OTA’s have begun meaning we are a week closer to the 2024 NFL season being in full swing. By the second week of June, all 32 teams will have started their mandatory minicamps and preseason will follow shortly after. We’re still 99 days away until the regular season officially starts but it’s never too early to drop predictions for the upcoming year. Here are four bold predictions for the 2024 NFL season.
2024 NFL Season Bold Predictions
Jets Win The AFC East
It’s not ridiculous to believe the New York Jets can win the division. They were playing musical chairs with their quarterback room last season and still managed to finish with a 7-10 record. They’ll get a healthy Aaron Rodgers which instantly makes them better than a seven-win team. They dominated the offseason by adding Haason Reddick, Javon Kinlaw, and Chuck Clark to a defense that finished third in total defense last season. The offensive end is where the question mark remains but they’ve added Tyron Smith and Mike Williams in free agency. Both of them have been ridiculed by injuries but if they stay healthy they’ll help elevate the offense. They also drafted Olu Fashanu, Malachi Corley, and Braelon Allen who could all play big roles for the Jets offense.
As of now, the Buffalo Bills are still in control of the division. However, losing Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis is a huge hit to their offense and their roster isn’t a Super Bowl-caliber roster compared to other AFC teams. They will rely heavily on Josh Allen being Superman but that won’t be enough to power the Bills to another division title. The Miami Dolphins could be the biggest threat but they haven’t proved they’re ready to get over the hump. In two consecutive seasons, they’ve crumbled in December while the division was in their hands. Until they prove they can close the season out, the door is open for the Jets. So yes, the Jets will win their first division title since 2002.
The Falcons Make It To The Divisional Round
If you aren’t on the Atlanta Falcons bandwagon now is the time to start. The Falcons should win an easy NFC South which automatically places them as a top-four seed in the NFC. They also have the easiest schedule in the NFL. Their first three opponents are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Kansas City Chiefs. In week nine they get the Dallas Cowboys and after that, it should be smooth sailing. From week 10 to week 18 they won’t play a single opponent that had a winning record last year. There may be slippage along the way and they could lose two or three winnable games. However, with just a glance at the schedule, they could be a 13-win team.
It could take a few games for Kirk Cousins and new head coach Raheem Morris to get things rolling. They have a young and talented roster that was misused last season. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson are all expected to have superstar-like seasons thanks to Cousins getting the most out of his playmakers. The Falcons haven’t had any success since their last playoff appearance in 2017 and have dealt with six consecutive losing seasons. Cousins will bring a new fire and swagger to the city of Atlanta and they could be an NFC powerhouse.
The Colts Make The Playoffs
The truth is, the Houston Texans Cinderella story would’ve never happened if the Indianapolis Colts converted on fourth down. This team was a crucial fourth-down drop away from being in the playoffs last season and was competitive all season without their star quarterback Anthony Richardson and Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor. They finished with a 9-8 record and found a gem in rookie wide receiver Josh Downs. Going into year two under Shane Steichen’s system expect another leap from the Colts. They didn’t make flashy free agency moves but they retained a lot of their key internal free agents such as Michael Pittman Jr and Kenny Moore II. They also had a sneaky good draft, especially with their first two selections, Laiatu Latu and Adonai Mitchell.
The Colts won’t win their division, but have a good chance at finishing in second place behind the Texans. Their win total for 2024 is 8.5 but they should be better than an eight win team. If they’re able to remain healthy throughout the season they could be dangerous and sneak up on a lot of teams. Don’t be surprised if the Colts are fighting for a playoff spot in early January.
Chicago In, Green Bay Out
The Chicago Bears will make the playoffs and the Green Bay Packers will miss out, here’s why.
The Bears arguably had the best offseason out of all 32 teams. They retained Jaylon Johnson who was their top priority heading into the offseason. Their roster underwent a complete makeover with the additions of D’Andre Swift, Keenan Allen, and Kevin Byard in free agency. They then drafted Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze to an already-loaded roster. The Bears won’t necessarily need Williams to play on an MVP level. If Williams can just take care of the ball and rely on his playmakers the Bears should be able to play their way into a playoff spot.
Now for the Packers, last year’s success was quite a surprise maybe even for their fan base. In year one without Rodgers and other key departures such as Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Adrian Amos, etc. they over-accomplished. Jordan Love had a “Rodgers-esque” season, they finished with a 9-8 record and almost pulled off an upset in the Divisional Round. However, this year they won’t sneak up on teams like they did last season. Six of their opponents were playoff teams last season and the other teams they will face have all improved over the offseason. The Packers will have a good year but not good enough for a playoff spot.
Main Image: © Danielle Parhizkaran / USA TODAY NETWORK
