Is it possible that the NFL Draft and free agency won't make that much of a difference after all?
The picture at the top of the NFL entering Week 1 of the 2024 season certainly resembles the one that formed at the end of the 2023 season, with all four teams playing in Sunday's conference championships finishing in the top four.
And five of the six teams with the worst record were in the bottom five before the match began.
Just like a year ago, with the proliferation of highly-touted quarterbacks across the AFC, including players returning from season-ending injuries such as the Jets' Aaron Rodgers, the Bengals' Joe Burrow, the Chargers' Justin Herbert, the Colts' Anthony Richardson and the Browns' Deshaun Watson, the AFC looks like a much deeper and more difficult conference than the NFC.
So without further ado, here are the Washington Post power rankings for Week 1.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The two-time defending champions will continue to sit atop the throne until their results on the field prove otherwise.
All-Pros Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Trent McDuffie and Chris Jones will still play.
The Chiefs bolstered their league-worst receiver corps but left big holes with the departures of left tackle Donovan Smith and cornerback Rujarius Snead.
The offseason was filled with arrests and controversy.
2. Baltimore Ravens
The regular season is a formality for the Ravens, and they must prove themselves in the playoffs.
Given the rash of injuries during the preseason and their status in the NFL's toughest division, a return to the AFC Championship Game won't be easy.
Speedy quarterback Lamar Jackson paired with bulldozer-like Derrick Henry added a new Thunder and Lightning element to the backfield.
3. San Francisco 49ers
What was all the fuss about? Receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams had their suspensions rescinded after training camp. They may be off to a slow start, but the 49ers' season is set to see it through to the end.
There are still plenty of talented players available, including Nick Bosa, Christian McCaffrey and Fred Warner.
It would be foolish to think of quarterback Brock Purdy as a “game manager” at this point.
4. Detroit Lions
How did the Lions sleep during the offseason after losing the NFC Championship Game?
Will they gain experience and move on to the next step?
Or will it be a disappointment?
It was an offseason of contract extensions, with $444 million being paid out to Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell, the blindside anchor of the NFL's best offensive line.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
Saquon Barkley has such respect for receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith that he's salivating at the chance to run behind a career-best block and get in the six- or seven-man box after Jason Kelce's retirement.
The questions now are: 1. Can the young secondary survive?
2. Can coach Nick Sirianni regain control of the team after its collapse late last season?
6. Jets
How many teams have a more talented roster from top to bottom than this one?
There are eight players who are legitimate candidates for first or second team All-Pro honors.
The Jets can win with Rodgers throwing passes to Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall running back Tyron Smith or C.J. Mosley, Sauce Gardner and the Williams brothers (Quincy and Quinnen) playing suffocating defense.
This is a second act restart for Rodgers after tearing his Achilles tendon.
7. Green Bay Packers
It was a quick rebuild post-Rogers.
Jordan Love signed a contract worth $55 million a year, tying the NFL record, in his first year as a starter.
The Packers have been uncharacteristically aggressive in the free-agent market, acquiring running back Josh Jacobs (who led the league in rushing for the Raiders in 2022) and safety Xavier McKinney.
This is still the youngest roster in the NFL.
8. Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow returned from season-ending wrist surgery and played well in his only preseason game.
Both top receivers, Ja'Marr Chase, who did not participate in training camp until returning to practice on Aug. 25, and Tee Higgins, who is on the franchise tag, are not happy with their contracts.
Free agent signings in right tackle Trent Brown, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and safety Geno Stone addressed major needs.
9. Houston Texans
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones claimed to be “all in” this offseason, but another team that lived up to that motto was the Texans, weakening two other AFC contenders by acquiring receiver Stefon Diggs (Bills) and running back Joe Mixon (Bengals) in trades.
What does CJ Stroud have in store for an encore to the greatest rookie quarterback season of all time?
10. Buffalo Bills
As long as Josh Allen is in top form, the Super Bowl window won't be closed, but it's going to depend on the quarterback more than ever.
The salary cap caught up with the Bills, and they lost their top two receivers (Diggs and Gabe Davis) and their top three defensive backs (Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer and Tre'Davies White).
A long-term injury to linebacker Matt Milano won't help, either.
11Cleveland Browns
12Miami Dolphins
13Atlanta Falcons
14Dallas Cowboys
15Los Angeles Rams
16Jacksonville Jaguars
17Chicago Bears
18Tampa Bay Buccaneers
19Pittsburgh Steelers
20Indianapolis Colts
twenty oneSeattle Seahawks
twenty twoLos Angeles Chargers
twenty threeMinnesota Vikings
twenty fourDenver Broncos
twenty fiveNew Orleans Saints
26Tennessee Titans
27Washington Commanders
28Arizona Cardinals
29Giants
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Daniel Jones, who is backed by the best offensive line of his career (albeit league average) and the fastest receivers around.
However, Jones has been inconsistent since returning from a torn ACL.
And if the secondary continues to allow big plays to dig holes early on, it could neutralize the Giants' vaunted pass rush of Dexter Lawrence, Brian Barnes and Kayvon Thibodeau.
30Las Vegas Raiders
31New England Patriots
32Carolina Panthers
