The 2024 NFL season is officially in full swing, half of the season has already been played. It’s already week 10. So far, there have been some incredible moments, with players from all teams showcasing their incredible talents and skills in the game. This season has brought some exciting changes, from big trades and free-agent signings to coaching changes. This season has also been great for showcasing young stars. So let’s take a look at some of the more significant shifts in the NFL landscape, exploring how these changes affect the teams involved and offer predictions for the rest of the season.
Teams to Watch
While there have been many impressive performances this season, there are some teams that are shining more than others. The Kansas City Chiefs and the reigning champions of the 2023/24 season are one to watch. The team, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes entered the 2024/25 season with very high expectations, all eyes on them. And they did not disappoint, the Chiefs are sitting at the top of the standings for the AFC West and remain undefeated this season. This is no surprise, especially as the team is home to Travis Kelce, who is one of the top tight ends in the league. Alongside Mahomes, who in his last game finished with 266 yards passing and a touchdown. While the team is home to some powerhouse players, fans also need to keep an eye out on younger players like receiver Rasheed Rice who has already had some incredible catches this season (particularly in week 3).
The San Francisco 49ers are another team to watch. After being so close to winning to Super Bowl last year, they are back this year and ready to take the win this season. The team is currently sitting second on the NFC West standings, with a recent win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a tough couple of weeks, this win brought them back, showing that they still have what it takes to be champions. This was also Christian McCaffrey’s season debut, which was extremely anticipated by fans. The 49ers are also home to quarterback Brock Purdy, his impressive career speaks volumes for his talent. Having a player like him lead the team has meant that a lot of eyes are on them, waiting for something incredible to happen. And while head coach Kyle Shanahan may not have had the best luck in previous seasons, he came back this year with a new system which from their last game is finally paying off.
The Philadelphia Eagles are another team that came agonizingly close to winning the Super Bowl last season after losing against the Chief in an extremely close game. However, that taste of almost victory meant that they came back this season ready to win. The first half of their season has been a success, with the team sitting at the top of the rankings for the NFC East. Jalen Hurts is one of the Eagles’ secret weapon, although his talent really is no secret as he is known to be one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL. In their last game against the Dallas Cowboys, they were able to steal the win with an incredible score of 34-6. While they are strong contenders in the league, just like last year, their biggest challenge this season will be the Chiefs.
Impactful Players
As the season has progressed, there have been several impactful players. These are players who have either lived up to the buzz that surrounded them at the start of the season, or surprised fans as the season has gone on. After a devasting injury from the Viking’s Quarterback J.J McCarthey early on in the season, many Vikings fans were worried about what the rest of the season held. However, Sam Darnold stepped up, surprising NFL fans with MVP performances. However, this could all very well be a fluke or perhaps the pressure has got to him since his last few performances haven’t been so good.
The Washington Defender’s Jayden Daniels already had high expectations, which of course is a lot of pressure. However, instead of living up to expectations, Daniels has managed to surpass them. There are even talks of him being the NFL’s best rookie. He’s helped to turn the Washington Defenders around to a team with a fighting chance. This is definitely a player to keep an eye on for the rest of the season. The Steelers’ Justin Field is another player who has turned heads this season. After three years of playing for the Chicago Bears, he has now joined the Steelers. He is reportedly one of the best running quarterbacks in the league. However, it’s a long season and now players need to push to stay consistent in their performance. A great start to the season can mean nothing by the end.
Fans have seen some incredible performances in the first half of the NFL season. It will be exciting to see what’s to come, especially as there is still no clear indicator of who is going to take home the championship. This is a great time to secure your Bet365 voucher codes and start thinking about playoffs and the Super Bowl. Anything can happen in the NFL, and doesn’t everyone love an underdog story? This is an incredibly important time in the NFL. Things are starting to get serious. Each team has had time to work out the best way to play together. Coaches will now be in decision-making mode when it comes to deciding how to approach the rest of the season. It will be interesting to see how the next few weeks play out.