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NFC Preview For 2024 Season
In the past few days, I gave my predictions for how the divisional races will go this season in the NFL, both for the AFC and the NFC. I also gave my prediction for the Chiefs-Ravens game, although I completely forgot about Philly and Green Bay.
Now, however, the new season begins fully, as all the remaining teams will take the field and see action. Finally, we'll catch a glimpse of how each team might just fare in this new season, although with the understanding that how a team does in Week 1 is not necessarily indicative of how their season will go generally speaking. Remember, quite a few eventual Super Bowl champions lost their first game. That includes last season's Kansas City Chiefs. Off the top of my head, I remember that the 1986, 2007, and 2011 New York Giants all started their seasons off with a loss, and wound up winning the Super Bowl. Ditto with the 1993 Dallas Cowboys, the 2020 Tampa Bay Bucs, and the 2001, 2003, and 2014 New England Patriots. All of those teams wound up wining the Super Bowl by season's end.
For that matter, I remember a number of teams starting off the season red hot, even enjoying decent undefeated streaks, but failing even to qualify for the postseason.
So I guess what I am saying is that Week 1 matters and gives us some idea of what a given team may look like, but you cannot count too much on results from Week 1.
In any case, it is here. So here are my predictions for this opening week of NFL action in the brand new 2024-25 season:
Minnesota at NY Giants - This is a tough game to pick: I could see the Vikings playing well and winning on the road at the Meadowlands. Yet, something tells me that the G-Men should be well prepared for this one, and that head coach Brian Daboll will have this team ready at least for this opening game. Hopefully, I am not picking my hometown team (the G-Men) out of wishful thinking. for now, I really do think that they should win this one. My pick: NY Giants
Carolina at New Orleans - Th Saints are a decent team, and it feels like they should have been better in each of the past few seasons than their results suggest. However, when you keep missing the mark, it becomes a habit. They can make some noise this season, if they get things right and meet their potential. Unfortunately, that's far from a given. Still, the Saints should be able to make the most of the home field advantage in this opening game against a division rival in the Panthers, who also happen to be one of the weakest teams in the league. My pick: New Orleans
Pittsburgh at Atlanta - The Falcons can make some strides this season. They have a real chance at an NFC South title, if they handle themselves well, and perhaps also with a bit of luck on their side. However, the Steelers will be a tough challenge for them. The main question for Pittsburgh will be just how effective (or perhaps ineffective) Russell Wilson proves to be. It is not even certain if he will play, due to injury concerns. Still, the Steelers are always tough, and I expect them to manage to pull this one out, even narrowly if it comes down to it. My pick: Pittsburgh
New England at Cincinnati - The Pats are starting all over. Gone is Bill Belichck, and for the most part, the last vestiges of the dynasty days. With that said, going on the road to Cincinnati, to play one of the toughest and most dangerous teams in the AFC is a very tall order. One which, frankly, I do not believe the Pats are up to. Barring something really shocking, the Bengals should be able to produce a comfortable win in this one/ My pick: Cincy
Jacksonville at Miami - What a game this one should be! Both of these teams figure to be playoff contenders. In fact, I kind of expect the Fins to take the AFC East division title. They should come out very fired up, and I believe that they will ultimately put on a fireworks show on offense again, like we saw them do at times last season. My pick: Miami
Houston at Indianapolis - A big AFC South divisional showdown right off the bat. The Colts could be tough, and may even be competitive in this division. However, the Texans feel like a team on the rise, with possibly a ton of momentum on their side with talent and enthusiasm that should help them get off to a decent start this season. I expect them to use that to pull off a big divisional road win here in this one. My pick: Houston
Arizona at Buffalo - The Bills may have lost a little bit from prior seasons, when they often were considered favorites to reach the Super Bowl. Few people are picking them now, but I still expect that they will be a good, solid team. And they should at the very least have plenty enough to easily get past the Cardinals today. My pick: Buffalo
Tennessee at Chicago - Neither of these two teams were serious playoff contenders last year. However, there seems to be a lot of buzz around the Bears this season, and with good reason. They finished the season off fairly well last year, and then made some moves during the offseason. Of course, while the preseason hardly matters in the long run, they looked very impressive there, too. That, coupled with home field advantage in this one, leads me to believe that Da Bears should be able to produce a win for the home crowd. My pick: Chicago
Las Vegas at LA Chargers - The Raiders looked much better once Antonio Pierce took over as interim head coach. Now, he is outright the head coach, and it feels like the Raiders could be a dangerous team. However, the Chargers feel like a talented team that has never quite managed to realize their potential. Under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, fresh off winning the National Championship for Michigan, and with a successful tenure with the 49ers under his belt, the Bolts should begin to move in the right direction. That starts with a win today over their division rivals, the Silver and Black. My pick: LA Chargers
Denver at Seattle - Remember when these two teams were among the elites in the NFL, and even met in the Super Bowl once? Boy, times have changed. The Broncos looked pretty bad last season, while the Seahawks were a bit more up and down. Yet, Sean Peyton seems like he has the Broncos moving in the generally right direction, while the Seahawks feel like they are starting fresh, and will need time to let whatever comes next produce results. The team needs to gel, and they will likely have to go through some tough times and losses. My pick: Denver
Washington at Tampa Bay - The Bucs feel like one of the luckiest teams in the league right now. If they had been in almost any other division, I am not sure that they qualify for the postseason. But they are in the weak NFC South, and have regularly benefitted from that. They squeaked past everyone and won the division last year, and then lucked out again by getting the flatlining Philadelphia Eagles, who continued to look lifeless through their one and done playoff appearance. But this season, the Bucs will have to produce something a bit more solid. Not sure whether they will do it or not, but they should have enough to get past the Commanders in this one. My pick: Tampa Bay
Dallas at Cleveland - This is an interesting match-up. Really, it could go either way. The 'Boys are still a pretty good team, frankly, despite all of the nasty jokes made at their expense following just the latest chapter of their tradition of choking in the playoffs following a regular season that filled their fans with hope and swagger. Cleveland fans, of course, also know something about that. But the Browns are a solid team, and this is a big test for them, which I expect them to pass. My pick: Cleveland
Sunday Night Football - LA Rams at Detroit - A rematch of last season's Wild Card game, which the Lions won. Detroit is all fired up after the most successful season this franchise has seen in over three decades. Now, they have realistic hopes of another division title, and a possible Super Bowl run. It begins with a big, nationally televised game tonight. Look for the Lions to roar, particularly on offense. My pick: Detroit
Monday Night Football - NY Jets at San Francisco - Some people believe that these may be the two teams that wind up meeting in the Super Bowl. And while I can see San Francisco getting back to the title game, I am a lot less convinced than many people are that the Jets will magically end their current playoff drought by going to the other extreme and making a serious title run. Nevertheless, all of those unanswered questions begin to be answered for both teams with this game. Personally, I believe that the 49ers will come out roaring and build a big lead, and that Gang Green will likely never get back into this one. In other words, that it will be a dud of a game. My pick: San Francisco
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