Caleb Harris
Football is a team sport, which means that no unit – offense, defense, special teams – is irrelevant in the quest for the Lombardi Trophy. But the NFL it’s also based on parity, requiring teams to navigate the salary cap and risk being reset into premium positions on both sides of the ball. The result? Sometimes – or rather, often – even the best competitors are forced to rely on one unit more than another.
As we look ahead to 2024, which of the 32 NFL teams are most dependent on their offense? Which figure will lean most heavily on his defense? And which select few sign up as total packages?
Here’s how we’d rank them ahead of summer:
Evenly balanced (9)
These teams aren’t necessarily elite in the context of the entire NFL, but they strike a relatively clear balance between offensive and defensive strengths.
EUATSI
Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray has Marvin Harrison Jr. now, but Jonathan Gannon still runs the show. This lineup still feels like a huge work in progress.
Atlanta Falcons: Kirk Cousins adds stability at center to a solid crop of young weapons, while Raheem Morris should maximize the running defense, which is best on the back end.
Dallas Cowboys: One could argue they belong in the “total packages” below, considering Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland give them four of the best playmakers in the game, but their coaching and big-play issues are monumental .
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton now has rookie Bo Nix to run his offensive system, but some of his toughest starters still reside on “D,” where Alex Singleton and Patrick Surtain II are pillars.
Las Vegas Invaders: Davante Adams and Brock Bowers could give them a dynamic 1-2 punch at pass catcher, but with what space reserved at center? Antonio Pierce also has canines in the trenches.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh stripped down and rebuilt Justin Herbert’s supporting cast to emphasize old-school toughness, while some of his best NFL teams they were known for their stingy defense.
Minnesota Vikings: The only glaring question mark is at quarterback, where rookie JJ McCarthy could emerge sooner rather than later. Their weapons and defensive support led by Brian Flores could be elite.
Seattle Seahawks: If Geno Smith is stable, they could have an underrated ground-and-pound offense. New coach Mike Macdonald is a defensive voice, however, and has physical pieces at every level of this unit.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: They prioritized an encore of the Baker Mayfield-Mike Evans show this offseason, but have always leaned on Todd Bowles’ defense with Antoine Winfield Jr.
Washington Commanders: They have a lot of flashy new faces on offense (e.g. Jayden Daniels, Austin Ekeler), but Dan Quinn could put even more focus on strengthening the revamped “D.”
Defensively Equipped (6)
These teams are not necessarily averse to a powerful attack, but their personnel and game strategy suggest they are better suited to lower scoring competitions.
Getty Images
Carolina Panthers: Even with Dave Canales in town to energize Bryce Young and a replenished offense, his proven strengths are on defense, and his new run-first approach should contribute to that.
Cleveland Browns: All eyes are on Deshaun Watson, who now also has Jerry Jeudy on his side, but Jim Schwartz’s unit has powered their 2023 run, and they still boast a formidable front office.
New England Patriots: Drake Maye’s addition to center provides much-needed long-term energy, but this is a Jerod Mayo operation, which means it’s hard to imagine them deviating from Bill Belichick’s course.
New Orleans Saints: Always averse to a rebuild, they haven’t exactly overhauled Derek Carr’s offense, letting Dennis Allen and his aging but experienced “D” remain the heart of this wild-card candidate.
New York Giants: Brian Daboll pretty much needs to revitalize Daniel Jones (again), and Malik Nabers should help, but his big Brian Burns trade signaled a growing reliance on an underrated front seven.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Talk to quarterbacks all you want; Russell Wilson and Justin Fields certainly make it must-see TV. But this is Mike Tomlin’s show. Get ready for more old-school, grueling material.
Offensively oriented (11)
These teams are not necessarily porous in defense, but their personnel and game strategy suggest that they prefer to win games simply by outscoring their opponents.
EUATSI
Buffalo Notes: Trading Stefon Diggs and losing Gabe Davis might tip the scales toward Sean McDermott’s “D,” but as long as Josh Allen is the play-caller here, it’s hard not to say that most of your hopes rest with him.
Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus remaining at the top of the lineup may signal a conservative approach, but taking Caleb Williams at No. 1 and giving him real weapons suggests they’re ready to start shooting.
Cincinnati Bengals: If the defensive front reaches its limit, they could be a real contender. But Joe Burrow’s health is the ultimate key. If he’s standing and negotiating out of his pocket, that’s their bread and butter.
Detroit Lions: Another solid candidate for the “total package” group, their revamped secondary could take a big leap forward. Until then, it’s Ben Johnson’s ultra-balanced attack that really strengthens them. The combination of a resilient Jared Goff, steady front, dynamic backfield and explosive Amon-Ra St. Brown is lethal.
Green Bay Packers: They spent big on safety help, adding Xavier McKinney, but let’s be real: This is Jordan Love’s team. Matt LaFleur also has plenty of young all-purpose wideouts to feature.
Indianapolis Colts: They’re a real mystery considering Anthony Richardson’s tiny NFL sample size. But Shane Steichen’s offensive track record should make them prioritize the quarterback’s growth.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The “D” has no shortage of big names, including Josh Allen and Arik Armstead. But his big focus this offseason has been restructuring Trevor Lawrence’s receiving corps, now with Gabe Davis.
Los Angeles Rams: You are kidding? This is Sean McVay’s team, and the rejuvenation of Matthew Stafford in 2023 has helped prop up all of their surprisingly spicy young guns, including Puka Nacua.
Miami Dolphins: With or without Vic Fangio, they prioritized Mike McDaniel’s rushing attack, hoping that Tua Tagovailoa’s accuracy combined with the electricity of his athleticism would beat them to every shootout.
Philadelphia Eagles: They’ve certainly added talent to help the “D,” but the addition of Kellen Moore as a player to the all-star collective of Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith could do wonders in their bid for a title return. containment. There may not be a larger boom or bust setting.
Tennessee Titans: After Mike Vrabel’s departure, they quickly prioritized Will Levis’ playmaking, giving the young quarterback a number of experienced safety valves. They could sleep in the AFC.
Total packages (5)
These teams can afford to have an elite balance between offense and defense, which makes them – on paper at least – the most intriguing bets to play in a Super Bowl.
Getty Images
Baltimore Crows: Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson now has Derrick Henry to bolster a fast-paced, thundering attack, and the defense still has imposing difference-makers at every level.
Texas Texans: Fresh off his all-star debut, CJ Stroud has even more help with Stefon Diggs on board, and DeMeco Ryans’ top seven looks even nastier with Danielle Hunter and Azeez Al-Shaair.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes continues to set the standard at quarterback, and speedsters like Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy add pass-catching depth. Meanwhile, Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, which played a major role in the last Super Bowl victory, remained largely intact at the premium positions.
New York Jets: A lot depends on 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who is coming off a serious injury at center. We’ve all seen it fall apart before. But there are countless star-makers by his side, and the tenacious “D” remains. It’s now or never in New Jersey.
San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy is just getting started as the figurehead of Kyle Shanahan’s running offense, and the vaunted defensive front could be even better after the low-risk, high-reward additions of Leonard Floyd and Maliek Collins. Book them for another end of year fight.
