As we method the beginning of the 2024 NFL season there’s lots of hope and promise across the league. Groups seeking to flip their fortunes round, and established winners hoping to take the following step — however then there’s a gaggle of groups the place the common season doesn’t breed hope or pleasure, however nervousness.
These are the determined groups. Organizations who both see their home windows closing, or who made rash strikes within the hopes of profitable proper now. For them 2024 isn’t simply a part of the journey, however a mark of finality, with all the things hinging on it.
Atlanta Falcons
Whenever you attempt to emulate two Tremendous Bowl winners it’s proof you’re in desperation mode. Many groups have considered emulating the Buccaneers and Rams of their victories with older established quarterbacks, and the Falcons are merely the following in line.
The choice to signal Kirk Cousins and shoot for the moon exhibits that this workforce actually thinks it could actually compete deep within the NFC this 12 months, and never simply accept profitable the NFC South. On paper this appears doable. There’s a ton to love concerning the Falcons on offense, and their late strikes to commerce for Matthew Judon and signing Justin Simmons makes Atlanta a pressure on protection as properly.
It’s been seven years because the Falcons received a playoff sport. A workforce that noticed a window with Matt Ryan come and go, with out a lot success to indicate for it. Contemplating the unpredictability of the NFC South the braintrust in Atlanta feels prefer it’s bought to take its shot, lock up the division, and hope they’ll go far.
If that doesn’t materialize it’ll be a darkish season in Atlanta.
New York Jets
Is anybody extra determined for victory than the New York Jets?
Your entire AFC East was ready for Tom Brady and Invoice Belichick to age out and at last open the floodgates to contend. Since they the Jets have watched because the Payments, then the Dolphins slid into competition — leaving them on the surface.
Hiring Robert Saleh was an awesome resolution on paper, but it surely actually hasn’t panned out. As a coach he’s been passive on the flawed instances, and the Jets have paid for it in consequence. Now his final likelihood to hold on as a head coach comes right down to the Hail Mary transfer to signal Aaron Rodgers and hope it may end up in the Tremendous Bowl win. That’s the expectation, and anything could be an enormous disappointment that may end in large adjustments, and doubtlessly a full rebuild.
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Picture by Ryan Kang/Getty Photographs
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have constantly been among the finest groups within the NFL for the final three seasons, however now it’s all getting somewhat lengthy within the tooth. Troublesome selections loom on the horizon in terms of participant contracts, and San Francisco is already coping with Trent Williams holding out, likewise with Brandon Aiyuk. Couple all that with a looming extension for Brock Purdy and it leads to a state of affairs the place desperation is masquerading as confidence.
For all of the deserved credit score Kyle Shanahan has gotten, his workforce has nonetheless been unable to win when it issues. A part of that’s as a result of Chiefs’ being the NFL’s last boss, however the place Kansas Metropolis has modified over time, the 49ers have been extra stagnant and caught to its establishment.
We have now a state of affairs the place San Francisco has misplaced so much after they’ve been anticipated to win. Finally that can result in frustration, and 2025 may very well be the final time the workforce might afford to make a change at head coach in the event that they really feel the path isn’t working earlier than the wage cap catches as much as the 49ers in a severe approach.
That makes this a determined season for Shanahan, and the 49ers by extension.
Dallas Cowboys
What is that this workforce? It’s unclear if even the Cowboys know for positive. There’s little question Dallas has a few of the NFL’s greatest expertise, however nothing has managed to return collectively and result in success. Locking up CeeDee Lamb after weeks of holdouts was important in shifting ahead, but it surely’s an enormous gamble with out realizing what the long run holds for Dak Prescott or Micah Parsons.
An ever-present weight of expectations implies that Dallas is in an ever-present state of desperation till they win a Tremendous Bowl. This 12 months is their make or break. If the Cowboys can not less than contend in a severe approach, then they might attempt to transfer forward with their present gamers.
In the event that they don’t, it’ll be a grim offseason in Dallas. Mike McCarthy is probably going gone, Dak may very well be out as QB, and all the things may very well be heading in the direction of a serious change.
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Picture by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Photographs
Carolina Panthers
There’s fairly actually no purpose for the Panthers to be in desperation mode — besides for his or her proprietor. David Tepper is the least-patient man within the NFL, and with a wild card like that within the proprietor’s field it’s not possible to know what he’ll do from 12 months to 12 months.
A gradual, affected person rebuild with a brand new offense round Bryce Younger and highlighting his skills might result in a stable future in Charlotte, but it surely’s additionally doable that one other horrific season might result in Tepper demanding extra solutions, extra heads, and extra outcomes.
It’s a really completely different circumstance to different groups on this record, however proper now there aren’t any different homeowners within the league fairly like Tepper.
