David Helman
Dallas Cowboys Insider
Not all paths to the playoffs are created equal.
Sure, it’s the NFL and there’s no such thing as an easy game. But the fact remains, more than one third of the schedule consists of division games — and no two divisions are the same.
With the 2024 season in view, what does that hierarchy look like? Which is the strongest, and which might present the easiest path to the postseason? Let’s look into it.
RELATED: What is the NFL’s best division? Let’s debate!
1. AFC North
The gold standard, in my humble opinion. This division produced three playoff teams in 2023, and the fourth-place Bengals still finished with a winning record despite losing Joe Burrow for half the season to a wrist injury. This group looks just as loaded in 2024. Burrow is back, and Lamar Jackson is now a two-time MVP. Cleveland boasts one of the best overall rosters in the league, headlined by reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. And even with quarterback uncertainty, the Steelers should expect to push for a playoff spot. It’s going to be a back-alley brawl to win the league’s toughest division.
2. NFC North
Having said all that nice stuff about the AFC North, the NFC counterpart has a great case for the top spot. I see two legitimate Super Bowl contenders here in Detroit and Green Bay, and it goes without saying that Caleb Williams has turned the Chicago Bears into must-see TV. The Vikings might look like an afterthought on the surface, but I think that’s premature. Minnesota’s got elite offensive talent and a feisty defense. If Sam Darnold can rise to the occasion, this really might be the deepest division in the league.
3. NFC West
I think this answer will surprise some people, but I like the depth in the NFC West. San Francisco obviously boasts one of the league’s best rosters, but don’t forget that this division has sent multiple teams to the playoffs in six straight seasons. The Rams were a…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-division-supremacy-ranking-all-8-ahead-2024-season
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Publish date : 2024-08-21 12:00:30
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