Week 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season is quickly approaching, so let's make some early picks for the first week of the season. We are almost there! Regular season football is right around the corner, and to celebrate, we'll roll out some early predictions for Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season.
There are a ton of very entertaining games here, and we'll try to predict the winner of each one. All 32 NFL teams will also be in action, so it'll be a jam-packed week. Let's get into some early picks and predictions for Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season.
Early 2024 picks and predictions for Week 1 regular season games
Thursday Night Football - Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs
The first game of the 2024 NFL Season will be on Thursday night, with the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs squaring off in a rematch of the AFC Championship Game. That game was in Baltimore, and this game is in KC. It's hard for me to see the Ravens winning this one actually.
However, in many instances, a team's Week 1 performance does not indicate how they will do during the season, so this game can truly go either way. In the end, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions defend their home turf and win.
Prediction: Chiefs win
Friday Night Football - Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles
This game is going to be played in Brazil and will be on Friday night, which is interesting. On paper, the Philadelphia Eagles seem to be the better football team, but the Green Bay Packers have the better coaching. In the end, since this game is between two very good clubs, whoever wins in the trenches and whoever has the better QB play will come out victorious.
I like Jordan Love over Jalen Hurts and think the Packers OL and DL are quite good.
Prediction: Packers win
Sunday Games
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons
The first game of the Russell Wilson era sees the Steelers traveling to Atlanta to play the Falcons. Kirk Cousins is now the Falcons starting QB, so I do like Atlanta to win quite a few games in 2024. They've got a complete roster, and it's better than the Steelers. Being that Atlanta is also stout up front and playing at home, the Falcons will win this game.
Prediction: Falcons win
Arizona Cardinals @ Buffalo Bills
There are bound to be upsets nearly every week of the 2024 NFL Season. Could this be one of them? The Buffalo Bills have certainly lossed more than they've gained in 2024, and the Arizona Cardinals have added a ton of talet in my opinion. The Cards and the Bills may actually be more evenly matched than you think.
In Week 1, anything can happen, so I think this game may no go as we think at the moment. Can the Cardinals win this one? Yes they can.
Prediction: Cardinals win
Tennessee Titans @ Chicago Bears
In a game with two very young QBs, Will Levis and the Tennessee Titans travel to Chicago to face rookie QB Caleb Williams and the Bears, who could be a surprise team in the 2024 NFL Season. The Bears defense ended the 2023 NFL Season holding their opponents to less than 20 points per game, so don't rule out their D being quite good in 2024.
Chicago also has a ton of great talent on offense, and I just do not see a ton of wins on the Titans schedule this year. This would be a very surprising victory if Tennessee could pull it off.
Prediction: Bears win
New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals
Oh boy. This could end up being one of the more lopsided games of the Week 1 slate. The Cincinnati Bengals are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and the New England Patriots are legitimately rebuilding. Give me the Bengals here in a double-digit victory.
Prediction: Bengals win
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts
The Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts were neck and neck for the AFC South division last year. The Texans were able to inch it out, and I don’t see much change for 2024. I am fully bought into the Texans and QB CJ Stroud, and they’ll begin the 2024 NFL Season with a win playing away from home.
The biggest factor for the Colts in 2024 is whether or not second-year QB Anthony Richardson can take the next step.
Prediction: Texans win
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins could actually be two evenly-matched teams. I like both rosters and both coaches. QBs Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa are both pretty controversial, as both have shown a ton but aren’t always consistent. This Week 1 game is a toss-up for me, but let’s defer to the home team here.
Prediction: Dolphins win
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints
We all know who the New Orleans Saints are, but I am curious what kind of Carolina Panthers team we get in 2024. The team hired Dave Canales this offseason to be their new head coach, and he has done some great work with Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, so maybe Bryce Young is the next one.
Being that the Panthers are less proven, I do believe the Saints can win this one, but I am not high on the Saints for 2024. There’s a ton to dislike about that team.
Prediction: Saints win
Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants
This is an interesting game. Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones figure to be the starting QBs for this game, and I am not sure that is going to make for great TV at all. It’s hard to predict a winner here. Daniel Jones and the Giants are just not good, but can we trust Sam Darnold more?
Heck, I have no idea. Give me the Vikings, I guess.
Prediction: Vikings win
Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks
The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks play in Week 1 for what feels like the 100th season. In 2022, the Broncos and Seahawks played in similar circumstances, but this was the first game of Russell Wilson on the Broncos, and the first game of the new Geno Smith era in Seattle.
Seattle won that game, and it ended up being a breakout year for them and a year to forget for the Denver Broncos. Now two years later, Geno Smith is still the starter, but Mike Macdonald replaced Pete Carroll at head coach.
For the Denver Broncos, Sean Payton replaced previous head coach Nathaniel Hackett, and Bo Nix replaces Russell Wilson. Right now, I would actually give the edge to the Denver Broncos for long-term viability in the NFL, but the Seahawks might end up winning this one.
Seattle is at home, and this could be a very difficult test for Bo Nix to open up his career. The Denver Broncos may end up being better than the Seattle Seahawks in 2024, but Seattle can win this game.
Prediction: Seahawks win
Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns
In what could be one of the best games of Week 1, the Dallas Cowboys travel to Cleveland to face off against the Browns. Both teams figure to be firmly in the playoff mix in 2024, but I’m not sure either team is able to make a deep playoff run. The Cowboys have lost way more than they’ve gained this offseason, and even if they were able to add at ton of talent, the duo of Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy isn’t one that has had success in the postseason.
Dallas also lost former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the Washington Commanders to be their new head coach, and that could be their biggest loss of all.
For the Browns, their issues really only boil down to the QB position. GM Andrew Berry has done quite the job at building this roster up, but his trade for Deshaun Watson is quickly turning into perhaps the worst in NFL history. Watson needs to play like he did with the Houston Texans, and if he can, the Browns could turn into Super Bowl contenders.
However, their stingy defense is going to keep them in most games. Given that the Cowboys feel like the more complete team, they have the advantage here.
Prediction: Browns win
Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Washington Commanders face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season. Washington and Tampa are in different places. The Commanders were among the worst teams in football in 2023, and ended up taking rookie QB Jayden Daniels in the 2024 NFL Draft.
They also replaced Ron Rivera with Dan Quinn at head coach and are in an entire new era.
The Buccaneers went 9-8, won the NFC South, and won a playoff game. They’re trying to run it back, but I don’t see this team having a high ceiling. Overall, the Buccaneers are clearly the better team and should win more games in 2024. This game is in Tampa, so that’s even more reason to go with the Bucs.
Prediction: Buccaneers win
Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions
Oh man, this could be a preview of the NFC Championship Game in the 2024 NFL Season. These two teams met in the Wild Card round in 2023, and it was the Detroit Lions getting the best of the Los Angeles Rams, but the Rams were clearly one year ahead of schedule. Now that the teams seem more even at this point, the Rams can give the Lions some serious trouble.
However, I am riding with the Lions, as I believe this team represents the NFC in the Super Bowl this coming season. They’ll take care of business in Week 1 on a late-game go-ahead score.
Prediction: Lions win
Monday Night Football - New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers
On Monday Night Football to finish out Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season, the New York Jets face the San Francisco 49ers in what could be the true year one of the Aaron Rodgers era. Rodgers tore his Achilles just a handful of plays into the 2023 NFL Season. With Rodgers expected back in plenty of time before Week 1, the Jets could be a serious team.
The 49ers once again made the Super Bowl last season, but once again could not get past the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jets are much more unproven than the 49ers, so it’s hard for me to see New York pulling off the upset here. The Niners take care of business and do not let the Jets win on their home turf.
Prediction: 49ers win
Do you agree with these predictions for Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season?