As the NFL crosses the midway point of the 2024 season, several teams find themselves grappling with difficulties both on and off the field. Throughout the early weeks of the campaign, it’s been the Kansas City Chiefs stealing all the headlines, and doing so for the right reasons. After claiming their second straight Lombardi back at Super Bowl LVIII in February, they are now 5-0 in their quest to become the first team in history to complete a three-peat of championships.
The mercurial Patrick Mahomes has been the star of the show. In his six years as a starter at Arrowhead, he has led KC to at least the AFC Championship game in every season, picking up three Lombardi trophies in the process. Now, he has his sights set on number four.
They faced a murderer’s row of opponents in their first two weeks of the campaign against fellow AFC heavyweight Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL betting odds for week 2 made the champions a -285 betting favorite for the second of those contests, and they duly lived up to the billing. Now, those same bookmakers make the Chiefs a +500 favorite to claim yet another title.
But while Mahomes and Co. are thriving in Missouri, several teams are struggling. While the NFL’s worst-ever team has picked up its game over the past two years, here are three teams that find themselves in the doldrums in 2024.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers were considered the worst team in the preseason, and they haven’t managed to prove any of their doubters wrong throughout the opening few weeks. They are currently rock bottom of the NFC South, and another disastrous campaign looks to be on the cards. Despite selecting Bryce Young with the first overall pick of last year’s draft, the Charlotte-based side managed just two wins last term, and they have only added one to that this season.
Following his poor form, Young has since been dropped as a starter, with the Panthers turning to long-time former Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. He has been somewhat of an improvement, managing to help his side to the first win of the campaign with a shocking 36-22 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders on week four, But they still have a paltry 1-5 record so far this season, good enough for last place in the NFC South.
Historically, Carolina has experienced a roller-coaster existence. The franchise has seen both the highs of Super Bowl appearances and the lows of rebuilding years. Former quarterback Super Cam Newton led the team to the highest point in their history, making it to Super Bowl 50 before being beaten by the Denver Broncos. In 2024, however, they lack quality on both sides of the gridiron, and they could be in for a few more testing seasons.
New York Giants
In the NFC East, the New York Giants are also facing turbulent times. As one of the NFL’s oldest franchises, the Big Apple outfit boasts a storied history with four Super Bowl titles to its name. They famously ended the New England Patriots’ hopes of completing a perfect season in 2007 – beating them in the Super Bowl despite being the biggest Big Game underdogs in history – before going on to repeat the feat four years later.
However, in recent years, times have been challenging. The iconic Eli Manning is no more, and in his place now stands the much-maligned Daniel Jones, who is perhaps the most criticized quarterback in the entire league. The former Duke Blue Devil was a sixth overall pick back in 2019, but he has struggled with the pressure of being a starting man under center in the professional game. He has thrown for over 3,000 yards just twice in his six-year career, and he has started the 2024 season in a similarly disappointing fashion.
The Giants currently have a record of 2-4 and are bottom of the NFC East. While they have shown flashes of brilliance such as their stunning 29-20 victory away at the Seattle Seahawks in week five, inconsistencies, and a tough schedule have hampered their progress. The departure of running back Saquon Barkley has only added to their troubles, and they are in dire need of a new quarterback if they are to return to contention soon.
New England Patriots
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots, with an identical 1-5 record, are last in the AFC East. The Pats are a team that has become synonymous with success in the 21st century, dominating throughout the first two decades of the new millennium under the stewardship of legendary coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. That duo led the Boston-based outfit to nine Super Bowl appearances, winning six of them and becoming the dominant dynasty in the NFL.
However, since Brady’s departure in 2019, the Patriots have struggled to replicate their past dominance. The 2024 season has been no exception, with the team facing difficulties in on offense, despite their decent enough defense. Their opening-day victory against the Cincinnati Bengals certainly provided the Gillette Stadium side with plenty of hope, but they haven’t been able to build on that and are currently in a slump at 1-5.