Sep 310 min read

Rejoice

Rejoice! The weather is changing, the leaves are turning, and football is officially BACK!

College Football delivered the early goods to get us prepped and situated for this week... the opening week of the NFL. The noise meter will already have some filling come Thursday's opening banger in Kansas City that is sure to bring thrill. A quick piece here to get us prepped for the '24 campaign. Hit cha with some regular season predictions, week-1 predictions, and banter on the rookie signal callers that are being thrown to the wolves in the opening week. Lets rock and roll.

Just like that; we have reached the opening of the 2024 NFL campaign. Feels like we blinked and poof; the summer is gone. It's always hard to complain when we poof right into football season. The previous campaign was a thrill-ride; expect an even grander thrill in 2024. Several teams got significantly stronger. Coaching staffs got booted, cleaned out, and improved. Previously injured stars are back, healthy, and ready to get back to what they have missed dearly. The script is written nicely; soon it's time to watch it unravel.

Going into week-1 of an NFL season trying to predict the script is a pointless attempt of scientific method. I can make some hypothesis, form some predictions, but we all know ANYTHING can happen. Last year people went into the final game of the opening week thinkin' Aaron Rodgers and the Jets would come out as new certified contenders in the AFC against the Bills. Rightfully so. That all went up in flames however, when Rodgers went down with a season-ending injury. So predictions here in week-1 don't hold much weight, that I get, but I will certainly have fun and entertain you with some predictions for the season.

I mentioned on X earlier about the NFL being quite predictable in comparison to the other three in the Big-4. When you look at the 32 squads; I feel it's easy to guess which have realistic chances of making the playoffs. That being because of the lack of skill depth across NFL starting quarterbacks, and the lackluster coaching trees across the league. Thankfully, 'chises made some solid hire/fire decisions over the off-season. Rather good head coaching changes, or solid coordinator hires- the staffs have elevated. I love Jim Harbaugh returning to the NFL. It's good for football. I still feel it's easy to predict the playoff hunters for '24, but predicting the division winners created more difficulty than the difficulty faced last season. Here's what I am thinking going into the opening week:

I can sense the barkin' already. I'll tell ya, I had some real difficulty with the AFC East, AFC South, and NFC South. The rest were quick, and are predictions I am quite confident with. Despite confidence, there is a few major players that can make those confident picks turn to a palm on the head real-real quick. Let me start with the AFC's side of the table.

AFC Division Predictions:

Spagz and Big Red are back with Chris Jones and Patrick Mahomes; which means the AFC West belongs to the Chiefs... until further notice. 2024 is not 2023, however. With Harbaugh and his newly-built staff, Chargers should be back to being a player in the division, and a problem for the Chiefs to continue their AFC West record long streak of division crowns (currently 8) after an extremely disappointing 5-12 season. Chargers roster going from Brandon Staley and his handcuffed staff, to Jim Harbaugh and his stout staff is going to do wonders for Herbert and co. Denver and Vegas will either regress or remain in the 8-9 tier. I am high on Pierce motivating the Silver & Black, and the arrival of Luke Getty as offensive play-caller (OC), but winning the division is highly unlikely in my opinion.

I think the AFC North will come down to the Bengals and Ravens. Joe Burrow should be on a major revenge tour returning from injury (10 GP in '23). I don't doubt the Ravens winning the division. I am excited to see Derrick Henry, his production is going to be important with Baltimore not upgrading, nor bolstering at wide receiver. I gotta see how Zach Orr does takin' over for Macdonald. The defense is stout, with Orr being a huge part of that (promoted within). I think he fares well, but still need to see it. Play-calling can be a haunted task for most. I rock with the Bengals with how much they have to lose. A revenge-filled Burrow should make for a good season for the Bengals. If Cincy can build a run game and the o-line stays intact to keep Joey B healthy... then the Cats win the North. Steelers can be a dark-horse; Browns I can't see the vision. The seat is hot for Stefanski and co. Lets see what Ken Dorsey can offer... I am not confident; not with Chubb back on the shelf.

AFC South looks amped up and ready to raise their comp' top to bottom. All four teams progressed and elevated over the offseason with the bottomless Titans (5-12) elevating its roster the most. I'm rocking with the Texans with confidence. Not only did Houston add some key offseason additions, I believe DeMeco Ryans and his staff are ready to reach the next level; similar to Detroit last season (maybe even Detroit this season...). Texans win the South if health is on its side. I don't see some crazy sophomore slump with C.J. Stroud. Not with retaining Slowik, bolstering the RB room, and adding Diggs.

East was super hard to predict between the Bills, Dolphins, and Jets. Those three are pretty even in my opinion. I would love to pick the Bills solely because of Josh Allen, but wow has Beane wrecked that roster. The secondary is nasty. The weapons for Allen seem to get less and less every year. Buffalo also has a tough schedule. I'm torn on betting on the Bills with confidence. With the Jets; they can be a problem if Rodgers is healthy and back to form. New York's roster is loaded. I passed on predicting them to win the East because of Saleh and the injury chances- they are still a dark horse of mine. Rodgers has stellar work ethic and drive; I don't see the late-age severe injury ruining his final hoorah in the NFL. Rodgers will play well if he is healthy; with Garrett Wilson reapin' the rewards. Could be any one of the three; I am rocking with the Fins. It's now or never McDaniel (screw the extension). Show you can win with the roster you have. A roster that is ready to be a title contender; just lacking the moves to reach the echelon. Bills have declined- take advantage.

NFC Division Predictions:

When I look at the seven playoff spotters from '23 out of the NFC, I see those same seven makin' up the blue side on the '24 bracket. NFC South gives off enough sketchy vibes to throw a twist; outside of the South things may remain similar to how they ended last campaign. NFC East will be between the Eagles & Cowboys again. I don't see Dan Quinn and co. elevating the Commanders from 4 wins to anything over 6. Not with a rookie QB project (that's what Daniels is until further notice). Giants upgraded in the trenches on defense, but have a secondary that looks to be pure barbecue chicken loomin' to be cooked up. I like the Eagles takin' the crown when I compare their schedule to the Cowboys' schedj.

I expect Dan Campbell's Lions to make some more history: win the North for consecutive seasons. It would be the first time Detroit accomplished that feat; the final team of the four left to do it. Won't be too easy, however. The division saw each team finish .412 or better for just the 2nd time (2007) since the inaugural season of the NFC North in '02. It's hard for me to think we see that again in the new campaign. I'm leaning towards Caleb Williams producing off the bat, but I won't vouch for the Bears with Eberflus still holdin' the reins. They can't elevate until that toxin is removed; I swear by that (blog creates real receipts!). Vikings? They likely decline. Solid defensive additions in the offseason, but not nearly enough to save the demise.

Out west looks to be the same theme as the East, and the same theme as last season: two teams fighting for the crown with a third keeping short distance. Rams and 49ers should be the two duking it out; with the Seahawks keeping close distance. I can't see Seattle declining from 9-8... Seahawks are actually a dark horse of mine. I am excited for the Macdonald era- I just need to see it play out in year-1 before placing any bets of confidence. Regarding the desert, I liked some of the things Gannon had cookin' for the Cardinals last season- he coached better than I thought he would. They just don't have any of the pieces to their puzzle. Harrison Jr. is a good start to get them some positive attention. Fitzgerald days 2.0 in Arizona... the days without Warner and Palmer that is.

Last but not, ok, the least- NFC South. South has elevated, in a sense. Elevated, sure, but the moves are moves that still come with a grind of the teeth. Buccaneers are the safest pick as they are runnin' back last season with the same pieces. Falcons have the potential to prove my pick wrong; Panthers will look more organized under Canales; and the Saints have some potential on the O with new coordinator Klint Kubiak. So who the hell knows what will happen across the NFC South this season. I don't see the Panthers making a +5 win jump, or anything along that sphere; I do believe they will reduce the -180 points differential (31st) from '23. Canales is a solid leader and already has made strides in morale and spirit behind the scenes in Charlotte. Still, Panthers will not be contesting for a division crown.

I could be completely wrong on my predictions. The joy of what I do; the receipts will always be here if I am wrong. It's going to be a hectic and thrilling season on the griddy. NFL is keen on delivering some shock throughout the season. 2024 will be no different. Here is my full playoff bracket predictions with the seeds (oh boy):

Rookie QBs being thrown to the wolves in WK-1

If you know me, you know that I hate rookie QBs starting from the get-go. Nothing will ever stop franchises and coaching staffs of doing it, so it's whatever at this point. We have three young rookie cats getting the nod in the opening week: Caleb Williams (CHI), Jayden Daniels (WAS), and Bo Nix (DEN). Three of the six first-round signal callers are being thrown right to the wolves. May the football gods be with them.

Gracefully, no primetime action or none of that. Sunday is the day. Williams will lead the Bears against the Titans in Soldier, while Bo Nix travels to the 12th Man in Seattle, with Daniels travelin' to Tampa to take on Baker Mayfield and the Bucs. Both Nix and Daniels are going to feel what I mean by being thrown to the wolves. Marchin' the Broncos in your debut inside the haunted Lumen Field (CenturyLink)? Mmm... good-luck young cat.

Not an easy debut for Nix nor Daniels. I am quick to predict that they will struggle on Sunday. The league, and Bo, are about to feel the new regime under Macdonald in loud-loud fashion in Seattle. Poor Bo is going to feel it on Sunday. Daniels' situation is really no different. Daniels debuts against a top defensive mind in Todd Bowles. TB's defense took some hits; looking weaker than last season, but has a strong secondary that hopes to give enough time for the new defensive front to progress and wreck havoc on Daniels and Kingsbury. Won't be an easy day for the rook and returning play-caller Kingsbury; who got smashed out of the league into a college advisor role.

Williams will feel less pressure in terms of the landscape, debuting in a home-opener, but his pressure meter is still full and pouring out. Comes with the territory he is in. I have been public on Williams failing in the NFL. I'll shelf all that here and talk on his potential and expectations. Williams has some major weapons around him to start his career. A huge plus. He should perform well in week-1, right?

Titans have elevated their defense in a huge way; bringing out Sneed and Awuzie will have Williams feelin' the big leagues quick. Jeffery Simmons is back and ready to welcome the rook to the league as well. It will be about limiting the mistakes and reading the defense for Williams. Let the weapons open up the game for you. I think he plays well, despite my constant degrade. I hope Eberflus game-plans around Swift; Moore; and Kmet. Let Odunze and Williams get comfy; ease 'em in.

Send a quick one in the air to the pigskin lords; we don't need them droppin' down no injury bugs in week-1 (or this season). We salute; we salute. No injuries, please! We saw some major stat-O-mania in '23, this season has the same potential and star power if the stars stay off the shelf. No injuries for stats and of course for the sake of standings and having a strong playoff bracket. A healthy A-Rodg and Joe Burrow is GOOD for football. Keep them healthy football lords!

So, week-1. We have a decently-strong slate of games to kickoff the campaign. The primetime wheel is ultra-exciting. Exciting? Psh. I really mean THRILLING. Again, please no BS football lords. No injuries. No more players gettin' shot in broad daylight. Just let us have good football when it's scheduled to bring the noise! Here is the primetime slate; my picks are shown by the lightning bolts:

What an awesome 4-game set. All four are worthy playoff matchups (conference aside). Action Jackson looks to seek revenge and improve his 1-4 record against the Mahomes led Chiefs to start things off; Packers and Eagles travel through the favela to continue their rivalry in Brazil; Stafford and Goff are set to write another thrilling chapter; and the return of A-Rodg takes place under the lights in Levi's. Major-major noise alert. Such a good slate, that the Sunday afternoon games are quite bleak.

We do have a few solid matchups outside of primetime. Don't feel as if I am being a total let down with that statement above. I'm talkin' three intra-division matchups, plus an air-raid war in South Beach between the Jags and Fins. Vegas welcomes Jim Harbaugh back to the NFL & Anthony Richardson returns to confront the '23 ROTY Stroud, this time as THE feature quarterback for Indy. The rest of the matchups will make fantasy football fun. Here are my full week-1 Sunday pick 'ems:

Just two more sleeps folks. Two more sleeps and we flip the NFL page to chapter 105. I can't tame my excitement. Similar to College Football, we should be in for a historic season on the griddy. I know I am ready for the noise to play out. Are you ready? Rejoice pigskin fans... football is officially BACK. Run it up!

Rejoice

AFC Division Predictions:

NFC Division Predictions:

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