The 2024 NFL Season is bound to be a fun one. Let's make a full slate of predictions including records, playoffs, and the Super Bowl winner! Yes, we have a full season's worth of predictions for you in this piece. The coming season will feature some old faces at the top of the league, but may also feature some up-and-coming teams.
For the third time in the last five seasons, the NFL year ended with the Kansas City Chiefs hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Spoiler alert: that may not happen in this prediction! Let's try to get as close as we can here with a full 2024 NFL sesson predictions, which includes records, playoffs, and the Super Bowl.
Full 2024 NFL season predictions, records, playoffs, and Super Bowl winner
AFC North
1. Cincinnati Bengals: 12-5
Joe Burrow being able to stay healthy for a full season would do wonders for the Bengals. Well, a 12-5 season feels right, especially if that is indeed the case. Cincy is supremely talented on both sides of the ball, so there really isn't any reason for them to not win a ton of games in the 2024 NFL Season.
2. Baltimore Ravens: 11-6
I do not think the Baltimore Ravens are going to be quite as good in 2024 as they were in 2023. Still though, they have enough talent and good enough coaching to finish with a ton of wins. An 11-6 season from the Ravens, something a bit more modest, might be their path in 2024. They did lose a good bit of talent this offseason, and with a few questions along their offensive line, they won’t be able to bully teams quite as much.
3. Cleveland Browns: 10-7
The Cleveland Browns have a QB problem until further notice, but they do have a sensational defense. I tend to lean toward Deshaun Watson putting something respectable together in 2024. He may not be his old self, and he may not live up to his fully guaranteed deal that pays him $46 million per year, but the Browns just need something consistent from their QB to again get back into the postseason.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-9
Could the Pittsburgh Steelers finish with a losing record for the first time in the Mike Tomlin era? It’s possible. They re-did their QB room with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields for 2024. And yes, while the QBs are a slight upgrade, the AFC is just supremely talented, so you have to wonder if the Steelers even have enough firepower on both sides of the ball to finish with at least nine wins. Maybe this losing season I predict in 2024 will force the team to make some significant changes.
AFC South
1. Houston Texans: 13-4
The Houston Texans won 10 games in the 2023 NFL Season with a rookie head coach and rookie QB. They got better on both sides of the ball, and they’re also now another year immersed into their respective roles. Why wouldn’t they win more games? I have seen some people say that Houston might not be that much better with their tough schedule in 2024, but I do not buy it. Houston is going to run through their opponents and finish with the best record in the AFC. How quickly this franchise went from Deshaun Watson to CJ Stroud…
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: 11-6
The Jacksonville Jaguars were going to be a stellar team in 2023 before injuries and some inconsistent play derailed their season. They went from being in the driver’s seat for a division title to not being in the postseason altogether. With the front office locking up Trevor Lawrence for the long-term and other notable additions made, the Jags really have no excuses at this point. They have to take that next step beyond winning nine games. Can head coach Doug Pederson indeed lead them to 11 wins in 2024?
3. Indianapolis Colts: 10-7
The Indianapolis Colts won nine games in the 2023 NFL Season with Gardner Minshew taking a majority of the snaps. Unless Anthony Richardson is a total disaster, the Colts should be much better. Now yes, this is only one more win than they had last year, but you figure with Richardson hardly playing in 2023, a good chunk of the 2024 season is still technically his rookie year, if you catch my drift. The Colts are in good hands with head coach Shane Steichen and can win double-digit games in 2024.
4. Tennessee Titans: 5-12
I am not a huge fan of what the Tennessee Titans have done this offseason, but they are clearly trying to rebuild around Will Levis, their second-year QB who showed only a few flashes during his rookie season. Levis taking the next step would change the entire course of the division, but the most likely scenario is that Levis perhaps takes a small step forward, but nothing big enough to make any headway in the AFC. A 5-12 season in 2024 could warrant running it back in 2025, but that would be up to Titans GM Ran Carthon, who dumped a ton of money into the offense this offseason.
AFC East
1. Miami Dolphins: 10-7
Could the Miami Dolphins indeed steal the AFC East away from the Buffalo Bills in 2024? They are clearly more talented than Buffalo on paper and are in a different spot. The Bills had to subtract this offseason to get their cap situation fixed, meanwhile, Miami continued to add. I do think the roster talent can nudge Miami over the edge and help them secure the AFC East title in the 2024 season, which guarantees them a home playoff game.
2. Buffalo Bills: 9-8
The Buffalo Bills can still finish with a winning record, but even in 2023, we saw how iffy this team could be at times. I don’t like their chances to win a ton of games in 2024, so perhaps them treading around .500 while they re-tool this roster is more likely. Josh Allen was up and down last year, and now he’ll be throwing to a totally revamped WR room. It’s not a stellar situation for Buffalo, who may be forced to endure a leaner year like this.
3. New York Jets: 8-9
The New York Jets will go as Aaron Rodgers goes, and it’s very unclear what version of Rodgers the Jets are going to get. I could see this team bottoming out in 2024, and I could also see them winning 12 games. Perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle, so would an 8-9 season shock anyone? Their coaching on offense seems pretty suspect, and the last time Aaron Rodgers played a full season, it was the worst statistical year of his career.
4. New England Patriots: 2-15
I am just not a fan of hardly anything the New England Patriots did this offseason. They are definitely in for a brutal season, but finishing 2-15 will afford them a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which they can use to continue rebuilding their offense. A franchise left tackle or wide receiver could be perfect for the Patriots, who said goodbye to former head coach Bill Belichick. They also took Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft as well.
AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs: 11-6
The Kansas City Chiefs might again have to endure a shaky WR room. Rashee Rice could be suspended for a good part of the 2024 NFL Season due to his off-field issues this offseason. The team still has Travis Kelce and Hollywood Brown in the mix, but Kelce was clearly not his usual self in the regular season. Their defense might again be the better unit, so they again may have to deal with some inconsistencies on offense. Still, though, this team is still led by Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, so don’t expect them to fall off or anything.
2. Denver Broncos: 9-8
I am confused as to why the NFL landscape seems super low on the Denver Broncos for 2024. This team upgraded at several positions, including quarterback, yet don’t seem to be that highly thought of heading into the season. They won eight games in 2023 after starting 1-5, so you have to think that as long as they don’t start historically bad again on defense, this team could finish with a winning record, something they have not done since 2016.
Winning nine games should not surprise anyone, but I bet you it will.
3. Los Angeles Chargers: 9-8
The Los Angeles Chargers are in their first year of the Jim Harbaugh era, and Harbaugh has found success at every stop of his head coaching career. He finally returns to the professional ranks after years at Michigan, and he’ll now be tasked with trying to get the LA Chargers on the right track. Their roster still needs a bit of work, but coaching alone could help them win nine games and stay alive in the playoff hunt, but I would not expect much more than this in 2024.
4. Las Vegas Raiders: 4-13
The Las Vegas Raiders have simply had a horrid offseason, no matter how you slice it. They missed out on all the first-round QBs in the 2024 NFL Draft, hired a failed, re-tread general manager, and made a 2023 position coach in Antonio Pierce the full-time head coach. With Gardner Minshew expected to start, the Raiders are playing with a 2005 Honda Civic while many other AFC teams have a 2023 Toyota Camry. It’s just not a good situation for the Raiders heading into 2024.
NFC North
1. Detroit Lions: 12-5
Also winning 12 games in the 2023 NFL Season, the Detroit Lions keep their win total and again have a successful season. The Lions have been totally reshaped for the better over the last handful of seasons, and a majority of that credit goes to Brad Holmes, who has to be the best GM in the NFL at this point. Can the Lions build on 2023 and make a Super Bowl push? They have the best roster in the NFL, so there really aren’t any excuses here.
2. Green Bay Packers: 11-6
The Green Bay Packers enjoyed a mid-season turnaround from QB Jordan Love that pushed them over the edge and into the postseason. They gave the San Francisco 49ers fits in the NFC Divisional Round in 2023. It’s not outrageous to suggest that Green Bay wins two more games than last year and again earns a spot in the postseason. Jordan Love could be an underrated MVP candidate as well if he plays as well as he did to end last year.
3. Chicago Bears: 8-9
The Chicago Bears could view this as a successful season. Caleb Williams is likely going to start all 17 games for the team unless something major happens, and them winning eight games with a rookie QB could actually be a huge plus for the future. Playing QB in the NFL is the hardest thing to do in sports, so while it is a losing record, there is really nothing wrong with going 8-9.
However, that actually might not be good enough for head coach Matt Eberflus to keep his job.
4. Minnesota Vikings: 6-11
The Minnesota Vikings are building their QB room, and look poised to start Sam Darnold for the 2024 NFL Season. Darnold has actually played pretty well over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, so with the right coaching and personnel, which are two things that the Vikings do have, they can win some games. However, at the end of the day, there is a reason why Darnold has been on several teams; sure, Minnesota can be fun some weeks, but they aren’t going to the postseason with the QB in 2024.
The long-term play here is obviously hoping that JJ McCarthy can develop into a franchise QB.
NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons: 9-8
The NFC South might again be an iffy division, but look for the Atlanta Falcons to come away as the winners. They have the best overall roster, best QB, and might even have the best coaching staff as well. The big question here is whether Kirk Cousins can return to his old form after this major Achilles injury he suffered during the 2023 NFL Season, when he was still with the Vikings.
If he can regain his efficient self, the Falcons might be able to scrape together 10 wins, but their ceiling is limited with “Kirko Chainz.”
2. New Orleans Saints: 8-9
The New Orleans Saints are the most frustrating and uninspiring team in football at the moment. They had a top-10 scoring offense and defense in 2023, yet won just nine games and failed to make the postseason. Someone needs to tell GM Mickey Loomis that Derek Carr and Dennis Allen is a recipe for disaster. They’re just not good enough, period. Loomis should embrace a teardown this year, but my gut feeling is that he’ll try to ride this out one last time.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-11
The Buccaneers won nine games in 2023, and even won a postseason game. Baker Mayfield played the best football of his career, and it earned him a nice payday from the front office. However, their offensive coordinator in 2023, Dave Canales, is now the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, so if you said that Mayfield would regress a bit, you’d likely be correct. The Buccaneers can still win some games, but they won’t be quite as good as they were last year.
4. Carolina Panthers: 4-13
The Panthers won two games in 2023, and it was an ugly year all-around. It was a one-year disaster for Frank Reich and the coaching staff he assembled, and even GM Scott Fitterer was shown the door. Now with Canales as the head coach and Dan Morgan as the GM, the Panthers look to fix the mess that Reich and Fitterer left. The front office has been quite active this offseason, and on paper, this team does feel a lot more stout than they were last year, especially along the offensive line.
However, they again may struggle to win games in the 2024 NFL Season.
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6
The Philadelphia Eagles had a down year in 2023, as they limped into the postseason and got bounced out in the Wild Card round. With Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio now as the new offensive and defensive coordinators, Philly looks to regain control of the NFC East, and to me, the 2024 NFL Season is shaping up to be a year where the Eagles and Dallas Cowboys aren’t quite as dominate in the regular season as they have been.
2. Dallas Cowboys: 10-7
The Cowboys winning 10 games in 2024 might honestly be a miracle. They’ve had nothing short of a disastrous offseason, and both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are without long-term deals. They let All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith leave in free agency, and also saw Dan Quinn leave to be the head coach of the Washington Commanders. The Cowboys just don’t have the elite talent profile heading into 2024 as they have in the previous three seasons, where they went 12-5.
3. Washington Commanders: 4-13
In a rebuilding year, the Washington Commanders probably won’t win many games, and that is perfectly OK. I personally was not a fan of the Jayden Daniels selection, but that’s who Washington picked, so they’ll have to live with that, for better or for worse. Outside of the new QB, the roster just isn’t good, so this rebuilding process is going to take multiple years. And with a new coaching staff in town, it would be a miracle to see this team win five games in 2024.
4. New York Giants: 3-14
Someone should tell New York Giants GM Joe Schoen that the objective was to build a competitive QB room, not arguably the worst in the NFL. Well, here we are, where a legitimate NFL franchise is seriously heading into the 2024 NFL Season with Daniel Jones as QB1 and Drew Lock as QB2. Heck, that could be flipped, as there isn’t anything stopping Lock from winning the starting job. The Giants even being an average team in 2024 would be outrageous, as they are barreling toward another lost season.
At that point, you’d have to wonder if the seats would begin to get warm for Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
NFC West
1. Los Angeles Rams: 13-3-1
The San Francisco 49ers are good nearly every season, and that should not change in 2024. They will have the LA Rams breathing down their necks for the NFC West title, which is a huge deal. Since this prediction has the Rams winning the NFC West in 2024, the 49ers will all of a sudden have to travel for a majority of the postseason if they hope to make it back to the Super Bowl.
Talented on both sides of the ball, the Niners should not have any trouble again winning multiple postseason games, but I do believe we need to take the LA Rams more seriously as a team that can steal this division back for a year.
2. San Francisco 49ers: 13-3-1
The San Francisco 49ers are good nearly every season, and that should not change in 2024. They will have the LA Rams breathing down their necks for the NFC West title, which is a huge deal. Since this prediction has the Rams winning the NFC West in 2024, the 49ers will all of a sudden have to travel for a majority of the postseason if they hope to make it back to the Super Bowl.
Talented on both sides of the ball, the Niners should not have any trouble again winning multiple postseason games, but I do believe we need to take the LA Rams more seriously as a team that can steal this division back for a year.
3. Arizona Cardinals: 8-9
The Arizona Cardinals are going to be a better team than you think in 2024, and you can write that down. A frisky four-win team in 2023, the Cardinals again had another offseason where a ton of talent entered the mix in free agency and through the 2024 NFL Draft. Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort likely needs another strong offseason to put the finishing touches on this roster, but in the meantime, the Cards can make some noise in 2024.
It isn’t a question of their coaching staff or QB, but instead it’s the team not yet having good enough talent. That should come with time, but don’t be surprised if you see the Cardinals win more games than you think in the coming season.
4. Seattle Seahawks: 4-13
Yeah, I don’t see it with the Seattle Seahawks this year. The team moved on from long-time head coach Pete Carroll, and now have former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald in his spot. The defense should be able to figure it out, as Macdonald is a defensive wizard, but what’s the plan on offense? Geno Smith is not the long-term solution, so I think what we could see here is them using 2024 as more of an evaluation year to see what kind of players they want to keep around.
I would expect Seattle to be heavily invested in the QB market next offseason as they look to turn the page on this era.
Let’s dive into the 14 total playoff teams now.
AFC Playoff Teams
1st Seed: Houston Texans
Yes, the Houston Texans have earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs for the 2024 NFL Season. I am all-in on this squad and think they are prepared to have a monster year. The playoffs in the AFC will run through Houston, but will this young team be ready to make a Super Bowl run?
2nd Seed: Cincinnati Bengals
The two-seeded Cincinnati Bengals find themselves right back in the postseason, as QB Joe Burrow was able to stay healthy for a full year. With savvy veterans on both sides of the ball, the Bengals can indeed represent the AFC in Super Bowl 59. They were in the Super Bowl three short years ago. Can Burrow remain “Joe Cool” through the playoffs?
3rd Seed: Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have the third seed in the AFC playoffs, so their first game would be against the sixth seed. KC looks to become the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row, but they may again have to travel away from home in the playoffs to get back to the big game.
4th Seed: Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins can squeak out the AFC East title for at least one season. As of now, they have a better roster than the Buffalo Bills and should be in a good position to win the title. Them being able to play in cold weather is going to have a huge impact on their 2024 success, but they’ll be able to shut up those critics for at least one season.
5th Seed: Jacksonville Jaguars
The first Wild Card team is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who straightened themselves out in 2024, had some better injury luck, and earned a spot in the postseason. Trevor Lawrence signed a massive extension recently and could end up breaking out in 2024. Their QB and head coach duo is plenty good enough to make a playoff run. They were in the Divisional Round just two years ago.
6th Seed: Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore doesn’t quite have the firepower to be as good as they were in 2023, but that’s OK. They’ll still earn the sixth seed in the playoffs, but that does give them a Wild Card matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, which is not ideal. The two teams met in the AFC Championship Game in 2023, and it was the Chiefs who bested the Ravens. Could this latest playoff game have a different result?
7th Seed: Indianapolis Colts
The seventh and final seed belongs to the Indianapolis Colts, who could even compete for the division in 2024 if Anthony Richardson can make a year two jump. The Colts seem extremely well-coached, so it’s worth buying into this squad for the long-term. Head coach Shane Steichen did a marvelous job last year, and with some added reinforcements in defense, Indy is going to be much better.
NFC Playoff Teams
1st Seed: Los Angeles Rams
Earning the first seed in the NFC playoffs, the conference will have to go through the Los Angeles Rams, and it’s hard to not be encouraged about this team for 2024 after the way they finished 2023. The team is all of a sudden littered with young talent, and the savvy veteran Matthew Stafford was playing some insane football in the second half of the season. Can head coach Sean McVay make a second Super Bowl in four seasons?
2nd Seed: Detroit Lions
The second-seeded Detroit Lions have a Super Bowl roster, and their GM Brad Holmes deserves a ton of credit. Right now, it’s hard to envision this team not making a deep playoff run unless something major happens. With them earning the No. 2 seed, their first playoff game will be against the seventh and final NFC playoff team.
3rd Seed: Philadelphia Eagles
Winning the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles are the third seed and will get to host the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs. It was a brutal year in 2023 for Philly, who limped into the postseason. Can they regain the NFC East and perhaps remind the league of how good they can be?
4th Seed: Atlanta Falcons
The fourth-seeded Atlanta Falcons had a solid first year with Kirk Cousins under center. Frankly, it’d be a failure if they didn’t win the NFC South, but as I have said before, their ceiling is limited with Cousins under center. However, Cousins and his consistent play can help stabilize the franchise for a few years, and them making the postseason should not at all be a surprise.
5th Seed: San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers did not win the division, but would arguably still be the second-best team in the NFC. This might be the one downside of how the NFL seeds their playoff teams. Anyway, the Niners would have to travel to face the Falcons in the first round, which is quite interesting. That should, in theory, be an easier win for the 49ers, but anything can happen…
6th Seed: Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers follow up their breakout 2023 NFL Season with another strong season, and will earn the sixth seed in the postseason. Their first game would come against the third-seeded Eagles, which actually may be quite the evenly-matched contest. Can Jordan Love even get himself into the MVP conversation in 2024?
7th Seed: Dallas Cowboys
The seventh and final playoff team is the Dallas Cowboys, who were not able to win the NFC East and will have to travel to Detroit to face the Lions in the Wild Card round, which is certainly a huge test. Can Dak Prescott help lead the offense enough to potentially upset the Lions?
Now, let’s head back to the AFC for the Wild Card round.
AFC Wild Card Round
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins
The five-seeded Jaguars and fourth-seeded Miami Dolphins square off in the Wild Card round of the AFC playoffs. This could be quite the game, but with it being a home game for Miami and the Dolphins simply having the better team and perhaps the better QB, this should end in a Miami win. The biggest factor here for the Dolphins is indeed winning the AFC East, as they do desperately need as many home games as possible, as they have proven to struggle in cold weather. Final Score: Dolphins 27, Jaguars 20
Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The second of three AFC Wild Card games would be the Baltimore Ravens traveling to Kansas City to face off against the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. It would be a great chance for the Ravens to get some revenge. However, not only is this game in front of the toughest crowd in the NFL, but it’s the Chiefs, so it would take a large miracle for the Ravens to come into KC and beat the Chiefs. I don’t see this happening. Final Score: Chiefs 30, Ravens 21
Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The third and final AFC Wild Card game features the seventh-seed Colts against the second-seed Bengals. This is where the Wild Card games can get a bit lopsided. While the Colts should be a respectable team in 2024, they aren’t yet close to the Bengals, and with this game being in Cincinnati, I would expect Joe Burrow and his team to take advantage of this matchup and come away with an easier win in the opening round. Final Score: Bengals 24, Colts 14
Advancing to the Divisional Round would be the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cincinnati Bengals, who would join the top seed Houston Texans in making up the final four teams remaining in the AFC.
Let’s head to the NFC for their Wild Card games.
NFC Wild Card Round
San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons
The San Francisco 49ers travel to Atlanta to face off against the Falcons in the Wild Card round. It feels like the Niners have not played in a Wild Card game in years, as they typically always earn a bye week through the first round of the postseason. While these are some uncharted waters for Kyle Shanahan and his teams, they should have no issue taking care of business here. From top to bottom, the 49ers are the better team. It could be a bit shaky at first, but the Niners are one of the premier teams in the NFL for a reason. Final Score: 49ers 31, Falcons 23
Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The second Wild Card game sees the Green Bay Packers travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. This could be a fun one, as I would give a huge advantage to the Packers for their coaching and their QB play, but the Eagles have the home-field advantage and do have the better roster. This one might come down to a field goal in the end, but man, this game would be fun and quite hard to predict. I tend to lean Green Bay in this game and think they do one more thing better to come away with the victory. Final Score: Packers 27, Eagles 24
Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions
The last Wild Card game would be the Dallas Cowboys traveling to Detroit to face the Lions, a team that is all of a sudden in a position to make a Super Bowl run. It’d be hard to not pick the Lions here, as they are the better team from top to bottom, but the QB matchup does seem to be pretty even. With the Lions making it deeper than the Cowboys in the postseason last year, and with the Lions getting better and the Cowboys getting worse, I would pick the Lions about 90/100 in this game and think they come away with a win here. Final Score: Lions 34, Cowboys 24
The 49ers, Packers, and Lions advance to join the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round in the NFC. Let’s now turn our attention back to the AFC for their Divisional Round games.
AFC Divisional Round
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The matchup that everyone loves; it’s the Chiefs versus the Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round. These two teams have never met in Cincinnati during the postseason, but they have split two career postseason games in the Burrow/Mahomes era. As of now, the Bengals, to me, have the better roster. Joe Burrow has also proved to be able to go toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes, so you’d be logical to think that Cincy can pull this one off.
Expect the game to come down to the wire as they always do, though. In the end, the home-field advantage might be just enough to put the Bengals over the edge. Final Score: Bengals 27, Chiefs 24
Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans
The Miami Dolphins are in the Divisional Round against the one-seeded Houston Texans, and Houston gets the luxury of having an extra week to prepare. Frankly, the Texans should easily take care of business here. They’re better where it matters most; in the trenches and at quarterback. CJ Stroud should have no problem carving apart Miami’s defense, and even though this game would be in a climate-controlled environment, the Texans are going to come out of this game with the victory. Final Score: Texans 30, Dolphins 20
So, it’s the Cincinnati Bengals traveling to the Houston Texans for the 2024 AFC Championship Game. Now, let’s turn our attention back to the NFC and look at their two DIvisional Round games.
NFC Divisional Round
San Francisco 49ers vs. Detroit Lions
This might be the game of the playoffs, as the 49ers travel to Detroit to face the Lions. I think this is the year that the Lions can really make their mark, as I think Detroit wins this one. Last year, these two teams met in the NFC Championship Game in San Francisco, and while the Lions got out to the hot start, it was the 49ers who ended up victorious. Expect a different outcome here, as the Lions get the win. Final Score: Lions 27, 49ers 24
Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Packers travel to Los Angeles and face the Rams. This game favors the Rams in several aspects. While Green Bay is a fun team, Los Angeles is the better team by far, and it’s not crazy to suggest that LA can clinch a spot in the Super Bowl. For the Rams, this is just another bump in the road they must trek over in their potential Super Bowl season. Final Score: Rams 33, Packers 24
Let’s now take a look at the conference championship games, as the Bengals, Texans, Lions, and Rams battle it out for two spots in the Super Bowl.
AFC Championship Game
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans
The Cincinnati Bengals will travel to Houston to face the Texans in the 2024 AFC Championship Game. In what could be an all-time great game, Joe Burrow and CJ Stroud highlight the top squads. It’s truly hard to pick a winner here, as the Bengals have already been in this position and have won in it, and the Texans are a bit less experienced.
However, with how good I believe Houston will be this upcoming season, I would lean Texans in this one. You really can’ go wrong with either of these teams in 2024. Both feature elite QBs, strong coaching staffs, and talented rosters top to bottom. The advantage in this game could go to Houston because of their home field and their advantage in the trenches. And what’s where I would lean for this matchup as well.
The Houston Texans, in my opinion, will represent the AFC in Super Bowl 59, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in the conference championship game. Final Score: Texans 31, Bengals 24
NFC Championship Game
Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams
The NFC Championship Game could be just as exciting, as the Detroit Lions travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams. Obviously, the story here is the Matthew Stafford/Jared Goff matchup, as the two QBs once played for the opposite teams. In 2023, the Lions defeated the Rams in the NFC Wild Card round, and perhaps surprisingly, there were a ton of boos for Stafford by the Detroit crowd.
Well, the script could be flipped, as Goff would have to travel to his old stomping grounds, but I bet the Rams home crowd would actually cheer more than boo. Anyway, both teams are extremely talented with top QBs and excellent coaching. However, from the beginning, I have bought into what the Lions have done and will ride with them in 2024 as the NFC Champions.
I like Detroit’s roster a bit more, especially in the trenches, and I just think it’s their time in 2024. Final Score: Lions 27, Rams 23
Now, folks, it’s time for Super Bowl 59.
Super Bowl LIX
Detroit Lions vs. Houston Texans
If you’ve made it this far, I appreciate you reading over 6,000 words up to this point. I am firm in my stance for the 2024 NFL Season that the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans will square off in Super Bowl 59, abbreviated LIX. Both teams are in different-ish positions, but still share a lot of the same qualities.
The rosters are filled with young talent that the GMs Brad Holmes and Nick Caserio found in the NFL Draft. Their coaching staffs are both newer, and both teams have consistent and sometimes elite play from their quarterbacks. For Detroit, they sent Matthew Stafford to the LA Rams and got Jared Goff plus some in return for him.
The Texans found CJ Stroud in the 2023 NFL Draft and have not looked back since. For this big game, it will, as you can expect, come down to the defense and to the QB play. As of now, I would probably take CJ Stroud over Jared Goff and would slide the Texans an advantage for that part. However, even though the Lions defense is a bit less proven than the Texans unit, I am a huge fan of the moves that Detroit made on that side of the ball this offseason, so I may give the Lions the advantage there.
Overall, as you can expect, this game could not be more evenly matched. I would flip a coin and not be mad about whatever result came. However, I have maintained for a while now that the Houston Texans will win the Super Bowl this year. I won’t change my prediction and believe that head coach DeMeco Ryans and QB CJ Stroud will both do enough to help bring the title to Houston.
For the Detroit Lions, it’s another year where the team showed a ton of progress. Just two years ago, they finished the 2022 NFL Season on a hot-streak and managed to win nine games. In 2023, they won 12 and made it to the conference championship game, and now, in 2024, I believe they take the next step and make it to the Super Bowl. However, this is the Texans year.
Final Score: Houston 27, Lions 20