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(Athlete: Aaron Rodgers Source: foxnews.com Photograph by AP Photo/Adam Hunger, Date: November 17th, 2024)
With six weeks until the end of the regular season, some preseason contenders have faded away from the playoff picture and have disappointed their fanbases. These teams have failed to live up to their expectations because of many reasons including poor play, coaching, and management.
Jets QB Turbulence: A Season That Never Took Off
(Athlete: Davante Adams Source: raiderswire.usatoday.com Photograph by Raiders Wire, Date: October 30th, 2024)
First, the New York Jets entered the 2024 NFL season as championship contenders who had a promising chance at winning the AFC east or making the playoffs. They had lost future hall of famer QB Aaron Rodgers to an Achilles injury that cost him his 2023 season.
The franchise had hope that the return of Rodgers could elevate their team to end their 13-year playoff drought. They had offensive weapons like WR Garrett Wilson and RB Breece Hall, top fantasy picks, and elite defensive players like CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and DT Quinnen Williams.
They started the season well at 2-1 after losing to the McCaffrey-less 49ers and uncompetitive teams in the Patriots and Titans. However, they proceeded to lose three straight one-possession games before getting blown out by the Steelers in week seven.
The Jets also fired head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start and a tough loss to the rising Vikings in London, which was an ugly game for Rodgers who threw three interceptions. The Jets have been 1-5 after Saleh’s firing, proving that their disastrous season is not his fault.
The catalyst for their collapse was their embarrassing week four one-point loss to the Denver Broncos who were led by rookie QB Bo Nix who passed for -7 yards by halftime, ending the day with 60 total passing yards. This game showcased that the Jets offense was flawed and could not get easy touchdowns.
Overall, Aaron Rodgers has failed to thrive under the Jets offensive playoff despite having several elite weapons like newly-acquired Davante Adams, Wilson, and Hall. Their offensive struggles are the main reason for the Jets’ downfall because their defense has been solid throughout the season.
Burrow’s Heroics Can’t Defend the Bengals’ Defensive Flaws
(Athlete: Joe Burrow Source: seattletimes.com Photograph by AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, Date: January 29th, 2023)
Similar to the Jets, many people believed the Bengals could win the Super Bowl in 2024 because of Joe Burrow, one of the best QBs, and WR Ja’Marr Chase, currently the best WR in the NFL. The team also had Tee Higgins, another top WR who Burrow could utilize to foster an explosive offense.
The team has been known for starting off slow, but their season quickly got out of hand after starting 0-3 due to a 33-38 loss to the Washington Commanders in a Jayden Daniels breakout game. Before that game, the Bengals had lost by one point in a controversial game to the Chiefs in week two and a shocking home opener loss to the Patriots in week one.
The Bengals then picked up an easy win against the lowly Carolina Panthers before suffering a heartbreaking three-point loss to the Baltimore Ravens, an AFC North rival. Since then, the Bengals have only won against worse teams while suffering another loss to the Ravens, leading to their 4-7 record heading into their week 12 bye.
This disappointing record has been mainly due to their defense, which ranks 24th overall and bottom-five in metrics like red zone defense, scoring defense, and third down defense. The defense is also tied for allowing the second-most touchdowns out of any NFL team with 36 in total.
Contrastingly, QB Joe Burrow and the offense have been on a tear, significantly impacting fantasy leagues but getting underwhelming results. With six weeks left in the season, Burrow has already thrown for 3028 yards for 27 touchdowns and just four interceptions. \
Burrow leads the league in Wins Above Replacement and is ranked the second quarterback overall. Likewise, teammate Ja’Marr Chase ranks number one in the NFL and fantasy football in catches, receiving yards, touchdowns and yards after the catch.
Ultimately, the Bengals will have to make significant changes to their defense this offseason while trying to salvage their playoff hopes for the remainder of the 2024 season. They will have a hard time overcoming a three-game deficit for the last wild card spot, but anything can happen for this unpredictable team.
Broken Claws: How the Jaguars Fell Apart in 2024
(Athlete: Trevor Lawrence Source: thecomeback.com Photograph by Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports, Date: January 14th, 2023)
After finishing 9-8 in 2022 and 2023, the Jaguars had playoff hopes coming into the 2024 season. The team has been led by young QB Trevor Lawrence, but have utterly freefalled into having the worst record in the NFL at 2-9 and losing all hope for the season.
During the offseason, Lawrence signed a five-year $275 million contract, matching Joe Burrow’s league-leading deal that has an average annual salary of $55 million. Since he was drafted in 2021, Lawrence has not lived up to his hyped generational potential, but made progress, especially after a playoff win in 2022.
Still, Lawrence was not the full problem in 2024, but the franchise as a whole collapsed. Head coach Doug Pederson’s firing seems to be an imminent outcome and general manager Trent Baalke also may be fired after this season.
The team may need to hire a veteran head coach to stabilize the organization after missing on their last two attempts, in which they signed Urban Meyer, a failed experiment with a prolific college football coach, and Pederson.
The defense ranks as the worst in the league, being the only team to give up more than 400 yards on average per game. Still, Lawrence has also underperformed despite his huge contract, playing like a bottom-15 QB and having inconsistent performances.
Overall, the Jaguars’ current situation is a mess, and the team must figure out a way to restore confidence in their locker room and the organization. Their recovery must start with replacing their front office and coaching staff, but owner Shad Khan’s reluctance to implement these changes have also complicated the circumstances.
Great Expectations, Greater Letdowns: 2024’s NFL Flops
(Athlete: Garrett Wilson Source: cbssports.com Photograph by USATSI Sports, Date: November 24th, 2024)
Throughout the 2024 NFL season, there have been surprising teams like the Vikings and Commanders, but there are always disappointments such as the Jets, Bengals, and Jaguars.
First, the Jets’ and Aaron Rodgers have failed to capitalize on talented players like Wilson, Adams, and Hall. The organization also may have unfairly fired head coach Robert Saleh after a tough start to the 2024 season, leading to their 3-8 meltdown.
Second, the Bengals had championship aspirations, but are fighting to make the playoffs with their 4-7 record. They have had surprising losses and have shown little promise in defeating top teams like the Ravens or Bills.
Finally, the Jaguars had playoff hopes but now are tanking for the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. They have the highest-paid QB in the NFL but a complete organizational collapse has led to a disappointing season in which they have the worst-rated defense in the league.
(SportAI Inc TM)
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