2024 NFL predictions: Ranking teams most likely to go from worst to first with Bengals and Bears on top

One thing that makes the NFL so entertaining every year is the fact that it’s one of the most unpredictable sports on the planet, and nothing proves that more than the league’s ability to produce at least one team every season that goes from worst to first. 

Last year, that team was the Houston Texans. After finishing with an ugly record of 3-13-1 in 2022, the Texans rebounded in a big way in 2023 by winning the AFC South. Their poor record two years ago allowed them to land CJ Stroud in the 2023 draft and he was a big reason why they were able to turn things around so quickly. 

Since 2015, there have been a total of 10 teams that have followed up a last-place finish with a division-winning run the following season, and for those of you who aren’t good at math, that’s an average of just over one per year. That average has actually held pretty firm over the past two decades: Since the NFL realigned its divisions in 2002, there have been 29 teams that have gone from worst to first, which is an average of 1.32 teams per year over that 22-season span. 

Basically, NFL history says that at least one team is going to go from worst to first this year, and because we love ranking things here, we’re going to rank the eight last-place finishers from 2023 to find out who has the best chance to be this year’s Texans. 

Ranking teams most likely to go from worst to first 

(All division odds via Caesars Sportsbook)

2023 record: 4-13
Odds to win AFC East: +2500

They have a new head coach, a new starting QB and they also have what might possibly be the worst roster in the NFL. Not to mention, they’re stuck in a division that has three Super Bowl contenders. Basically, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Patriots win the AFC East this year. As a matter of fact, it’s hard to envision a scenario where they even finish with seven wins. 

You never want to say a team has zero chance of winning its…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-predictions-ranking-teams-most-likely-to-go-from-worst-to-first-with-bengals-and-bears-on-top/

Author : John Breech

Publish date : 2024-08-28 13:41:16

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.