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Once again the NFL season is upon us and as a self proclaimed expert, I will be giving you my entire 2024 NFL season preview. As always I went through all 272 NFL regular season games to decide each team’s record and go from there.
I predict everything from the regular season, including individual records, player awards, and then make my way through each round of the postseason leading up to the Super Bowl. I will piss some people off, and make others happy, but none of it matters until the games are played.
Last season I predicted six teams’ records (Dolphins, Broncos, Cowboys, Eagles, Saints and Falcons) all correctly, and had another five teams (Browns, Titans, 49ers, Seahawks, and Bears) where I was one game off. Let’s see how I fare ahead of the 2024 season.
San Francisco 49ers (13-4) #1 Seed
After falling short in the Super Bowl yet again, the 49ers look to Brock Purdy to get them over that hump in 2024. While the Brandon Aiyuk situation has yet to be resolved, I do believe he will end up wearing the same uniform he wore in 2023. A stout defense behind a mastermind offensive play caller with a loaded roster is hard to bet against in the West.
Los Angeles Rams (11-6) #6 Seed
One of the hardest teams to gauge in all of the NFL, but I’m still a believer. Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford are the best Head Coach and Quarterback duo in the NFC and with weapons like Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, this offense has limitless potential. This team can go as far as their health will let them.
Arizona Cardinals (7-10)
Jonathan Gannon walked into a situation where year one was a wash from the jump. Now they have a fully healthy Pro Bowl quarterback and top rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. ready to go. Trey Benson, James Connor, Trey McBride alongside Murray and Harrison make this offense one to keep an eye on this season. I think they’re still a few players away on both sides of the ball from putting up real competition, but I expect a jump from the Cardinals this season.
Seattle Seahawks (6-11)
It’s weird putting Seattle this low on the totem pole considering how they’ve finished last in the NFC West only once since the 2002 NFL realignment (2021). This roster has potential but the post Pete Carroll era comes with a tough schedule that will be tough for a new head coach to handle.
Green Bay Packers (13-4) #2 Seed
I’ve been saying since Jordan Love threw that interception against San Francisco in the divisional round that the Packers are the team to beat in the NFC North. I don’t believe Jordan Love is the next Aaron Rodgers by any means, but I do think Matt LaFluer is the best head coach in the NFC behind Sean McVay. I expect the Packers offense to be fully rolling all season long.
Detroit Lions (11-6) #5 Seed
Lions fans will not enjoy seeing Green Bay back on top of the division after finally being crowned the kings of the North for the first time in 30 years. That being said, this is still a very impressive roster across the board who will win many games behind the motivating Dan Campbell. I just think LaFluer has more to offer with a hungry, improved Green Bay Roster.
Chicago Bears (10-7) #7 Seed
This is the first time I’ve picked my Chicago Bears to be a playoff team since the 2019 season. While I am still waiting for the trap door to spring open on Caleb Williams, I’m overly confident that he is the quarterback this franchise has been longing for. A 7-10 team last season with multiple double digit 4th quarter leads blown makes me think with offensive additions like D’Andre Swift, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze, paired with a stellar defense, can get them over that postseason drought.
Minnesota Vikings (6-11)
The Vikings are a tough read because I do like Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores. However, I do not like Sam Darnold. At best he's an average game manager who won’t be able to get them over the hump. In their first seven games this season they face off against four teams who won a playoff game in 2023, with two of the other three opponents being the Jets and Rams. It could be a very ugly start to the season for Minnesota, but the minds of Flores and O’Connell with a solid roster will keep them in games.
Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) #3 Seed
Philadelphia had a disappointing 2023 season after a Super Bowl run in 2022. I think the revamping of their secondary with stud rookies like Cooper Dejean and Quinyon Mitchell behind defensive genius Vic Fangio will get them back on track in 2024.
Dallas Cowboys (9-8)
The Cowboys have not done enough in the offseason to compete with the Eagles and I believe the Mike McCarthy experiment is finally coming to a close. The future is going to weigh down on Dallas too much this season and some serious questions about the future of this franchise are going to come to light.
New York Giants (6-11)
I really do want to put this team much lower than they currently are, but I think their defense with Brian Burns has scary potential to keep them in games. The jury is still out for me on Brian Daboll, but I’ve seen them win games with Daniel Jones and a great defense before. I don’t see a big season out of the Giants but I think they can pull off six wins.
Commanders (5-12)
I think Jayden Daniels has a big chance to be a star in this league but the team around him is not pretty whatsoever. Terry McLaurin, Austin Ekeler, and Zach Ertz do not move the needle for me. Dan Quinn will have them competitive but this roster still needs work before they start winning games.
Atlanta Falcons (10-7) #4 Seed
The people of Atlanta will have fun winning the weakest division in the NFL, but this team is no better than the Vikings teams Kirk Cousins was running for six seasons. The offense will be fun and the defense will be strong at times but I don’t see this team being capable of a deep postseason run.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
The loss of Dave Canales will weigh down heavier than most expect in 2024. New offensive coordinator Liam Coen has shown success at levels in this league but how far can Baker Mayfield truly take this team? I think we’ve seen him hit his peak in 2023.
New Orleans Saints (7-10)
Maybe my least favorite team in all of 2024. I wouldn’t be surprised if this team won 4 games this season, but I think they’re good enough to have some mediocre success this season. The epitome of stuck in football hell. The biggest mistake ever was signing Derek Carr.
Carolina Panthers (4-13)
I said just a bit ago that the loss of Dave Canales will affect the Buccaneers this season. I think hiring Dave Canales will be good for the future of Carolina and Bryce Young, but this is a lost roster with a lack of identity. No true number one weapons and no true defensive stars outside of Derrick Brown.
Kansas City Cheifs (13-4) #1 Seed
Not much to go into here. The Chiefs are the NFL standard and have been since 2019. Year after year people try to point out a flaw and they just continue to overcome it. Hard to bet against until proven wrong.
Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)
After a long hiatus it’s great to see Jim Harbaugh back in the NFL. I don’t think they’re a postseason team yet but you don’t need a roster full of superstars to win with Jim Harbaugh. A big improvement after a rough 2023.
Las Vegas Raiders (6-11)
The Raiders are another one of those teams that are hard to gauge in 2024. Their roster isn’t pretty but these guys go to war for head coach Antonio Pierce. A strong draft class and the charisma of Gardner Minshew will be enough to piece together some nice wins in 2024, but is that the direction the Raiders should aim for?
Denver Broncos (5-12)
Sean Payton has never lost more than nine games in an NFL season as he enters his 17th season as a head coach. I think that finally happens this season but it’s for the better. This is a team that could benefit from a high draft pick in 2025. All that matters is getting Bo Nix valuable reps in a season where the postseason is out of reach, and the future holds more weight.
Cincinnati Bengals (12-5) #2 Seed
We don’t know if we will ever have a season with Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Joe Burrow all on the same team again, but they will make the most of it. Joe Burrow gets back to his Super Bowl form and the Bengals come out on top of the fiercest division in the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens (11-6) #5 Seed
The loss of defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald could cause a slight decline in the defensive performance which is why Cincinnati gains the edge on the AFC North this season. Outside of that, this roster led by two-time MVP Lamar Jackson will remain one of the strongest teams in the NFL and make another run at the Lombardi this season.
Cleveland Browns (9-8) #7 Seed
Kevin Stefanski has shown that he can take this franchise to victory no matter who is under center. We all know Deshaun Watson is not what he used to be, and it’s hard to believe he will ever get back to his true pro bowl form, but he’s more than enough for Stefanski and this suffocating defense to get back to the postseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-10)
I don’t know how Mike Tomlin continues to finish .500 or better every single year but I think this is the year it finally happens. Russell Wilson looks really past his prime and it’s only a matter of time before fans yearn for Justin Fields. As a former Justin Fields believer, trust me: it will be fun to watch, but disappointing in the end.
New York Jets (12-5) #3 Seed
If Aaron Rodgers is as healthy as the Jets make him out to be, this is the team who can slay the monster that is Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The defense is amongst the best in the league and they have all the weapons Aaron Rodgers needs to win.
Buffalo Bills (10-7) #6 Seed
Some expect a drastic decline out of Buffalo with the loss of some key players on both sides of the ball, but I’m still circling the wagons. Rookie Keon Coleman along with Curtis Samuel and Dalton Kincaid are solid weapons for an MVP caliber quarterback like Josh Allen. Sean McDermott is going to have to call a stellar defense if he wants to get this team over the hump.
Miami Dolphins (8-9)
Mike McDaniels is a lot of fun and calls a great offense, but experts say the game is won in the trenches. Not only did they lose interior offensive studs like Connor Williams and Robert Hunt, they also lost star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. On top of all that, I still don’t know if I fully believe in Tua Tagovailoa to overcome anyone in this conference.
New England Patriots (3-14)
This roster is head to toe bad. The wide receiver room is wide open for rookie’s Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, as well as sophomore Demario Douglas, but there are very few glimmers of hope elsewhere. Patriots fans will beg for Drake Maye to be the guy but with a roster like this, I’d let him learn for a season.
Houston Texans (11-6) #4 Seed
The Houston Texans were the heroes of the offseason and it will translate this season making them the clear cut team in the AFC South. I still think they are a year or two away from being on the level of the top teams in the AFC, but I won't be surprised if this team makes a run at it all. Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes both found themselves in the conference championship game in year two. CJ Stroud could do the same.
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-9)
The Jaguars are a solid team but they have not been able to keep up with the Texans offseason, nor done enough to take on the rest of the AFC. This team needs more around Trevor Lawrence to finally get him to break into that star quarterback group.
Indianapolis Colts (7-10)
I know the Colts went 9-8 with Gardner Minshew at the helm, but I don’t believe in Anthony Richardson yet. His ceiling is one of the highest in all of football, but it's going to take longer than most people think to reach those heights. With that being said, I love Shane Steichen and the future of this team.
Tennessee Titans (4-13)
The Titans are rolling with Will Levis this season who has shown both good and bad. Additions like Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd are decent, but new head coach Brian Callahan will need a season before this team gets rolling.
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Joe Burrow
Coach of the Year: Matt LaFleur
Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Parsons
Offensive Player of the Year: Tyreek Hill
Comeback Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Caleb Williams
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jared Verse
NFL Playoffs
AFC:
NFC:
AFC:
NFC:
AFC:
NFC:
I believe it’ll come down to an offensive battle of wits in this year's Super Bowl between Andy Reid and Sean McVay. Two extremely talented quarterbacks with special weapons. The deciding factor will come down to Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive gameplan being just enough to control the Rams. Give me the Chiefs for the NFL’s first ever three-peat.
Enjoy the season fans, it’ll be over before you know it.
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