NFL 2024 Midseason Report: Surprises, Standouts, and What’s Next

The first 10 weeks of the 2024 NFL season have been nothing short of eventful. From unexpected upsets to breakout stars, injuries to below-par teams, we’ve seen a lot of drama and storylines unfold as the league heads into the second half of the season. As we look back at the first 10 weeks, let’s break down the key developments and what they mean for the remainder of the year.

The Kansas City Chiefs: Business as Usual?

The Chiefs stand alone as the only remaining undefeated team in the league but it has been far from a smooth ride. The 9-0 record is impressive but something has seemed off about the Chiefs all season. The offence has been misfiring, including superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who through 9 games, has only thrown 12 touchdowns and only passed for over 300 yards in one game, leaving the defence with a lot of work to do. The lack of a substantial run game has harmed their offensive output and the receivers have been hit or miss early on. Rookie Xavier Worthy has shown flashes but is far from a No.1 receiver, hence why the Chiefs made a move to acquire Deandre Hopkins from the Titans. D-Hop is a reliable target but he isn't going to set the world alight, like earlier in his career. 

Despite, these offensive struggles, the previously mentioned, defence has stepped up and ranks top 5 in yards per game and points per game. Consistently keeping the opposing offense out of their endzone has seen the Chiefs not give up more than 25 points all season, which is the primary reason they remain undefeated up to this point of the season. Kansas City's championship pedigree is currently unmatched and no matter how poor they've looked, they know how to get across the line. They are all setup for another run to a Super Bowl title and an unprecedented 3-peat and it is going to take a big performance from one of the challengers to stop this. 

The Challengers: Who is primed to make a playoff run?

Speaking of challengers, lets take a look at the other teams vying for high playoff seeding, with their own Super Bowl ambitions. Competing with Kansas City in the AFC is the Baltimore Ravens, the Buffalo Bills and somewhat surprisingly, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Much like the Chiefs, the Steelers have rallied behind incredible defensive efforts to find themselves at 7-2. Head Coach Mike Tomlin, knows how to put together a team capable of winning and this season is no different. A controversial decision to bench quarterback Justin Fields, after an impressive start to the season, is currently proving a masterstroke as Russell Wilson has put together a 3 game winning streak to start his time in Pittsburgh. The Steelers may find it tough to keep up with some other teams in this list but will have the chance to test themselves against the Ravens in week 11. 

The Ravens themselves have put together an impressive resume through the first 10 weeks. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is currently playing at an All-Pro level and is currently favoured to repeat as MVP, he has become a refined passer of the ball putting together unbelievable numbers across the board in touchdowns and passing yards. Joining the offence for 2024 is running back Derrick Henry, who is already over the 1000 yard rushing mark, passing this milestone in just 9 games. He will be looking to become the first player in NFL history to rush for over 2000 yards in multiple season. The Ravens may have lost their opening 2 games but they have bounced back with 7 wins in their next 8 games, including 2 incredible victories over their AFC North rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals to go along with a victory over our next team looking to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, the Buffalo Bills. 

Buffalo look to have finally turned a corner with their turnover troubles, which have plagued previous season. Other than a below par showing in week 10 against the Colts, Josh Allen has been as good as any other quarterback during the Bills hot start. A few interceptions have creeped in during the last few weeks but Bills fans will be hoping this is just a blip. The rest of the team is performing to a high level and they've proved they can win games even when Allen falters. This Bills team feels different to previous seasons and will be looking to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 30 years. 

What about the NFC? Who are the favourites?

The NFC feels wide open this season with the Detroit Lions slightly edging their rivals. Losing Aidan Hutchinson is a big miss for them, as he was off to a record breaking start to the season but bringing in Za'Darius Smith, should help the defence stay productive during the second half of the season. The 1-2 punch of running back pairing, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs gives the offence a unique dynamism while receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown gives them playmaking ability on the outside. In just a few seasons, Dan Campbell has revitalised the entire city of Detroit and has turned the Lions into a real contender. If it wasn't for the injury to Hutchinson, the Lions would feel like sure-locks for the Super Bowl but the lack of his presence on the edge, opens the door to other teams in the NFC.

Over in the East, the Commanders started strong and flew out to an early lead in their division but the Eagles have rattled off 5 straight wins to put themselves in control. Both teams are similar, with dynamic quarterbacks, a stand out receiver and a tough defence, but the Eagles might have the edge due to their experience, this is a team that only a couple of seasons ago was moments away from winning the Super Bowl. However, Commanders fans will be loving life under new head coach Dan Quinn and rookie QB Jayden Daniels as they look to make the playoffs for just the sixth time since the turn of the century. Both teams will face-off in this week's Thursday night football game before playing the rematch in week 16, if one team can secure both wins, they will be in a great place to take the division and hold a high playoff seeding. 

The Under-Performers: Are They Out of Contention or Can They Turn it Around?

High expectations can be cruel to some fans bases, teams who have shown they can win in previous seasons suddenly don't and others who made big splashes in the off-season, see all their potential fade away quickly. Lets take a look at these teams and assess whether they still have a shot at the playoffs. 

Dallas Cowboys: This one feels like a slam dunk, the Cowboys were bad with Dak Prescott on the field, now with him looking like he's going to be out for the remainder of the season, the Cowboys playoff hopes look dead and buried. Continuous blowouts at home show no signs of stopping and Dallas are quickly slipping towards a top 10 draft pick. 

San Francisco 49ers: It's hard to pinpoint exactly what is wrong with the Niners, they've just lacked rhythm all season. Sitting just above .500, they are yet to win more than 2 games in a row. However, this is a team that are serial winners (until the Super Bowl at least) and they have all the pieces required to not only make the playoffs but also challenge for the big prize. San Francisco should be able to turn their fortunes around.  

New York Jets: What could have been a career defining season for Aaron Rodgers and the Jets has turned into a nightmare. The sacking of head coach Robert Saleh feels like a real low point for a franchise that almost feels cursed at this point. The Jets, not only won't be making the playoffs this season but they might even have to look at a full rebuild next year if Rodgers decides to retire.

Cincinnati Bengals: This is a strange one, especially when Joe Burrow is playing to an MVP level, the quarterback leads the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, while only throwing 4 picks all year. However, the defence has been really poor, ranking in the bottom 8 for both yards per game and points per game. With the offence humming, the Bengals just need the defensive unit to step up with at least one impact play a game, if this happens, Cincinnati would fancy their chances against anyone. Their division is incredibly tough but if anyone can lead his team to a playoff push, it's Joe Burrow.

Mid-Season Awards: Who has Impressed the Most Through 10 Weeks?

• MVP: Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)
• Offensive Player of the Year: Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) 
• Defensive Player of the Year: Dexter Lawrence II (New York Giants) 
• Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) 
• Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams)
• Coach of the Year: Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Looking Ahead: What to Expect in the Second Half of the Season

With 8 weeks left in the regular season, we’re in for a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 NFL season. The Chiefs, Bills and Ravens are all vying for top spots in the AFC, while the Eagles and the Lions remain the favorites in the NFC. Meanwhile, teams like the Packers and Falcons will look to make a late push for playoff positioning.

There will be plenty of drama left—both on the field and off. Will a surprise team emerge in the second half? Can the Bengals and 49ers bounce back? How will the MVP race shake out, with players like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow in the mix?

Whatever happens, one thing is for certain: the 2024 NFL season is far from over, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in recent memory. Stay tuned—this season is just getting started.