5 NFL Teams Most Likely to Bounce Back from Disappointing 2023 Performances

The NFL is one of the most distinctive roller coasters in professional sports.

Every year, several teams go from zero to hero and vice versa.

With that in mind and with training camps just around the corner, here are a handful of franchises that disappointed in 2023 but have the ingredients in place to rebound significantly in 2024.

What went wrong in 2023

Coming off a torn ACL, franchise quarterback Kyler Murray started just eight games. And because the Cardinals were rebuilding to an extent around him, he was hindered by the league's 31st-ranked scoring defense and a receiving corps that lacked oomph. It was a dud across the board.

Why it could go right in 2024

Murray will finally be coming off a healthy offseason, and he'll be accompanied by a potential generational weapon in first-round rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. The defense also looks improved, and head coach Jonathan Gannon should be able to put more of his signature on that unit in his second season in charge.

Prediction

Murray should look more like the star we saw a couple years ago, and the much-improved Cards should at least double their win total with eight or nine victories. But they'll still fall short of the playoffs in a tough division.

What went wrong in 2023

The Bengals fell behind the eight ball early as Joe Burrow recovered from a summer calf injury, and it all went off the rails when the quarterback suffered a season-ending wrist injury in November. They remained somewhat competitive but that was too much to overcome in the strong AFC North.

Why it could go right in 2024

Burrow insists he'll be ready to go by the start of the 2024 campaign, and that was the case when he led the Bengals to or beyond the AFC Championship in 2021 and 2022.

Prediction

They absolutely should contend for a division crown with a healthy Burrow, but there's little margin for error in the AFC Super Bowl race, and the signal-caller has still been limited this offseason. There's also less talent surrounding him now than in recent years, so I fear Cincinnati may be a one-and-done playoff team.

What went wrong in 2023

A team that entered December with an 8-3 record lost five of its last six games to miss the playoffs entirely. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered a pair of injuries that month, which was a big factor.

Why it could go right in 2024

It's possible that was just a growing pain for a team that believes Lawrence can be a superstar for years to come. A mediocre defense has also been given a makeover with the additions of Ronald Darby, Arik Armstead, Darnell Savage and rookies Maason Smith and Jarrian Jones.

Prediction

The pieces are in place and you want to give the Jags the benefit of the doubt, but the Houston Texans are riding a much more promising wave within the AFC South. Jacksonville will again have to scrap hard just to get into the postseason, even if the ceiling is quite high for Lawrence and Co.

What went wrong in 2023

Despite plenty of talent and the presence of a supposed franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert, the Chargers lost eight of their last nine games—an implosion that cost head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco their jobs and ushered in the Jim Harbaugh era.

Why it could go right in 2024

Harbaugh has had plenty of success as a head coach and an offensive mastermind at both the pro and college levels. Herbert wasn't at his best last year, but we've seen him perform at an elite level. Harbaugh's presence might take a lot of pressure off of the 26-year-old.

Prediction

This team is too talented to lose a dozen games again, but this still may be a reset year considering all of the changes it has undergone. The defense still has a lot of progress to make as well, and the AFC West is pretty closed down with Kansas City there. The Chargers will be improved but may have to settle for a record in the .500 range at best.

What went wrong in 2023

A Super Bowl favorite following a 10-1 start, the Eagles lost five of their last six games as the defense fell apart. It didn't help that franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts wasn't himself while dealing with a series of injuries for much of the season.

Why it could go right in 2024

The offense has undergone a massive overhaul with new coordinator Kellen Moore, while new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio could make a strong impression on a talented unit that now has Zack Baun, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Bryce Huff, Devin White, plus early-round rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

Prediction

The ceiling is wildly high, and with that level of talent and experience it's likely 2023 was an aberration. At the very least, I think they capture the NFC East and make a run to the NFC title game.