How might the AFC and NFC division races all play out during the 2024 NFL regular season? What surprises might be in store with the 14 total playoff teams?
And, of course, the biggest question remains: can anyone slow the Super Bowl roll of the Kansas City Chiefs?
Sporting News is back to look into its crystal ball with the big-picture picks and predictions for what should be another exciting and wild ride from early September through early February in the NFL.
PREDICTIONS: Why Cowboys will miss playoffs | Why Chiefs will win Super Bowl
NFL season predictions 2024
AFC East
- New York Jets (11-6)
- Buffalo Bills (10-7)*
- Miami Dolphins (8-9)
- New England Patriots (3-14)
The Jets' hype from last season was a trap SN fell into because of that dominant defense. The Aaron Rodgers' injury derailed things early, but the team still went 7-10 with atrocious QB play for the most part. With Rodgers being merely above average and healthy at age 40, the Jets can take this division from the Bills, who are still strong enough to qualify as a solid wild card. The Dolphins' fade out of the playoffs in the natural course of parity rotation, while the Patriots can vie for league's worst team.
2024 NFL RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | Defense
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
- Cincinnati Bengals (11-6)*
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)*
- Cleveland Browns (7-10)
The Ravens got stronger offensively by adding Derrick Henry to their rushing attack and will be fine defensively despite losing some staff and personnel with plenty of core pieces. Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson will keep thriving in the new offense to hold off the revived Bengals with a healthy Joe Burrow. Mike Tomlin and the Steelers having a winning record is a lock, and their defense plus much better QB options say playoffs, too. The Browns are the odd team out in a tough division with the most offensive questions.
AFC South
- Houston Texans (12-5)
- Tennessee Titans (9-8)
- Indianapolis Colts (7-10)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (7-10)
This division is very hard to predict, as the Jaguars and Texans won as mild surprises the past two seasons. Houston looks stronger around C.J. Stroud and Tennessee's overhaul will lead to a surprise upswinging record with Will Levis and rookie coach Brian Callahan. The Colts will have a few transitional lumps, while the Jaguars might need to face a tough decision on Doug Pederson after the season.
AFC West
- Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-7)
- Las Vegas Raiders (5-12)
- Denver Broncos (5-12)
Two things for certain in this division: The Chiefs will dominate again, and Jim Harbaugh will pull off an inspiring quick turnaround. Kansas City exudes another big season toward a potential second Super Bowl repeat, while Los Angeles has favorable elements to be a lot more competitive. The Raiders will see their bridge at QB break at some point, and the Broncos' bigger concern might be defense.
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles (12-5)
- Washington Commanders (9-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (8-9)
- New York Giants (5-12)
The Eagles have rebooted offensively and defensively with improved schemes and more reliable young talent. They'll go back to humming with Jalen Hurts. Jayden Daniels also will benefit from great coaching in his rookie season to be a dynamic dual threat in Washington. The Cowboys need more attention for their lack of offseason improvements and key brain drain with Dan Quinn now leading the Commanders instead. The Giants are headed to draft Daniel Jones' replacement high.
NFC North
- Detroit Lions (13-4)*
- Green Bay Packers (10-7)*
- Chicago Bears (9-8)*
- Minnesota Vikings (5-12)
The Lions should go from breakout NFC runners-up to a dominant, wire-to-wire team to take this division again easily with fewer holes. The Packers will be once again powered well by the brilliant offensive coaching of Matt LaFleur pumping up Jordan Love. Caleb Williams will duel Daniels for OROY all season while also leading his team to a wild card, and the Vikings wait for J.J. McCarthy in 2025.
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons (9-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-10)
- New Orleans Saints (6-11)
- Carolina Panthers (4-13)
Kirk Cousins flips the Falcons from their 7-10 limbo to finally take advantage of great weapons in a much more dynamic, pass-heavier offense, with the defense also responding well to Raheem Morris. That causes the Bucs to slide a bit with Baker Mayfield, while the vibes with Derek Carr and the Saints stink for a Dennis Allen lame-duck season. The Panthers look a lot better offensively with Bryce Young, but their D now needs work.
NFC West
- 49ers 14-3
- Rams 9-8
- Seahawks 6-11
- Cardinals 4-13
The 49ers' offensive juggernaut led by Christian McCaffrey and Brock Purdy might have a slight early hiccup, but it will not be stopped in the end with terrific complementary support from the defense. The Rams stay in the mix without Aaron Donald thanks to Sean McVay's coaching. The Seahawks go through a tough transitional year, a la the Giants, while the Cardinals' defense sinks them for Jonathan Gannon in Year 2.
AFC playoff predictions
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Houston Texans
- Baltimore Ravens
- New York Jets
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Buffalo Bills
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Wild-card round: Texans over Steelers, Ravens over Bills, Bengals over Jets
Divisional round: Chiefs over Bengals, Texans over Ravens
AFC championship: Chiefs over Texans
The Chiefs gain a new real threat in the Texans with the Bills fading a bit and the Bengals creeping back into that realm. The Ravens also will hope to stay in true AFC contention, but Kansas City and Houston look like the conference's two best all-around teams.
NFC playoff predictions
- Detroit Lions
- San Francisco 49ers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Atlanta Falcons
- Green Bay Packers
- Washington Commanders
- Chicago Bears
Wild-card round: 49ers over Bears, Eagles over Commanders, Packers over Falcons
Divisional round: Lions over Packers, 49ers over Eagles
NFC championship: Lions over 49ers
The Lions, 49ers, and Eagles do separate a bit from the rest of the NFC, with the latter two having been to the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons. The Commanders and Bears crash the party with promise ahead for Daniels and Williams, while Love adds another playoff win. The Lions ultimately use their home-field edge to exact revenge after last season's crushing NFC title loss.
Super Bowl 59 prediction
- Kansas City Chiefs over Detroit Lions
The Chiefs are much like the new Patriots but only with more dynastic potential because of Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes got his Super Bowl loss out of the way and that's what makes him so much more dangerous in his prime to take down all comers from the NFC. San Francisco (twice) and Philadelphia (once) couldn't solve him, and Detroit, despite a valiant offensive effort, will put the ball in Mahomes' hands too many clutch times.