Now that the total 2024 NFL schedule is out, it is time to predict the winners of all eight divisions!
Beneath, try predictions from our NFL employees — Ben Arthur, Greg Auman, David Helman, Henry McKenna, Geoff Schwartz, Ralph Vacchiano, Carmen Vitali, Eric D. Williams — as they decide the groups who is not going to solely make the playoffs subsequent season, but in addition host at the very least one playoff sport with an inside monitor to succeed in the Tremendous Bowl.
Right here is the breakdown:
The Dolphins may not end effectively, however they’re completely stellar out of the gate. And they’re completely a regular-season crew. So it’s simple to think about them taking the AFC East this 12 months, despite the fact that they let the division crown slip between their fingers final 12 months. Their schedule is simply so so so(!) a lot simpler than Buffalo’s. And it’s a bit bit much less treacherous than the Jets’ slate. Miami has been fine-tuning its roster and it is aware of its largest drawback is chilly climate. However even when the Dolphins battle to complete sturdy, they need to nonetheless be capable of construct a large enough result in end in first — and possibly even compete for the highest seed within the convention. — Henry McKenna
Buffalo Payments (10-7)
New York Jets (10-7)
New England Patriots (3-14)
Can the Bengals lastly keep away from an 0-2 begin to the season? The Week 2 matchup in Kansas Metropolis will make that tough, however at the very least Joe Burrow will get to open his 2024 season in opposition to a rebuilding New England crew. The schedule was all the time going to be robust due to enjoying within the nasty AFC North, however the Bengals will solely play three groups from exterior their division that had a successful file final 12 months. If Burrow can keep wholesome, there’s a giant alternative for a bounce again season. — David Helman
Baltimore Ravens (11-6)
Cleveland Browns (9-8)
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-9)
Will Lamar Jackson be a great ‘architect’ for the Ravens offense?
The reigning AFC South champions, the Texans received’t be creeping up on anybody this season. They’ve a Saturday sport plus 5 primetime showdowns, together with three straight in the course of the season from Weeks 11th of September (Thursday night time on the Aaron Rodgers-led Jets, Sunday night time vs. the Lions, Monday night time on the Cowboys) sandwiched between division video games. Houston additionally has the night time sport on Christmas day in opposition to Baltimore, a rematch of the AFC divisional spherical from final season. It caps a frightening three-game stretch (preceded by the Dolphins and Chiefs, respectively). The Texans’ energy of schedule is eye-grabbing on paper (fourth) however the reinforcements they’ve made round C.J. Stroud this offseason nonetheless offers them one of many AFC’s greatest rosters. Houston ought to safe double-digit wins for the second straight season. — Ben Arthur
Indianapolis Colts (9-8)
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
Tennessee Titans (8-9)
The Chiefs have received at the very least 11 video games in 9 of Andy Reid’s 11 seasons as head coach. They’ve received at the very least 11 video games in every of the six seasons with Patrick Mahomes because the beginning quarterback, together with their worst regular-season file of 11-6 final season. The Chiefs are higher this 12 months, including extra weapons for Mahomes whereas sustaining most of their protection from final season. They all the time play a troublesome schedule, however they get the Ravens and Bengals within the first two weeks, which favors the fast-starting Chiefs. (Mahomes is 15-4 in September.)
The Chiefs even have a pair of robust highway contests in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Alternatively, the AFC West is paired with the NFC South this season, which implies 4 winnable video games in opposition to a poor division. And there is additionally the six division video games, the place Mahomes has received 30 of 35. Regardless that I consider the Chiefs will coast by the common season, simply doing sufficient to win the division to protect their older gamers, I’ve the Chiefs going 12-5. — Geoff Schwartz
Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)
Denver Broncos (7-10)
Las Vegas Raiders (6-11)
Chiefs to host Ravens in Week 1, Bengals in Week 2
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After a disastrous, 1-6 end to final season, the Eagles want to show the web page rapidly. And it positive appears to be like just like the schedule offers them an opportunity to do it. After a troublesome opener in Brazil in opposition to the Packers, they’ve a lot simpler video games in opposition to the Falcons and Saints. Their hardest highway journey within the first seven video games is at Tampa, they usually’ve acquired an early bye (Week 5). Not all of them are simple video games, however none of these opponents are top-tier groups, giving the Eagles an actual likelihood to open sturdy. It additionally offers them an opportunity to get used to their new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and determine the very best methods to make use of their new weapon, Saquon Barkley. It’ll additionally assist that they’ll see the Panthers, Commanders and Giants of their ultimate 5 video games, making it unlikely they’ll have a late-season collapse once more. — Ralph Vacchiano
Dallas Cowboys (10-7)
New York Giants (8-9)
Washington Commanders (5-12)
The factor about successful the division is that you simply then need to play a first-place schedule the next season. That is the predicament the Lions discover themselves in. Their schedule is headlined by the Buffalo Payments, Houston Texans (sure, they belong right here), their competitors for the division within the Inexperienced Bay Packers and an NFC Championship rematch with the San Francisco 49ers. The excellent news is, the Lions ought to be up for it.
Normal supervisor Brad Holmes made sure that he shored up the secondary this offseason, buying three top-tier corners through commerce and the draft, whereas additionally offering depth to the trenches on each side of the ball. Quarterback Jared Goff was given the richest vote of confidence he may have requested for in a brand new four-year deal that makes him the second-highest paid quarterback by annual contract worth in the meanwhile and has each incentive to dwell as much as it. Dan Campbell’s guys know what it is prefer to have the Tremendous Bowl of their sights solely to have it ripped away from them — they usually’re not making an attempt to really feel that method once more this 12 months. — Carmen Vitali
The Packers are right here to be the Lions’ largest challengers. This division race is simply too near name this far out however contemplating the quantity of success Inexperienced Bay had with a first-year starter and the youngest crew within the league, I’ve to suppose they’re solely simply getting began. Supplied quarterback Jordan Love can proceed his personal ascent and the protection finally ends up residing as much as its potential beneath new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, I anticipate the Packers to be firmly within the combine for the NFC North crown in addition to staring down one other playoff run, probably a good deeper one than 2023. —Carmen Vitali
Chicago Bears (9-8)
Minnesota Vikings (8-9)
Detroit Lions ink Jared Goff to $212 million, 4-year extension
There is a massively vital month from Weeks 5-8 – each video games in opposition to the Falcons, each on quick weeks, and a sport at New Orleans, arguably the hardest three division video games in a span of 24 days. With a a lot more durable schedule than their division rivals, the Bucs have to go at the very least 2-1 in these three video games, or actually overachieve in pulling off more durable wins. Tampa Bay had by no means received back-to-back division titles of their historical past two years in the past, and now they are going for 4 in a row. Can first-year coordinator Liam Coen discover a long-missing run sport and get the Bucs’ offense again into the highest half of the league? — Greg Auman
Atlanta takes a pleasant step ahead in Raheem Morris’ first season, and Kirk Cousins ought to elevate their offense considerably after they totaled 17 passing touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 17 video games final 12 months. I’m nonetheless stunned they haven’t finished extra to improve their exterior move rush, hoping as an alternative {that a} wholesome Grady Jarrett and rookie Ruke Orhorhoro inside can create strain up the center. Can new OC Zac Robinson get greater than eight TDs out of Bijan Robinson in his second season? This division has produced just one wild card within the final seven years, however ought to sneak a second crew into the playoffs this season. — Greg Auman
New Orleans Saints (7-10)
Carolina Panthers (5-12)
Is the Michael Penix Jr. draft decide truly justifiable for Falcons?
The 49ers had a three-game shedding streak in the course of the first half of final season however nonetheless completed within the prime spot within the NFC West for a second 12 months in a row. With most of final 12 months’s frontline gamers again from a crew that misplaced the Tremendous Bowl in extra time, they’re going to make it three straight years in 2024. Brock Purdy proved he can lead a crew to the massive sport and stays on his rookie deal, permitting for San Francisco to proceed so as to add items round him. However the 49ers should shield Purdy and play higher in opposition to the run defensively. San Francisco’s opponent successful proportion from final season of .505 is tied for twelfth within the NFL. — Eric Williams
Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
Seattle Seahawks (7-10)
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