Biggest Surprises and Disappointments 2024 Edition

[adam]

We are just past the halfway point in the season and based on preseason projections, these are the 5 biggest surprising teams and 5 biggest disappointments so far:

Surprises:
1. MIN 7-2
2. PIT 7-2
3. ARZ 6-4
4. LAC 6-3
5. WSH 7-4

Disappointments:
1. MIA 3-6
2. DAL 3-6
3. CHI 4-5
4. CIN 4-6
5. NYJ 3-7

At this point, you can almost swap one team per Division (MIN > CHI, PIT > CIN, WSH > DAL) on the projections. You would expect all the HCs on the disappointing teams are on the hot seat and some may still be fired before the end of the season if those teams keep losing.

[adam]

Update after the lovely weekly Bears loss:

Surprises:
1. WSH 7-4 (4-13) +3 wins
2. LAC 7-3 (5-12) +2 wins
3. ARZ 6-4 (4-13) +2 wins
4. MIN 8-2 (7-10) +1 win
5. CAR 3-7 (2-15) +1 win

Disappointments:
1. CLE 2-8 (11-6) +2 losses
2. DAL 3-6* (12-5) +1 loss
3. JAX 2-9 (9-8) +1 loss
4. MIA 4-6* (11-6) +0 losses
5. SF 5-5 (12-5) +0 losses

Revised based on last year's records compared to current records. That drops the Bears out for now. 

[Bears4Ever_34]

Jets have to be the biggest disappointments in years, probably since the Eagles "dream team." 

I didn't see either PIT or MIN playing as well as they have, given their QB situation. Mike Tomlin, once again, showing you why he's a top 5 HC. If Eberflus was the coach of that team, their record might be flipped. 

DAL and JAX was somewhat predictable, though maybe not quite to this extent. JAX lost Ridley and were already trending in the wrong direction at the end of last year. DAL pulled a CHI and brought back a lame duck HC who everyone thought was getting fired, and then lost Dan Quinn. Frankly, they've been beating up on their crappy division for years. They were due for a course correction.

[adam]

12 hours ago, Bears4Ever_34 said:

Jets have to be the biggest disappointments in years, probably since the Eagles "dream team." 

I didn't see either PIT or MIN playing as well as they have, given their QB situation. Mike Tomlin, once again, showing you why he's a top 5 HC. If Eberflus was the coach of that team, their record might be flipped. 

DAL and JAX was somewhat predictable, though maybe not quite to this extent. JAX lost Ridley and were already trending in the wrong direction at the end of last year. DAL pulled a CHI and brought back a lame duck HC who everyone thought was getting fired, and then lost Dan Quinn. Frankly, they've been beating up on their crappy division for years. They were due for a course correction.

I revised it a little bit based on last year's records vs the preseason predictions. The Jets were 7-10 last year and are now 3-8, so they are off the list for now as there are teams with more losses than last year already that make the list before the Bears and Jets. However, those 2 teams will climb right back in week by week to easily make the list.