The final round of games from the 2024 NFL regular season has now concluded, and with certain teams’ seasons already pretty much over, there were some strange contests taking place. The Denver Broncos hosted divisional rival and reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City with victory, securing a place in the playoffs for the first time since emerging with the Lombardi nine years ago.
But with the Chiefs already confirmed as the AFC’s top seed, they rested a whole host of stars, including Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones, much to the dismay of the playoff-chasing Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins. Predictably, the Broncos ran out as resounding 38-0 victors, with the champions managing just 98 total yards all game.
Despite their recent drubbing, online sports betting sites still make KC a frontrunner to claim a historic third straight Lombardi. The latest sports betting at Bovada odds currently price the Chiefs as a +325 second favorite, narrowly behind the +300 Detroit Lions. However, while those two have shone this term, many have had disastrous campaigns. Here are the biggest losers of the 2024 season.
Cincinnati Bengals
Still riding off the coattails of their Super Bowl appearance in 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals headed into the recently concluded term with renewed optimism. Their superstar quarterback Joe Burrow had returned from injury and he was expected to lead Cincy to yet another deep playoff run. Despite league-leading and career-defining numbers from Joey Brr, the Ohio outfit still managed to endure a disastrous campaign.
In week one, the Bengals were one of the most bet-on sides against the spread for their clash against the lowly New England Patriots. Inexplicably, however, they slumped to a 16-10 home defeat, and that was a sign of things to come. However, Cincinnati wouldn’t just lose a lot of games in 2024; they did so in the most heartbreaking fashion possible.
Cincy lost by one score on no fewer than seven occasions this season. They missed field goals that would have won them two more games, while a last-gasp Harrison Burker strike consigned them to defeat against the Chiefs at Arrowhead. All of that came despite the fact that Burrow led the league in throwing yards and touchdowns, Ja’Marr Chase claimed the receiving triple crown, and Trey Hendrickson led the league in sacks.
Five games in their final five games left them with an unlikely opportunity to sneak into the playoffs. However, the heavily rotated Chiefs cost them that opportunity with their loss to the Broncos, resulting in the Bengals firing their defensive coordinator and three assistants. They now must focus on tying down the aforementioned Chase and fellow receiver Tee Higgins to long-term contracts if they are to make an impression next season.
San Francisco 49ers
After reaching the Super Bowl last season and coming within a whisker of downing the Chiefs’ dynasty, the San Francisco 49ers were considered a genuine championship contender this season. With former Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy under center, flanked by Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, expectations for yet another impressive campaign were high at Levi’s Stadium. But despite all the hype, the NoCal outfit didn’t even make the playoffs.
The campaign got off to a miserable start when McCaffrey was injured before the opening game of the season. The Niners papered over those cracks with an opening-day victory against A-Rod’s Jets, but three defeats in their next four games put the writing on the wall.
A narrow victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the season’s midway point helped the Niners to a 5-4 record and it looked as though they would resurrect their campaign and make a playoff charge. Inexplicably though, McCaffrey would get injured once again, and San Francisco managed just one more win in their final eight games, resulting in them finishing rock bottom of the NFC West, a stark contrast to last season.
Chicago Bears
Much like the two teams before them, the Chicago Bears entered 2024 with renewed optimism. A stellar draft in which they secured a new franchise quarterback in the form of Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, as well as receiving standout Rome Odunze at number nine, heightened fan expectations. Ultimately, though, their campaign ended up as disappointing as it was chaotic.
They finished with a dismal 5-12 record, last in the NFC North, and extended a long stretch of futility. Head coach Matt Eberflus was fired midseason after a Thanksgiving loss to the Lions, marking yet another failed coaching tenure at Soldier Field. Interim coach Thomas Brown managed little improvement as the Windy City outfit remained directionless.
Rookie Williams had a rocky debut year, regularly finding himself floundering on the move while constantly being overshadowed by the number two overall Jayden Daniels in Washington. While the youngster under center showed flashes of brilliance, the Bears saddled him with one of the league’s worst offensive lines, resulting in frequent sacks and hurried plays. Their offense ranked among the league’s weakest, managing just over 18 points per game and their defense wasn’t much better, giving up almost 21.8 points per game despite a bright start.
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