The Dallas Cowboys had one of the best offenses in the NFL last season, thanks in large part to the high-powered connection between quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb
Those two are back – even if they both are currently on expiring contracts – but the Cowboys offense did have some losses elsewhere. Despite that, are the Cowboys still looked at as one of the best offenses heading into 2024?
Let’s rank the top 10 offenses in the NFL and find out.
No. 1: The Baltimore Ravens
Originally, when I put together this list, I had the Ravens slightly lower. Than I remembered that they added Derrick Henry. One player doesn’t make an entire offense, and Henry may not be the player he was during his prime in Tennessee, but the combination of his power and Lamar Jackson’s speed is enough to give any opposing defensive coordinator a migraine.
No. 2: The San Francisco 49ers
When the external narrative surrounding a team’s quarterback is that they have too many weapons, it’s usually a good sign for the outlook of their offense as a whole. That’s the case in San Francisco, where the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Christian McCaffrey, roams. The 49ers also used a first-round pick on Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall to go with an already stacked group of pass-catchers. The right side of their offensive line, as the Super Bowl showed, can be vulnerable, however.
No. 3: The Miami Dolphins
I think there’s an argument for any order in this top three. Miami’s main pitch: its speed. Historically, they don’t make them much faster than Mike McDaniel’s offense down in South Beach. De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert, Tyreek Hill and rookie running back Jaylen Wright could make one heck of a 4×100 team, let alone an explosive offense.
No. 4: The Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs had a top-five DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) offense last season, according to FTN Fantasy. That was despite having a receiving corps that didn’t spark much optimism heading into last season. They won the Super Bowl and then added Marquise Brown and rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy to the fold. Oh, they also still have that Patrick Mahomes guy, too.
No. 5: The Detroit Lions
The Lions nearly made the Super Bowl last season before a massive 49ers comeback. A talented offense was a big reason why. There may be questions about Jared Goff’s high-end ability – though his career earnings would tell you differently – but there shouldn’t be questions about the talent around him. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and tight end Sam LaPorta are one of the best young pass-catching trios in the league. David Montgomery and the electric Jahmyr Gibbs are a fantastic tandem, as well.
No. 6: The Houston Texans
This may be a little bold, considering quarterback C.J. Stroud is only entering his second season, but the Texans appear worthy of top-10 consideration. They nearly had a top-10 offense in DVOA last season, according to FTN Fantasy. Add Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon into the offense, and I think Stroud not only avoids a sophomore slump, but takes a major leap in 2024.
No. 7: The Green Bay Packers
If the Packers can ride the momentum from the second half of last season, they may rank higher on this list when it’s all said and done. Jordan Love looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the league over that span. They went to Dallas in the first round of the postseason and hung 48 points – even after calling off the dogs to a certain extent. They also added Josh Jacobs to the backfield in the offseason.
No. 8: The Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are tough to place. Yes, they had one of the best offenses in the NFL last season, according to FTN Fantasy, finishing fourth in DVOA. And yes, as pointed out earlier, they return Prescott and Lamb. But the Cowboys lost two starters on the offensive line – at arguably the two most important positions: left tackle and center – and they also lost starting running back Tony Pollard. Instead, they’ll likely replace them with two rookie offensive linemen and a backfield led by veteran Ezekiel Elliott.
No. 9: The Philadelphia Eagles
We pointed out earlier that the Packers had one of the best second half offenses in the NFL. The Eagles had one of the best in the first half, but that – along with their team as a whole – also changed in the second half. They still have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. They also added Saquon Barkley in the offseason. He has the potential to have a major impact, which could help Jalen Hurts and Co. rise on this list. New offensive coordinator – and former Cowboys play-caller Kellen Moore – is an intriguing storyline to watch.
No. 10: The Buffalo Bills
Like the Cowboys, the Bills are also hard to place. Buffalo had the third-ranked offense in DVOA, according to FTN Fantasy, a season ago. That was before they lost Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, however. Josh Allen is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league. This upcoming season could be a challenge, however. Rookie Keon Coleman is one to watch.