If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em…right? We all know our fair share of bandwagon sports fans. It’s easy to ridicule those folks, but hey, they’re keeping themselves happy by shamelessly cheering for a team that’s always in contention. If you’re an admitted bandwagon NFL fan, you gotta know when to jump on and when to jump off in 2024.

So with a new NFL season just ahead of us, we present five NFL bandwagons to hop on for 2024 — and five to jump off of ASAP.

Which NFL team would you choose to join in 2024?

Jump On: Chicago Bears

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 25: A detail of a Chicago Bears helmet prior to the game against the Houston Texans at Soldier Field on September 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Allow us to start with the obvious!

Since their trip to Super Bowl 41 in the 2006 season, the Bears have been mostly irrelevant and mired in mediocrity. They’ve only made the postseason three times since 2007, with one playoff victory to show for it.

But we promise things will be better in Chicago here in 2024. And if you’re new to this NFL fanship thing, the Bears are the perfect bandwagon to hop on in 2024.

They drafted one of the best quarterback prospects ever in USC’s Caleb Williams with the No. 1 selection. Chicago GM Ryan Poles made sure to put him in the best position to succeed right away, acquiring Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen and star running back D’Andre Swift before using their other first-round pick on Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.

Throw in DJ Moore and Khalil Herbert, and Williams is well-positioned to produce immediately.

The defense should improve following Jaylon Johnson’s career year, not to mention star pass-rusher Montez Sweat will be around for an entire year now after coming over in a mid-season trade.

Even if Williams endures his fair share of growing pains, that doesn’t mean you should be timid of the Bears’ bandwagon. This team has loaded up and will be a perennial Super Bowl contender, so go buy your Bears’ merchandise before the bandwagon fills up!

Jump Off: Buffalo Bills

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 24: A detailed view of a Buffalo Bills helmet prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 24, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

The Bills were a fun team to bandwagon jump during their gradual rise to AFC heavyweight in 2019 and 2020.

But if you’re the type of fan who only cheers for a team because they’re in the championship race, it’s better to jump off the Bills’ bandwagon before you’re exposed as a bandwagoner.

Josh Allen remains one of the best quarterbacks in the game, but he lost his top two wideouts this offseason in Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Buffalo also parted ways with center Mitch Morse and defensive backs Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer and Tre’Davious White in cap-saving moves.

Even if they kept t his core from last year together, it’s the Bills. They have continuously underachieved in the postseason, with their last three playoff eliminations all coming in the Divisional Round.

Buffalo was once a feel-good story and an easy team to root for. Few fanbases in sports are rowdier than Bills Mafia, too, so it’s obviously exciting to be on the same side as them.

But this team isn’t deep nor talented enough to break through in the AFC after losing so many big-named stars this offseason.

And most of Buffalo’s main rivals in the AFC all made moves to make significantly better, so why stay on the bandwagon of an NFL team that would be lucky to win a single playoff game in 2024, let alone a Super Bowl?

Jump On: Houston Texans

HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 11: A detail of a Uvalde Strong decal on a Houston Texans helmet prior to the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The Texans were supposed to be in the midst of a lengthy rebuild, but rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans and his young stars had other ideas.

Rookies CJ Stroud, Will Anderson Jr., and Tank Dell turned in phenomenal rookie years. Youngsters Nico Collins, Jalen Pitre, and Derek Stingley Jr. also produced nicely to help Houston reach a surprise 10-win season and AFC South division crown.

Houston defeated the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. Still, a final-eight appearance was nothing short of a success for the Texans.

Well, the Texans should make the leap to Super Bowl contender in year two of the Stroud-Ryans era. They added two more star offensive weapons in Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon and two stud pass-rushers in Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry.

The Texans still feel like a team being overlooked. Such is life when you’re in the AFC with the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins.

So why not join the fun and hop on the bandwagon now – before everybody else starts doing it? This team is loaded with young and veteran stars across the board and promises to compete in Super Bowls for years to come.

Jump Off: New England Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 25: A view of New England Patriots helmets on the bench before the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Who knows how many Patriots “fans” outside of New England actually started cheering for this team before their dynasty began in the early 2000s.

Well, if you’re one of those shameless bandwagon Patriots fans, this feels like the perfect time to jump ship. Tom Brady’s departure in 2020 was the beginning of the end. Bill Belichick’s departure this year marked the beginning of a full-scale rebuild, too.

Yes, moving on from Belichick was the right call. Jerod Mayo has been waiting for his first head coaching gig, and his player-friendly approach will be a nice change at Patriot Place.

But this team just doesn’t have enough star power or depth on either side of the ball to compete any time soon. Building an adequate supporting cast around Drake Maye, this year’s draft’s No. 3 selection, is going to take some time.

Also, they play in a division with Josh Allen’s Bills, Tua Tagovailoa’s Dolphins and Aaron Rodgers’ New York Jets. And that’s before we mention the long list of other elite quarterbacks in the AFC.

Patriots fans who started cheering for them because of Brady and Belichick, this is your chance to abort the mission and get a new team.

Jump On: Los Angeles Chargers

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 08: Los Angeles Chargers helmets on the bench prior to the start of the NFL preseason game the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
After another year of Justin Herbert’s prime was wasted, owner Dean Spanos had enough and hit the reset button.

The Chargers went big-game hunting and hired former San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, who had just led the Michigan Wolverines to a national championship. They brought in Joe Hortiz to take over as GM, perhaps finally providing some long-term stability in the front office.

The Bolts might not be a playoff team in 2024 after bidding farewell to their top offensive weapons Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and Austin Ekeler. But trust us, folks. The short-term pain will be WORTH IT if you’re looking to become a Chargers fan.

Harbaugh has had tremendous success at both the collegiate and NFL levels. He knows how to build a consistent winner. And though the Bolts are are devoid of offensive playmakers and depth all over the defense, you just gotta trust that Hortiz and Harbaugh will ace their retool around Justin Herbert.

It may take a year or two until the championship window opens – absolute max. Might as well become a Bolts fan before it becomes the new trend among football bandwagon fans!

Jump Off: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 25: Detail of Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmets during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Buccaneers defeated the Cardinals 19-16 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Something tells us that no NFL team garnered more bandwagon fans than the Buccaneers between 2020 and 2022. Think the GOAT, Tom Brady, had something to do with that?

We can’t blame those who jumped off the Bucs’ ship once Brady retired in 2023. But then Baker Mayfield became the ultimate feel-good story as TB12’s replacement, putting together a career year that helped the Bucs win a third straight NFC South division crown.

Tampa then crushed the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round before narrowly falling to the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round. So, why shouldn’t you stay on the Bucs’ NFL bandwagon in 2024?

Well, the Atlanta Falcons feel like a safe bet to win the division after adding Kirk Cousins to their star-studded offense. Even the New Orleans Saints could rebound if Derek Carr finds his footing in this offense.

The Bucs felt like underachievers last year, and we’re skeptical about Mayfield repeating that success. And their leaky pass defense lost top cornerback Carlton Davis in a trade with the Detroit Lions, so good luck to Todd Bowles on fixing that up.

The bottom line is that Tampa Bay will be lucky to repeat as division champs, let alone win another playoff game. Baker’s an easy guy to root for after the way the Browns treated and ditched him, but the Bucs are likely to take a step back this year.

So don’t get your hopes up that Mayfield is BAKING again this year. Find another bandwagon to hop on.

Jump On: New York Jets

ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 15: A New York Jets helmet sits on an equipment case during the second half of an NFL preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The Jets were supposed to be the fun bandwagon team last year. Remember those days?

Unfortunately, Aaron Rodgers’ highly-anticipated arrival with the Jets was spoiled minutes into his debut — when the four-time suffered a season-ending Achilles tear against the Bills.

The Jets limped to another lackluster 7-10 finish without their new superstar quarterback. But we absolutely promise that things will be even better this season. If you didn’t hop on the Jets’ bandwagon last year, this is the time to do it.

Rodgers is back to full strength and should return to his MVP-like form. The Jets signed another stud receiver in Mike Williams and bolstered their o-line with the additions of Morgan Moses, John Simpson, and future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith. Oh, and they used a first-round pick on Olu Fashanu to strengthen the group.

The Jets already had a championship-caliber defense and added pass-rushing star Haason Reddick to the mix.

Quality QB play is all that held the Jets back in 2022 and 2023. They have a top-10 all-time NFL quarterback returning to man the offense. Believe us, year two of the Rodgers era will go much better — so the time is now to become a Jets fan if you aren’t already!

Jump Off: Cleveland Browns

CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 05: A detail view of a Cleveland Browns helmet before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 05, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The Browns were once the lovable losers of the NFL. But now that they’re a consistent playoff contender, it’s an awfully easy bandwagon to jump on.

But we say “bandwagon fans beware” for this one. If you’re still on the Browns’ bandwagon, you’re just setting yourself up for disappointment.

It’s not a good look for quarterback Deshaun Watson that the Browns offense looked better with Jacoby Brissett and Joe Flacco in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Watson was suspended for 11 games in 2022 and missed all but six games last year due to injury. Given his lackluster production with the Browns thus far, it’s just hard to be sold on Watson being the final piece this team needs to win a Super Bowl.

And remember, the Browns play in football’s toughest division. They’re not on the same level as Lamar Jackson’s Cleveland Browns. The Cincinnati Bengals are a better team with a healthy Joe Burrow, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will improve with a Russell Wilson-Justin Fields QB room.

The Browns are another hot NFL team to regress in 2024. Unless Watson turns back the clock to 2020, this team will struggle to reach the postseason again. And good luck getting through the onslaught of elite QBS in the AFC.

Jump On: Washington Commanders

LANDOVER, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 31: A detailed view of a Washington Commanders helmet prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers at FedExField on December 31, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The Commanders were hard to root for during Dan Snyder’s 24-year run as the owner. Not just because they were terrible but because a disgraced owner like Snyder simply did not deserve the satisfaction of watching a winner.

Well, we’re entering year two of the post-Dan Snyder era. And for the first time in ages, the future finally looks bright for this long-struggling franchise.

For starters, who doesn’t wanna cheer for Jayden Daniels? The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner has drawn comparisons to Lamar Jackson, though many scouts will point out that Daniels is even more polished as a passer.

Who doesn’t want to watch a dazzling dual-threat sensation like Daniels revive a Commanders franchise? If there’s one fanbase that deserves a QB like this, it’s Washington.

New head coach Dan Quinn is another guy to root for. He’s still trying to avenge the heartbreak of the Atlanta Falcons’ Super Bowl 51 collapse, and the guy who wears his hat backward should flourish in his second head coaching stint following a stellar run as the Dallas Cowboys’ DC.

Throw in character guys like Terry McLaurin, Bobby Wagner, and Zach Ertz, and this is a fun team that should bring energy and passion every week. Washington probably won’t be a playoff team in 2023, but you might as well hop on the bandwagon now BEFORE their rise to NFC heavyweight commences.

Jump Off: Dallas Cowboys

ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 14: A Dallas Cowboys helmet at AT&T Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
I mean, what are we still doing here folks?

You folks who bandwagon-jumped the Dallas Cowboys for the simple reason that they’re America’s Team. Why are you doing this to yourself? Why put yourself through all this unnecessary heartbreak?

Here’s the deal: The Cowboys will not win a Super Bowl unless Jerry Jones fires himself as GM. And he won’t.

The Cowboys barely made any notable offseason additions, meaning this constantly underachieving team is nowhere close to winning a Super Bowl with Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy.

Dallas does this dance every year. They’ll look like contenders in the regular season and then fold once the playoffs begin. And we don’t want you bandwagon Cowboys fans to get your hopes up with the whole “This is our year” thing.

So jump off that bandwagon and find a new team. If not one of the teams on our list, why not the Cowboys’ archrivals in the Philadelphia Eagles?