Dynasties are enjoyable if you’re rooting for the staff that has one. I really feel very fortunate that the best NFL dynasty ever was right here in New England and I had the prospect to dwell by way of it.
Nevertheless, in the previous few years, the Patriots have light into irrelevance and a brand new dynasty has taken their place: the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The Chiefs have received 3 of the final 5 Tremendous Bowls, and made it to 4 of them. They’ve made the AFC Championship each season since Patrick Mahomes turned beginning QB, and solely Joe Burrow’s Bengals and Brady’s Patriots have defeated them in that sport.
Over the previous few years, many AFC groups have constructed up their rosters in hopes of a Tremendous Bowl, however have continued to fall brief to the Chiefs. The Bengals might have beat the Chiefs as soon as, however they fell brief the subsequent 12 months. The Payments seemingly misplaced their window to compete with the Chiefs.
Now, groups just like the Texans, Dolphins, and Ravens are on the rise, however the Chiefs might stand of their manner. Can any of them recover from the hump and beat out KC for a Tremendous Bowl? Hold studying to seek out out what I feel. Let’s first begin off with my divisional predictions.
AFC East
- Miami Dolphins (13-4, #1 seed in AFC)
New York Jets (9-8)
Buffalo Payments (8-9)
New England Patriots (6-11)
The Payments managed to win this division final 12 months, however the reign of the Payments atop the AFC East has appeared to have run its course. The period of WR Stefon Diggs right here in Buffalo that began this 4-year stretch of dominance is over. Along with dropping Diggs, the Payments misplaced many large names within the secondary corresponding to CB Tre’Davious White, S Jordan Poyer, and S Micah Hyde. QB Josh Allen can not get this staff again to the playoffs on his personal.
I’ve the Dolphins taking on because the staff to beat right here. QB Tua Tagovailoa took a big step ahead this previous season and earned himself an extension in Miami. The WR duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will assist him proceed to thrive, and an already robust protection has continued so as to add large names. That is more and more changing into a really properly rounded staff.
The Jets and Patriots ought to enhance upon their earlier seasons, however not considerably sufficient to make the playoffs. I don’t see QB Aaron Rodgers being an enormous distinction maker in his age 40 season, however he ought to get the Jets a pair extra wins. Regardless of an anemic offense, the Pats got here very shut in a lot of their losses final season, so even a slight offensive enchancment may get them some wins with their protection protecting them in most video games.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens (11-6, #4 seed in AFC)
Cleveland Browns (11-6, #5 seed in AFC)
Cincinnati Bengals (10-7, #7 seed in AFC)
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8)
This may as soon as once more be the most effective and best divisions within the NFL. Every of those 4 groups have important strengths. Mike Tomlin can by no means appear to have a dropping season. The Browns fielded one of many league’s finest defenses final 12 months and most of its personnel is again once more this 12 months. The Bengals have what’s arguably the league’s finest QB-WR-WR combo in Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, however their protection might be a weak level.
I nonetheless really feel the Ravens are extra properly rounded than some other staff right here although, which inclines me to select them to win the division. Like Cleveland, they’ve had one of many higher defenses in recent times. Like Cincinnati, they’ve an incredible quarterback (Lamar Jackson) with some dependable weapons round him (Mark Andrews, Zay Flowers, Derrick Henry, and so on). Like Pittsburgh, they’ve a seasoned veteran and very long time winner at head coach in John Harbaugh. This staff has the items to not solely win the division, but additionally make a run within the playoffs. Their 6 losses come partially attributable to the truth that this division is extra aggressive than most others. Simple wins are nonexistent right here within the AFC North.
AFC South
Houston Texans (12-5, #3 seed in AFC)
Jacksonville Jaguars (10-7)
Indianapolis Colts (7-10)
Tennessee Titans (6-11)
After a shock division win, the Texans added a giant title at large receiver in Stefon Diggs. Given Diggs helped the Payments in a number of playoff runs, the combo of Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell ought to permit QB C.J. Stroud to flourish and strike concern in opposing secondaries. The Texans protection may use work, however I feel an improved report is a reasonably protected wager for them.
Regardless of a collapse final season, I nonetheless have the Jaguars in a detailed second right here, simply barely lacking the playoffs. I really feel final 12 months’s struggles are partially attributable to the truth that WR Christian Kirk went down leaving Calvin Ridley on an island most video games. With Ridley being swapped out for 2 succesful receivers in Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr., I think defenses can have a tougher time determining the right way to navigate this iteration of the Jags WR corps. It is a large 12 months for QB Trevor Lawrence to point out the world what he’s able to, and I’m assured he’ll achieve this. If solely this AFC wasn’t so aggressive.
However, I’m hesitant to place the Colts or Titans all that top as we can’t be positive how a lot Will Levis and Anthony Richardson will develop this 12 months. I don’t precisely see both growing sufficient in a single 12 months to be a sport changer, so at finest they are going to be outlined by their environment. Each of those groups have first rate offensive builds, however not fairly as much as par with AFC playoff requirements, therefore their beneath .500 information.
AFC West
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (12-5, #2 seed in AFC)
Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, #6 seed in AFC)
Denver Broncos (5-12)
Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
On paper, the Chiefs look even stronger than final 12 months, including Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy to an enhancing WR room that can ideally assist QB Patrick Mahomes look even higher. It’s a tricky schedule for the Chiefs although, and it’s unlikely they make it by way of this season with out some bumps within the street.
In my guide, the 2023 Chargers had been merely a poorly coached staff. Whereas the offense did lose some large names, QB Justin Herbert could make nearly any receiver look good, and the youth motion may really be good for them. As well as, with Brandon Staley out the door, I anticipate higher execution out of a protection that also accommodates large names like Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Derwin James, and Eric Kendricks.
The Broncos and Raiders don’t almost have the QB expertise to compete with Mahomes and Herbert, leaving them on this division’s basement. The Broncos at the least have some notable defensive expertise corresponding to star CB Patrick Surtain II, and that ought to maintain them in an honest variety of video games. The Raiders don’t precisely encourage confidence on both facet of the ball, and I feel they might be on a quick monitor to the #1 choose (or at the least a head-on battle for it).
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles (12-5, #2 seed in NFC)
Dallas Cowboys (11-6, #5 seed in NFC)
Washington Commanders (4-13)
New York Giants (3-14)
It wouldn’t be the NFC East if there wasn’t a brand new division champion yearly. It’s a pivotal 12 months for the Cowboys with QB Dak Prescott and edge rusher Micah Parsons due for extensions quickly after WR CeeDee Lamb acquired his. Nevertheless, I’ve the Eagles bouncing again from a late 2023 collapse. The addition of RB Saquon Barkley will add a brand new dimension to the offense. In the meantime, I feel the secondary will make the changes mandatory to maximise the expertise they’ve on the place (the companies of rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean must also assist issues). The Cowboys ought to nonetheless snag a wild card right here although.
It was a tough 2023 for the Commanders and Giants, and I don’t actually see both staff making a lot noise this 12 months both. It should take time for the Commanders to develop QB Jayden Daniels, and it doesn’t assist issues that his environment are lower than stellar. The Giants are arguably even farther from competition. They’ve a large (pun meant) query mark at QB which will solely be solved by a excessive 2025 draft choose. I might be unsuitable, however I don’t assume rookie receiver Malik Nabers is sufficient to save QB Daniel Jones from irrelevance.
NFC North
Chicago Bears (10-7) (#3 seed in NFC)
Detroit Lions (8-9)
Inexperienced Bay Packers (7-10)
Minnesota Vikings (5-12)
This will probably be a decent division for positive. With robust rosters throughout, it’ll primarily come all the way down to QB play. I don’t anticipate QBs Jared Goff or Jordan Like to match their performances from down the stretch in 2023, which may trigger the Lions and Packers to take steps again on offense. The Lions might have a whole lot of offensive expertise round Goff, however their protection nonetheless offers me pause. Quite the opposite, the Packers ought to be a robust defensive staff, however and not using a true WR1 I don’t see Love growing a lot additional than he did a 12 months in the past.
In the meantime, the Bears, who had been already 7-10 with QB Justin Fields, took generational expertise Caleb Williams #1 total and bolstered the offense round him by including WR Keenan Allen, WR Rome Odunze, and RB D’Andre Swift. Even a marginal offensive enchancment ought to permit the Bears to compete for this division, and with the Lions and Packers falling behind, I’ve them successful it. The Vikings received’t actually be an element right here with out competent QB play, and their protection issues me as properly.
NFC South
New Orleans Saints (9-8) (#4 seed in NFC)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
Atlanta Falcons (7-10)
Carolina Panthers (5-12)
The Saints carry again one of the crucial gifted defenses within the league, so I feel they’ll maintain their very own right here regardless of offensive shortcomings. I don’t actually see anyone else on this division outpacing them. The Buccaneers would want an encore of what QB Baker Mayfield did final 12 months (one thing tells me that received’t occur). The Falcons had a shot to take over right here after signing QB Kirk Cousins, however their poor draft alternatives will possible catch as much as them.
The Panthers are more likely to stay within the basement right here. Whereas I do anticipate slight enchancment from QB Bryce Younger and the offense, it received’t be sufficient to dethrone anyone else on this division.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers (15-2, #1 seed in NFC)
Seattle Seahawks (10-7, #6 seed in NFC)
Los Angeles Rams (10-7, #7 seed in NFC)
Arizona Cardinals (5-12)
The 49ers might not have a famous person quarterback, however they’ve the firepower at just about each different place to make up for it. RB Christian McCaffrey, TE George Kittle, LT Trent Williams, ED Nick Bosa, and LB Fred Warner all stay on this stacked roster. This could result in one of many league’s finest seasons.
The Seahawks might not have fairly that stage of star energy, however stay a reasonably well-rounded staff that ought to be within the combine for a playoff spot. I’ve them neck and neck with the Rams, who return just about everyone notable from final 12 months not named Aaron Donald.
The Cardinals stay within the basement right here, however like Carolina, ought to enhance in comparison with final 12 months. The protection added just a few items, and a full season of QB Kyler Murray ought to assist. Whereas he’s not a famous person, he serves as an improve over the QB scenario early final season for Arizona.
Playoff Bracket
Within the AFC, the Chiefs have dominated over the past 6 years. Nevertheless, I’ve QB C.J. Stroud and the Texans taking them down and making all of it the way in which to Tremendous Bowl LIX. The Texans arguably have probably the most stacked offense in all the NFL, and I anticipate their protection to carry its personal as properly. The sport in opposition to KC may go both manner, however I really feel Stroud goes to take his sport to the subsequent stage this 12 months.
On the opposite facet of the AFC bracket, I’ve QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens making one other run, forcing the Dolphins right into a one and executed exit alongside the way in which. Nevertheless, Stroud’s supporting solid far exceeds Jackson’s, and that can present within the AFC title sport.
The NFC is as soon as once more weaker than the AFC this 12 months, however I’ve one of many few elite QBs within the convention, Jalen Hurts, main the Eagles again to the Tremendous Bowl. Their path will take them previous the new-look Bears and over the powerhouse 49ers (I anticipate an improved Eagles protection to get to Brock Purdy this 12 months).
That may go away us with an Eagles-Texans Tremendous Bowl. This sport ought to be extra thrilling than Tremendous Bowl LVIII and be stuffed with offensive firepower. Ultimately, I’ve the Texans successful as Philly’s secondary could also be improved, however 3 standout WRs could also be a bit a lot for them to deal with.
This 12 months may go in quite a lot of totally different instructions, however I feel the Texans improved greater than most groups within the league this offseason and if anybody goes to dethrone Mahomes and the Chiefs, it could be them. Be happy to remark along with your ideas, and I hope soccer season goes properly for no matter staff you’re rooting for!
