10 Predictions for the 2024-25 NFL Season
September 3, 2024, 5:36 PM CDT
It's finally almost time for NFL football. These are more focused on the entire league and what I think will happen and not focused on the Bears. Though, I will sneak in a Bears pick in here. This has the chance to be one of the most exciting NFL seasons in a while, as some teams begin to rise and some teams begin to fall. The one overarching question of the season though: Can anyone beat the Chiefs? Or will they become the first team to three-peat in the Super Bowl era? Let's get right into it.
1. Caleb Williams will win Offensive Rookie of the Year comfortably
I told you I would find a way to sneak a Bears prediction in here. While Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers will make a large impact on their respective teams, Williams will wind the award by a large margin if he stays healthy. Given the amount of talent that surrounds him, he doesn't have to be forced to be Superman immediately and can lean on his teammates early on while continuing to build into the elite Quarterback that he has the potential to be by the end of the season. I'll have more Williams predictions when my Bears specific article comes out, but for now I have him winning OROTY in big fashion.
2. The Cardinals will JUST Miss the Playoffs
Arizona has been in a slump the past few seasons. After starting 11-6 record and playoff berth in 2021, the Cardinals have had to deal with a couple of down years, including an ACL tear to Kyler Murray, who I believe is one of the most overhated and underrated QBs in the league. They also got a new coach and GM. Now with Marvin Harrison Jr. on board and a healthy Kyler Murray, the Cardinals are going to be a sneaky team in 2024. However, I have them just missing the playoffs and getting the 8th seed. But with the 49ers headed for a retool soon with their cap space about to bleed out, the Cardinals could be a threat to rise to the top of the NFC West next season.
3. The Rams will Begin to Search For a Successor to Matthew Stafford
While Stafford is under contract through the 2026 season (though they have an out after 2025), I believe the Rams will begin to search for his future successor after this year. I have the Rams finishing with a disappointing 6-11 record despite their resurgence last season despite plenty of doubts around the league. Stafford will begin to regress, and the Rams will look to draft a guy next season to take over for Stafford after he leaves the team.
4. The Bills Win the AFC East...But Lose to the Jets in the Playoffs
Buffalo will still win the AFC East this year despite the loss of many key members of the team. Though we may be seeing their run at the top of the division come to an end soon, and it will be exposed in the playoffs as Aaron Rodgers and the Jets go into Highmark Stadium and come out with a win. This year may be Rodgers' only chance to contend with the Jets, and they aren't going to come out flat in the playoffs. New York will secure their first playoff berth and win since 2010, while the Bills will realize that they need to go through a retool, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
5. The Dolphins Miss the Playoffs
With all the talent the Dolphins have, you'd think they would be a shoe-in for a playoff spot. However, the AFC has a lot of talented teams, and I have Miami finishing with a 9-8 record, missing out on the final Wild Card spot by a game. Their schedule is going to be tough, and they'll need to beat some really good teams if they want to get in. They've retained some talent, but they also lost key players like Christian Wilkins, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Connor Williams. It could be a tough year for Miami fans.
6. Dennis Allen is the First Coach to be Fired and the Saints Move On From Derek Carr
The Saints are about to have a miserable year. After years of mediocrity since Drew Brees left, it's finally going to come crashing down for the Saints as they will finish as one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. Dennis Allen will be the first coach to get fired this year, and Derek Carr will regress to the point that the Saints will pick a Quarterback high in the draft, perhaps Carson Beck from Georgia, to replace him.
7. Chiefs Don't Three-Peat as they Lose in the Divisional Round
It is very hard to three-peat in the NFL. No team has ever done it in the Super Bowl era, even with dynastys that have existed in that time, such as the Steelers, Cowboys, or Patriots. The Chiefs could become the first to do it, however, I think they'll have an early exit this season and lose to the Texans in the divisional round. This would mark the first time since 2017 that the Chiefs didn't reach the AFC Championship game, and I believe C.J. Stroud and the young Houston core will be able to squeeze out a win at Arrowhead to prevent history from happening.
8. Lions Don't Repeat Success From Last Year, Finish 2nd in Division and Lose in First Round
Many are backing the Lions this season to go far once again, possibly even winning their first ever Super Bowl. I just don't see it though, especially with the talent on the rise in both Chicago and Green Bay. Remember, the Bears controlled 57 out of 60 minutes the two teams played against each other in 2023, and the Packers are looking to leap to the next level this year. I have Green Bay taking the division and hosting the Lions at Lambeau in the Wild Card, and we know how bad Jared Goff has been historically in the cold. The Packers will end the Lions season and many will begin to question whether Detroit's core can actually reach the heights of a Super Bowl victory.
9. C.J. Stroud Wins NFL MVP
C.J. Stroud has everything around him to have a monster second season in the league. Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Stefon Diggs at Wide Receiver is rivaled by maybe only the Bears as the best receiving trio in the league. I think Stroud is going to have a monster season for Houston, getting the Texans past the Bengals, Chiefs, and Ravens in the playoffs to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, and DeMeco Ryans will also capture the Coach of the Year award. However, they would have one more test standing in their path.
10. The 49ers Finally Get Over the Hump and Win the Super Bowl
The Niners window could soon be coming to a close with significant changes and decisions needing to be made soon regarding some of their top players futures, especially with a new contract to Brock Purdy on the horizon. This could be their last year to win the whole thing for a while, and I think they'll get it done. No matter who they face, whether it be the Chiefs, Ravens, or my predicted opponent in the Texans, Kyle Shanahan will finally be a Super Bowl champion coach after three failed attempts to win it all in the past.
Image Credit: Yahoo Sports