NFL 2024 SEASON PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

In this article we look at the 2024 NFL season and make our predictions for each division winner and then the three wild card teams for each conference.

We close with two separate Super Bowl predictions: one a safer (boring) pick that is probably what the NFL executives are going to give us.

Then we give a matchup that should be more exciting and not the same boring handful of teams that we have had for the past several seasons.

These are only our predictions, we would like to hear from you out there so contact us and give us your predictions and your reasoning behind your picks.

PLAYOFF PICKS AND SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS

AFC PLAYOFF PICKS NFC PLAYOFF PICKS BORING SUPER BOWL PICK RISKY SUPER BOWL PICK

NFL DIVISION PREVIEWS: QUICK LINKS

AFC EAST AFC NORTH AFC SOUTH AFC WEST
NFC EAST NFC NORTH NFC SOUTH NFC WEST

THE AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON TEXANS BUFFALO BILLS JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS TENNESSEE TITANS

For several seasons, the AFC South was the weakest division in the NFL.

Now, with the CJ Stroud-led Texans, the Colts getting Anthony Richardson back and the playoff-caliber Jaguars this is an interesting division

We should not forget about the Titans who added key pieces at Wide Receiver and Cornerback and could be a contender for a Wild Card.

Texans and Jaguars are the headliners, and even though the Texans did not dominate the division last season, their win and their offseason moves provide us with confidence that they can defend their title.

We see the Jaguars and Colts as good-not-great teams that will barely miss the playoffs and we don't know enough about Will Levis to feel that the Titans can do any better than a 3rd or 4th place finish.


HOUSTON TEXANS HOUSTON TEXANS 1ST

After a team goes from Worst-To-First, it is natural to expect a letdown.

And to be fair, the Texans were an errant throw on a fourth down conversion against the Colts away from not making the playoffs despite CJ Stroud and his excellent season.

The Texans showed a determination to improve with several great moves in the offseason starting with adding Defensive lineman Danielle Hunter to pair with Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr.

An already-good pass rush should improve and create opportunities with a secondary that features true shutdown cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and young Safety Jalen Pitre.

On offense, one fact that is crucial to note is that the Texans starting offensive line was rarely together on the field due to injuries, and now all should be back.

This unit has Top-10 Offensive line potential, and should make life easier for newly-acquired RB Joe Mixon.

With the trade for Stefon Diggs, the Texans now have three impressive receivers as Diggs joins Nico Collins and Tank Dell

Early last year, Stroud showed exceptional chemistry with Tank Dell, but Dell missed several games late in the season. His return, and Diggs addition should give Stroud a multitude of options in the passing game.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

We want to say that the Texans can challenge in the AFC, and they can if everything breaks right. We think they could beat the Ravens and Bengals but likely fall to the Chiefs or New York Jets in the playoffs.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

The Texans have a stronger schedule this season, and with their success last year will not sneak up on anybody or be underestimated. If they struggle early, or suffer key injuries the Texans could be a low Wild Card or miss the playoffs entirely.

We lifetime Houston football fans understand that great potential and talent does not always equal great results.


JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 2ND

Not to be mean, but the Jaguars were probably one of the biggest disappointments of the 2023 season.

Coming off the previous postseason where they defeated Herbert and the Chargers and played competitively against the Chiefs, the Jaguars were consistently inconsistent last season.

In 2023, the Jags added Calvin Ridley but it never seemed that he and Trevor Lawrence had great chemistry on the field.

We think the game on Week 2 was indicative of the team the Jags were going to be. We attended that game believing that hosting the Chiefs the Jaguars had the edge and should win.

Not only did they lose, but some of the plays and play calls were some of the worst we had seen. Opportunity after opportunity passed and the Jags lost 17-9 on a game that was pedestrian by Mahomes standards.

This year, the Jaguars have improved on defense by adding Defensive Tackle Arik Armstead who should greatly improve the rushing defense.

Calvin Ridley left to join the Titans, but we think the Jags might be better with rookie Brian Thomas Jr, as we never saw great Lawrence-Ridley chemistry as noted earlier.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

Lawrence has the talent to be a division winning quarterback. If the Texans slip, the Jaguars are more than capable of winning this division. They need a few breaks, and key victories early to get momentum.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

The Jaguars should make the playoffs as a Wild Card, but cannot have key injuries or lose the turnover battle. If they do, they will not be a bottom-tier team but will narrowly miss the playoffs.


INDIANAPOLIS COLTS INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 3RD

The Colts lost their starting QB Anthony Richardson early in the 2023 season, and were still within one failed fourth-down conversion from winninng the AFC South.

From what we saw early, Anthony Richardson could be a difference-maker in the NFL. He is a matchup nightmare, and does struggle with accuracy like many young Quarterbacks, but has more natural ability than most other NFL QBs

In game 2 of the 2023 season, Richardson outplayed and defeated CJ Stroud and the Texans in Houston. We think if he played all season, the Colts may in fact have been the AFC South champs.

The Colts should have Jonathan Taylor and Richardson together for the entire season, which could be a significant upside.

On the defensive side of the ball, newly-resigned DeForest Buckner anchors a very talented defensive line that ranked top 10 against the run last season.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

If the Colts stay healthy, this is clearly a playoff team. If the Texans or Jaguars stumble just a little bit then the Colts can either win the division or get in as a Wild Card team.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

We see both Taylor and Anthony Richardson as high injury risks due to their playing style. If the Colts suffer injuries at key positions, they will likely narrowly miss the playoffs again.


TENNESSEE TITANS TENNESSEE TITANS 4TH

This team is considered by many (including us) to be the last place team in the AFC South, but we see great potential to contend as early as next season.

Losing Derrick Henry moves the Titans to being more of a passing team than before.

We see significant upside in the passing game with Quarterback Will Levis and new addition WR Calvin Ridley pairing with DeAndre Hopkins.

Levis showed an exceptional deep ball last season, and his Interception percentage(1.6%) was one of the lowest in the league, which is impressive for a Rookie.

On defense, the Titans added Shutdown Cornerback Sneed from the World Champion Chiefs, so we would expect improvement especially against the pass

The Titans were great against the run last season and if Sneed can improve the pass defense, the Titans could easily be a Top 10 defensive unit.

With defensive improvements, and Levis with two solid Wide receivers, the Titans could greatly improve over last season.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:.

With the three other teams ahead of them, it is unlikely the Titans win the AFC South, but if everything breaks right for them we could see them as a Wild Card team.

DOWNSIDE RISK:.

If the offense does not improve with those top receivers, the Titans in this tough division could end up being a bottom third team in the NFL.

THE AFC EAST

MIAMI DOLPHINS BUFFALO BILLS NEW YORK JETS NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Gone are the seasons of one-team dominance in the AFC East.

Despite the Buffalo Bills winning three straight divisions, we see an interesting three team race in 2024.

The AFC East features three possible playoff teams with the Jets, Bills and Dolphins. We see the Patriots as being a season or more away from true contention, but we are impressed with them on the defensive side of the ball. We see three teams coming out of the AFC East for the playoffs.

BUFFALO BILLS BUFFALO BILLS 3RD

Sometimes in sports an opportunity or winning window comes and is closed quickly.

We still wonder if this is the case for the 2021 Buffalo Bills, who lost a crushing Divsional playoff game to the Chiefs and have not gotten any further since that game.

We think Josh Allen is a great player, but we are admittedly not as high on him as others. We like the guy personally and think he is entertaining but we see one major flaw that must be corrected.

INTERCEPTION PERCENTAGE

Allen is in the middle to lower tier of all NFL Quarterbacks with an interception percentage of 2.8%

This ranked 28th out of 35 quarterbacks who played in 2023.

Combine this statistic with losing Stefon Diggs, his best receiver with whom he had built chemistry and anticipation for several seasons.

We think that Allen and his interception issues plus losing key receivers puts the Bills in a position to at best compete for a Wild Card in 2024

MIAMI DOLPHINS MIAMI DOLPHINS 2ND

We pick on Josh Allen, but we feel the same way about Tua Tagovailoa in Miami

At first glance, Tua has excelled in the new offense and had great chemistry with speedy WR Tyreek Hill

The Dolphins offense is extremely explosive, but Tua also has major struggles with interceptions.

At 2.5%, Tua is just a little bit better than Josh Allen, but as South Florida residents we saw a lot of crushing, poorly-timed interceptions by Tua that were backbreakers.

A great example was Tua throwing an INT as he was driving to tie the game in the AFC East championship game which cost the Dolphins the division

DOLPHINS Advantages:

One clear advantage the Dolphins have is at the Wide Receiver position. With Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and the newly-acquired Odell Beckham Jr, this group is likely the best in the NFL.

We also like their speed at running back especially with second-year player Devon Achane.

If the Dolphins get some of their injured defensive players such as Bradley Chubb back we like the Dolphins challenging for the division.

We see them at 10-7, contending for the divsion, but ultimately falling short to the

NEW YORK JETS NEW YORK JETS 1ST

We had predicted that the JETS would win the AFC East in 2023, and boy it only took 4 plays to doom that prediction!

We are equally bullish on the Jets this season with the conditional that Aaron Rodgers completes the season on the field

Rodgers and the offense is not the primary reason we are high on the Jets. We think what Robert Saleh has done to make that defense a top unit is quite impressive.

The fact that the Jets were 7-10 including victories over the Bills, Eagles and Texans, with very limited quarterback play is a significant accomplishment.

On the offensive side of the ball, you see how earlier we spoke of interception percentage as a concern for Josh Allen and Tua, well A-A-RON is the opposite side of that statistic.

Rodgers has a career percentage of 1.4% which is half that of Josh Allen. In the 2021 season, it was a ridiculously low 0.7%

If Rodgers can keep interceptions down, develop chemistry with top-tier wide receiver Garrett Wilson, then this offense could be a Top 10 unit.

With two new Offensive tackles highlighted by Tyron Smith, a Pro-Bowl caliber RB in Breece Hall, plus a shutdown cornerback in Sauce Gardner, we have the NEW YORK JETS as our AFC EAST Champions.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4TH

In 2023, the Houston Texans had a first-year former linebacker head coach and a Top 5 rookie Quarterback and went from worst to first in their division.

Can Drake Maye and Jerod Mayo repeat what the Texans did in 2024?

Ah...we dont think so.

We see the Patriots as being in the midst of an undeclared rebuild which will take a few seasons to complete.

This year should be especially taxing as they play in one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL unlike the Texans last season where winning the division was possible.

We expect the offense to struggle, possibly starting the season with veteran QB Jacoby Brissett until rookie Drake Maye is ready to take the reins.

We think the Patriots could stay in some low-scoring games with a defensive unit that has Top 10 caliber talent.

The Patriots defense kept them in several games last season, and that was with standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez missing most of the season due to injury.

Depending on how fast Drake Maye can lead the offense, we could see the Patriots being a spoiler, annoying team in the second half of 2024 as they prepare to contend in 2025.

THE AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE RAVENS BUFFALO BILLS CLEVELAND BROWNS PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The AFC North should be one of the strongest divisions in the entire league again in 2024.

Last season, 3 teams from the division made the playoffs and that was with the Bengals out of contention with Joe Burrow being injured.

we think it comes down to the Bengals and the Ravens for the division.

We see the Browns and Steelers as playoff contenders but they will need some luck to make the playoffs in the strong AFC.

BALTIMORERAVENS BALTIMORE RAVENS 1ST

Reading several offseason reviews, it appears that the public is already annointing the Bengals as division and even AFC conference favorites.

Have they already forgotten that the Ravens were the best team in the AFC, despite their disappointing loss in the AFC Championship game.

While we acknowledge the Ravens shortcomings in the postseason, we also note their regular season dominance and most importantly a team balance between offense and defense.

DONT FORGET ABOUT DEFENSE

Without question, the Bengals have the more explosive, entertaining offense, but the Ravens led the league in several key categories last season and were especially great against the pass.

The offensive line is a concern, but we like the addition of RB Derrick Henry and believe he can help the Ravens control the clock and close out games.

We are watching the Bengals closely, but until proven otherwise, we still believe that the Ravens are the top team in the AFC North.

CINCINNATI BENGALS CINCINNATI BENGALS 2ND

While we have the Bengals finishing in second place, we view them as the top Wild Card and a team that could do damage in the postseason.

The Bengals are the one AFC team that has proven it can beat the Chiefs as opposed to team like the Bills, Ravens and Dolphins who each failed to stop the Mahomes Magic, even when favored.

So, saying all of this why are we not picking them to win the AFC North?

One word: DEFENSE

On defense, the Bengals top player, Hendrickson, has requested a trade and the key defensive statistics reveal a very vulnerably defense.

PASSING DEFENSE:

Last season, the Bengals pass defense allowed 8.1 yards per pass attempt which is worst in the NFL.

To be vulnerable to the pass is not a good thing in a conference with the Chiefs, Ravens, Texans and Bills.

Offensively, on the other hand, we see the Bengals having the potential to have their best numbers in the Joe Burrow era.

They have greatly improved their offensive line, and now Burrow should have a cleaner pocket from which to dissect defenses.

UPSIDE: If the Bengals can improve even slightly on defense, Burrow and those receivers should allow them to outscore most opponents and make the AFC Championship game and possibly further.

DOWNSIDE: If the pass defense continues to be a weakness, the ceiling for the Bengals is as a first round exit.

CLEVELAND BROWNS CLEVELAND BROWNS 3RD

This team is tough to figure out. They could be a last place team or they could make it as a Wild Card as they did in 2023 even without their starting QB.

The Browns have great potential with that defense, which tied the Ravens for top pass defense in the NFL last season.

Also, the Browns get starting QB Deshaun Watson back from injury. Watson has yet to have a complete season with his new team, so there has been the expected inconsistency in his play.

Watson and the offense could get a boost from new WR Jerry Jeudy, but should lean more on impressive RB Nick Chubb. To repeat as a playoff team, however, the team must get more consistent play at the Quarterback position.

On the defensive side of the ball, with all of their great statistics, the Defense was Hall of Fame caliber at home, but actually quite bad on the Road.

At home, the Browns defense allowed fewer than 14 points per game, definitely enough to win most games

On the road, however, as good as the Browns defense is, it allowed an average of 31.3 points per game. OUCH.

UPSIDE:If the Browns defense can play like their home version in all of their games, and if Deshaun plays like his 2017-2020 Houston Texans days, then the Browns have Division champion upside.

DOWNSIDE:If the Defense and Deshaun continue their inconsistency, we see the Browns narrowly missing a Wild Card.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS PITTSBURGH STEELERS 4TH

Head Coach Mike Tomlin again overachieved with his Steelers team as they made the playoffs despite inconsistent Quarterback play.

With a ferocious pass rush and overall stout defense the Steelers made the playoffs, thanks largely to a +11 turnover margin.

We really like the dual addtions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at Quarterback. We never felt Wilson was as bad as that first year in Denver, and Fields has significant upside as well.

We think Tomlin will get back to Steelers physical, in-the-trenches style football for 2024 and the first step was improving that offensive line.

The Steelers addressed this need by drafting Tackle Troy Fautanu and then Center Zach Frazier with their first two picks. We think these two are first-day starters who will greater bolster the O-Line.

We see the Steelers as being a better team this year, but ironically we see them not going as far as they did last season with the Bengals and Jets being much improved, thereby taking what could have been a Steelers Wild Card berth.

THE AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS LAS VEGAS RAIDERS LOS ANGELES CHARGERS DENVER BRONCOS

The AFC West division is once again the Chiefs to lose.

Last season, we thought the Chargers would challenge the Chiefs but that did not happen.

This season, we see the Raiders having the best chance, but the Chiefs are just too much better than the other three teams in this division.


KANSASCITYCHIEFS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 1ST

We followed Patrick Mahomes in college, as one of us is a Texas Tech alum, and really thought he had a chance to be a special player in the NFL.

Nobody could have anticipated this much success especially so early in his professional career. Mahomes and the Chiefs have now won three Super Bowls and been to four in the Mahomes era.

And fans of competitive balance will not like this, and we do not like to admit it, but this year the Chiefs should even be better than the two-time defending Champions roster last season.

Statistically, the Chiefs offense had one of their worst seasons in 2023. Still good by mortal standards, but not at all great. Mahomes had one of his worst seasons in terms of interceptions and the receivers

Everyone talks about Mahomes and Mr. Swift, but in truth, the Chiefs were led by their DEFENSE in 2023. Chris Jones, Sneed and the rest of Steve Spagnuolo's defense led the league in multiple categories and really made the difference in the Chiefs success last season.

Losing Cornerback Sneed could be an impact to that pass defense, but we think they are otherwise deep enough to still put out a Top 5 unit in 2023.

And back to the offense, the only real weakness on the team last season was a bad weakness at Wide Receiver. Their receivers had some unforgivable drops (such as the Game 1 ball through his hands leading to a game-winning Detroit pick six). Cost us a damn wager. Arggh.

So what do the Chiefs do, they draft the fastest receiver in the draft (Xavier Worthy) and signed Marquise Hollywood Brown and should be greatly improved in that area.

Looking back at the Chiefs season in 2023, we also noticed several games in which the Chiefs lost in an unlucky fashion, otherwise they could have been a higher seed.

That loss against the Bills with that questionable off-sides call, and the loss against the Eagles when receivers dropped 3-4 crucial passes that could have swung the game to the Chiefs.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

No way to avoid it, but the Chiefs have to be the favorites in the AFC if not the entire NFL..

DOWNSIDE RISK:

Injuries and bad luck would be the only risk the Chiefs face. Serious injuries such as to Mahomes or Mr. Swift might derail the Chiefs season, but we still see them in the playoffs despite any injuries.


LAS VEGAS RAIDERS LAS VEGAS RAIDERS 2ND

The Raiders have been a very inconsistent team for the past several years, their move to Las Vegas and instability in Coaching and the Quarterback being part of the reason.

The Jimmy G experiment was a colossal failure as he was more or less done after 4-5 games last season, and rather than being stubborn the Raiders decided to wisely move on.

Quarterback Gardner Minshew is one of those overachieving players that a team would love to have. He took the Colts to the brink of the playoffs last season, and only a painful last minute loss to the Texans kept them from the postseason.

We think pairing Minshew with Davante Adams and new tight end Brock Bowers could create a far better offense than the Raiders put on the field last season. We do not believe the Raiders can outscore opponents like the Chiefs, Bengals or Texans in a shootout but they should be able to average 21-24 points a game in our opinion.

On defense, Maxx Crosby now has some major help with the acquisition of Christian Wilkins at the defensive tackle position. An already great pass rush should be improved and allow the Raiders to keep scoring down.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL: We see the Raiders competing and getting the final wild card spot. They might beat the Chiefs once, like they did last season, but we do not see them as challenging the defending champs for the division.

DOWNSIDE RISK: If Minshew fails to play as he did last season, then the Raiders could have a losing season and look to rebuild for next season.


LOS ANGELES CHARGERS LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 3RD

For several years, we keep waiting for the Chargers to reach the potential that they have with Justin Herbert at Quarterback. We actually predicted they would win the AFC West division last season......OUCH

We are now unsure whether Herbert is truly an elite Quarterback although he clearly has elite TALENT. Coaching and over-aggressive decisions to go for it doomed the Chargers in many games and we believe that bringing in Jim Harbaugh will help a lot of that.

With Harbaugh in charge, look for the Chargers to build a balanced offense and a strong defense that will be ready to compete with Mahomes and the Chiefs in the next few years.

But we always expect teams to struggle in their first year with a new coach, and we see that again here especially with so much roster turnover on the Chargers. Both key Charger Wide Receivers are gone (Keenan Allen and Mike Williams) along with starting RB Austin Ekeler.

On defense, the Chargers were bottom 10 in the league against the pass, which is a recipe for failure in this division and conference.

We see Harbaugh rebuilding this unit and improving it, gradually. This undeclared rebuild will take some time, but we see the Chargers as viable contenders as early as next season.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL: With a top Quarterback and a winning Head Coach, the Chargers could secure a Wild Card position

DOWNSIDE RISK: A tough schedule, and a rebuild could have the Chargers in the bottom of the league as Harbaugh implements his offense.


DENVER BRONCOS DENVER BRONCOS 4TH

Head Coach Sean Payton inherited a bad situation when he took over the Denver Broncos. Clearly their was not a good relationship with QB Russell Wilson and changes had to be made.

Payton will start over at Quarterback with Rookie Bo Nix who has Drew Brees-potential but will need a few seasons to be at that same level(obviously)

We covered many Auburn games when Bo Nix played there, and one facet of his game was his inconsistency. He improved later in his Oregon days, but we also saw inconsistency in the two games against Washington in which Nix was outplayed by Washington and Michael Penix Jr.

We see Bo Nix as being perfect for Sean Payton to mentor, and if any coach can maximize his potential it is Sean Payton.

This will not be a quick process, however, and we see the Broncos struggling out of the gate, and facing an uphill battle to be true contenders.

On defense, the Broncos were league-worst against the run (Average yards per carry) and bottom 10 in pass defense.

The Broncos added Cornerback Levi Wallace to play opposite Patrick Surtain II which could improve their pass defense, but we do not see much improvement against the run.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL: Maybe the rebuild will be quicker than expected, but even the most optimistic could not justify picking the Broncos in the playoffs this season. Maybe a 7-10 season with some good luck.

DOWNSIDE RISK: If injuries or bad luck bite the Broncos they could be one of the worst teams in the league in 2024.

THE NFC EAST

DALLAS COWBOYS PHILADELPHIA EAGLES NEW YORK GIANTS WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

The NFC East is once again poised to be a two-team race between two of the powerhouses in the NFC.

While both the Cowboys and Eagles failed to get past the first round of the playoffs, we still see both teams as legit NFC challengers

And while they likely are not quite ready this season, we look for good things from the Commanders with a new, we think improved, coaching staff and an exciting young QB Jayden Daniels.


PHILADELPHIA EAGLES PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 1ST

We have a question:

How does a team go from being 10-1 to losing 6 of their next 7 games, including their first round game at Tampa Bay?

We never truly believed that the Eagles were as good as their 10-1 start (even pissing off some Eagles fans claiming their Buffalo win was luck)

But we did have them ranked Number one in our 2023 preseason rankings, and definitely did not think they would lose 6 of 7 including painful losses to the Giants and Cardinals.

The Eagles moved swiftly in free agency to shore up both their running game with the acquisition of division rival Saquon Barkley, and then bringing back Safety CJ Gardner-Johnson to help that problematic pass defense.

Then, in the draft, GM Howie Roseman worked his magic again by picking up two first day starting caliber Cornerbacks with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

Pass defense is obviously hugely important in the NFL in this era, and with this primary weakness addressed, we see good things for the Eagles.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

For us, in the NFC it is the Lions, 49ers and Eagles at the top. If the Eagles can get home field and host either of those teams in cold Philly in January, then they very well could return to the Super Bowl.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

If the pass defense continues to struggle (against our expectations), then the Eagles could have to settle for a Wild Card or miss the playoffs entirely


DALLAS COWBOYS DALLAS COWBOYS 2ND

Similar to the Eagles, the Cowboys season in 2023 was an inconsistent one in which we do not really know who these Cowboys are.

Are they the dominant team who went 8-0 in the regular season? Or are they the team that could not beat top opponents, including a lopsided home loss in the first round to Green Bay?

The Cowboys remind us a lot of the Ravens and Dolphins in the AFC. These are teams that could look like champions one week, but Chumps the next. All of these teams have the talent, but never could beat top opponents.

The Cowboys still have the talent, we worry a little about defensive continuity after that poor performance against Green Bay. Losing Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn hurts also, and he recruited several Cowboys defenders to join him in Washington.

On defense, the Cowboys should get talented CB Trevon Diggs back from injury and paired with DeRon Bland on the other side, plus a great pass rush they should be better than average defensively.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

We think the Eagles are better, but if the Cowboys improve on the road and in top matchups they could take the NFC East from the Eagles.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

If the Cowboys fail to win tough games against good opponents, then they will likely make the playoffs but lose again in the first round causing Jerry Jones head to explode.


WASHINGTON COMMANDERS WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 3RD

We have a bad habit of jumping on up-and-coming teams bandwagon too soon, so we will resist the temptation to proclaim the Commanders as playoff contenders.

We like several of the moves they made starting with coaching. We are a fan of having two head-coach-caliber coaches on the sideline, which is what the Commanders have with Head Coach Dan Quinn and new Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury (former HC for Arizona)

The Commanders added the Quarterback in the draft that we believe has the most upside in Jayden Daniels. We see Lamar Jackson-caliber upside, but recognize that it could take 1-2 years to reach this full potential.

We think Dan Quinn will improve the defensive scheme to enable a more intense pass rush, but the Commanders need more reinforcements on that side having traded away Chase Young and Montez Sweat last season.

The Commanders should be a fun team to watch, likely staying in or winning more games than anyone expects. (Except us)

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

If everything breaks right, the Commanders could compete for the divsion. As it is, we see the Eagles and Cowboys being far better (for now)

DOWNSIDE RISK:

Not all rookies start out like CJ Stroud. If Jayden Daniels plays more like Bryce Young than CJ Stroud, then the Commanders could have a tough year in front of them.


NEW YORK GIANTS NEW YORK GIANTS 4TH

The New York Giants seem to be a team that is very one-sided at the moment.

On offense, they lost their franchise RB Saquon Barkley, and as of now it is unclear who will start at Quarterback Week 1

And, even when he does start, QB Daniel Jones has had only one above average season in the NFL, so the jury is still out if he is the Giants QB of the future.

On defense, we like the Giants addition of Brian Burns to go along with Kayvon Thibodeaux to create a top-tier pass rush.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:.

If Jones plays like he did in 2022 and the defense dominates, the Giants could possibly sneak in as a Wild Card.

DOWNSIDE RISK:.

If the Giants offense does not jell and the defense does not make up the difference, the Giants could continue to struggle.

THE NFC NORTH

DETROIT LIONS GREEN BAY PACKERS CHICAGO BEARS MINNESOTA VIKINGS

In recent years, the NFC North was an average to mediocre division dominated by the Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers

We see now what could be one of the strongest divisions in the entire league.

Both the Lions and Packers made the playoffs last season, and both teams rightfully should have beaten eventual NFC Champion San Francisco

The Bears and Vikings may or may not be instant contenders this season, but each team has their Quarterback of the future and should be ready in the near-term


DETROITLIONS DETROIT LIONS 1ST

Since the second half of the 2022 season, the Detroit Lions have been one of the best teams in the NFL.

We would love to say no more SOL(Same Old Lions) or no more Rebuilding Since 1957 if not for the painful way that the Lions season ended.

The Lions should have represented the NFC in the Super Bowl, they have the talent to get there and we hope for their long-suffering fans sake that they make it this time

Offensively, Jared Goff and those receivers present an offensive juggernaut. They are tough to slow down, much less stop, and evoke memories of those Greatest Show on Turf Rams teams from long ago.

Defensively, it was the Lions weak pass defense that ultimately doomed them. In fact, for as much second-guessing as Head Coach Dan Campbell got for being maybe overly aggressive, we wonder if he knew that his pass defense was not going to continue to stop the Niners.

The Lions addressed their pass defense weakness by signing Carlton Davis III from Tampa Bay, and then drafting Terrion Arnold from Alabama (widely considered the top Corner in the draft)

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

We think the Lions are the best team in the NFC right with the Eagles and defending NFC Champion 49ers. We do not see much separation between these three, so for the Lions getting the Number one seed is essential.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

As we said earlier, the NFC North is now a division with no easy wins. The Lions could struggle in the divsion, and if they slip, lose the division to Jordan Love and the improving Packers.


GREEN BAY PACKERS GREEN BAY PACKERS 2ND

In his first full season as the starter, Jordan Love played like an experienced veteran. He seriously outplayed first Dak Prescott at Dallas, and for most of the NFC Divisional game he outplayed Brock Purdy also.

The Packers needed stability in the running game, so they signed bruising RB Josh Jacobs to take over for oft-injured Aaron Jones.

We loved the Packers playoff surge, but noticed that they were very inconsistent during the regular season. If Love and Jacobs can lead a more consistent offense, this team could be tough

On defense, former All-Pro CB Jaire Alexander is a difference-maker. The Pack were 5-0 in the final games in which Alexander started, and overall are 42-26 when he plays. A healthy Alexander leading this secondary could make them a Top 5 pass defense.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

As good as the Lions are, the Packers beat them at home on Thanksgiving and it was not even close. If they play like that, and their late-season 2023 run they could replace the Lions as a Top 3 NFC contender.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

The offensive line is not as strong this year, so Love could face more pressure than last season. Otherwise they should fare no worse than a Wild Card this season.


CHICAGO BEARS CHICAGO BEARS 3RD

There is some overdue excitement around Football in the Windy City that they have not had for a while, and rightfully so.

Starting with some trades in 2023, such as bringing in Montez Sweat, the Bears have been adding strategic pieces to make this team a legitimate contender.

Number One overall pick Quarterback Caleb Williams is joined by WR Keenan Allen, Rookie WR Rome Odunze, and RB D'Andre Swift

On defense, the unit improved significantly when Sweat joined the team, and the Bears defense actually led the NFL in rushing defense, allowing only 86 rushing yards per game.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

We see a Wild Card berth as the Bears' ceiling this season, with far more upside in the next few seasons.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

To succeed in this tough division, Caleb will need to play more like CJ Stroud than Bryce Young in his rookie season. If Williams struggles, then the Bears will have another losing season.


MINNESOTAVIKINGS MINNESOTA VIKINGS 4TH

We see the Vikings similar to how we view the Commanders; a team with great upside that is likely a season or two away from peak form.

The Vikes let Kirk Cousins go in free agency, and seek to replace him with rookie QB JJ McCarthy. It is unsure whether McCarthy will start right away, or if the Vikes will start with Sam D'Arnold.

Kevin O'Connell runs an impressive offensive scheme, and with impressive WR Justin Jefferson, the Vikings will be able to score points.

Defensively, Coordinator Brian Flores and his innovative formations and schemes consistently confused offenses last season.

Losing Edge Rusher Danielle Hunter to Houston hurts, but we think that Flores will have that Vikings defense as a Top 10 unit for 2024.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL: In this division, and a tough NFC conference, it is tough to pick the Vikings to earn a Wild Card berth this season.

DOWNSIDE RISK: If the Vikes fail to get good Quarterback play, then a Bottom 10 finish could be likely for the Vikings.

THE NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA FALCONS PHILADELPHIA EAGLES NEW ORLEANS SAINTS CAROLINA PANTHERS

The NFC South was a competitive, if not impressive, division in 2023 with the division title coming down to the final week. The Bucs won by virtue of a tiebreaker with the Saints.

The Tampa Bay Bucs overachieved last season, while the Falcons and Saints had mediocre and somewhat disappointing seasons.

For the Panthers, hopefully last season was simply growing pains for Number One overall pick QB Bryce Young.


ATLANTA FALCONS ATLANTA FALCONS 1ST PLACE

The Falcons were one of our "teams to surprise" for 2023, but the only surprise was how difficult it was to watch the Falcons play.

We realized they were only decent at Quarterback, but felt that a great pass defense and some top-level talent at the skills positions would be enough to win.

Now adding a top Quarterback with Kirk Cousins, we see the Falcons as in a great position to utilize those skill players and take advantage of a division very much up for grabs.

The Falcons' top brass took heavy grief drafting Michael Penix Jr when the team already had Kirk Cousins. If, however, you had been watching the Falcons for the past 3 years, you would understand their desire to have an abundance of riches at that spot.

The Falcons defense had one of the better pass defenses in the league last year, and if they can continue that the Falcons should most definitely be the favorites in the division.

One statistic that jumps at us from 2023 was the Falcons -12 turnover margin. We view turnover margin as something that comes back to average, so we see the Falcons improving on this number significantly. Kirk Cousins has one of the lower QB Interception Ratios in the NFL.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

We see the Falcons as early Favorites for the division. Beyond the division, the NFC is tough and we would be hard-pressed to pick them over the Lions, Eagles or 49ers in the playoffs.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

The Bucs and Saints were better than the Falcons last season and should be equally tough this season. If the Falcons slip, they could lose the division and only make it into the playoffs as a Wild Card.


TAMPA BAY BUCS TAMPA BAY BUCS 2ND PLACE

Preseason, almost everyone was picking Tampa Bay to be one of the worst teams in the NFL.

We would not have disagreed, but Baker and Coach Todd Bowles and that great defense really proved everyone wrong.

Baker Mayfield seemed determined to prove that Cleveland was wrong to give up on him in the disrespectful manner in which they did so.

We remember really wondering why the Browns went all-in on Deshaun Watson whose numbers were not that much better than Baker's. Sometimes, change is not always for the better.

On defense, the Bucs lost some key players in free agency so that could affect them. CB Carlton Davis III was traded to the Lions, weakening the Tampa Bay secondary.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

A repeat as division champion is possible. We still see the Bucs as a best case first-round playoff caliber team

DOWNSIDE RISK:

If the defense slips just a little, and Baker cannot replicate his 2023 magic, this could be a 7-10 or 6-11 team.


NEW ORLEANS SAINTS NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 3RD PLACE

We picked the Saints to win the NFC South in 2023, so we are reluctant to pick them again here.

We thought pairing Derek Carr on a fast Superdome track with Chris Olave would be explosive.

The Saints finished at 9-8 and only lost the division to the Bucs on a tiebreaker. They really had some tough-luck losses especially losing 18-17 to Green Bay when Carr had to leave the game.

They closed the 2023 season with impressive wins over Division Rival Tampa Bay at Atlanta, so they look to be heading in the right direction.

Their key weakness last season was the Offensive Line, and we feel that they have addressed this via the draft adding Taliese Fuaga.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

The Saints absolutely can win the division, which they should have last season. They tied the Bucs but scored over 50 more points than Tampa Bay.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

Injuries and Bad turnovers are all that should limit the Saints from at least a Wild Card berth.


CAROLINA PANTHERS CAROLINA PANTHERS 4TH PLACE

Bryce Young just needs to forget about 2023 and start fresh.

It's bad enough that Young had a tough rookie year, but then he had to watch and see CJ Stroud just dominate with the Texans.

Part of Young's issues in 2023 was poor pass protection, so the Panthers front office addressed this via free agency.

In addition, adding Diontae Johnson and then drafting Xavier Legette should give Bryce more reliable Wide Receiver targets.

On defense, losing Brian Burns is going to hurt. Adding Jadeveon Clowney helps, but he is not at the same level as Burns.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:.

If Bryce Young plays up to his potential this team could potentially compete for a Wild Card. We see next year as more likely.

DOWNSIDE RISK:.

It's all about the Quarterback, right? Simply put, if Bryce Young struggles again then the Panthers will be picking high in the draft again next April.

THE NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS LOS ANGELES RAMS SEATTLE SEAHAWKS ARIZONA CARDINALS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 1ST PLACE

We believe that the San Francisco 49ers were the best team in the league last season, even if they did not win the Super Bowl

A critical early fumble, losing one of their best players (Greenlaw) on a fluke movement coming off the sideline. Couple this with an officiating crew who do not understand what a holding call is if it is on the Chiefs, and the 49ers lost a game that they damn well deserved to win.

That might have been the Niners best shot, because we now see two teams in the NFC equal or better to Kyle Shanahan's team: The Lions and Eagles.

But from a talent perspective, there is much to like with this 49ers club. We just hope Brandon Aiyuk and other players are motivated an not focused on being traded or otherwise relocated

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

We see a Super Bowl rematch as very probable as the 49ers have the talent, the coaching and the pedigree. We think in a rematch with the Chiefs, the 49ers win it.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

As we said earlier, the NFC is getting stronger and the Lions and Eagles are definite threats to the 49ers. Within the division, the LA Rams could challenge for the division title as well.


LARAMS LOS ANGELES RAMS 2ND PLACE

The LA Rams surged back into contention in 2023 with a great season from QB Matthew Stafford and a dynamic set of receivers, Cooper Kupp and rookie phenom Puka Nacua.

Many analysts saw a rebuilding year for the Rams last season, but we felt that the Rams' projected demise was overblown. With an offensive coach in McVay and the ageless Matthew Stafford, the Rams have great offensive potential.

The Rams earned a Wild Card berth and faced the Lions in one of the best games of the playoffs. They were just a play or two away from pulling off the upset, and are true contenders this season.

We feel very comfortable with their offense, but our questions are on defense, where they will clearly feel the departure of All-Pro and future HOF DL Aaron Donald.

Defensively, The Rams were vulnerable to the pass and the loss of Donald will not help that. Signing Cornerback Darious Williams should help them, but pass defense is certainly an area of concern.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

It will be tough to top the 49ers for the division but once in the playoffs, look out for the Rams. Depending on their matchups, the Rams could go deep in the playoff tournament.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

Defense and injuries are the key risks we see. If the defense is not up to par, the Rams will not be able to always outscore their opponent. The Offensive line has improved, but any injury to Matthew Stafford would doom the Rams to a rebuilding season.


SEATTLE SEAHAWKS SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 3RD PLACE

The Seahawks are moving on from Super Bowl champion Head Coach Pete Carroll, but we don't see this as solving their problems.

The 'Hawks have the talent to be a top offense with one of the best Wide Receiver groups in the NFL, and an above-average passer in Geno Smith.

With all of this talent, however, the Seahawks were very inconsistent and ranked in the bottom half of NFL teams in total offense.

And that isn't even their biggest problem: On defense, the Seahawks were third-worst in the entire league, and have to play in a division with the 49ers and the Rams

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

If the offense plays to its potential, and there is at least slight improvement on defense this team has Wild Card potential.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

If this team plays like they did last season, they will be average, not too good, not too bad and miss the playoffs again.


ARIZONACARDINALS ARIZONA CARDINALS 4TH PLACE

We don't know what to think of the Arizona Cardinals. We see playoff caliber talent in Kyler Murray and rookie Marvin Harrison Jr, but is that enough?

On defense, they are bottom 10 in pass defense, and dead last in rush defense.

The Cardinals showed some resliency last season and won some games they likely should not have, such as at Philadelphia during the Eagles' late season slump.

On offense, we like Murray, Harrison, and James Conner but we think that the Cardinals will have to outscore teams to make up for defensive shortcomings.

Defensively, the Cardinals made some free agency moves that should help them. They are still suspect at pass rush and overall pass defense.

UPSIDE POTENTIAL:

If the defense improves, and the Murray-Harrison connection shows instant chemistry, then the Cardinals could be in the hunt for a Wild Card berth.

DOWNSIDE RISK:

If Murray does not improve or stay healthy, and the defense stays bottom-half in the NFL, then this is another rebuilding season for the Cardinals.

PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

To Summarize, for Division winners in the AFC We have the New York Jets, Baltimore, Houston, and Kansas City

NEW YORK JETS BALTIMORE RAVENS HOUSTON TEXANS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

For Wild Cards, we have in the AFC: Miami, Buffalo, and Cincinnati

MIAMI DOLPHINS CINCINNATI BENGALS BUFFALO BILLS

For Division Winners in the NFC We have Philadelphia, Detroit, New Orleans, and San Francisco

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES DETROIT LIONS NEW ORLEANS SAINTS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

For the NFC Wild Cards, we have the LA Rams, Dallas, and Green Bay

LOS ANGELES RAMS DALLAS COWBOYS GREEN BAY PACKERS

Super Bowl Predictions:

As we said, we will provide two and our safe, dull, not creative pick is a rematch of the 49ers-Chiefs Super Bowl.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers

KANSASCITYCHIEFS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

We hate to say it, but this is likely what we are going to get as the NFL seems to prefer marquee teams that appeal to the international market.

That and the fact that the Chiefs might be even better this season than last, with an improved set of Wide Receivers (their lone major flaw in 2023)

For our outside-the-box pick we go with

Detroit Lions vs Houston Texans

DETROITLIONS HOUSTONTEXANS

Two offensive powerhouses with talented young quarterbacks and respected, energetic head coaches.

This would be two teams in their very first Super Bowl, which could be one of the highest scoring Super Bowls ever.

NFL 2024 OFFSEASON REVIEW

The NFL Draft and free agency period is over.

How did your team do in the offseason??

In our video, we grade each team in the draft and give our prediction for how many games they will improve(or not) in 2024

(Click the image below to watch our video)

NFL 2024 OFFSEASON GRADES


Copyright Spirit Sports Consultants 2024

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