NFL season opener, division winners, and league award winner predictions for 2024

The primary full week of school soccer is within the books and amazingly Iowa has a considerably not completely unproductive offense. Welcome to the brand new world!

Extra particularly although, welcome to the primary official week of the Nationwide Soccer League. Get pleasure from time along with your family members early on as a result of now we have video games on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday on the opposite aspect of this work week (with CFB on Saturday). It actually is probably the most great time of the 12 months.

Quickly sufficient The Skinny Put up, this weekly column you might be studying between us (Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa) will function some look-backs on the NFL Sunday that was. For now although now we have one time left to look ahead, together with the Thursday night time opener.

Blissful soccer season!

Time to formally predict the division winners: Prepared, set, go

RJ:

We wouldn’t be a correct soccer enterprise if we didn’t submit our predictions for division winners in order that we might be made enjoyable of or dunk on the world when the season is all stated and performed.

Final 12 months I (examine the tapes, my colleagues will again me up) accurately predicted the Houston Texans to win the AFC South. It was a lonesome limb that I used to be on and I loved bragging about it at season’s finish.

Right here is how I see every division shaking out in 2024:

• NFC East: Dallas Cowboys
• NFC North: Inexperienced Bay Packers
• NFC South: Atlanta Falcons
• NFC West: San Francisco 49ers
• AFC East: Buffalo Payments
• AFC North: Cincinnati Bengals
• AFC South: Houston Texans
• AFC West: Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

I’ll begin on the prime and say that, sure, I’m predicting the Cowboys to change into the primary workforce to repeat as NFC East Champions in 20 years. They’ve the perfect quarterback, the perfect pass-catcher and the perfect go rusher within the division. Cream rises to the highest.

Elsewhere, whereas I acknowledge the Detroit Lions as excellent (the nationwide media is clearly throughout them) I’m not going to wager in opposition to what now we have seen from Jordan Love and the Packers. Atlanta is the straightforward decide down south and till confirmed in any other case the 49ers are kings of the west.

Within the different convention I’m driving with the Payments till the wheels of the wagon fall off and imagine that Joe Burrow restores order for the residents of the Queen Metropolis. I’ve acquired My Texans™️ repeating and Patrick Mahomes is Patrick Mahomes.

Michael:

Right here’s what I acquired:

• NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
• NFC North: Detroit Lions
• NFC South: Atlanta Falcons
• NFC West: San Francisco 49ers
• AFC East: Buffalo Payments
• AFC North: Baltimore Raves
• AFC South: Houston Texans
• AFC West: Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

The Chiefs would be the Chiefs till somebody takes the AFC West away from them.

As you’ll learn under, I’m fairly excessive on the Falcons this 12 months so I like their likelihood at successful the NFC South this 12 months.

The apparent ones are the Payments, 49ers, and Texans. Even after shedding some receivers, Josh Allen will preserve them über-competitive. Similar with CJ Stroud in Houston. The 49ers are arguably probably the most full workforce within the NFL and I can’t see anybody else in that division having the expertise to knock them off.

I see you just like the Bengals, however I just like the Ravens and their protection extra. I’ll make Joe Burrow show to me that’s he’s absolutely again from damage earlier than I begin pinning them on the prime of the AFC North. As for the NFC North, the Lions are nonetheless the workforce to beat in my view. Love’s 2023 breakout appeared extra of an exception than the rule and I like Detroit’s younger stars to be even higher with one other 12 months below their belts.

Oh, and Go Birds for the NFC East.

Predicting issues from Thursday’s opener between Kansas Metropolis and Baltimore

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• Matchup Index: Discipline Imaginative and prescient’s proprietary mannequin that identifies the largest mismatches each week, utilizing historic information to foretell future outcomes based mostly on scheme, tendency, recreation plan, and personnel.
• Betting Suggestions: A curated record of the week’s finest bets vetted by Discipline Imaginative and prescient’s proprietary mannequin and soccer specialists.
• Participant & Workforce Rankings: A novel data-informed viewpoint, that includes Discipline Imaginative and prescient’s proprietary rankings (Menace and Havoc Scores) and detailed evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of every participant and workforce.
• Knowledgeable Evaluation: Entry to the weekly weblog and e-newsletter, taking insights and suggestions from Discipline Imaginative and prescient’s mannequin and delivering them to followers with the context wanted to make knowledgeable choices.

Michael:

Per Discipline Imaginative and prescient’s matchup notes, it certain seems like that is going to be a recreation the place Lamar Jackson must use his legs extra usually than common to maintain performs alive and lengthen drives. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is thought for sending blitzes early and sometimes and sadly for the Ravens, Kansas Metropolis has a number of very athletic linebackers with notable pace and burst to actually threaten Jackson within the pocket. Each Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton like to go looking within the backfield. LJ must decide his moments and operating lanes rigorously to ensure he doesn’t open himself as much as damage.

I like their prediction of over 51 dashing yards for Jackson and I might even go additional and say he finds the tip zone at the least as soon as. On the similar time, I may also go forward and say he struggles by means of the air and finally ends up having lower than 200 yards passing. First-year Raven operating again Derrick Henry must placed on a category efficiency if the Ravens wish to depart Arrowhead Stadium with a victory.

Discipline Imaginative and prescient

RJ:

Like Michael and Discipline Imaginative and prescient I additionally imagine that Lamar goes to should get on the transfer a bit which implies that new Ravens operating again Derrick Henry could not get as many alternatives.

This isn’t to say that each Jackson and Henry can’t have productive days on the bottom, however past how stout the Chiefs protection is I feel now we have to issue within the Week 1-ness of all of it. Gamers are going to take a little bit of time to regulate to going by means of a complete recreation and although the Ravens wish to avenge numerous historical past in opposition to the Chiefs, you’ll be able to’t win the Tremendous Bowl in Week 1. Do not forget that the Detroit Lions gained on this spot a 12 months in the past and regardless of a productive season didn’t even attain the Tremendous Bowl (though they got here shut).

For what it’s price Discipline Imaginative and prescient appears to be taking a few of that into consideration and is predicting a lower-level night time for Henry.

Discipline Imaginative and prescient

I’m not courageous sufficient to lean on this prop myself, however the logic definitely checks out.

Wouldn’t it’s probably the most Chiefs factor ever for the Ravens to deliver a model new operating again into the fold in opposition to them and have it not matter in any respect?

That is Kansas Metropolis’s world and we’re all residing in it.

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Which gamers will take house 2024’s postseason accolades?

RJ:

It feels actually chalk to go along with anyone like Mahomes so I’m going to overthink this as a result of that feels acceptable.

Assuming we get a model new MVP… what about Jordan Love? A lot about successful the award is the narrative behind it and he has the big-time contract and the truth that he has lived as much as the hype when it was unimaginable for the Packers to have discovered one other quarterback. Couple that with all the love for Detroit… in the event that they take out the Lions with relative ease I might completely see this occurring.

Defensively I’ll be a homer and say that Micah Parsons is due. Even should you don’t suppose that that is attainable, permit me to color you an image:

• Micah Parsons wins Defensive Participant of the 12 months
• This may be the primary time he has gained it
• Proper earlier than critical contract negotiations
• With the Dallas Cowboys, in fact
• Once they might have performed it this previous offseason
• And the whole lot we simply lived by means of with CeeDee Lamb (and possibly Dak Prescott) repeats

I’ll throw the Jets a bone and say that Garrett Wilson is the first beneficiary of all Aaron Rodgers’ consideration to the tune of an OPOY marketing campaign. Give me Caleb Williams for Offensive Rookie of the 12 months in probably the most chalk factor of all time. I’ll take Jared Verse on the defensive aspect of that coin as a result of the nationwide media loves something Rams that they will get their arms on.

Michael:

It simply feels bizarre to suppose Mahomes would go multiple season with out taking house an MVP award. That’s how good he’s year-in and year-out. After Jackson gained it in 2023, I feel Mahomes finally ends up popping off with new speedy wideouts Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown. Oh, and Kelce remains to be taking part in.

The method for the 49ers shouldn’t change in 2024. They’ll feed McCaffrey and he’ll as soon as once more rating a billion touchdowns. Similar factor with Watt and the Steelers protection. They’ll be a tricky workforce however Watt would be the shining star who has not solely a knack for getting sacks, but additionally making splash performs with pressured fumbles or interceptions.

After lacking most of final 12 months with a torn Achilles, I feel Cousins will feast in Atlanta with weapons like Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson, establishing a powerful rebound 12 months en path to successful CPOY.

Sticking with the Falcons, I’ve Raheem Morris successful Coach of the 12 months behind a powerful and constant offense mixed with a brand new revamped protection that features Justin Simmons and Matthew Judon.

Caleb Williams already appears to be like just like the runaway favourite for Offensive Rookie of the 12 months. The ability gamers round him are elite for any quarterback. Wideouts DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, rookie first-rounder Rome Odunze, and operating again De’Andre Swift look actually good on paper.

Lastly, rookie defensive sort out Byron Murphy is my decide for Defensive Rookie of the 12 months. Simply in his preseason snaps, he appears to be like like a fully handful and I feel I like him as a darkish horse candidate over among the larger names at edge rusher like Dallas Turner or Laiatu Latu. Beneath new head coach Mike Macdonald, I feel he thrives instantly.

• MVP: QB Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
• Offensive Participant of the 12 months: RB Christian McCaffrey
• Defensive Participant of the 12 months: EDGE TJ Watt
• Comeback Participant of the 12 months: QB Kirk Cousins, Falcons
• Coach of the 12 months: Raheem Morris, Falcons
• Offensive Rookie of the 12 months: QB Caleb Williams, Bears
• Defensive Rookie of the 12 months: DT Byron Murphy, Seahawks

Which 2023 playoff workforce(s) will fail to make the postseason in 2024?

Michael:

One workforce I don’t see making the playoffs in 2024 is the Inexperienced Bay Packers. I truthfully imagine Jordan Love’s sturdy season a 12 months in the past was extra of a fluke than what we must always come to count on within the coming years. He was a first-year starter with considered one of, if not, the youngest group of ability place gamers round him. Not solely did it seem to be Love and his supporting forged performed effectively above themselves all 12 months, however the Vikings not having Kirk Cousins for many of the 12 months additionally helped them glide by means of the remainder of the NFC North.

In 2024, I count on Like to be good, however not nice. Similar factor goes for his supporting forged, together with new operating again Josh Jacobs. I feel they find yourself 9-8 and simply miss out.

One different workforce I’ll identify is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Am I dumb for trying to depend out a Mike Tomlin-coached workforce? Most likely, however I simply don’t see the offense being all that a lot better below both Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. I imagine they benefitted from Joe Burrow’s damage within the division and a weak AFC outdoors of the anticipated groups normally on the prime. Positive, they might find yourself above .500 identical to Tomlin all the time does, however the remainder of the convention appears improved (clearly barring a bunch of extreme accidents to key gamers once more).

RJ:

To be sincere the straightforward decide right here is the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’ll soar all the way in which on that bandwagon.

Readers of The Skinny Put up could not know this, however Michael appears to be like loads like Baker Mayfield so he could also be upset at this… however I’ll add the Buccaneers to my record as effectively. The Falcons are prepared and going to be the workforce who wins that terrible division.

If I’ve to shoot for the celebrities and marvel who else might fall off… how about each the Cowboys and Eagles? Everybody is aware of what a catastrophe of an offseason that Dallas had, however bear in mind final season’s second-half collapse from Philly? Inform me it’s unimaginable that they each flounder and that the Commanders sneak in for a division title the way in which that they’ve performed the final two instances they gained the NFC East (2015 and 2020).