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 together with your family members early on as a result of we’ve got video games on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday on the opposite aspect of this work week (with CFB on Saturday). It really is probably the most fantastic time of the 12 months.

Quickly sufficient The Skinny Submit, this weekly column you’re studying between us (Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa) will function some look-backs on the NFL Sunday that was. For now although we’ve got one time left to look ahead, together with the Thursday evening opener.

Glad 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 finished.

Final 12 months I (verify 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 turn into the primary workforce to repeat as NFC East Champions in 20 years. They’ve one of the best quarterback, one of the best pass-catcher and one of the best 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 guess towards what we’ve got seen from Jordan Love and the Packers. Atlanta is the simple 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 obtained My Texans™️ repeating and Patrick Mahomes is Patrick Mahomes.

Michael:

Right here’s what I obtained:

• 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 profitable the NFC South this 12 months.

The apparent ones are the Payments, 49ers, and Texans. Even after shedding some receivers, Josh Allen will hold them über-competitive. Identical 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 totally again from harm 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: Area Imaginative and prescient’s proprietary mannequin that identifies the largest mismatches each week, utilizing historic knowledge to foretell future outcomes based mostly on scheme, tendency, recreation plan, and personnel.
• Betting Suggestions: A curated listing of the week’s greatest bets vetted by Area Imaginative and prescient’s proprietary mannequin and soccer consultants.
• Participant & Group Rankings: A novel data-informed standpoint, that includes Area Imaginative and prescient’s proprietary rankings (Menace and Havoc Rankings) and detailed evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of every participant and workforce.
• Professional Evaluation: Entry to the weekly weblog and e-newsletter, taking insights and suggestions from Area Imaginative and prescient’s mannequin and delivering them to followers with the context wanted to make knowledgeable selections.

Michael:

Per Area Imaginative and prescient’s matchup notes, it certain appears like that is going to be a recreation the place Lamar Jackson must use his legs extra typically than common to maintain performs alive and prolong 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 working lanes rigorously to verify he doesn’t open himself as much as harm.

I like their prediction of over 51 dashing yards for Jackson and I’d even go additional and say he finds the tip zone not less than as soon as. On the similar time, I may also go forward and say he struggles by the air and finally ends up having lower than 200 yards passing. First-year Raven working again Derrick Henry must placed on a category efficiency if the Ravens need to go away Arrowhead Stadium with a victory.

Area Imaginative and prescient

RJ:

Like Michael and Area Imaginative and prescient I additionally imagine that Lamar goes to must get on the transfer a bit which implies that new Ravens working 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 we’ve got 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 a whole recreation and regardless that the Ravens need to avenge quite a lot of historical past towards the Chiefs, you possibly can’t win the Tremendous Bowl in Week 1. Keep in mind 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 value Area Imaginative and prescient appears to be taking a few of that into consideration and is predicting a lower-level evening for Henry.

Area Imaginative and prescient

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

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

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

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Which gamers will take house 2024’s postseason accolades?

RJ:

It feels actually chalk to go together with any person like Mahomes so I’m going to overthink this as a result of that feels applicable.

Assuming we get a model new MVP… what about Jordan Love? A lot about profitable 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 inconceivable 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 in case you don’t suppose that that is attainable, permit me to color you an image:

• Micah Parsons wins Defensive Participant of the Yr
• 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 finished it this previous offseason
• And every part we simply lived by with CeeDee Lamb (and perhaps 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 Yr 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’ll get their arms on.

Michael:

It simply feels bizarre to suppose Mahomes would go a couple of 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 continues to be enjoying.

The system for the 49ers mustn’t change in 2024. They’ll feed McCaffrey and he’ll as soon as once more rating a billion touchdowns. Identical factor with Watt and the Steelers protection. They’ll be a troublesome 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 robust rebound 12 months en path to profitable CPOY.

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

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

Lastly, rookie defensive sort out Byron Murphy is my decide for Defensive Rookie of the Yr. Simply in his preseason snaps, he seems like a completely 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. Underneath new head coach Mike Macdonald, I feel he thrives instantly.

• MVP: QB Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
• Offensive Participant of the Yr: RB Christian McCaffrey
• Defensive Participant of the Yr: EDGE TJ Watt
• Comeback Participant of the Yr: QB Kirk Cousins, Falcons
• Coach of the Yr: Raheem Morris, Falcons
• Offensive Rookie of the Yr: QB Caleb Williams, Bears
• Defensive Rookie of the Yr: 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 should always come to anticipate within the coming years. He was a first-year starter with one among, if not, the youngest group of ability place gamers round him. Not solely did it look like Love and his supporting forged performed properly above themselves all 12 months, however the Vikings not having Kirk Cousins for many of the 12 months additionally helped them glide by the remainder of the NFC North.

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

One different workforce I’ll title is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Am I dumb for making an attempt to depend out a Mike Tomlin-coached workforce? In all probability, however I simply don’t see the offense being all that significantly better below both Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. I imagine they benefitted from Joe Burrow’s harm within the division and a weak AFC exterior of the anticipated groups often on the prime. Certain, they could find yourself above .500 identical to Tomlin at all times 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 simple decide right here is the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’ll soar all the best way on that bandwagon.

Readers of The Skinny Submit could not know this, however Michael seems rather a lot like Baker Mayfield so he could also be upset at this… however I’ll add the Buccaneers to my listing as properly. The Falcons are prepared and going to be the workforce who wins that terrible division.

If I’ve to shoot for the celebs and surprise 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 inconceivable that they each flounder and that the Commanders sneak in for a division title the best way that they’ve finished the final two occasions they gained the NFC East (2015 and 2020).