.
NFC West: San Francisco 49ers
Are the San Francisco 49ers the best team on paper heading into 2024? Probably, but they certainly shouldn’t be expected to be the shoo-in NFC team in Super Bowl LIX. They’ll have to withstand a potential down-season as the losing Super Bowl team in the year prior, just as we saw with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, and every other team in their division got better. Trent Williams is still holding out, and the team must regroup after a tumultuous offseason. The Niners should be expected to compete for the NFC title, but I see too many potential obstacles to not put my money behind them.
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys
Heading into 2024, a cloud hangs over the Dallas Cowboys that doesn’t seem to be fading away. Despite finally cleaning up the mess with CeeDee Lamb contractually, too much is riding on this Cowboys season, and the Cowboys have shown us nothing in the past to give us the confidence that they’re up for the challenge. No NFC East team has repeated as division champions in over two decades, so we’ll expect the Cowboys to fall off, potentially as far as out of the playoffs, given that the NFC is at its strongest point in years.