A Lions-Chiefs Tremendous Bowl? Mahomes reclaiming MVP? The Athletic workers’s NFL predictions for 2024

The 2024 season is right here. The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs get issues began tonight, adopted by a Friday evening matchup between the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.

With no time to waste, let’s have a look at The Athletic’s NFL workers picks for MVP, Tremendous Bowl champion and extra.

Forty-two workers members responded (some opting to not reply every thing, so there aren’t at all times 42 responses). Right here’s what they assume.

Patrick Mahomes has already received the award twice — in 2018 and 2022 — so why not a 3rd time whereas the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs attempt to three-peat? Our workers overwhelmingly picked the soon-to-be 29-year-old quarterback to do exactly that.

Whereas quarterbacks dominated our MVP voting, they took a again seat on this class. Tyreek Hill completed fourth within the AP Offensive Participant of the Yr voting two seasons in the past and was runner-up final season when he led the league with 1,799 receiving yards, 13 TDs and a career-best 112.4 receiving yards per sport. Our workers thinks he’ll proceed his dominance catching passes from Tua Tagovailoa in Mike McDaniel’s offense in Miami.

In his three NFL seasons, Micah Parsons has completed second, second and third in Defensive Participant of the Yr voting. His sack totals have inched up yearly — 13 to 13 1/2 to 14 — and indicators level to the previous Penn State star linebacker breaking via in 2024. Myles Garrett received it final season after a 14-sack marketing campaign that adopted 5 consecutive double-digit sack seasons. Coming into the season, it seems like a Parsons-Garrett battle and we’ll get to see them on the identical subject Sunday when the Cowboys go to the Browns.

Six quarterbacks have been chosen throughout the first 12 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft and three are among the many 5 rookies receiving votes from our workers on this class. No. 1 decide Caleb Williams acquired 31 of 42 complete votes. Expectations are excessive for the Bears’ quarterback, to say the least.

So long as Mahomes is in Kansas Metropolis, this feels just like the most secure selection. The Chiefs received the previous two Tremendous Bowls, three of the previous 5 and have performed in 4 of the final 5. Mahomes was named MVP in every of the Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl victories. The Bengals and Texans each acquired 4 votes. Cincinnati misplaced the 2021 Tremendous Bowl to the Los Angeles Rams and the Texans haven’t reached a convention title sport since becoming a member of the league in 2002.

The Lions made the playoffs final season for the primary time since 2016 and reached the NFC Championship Recreation — they misplaced 34-31 to the 49ers — for the primary time since 1991. Can Dan Campbell get Detroit to its first Tremendous Bowl in franchise historical past? The Packers and 49ers received’t make it straightforward, in line with our workers.

Shock … it’s the Chiefs. OK, that’s not likely a shock. However that’s what occurs whenever you win back-to-back Tremendous Bowls and have Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones in your aspect. The 49ers completed with the second-most votes, becoming after they misplaced to the Chiefs in time beyond regulation in final season’s Tremendous Bowl.

Kansas Metropolis occupied the three prime vote-getting matchups and acquired votes towards six completely different opponents. However our workers likes the Chiefs-Lions showdown most, adopted by Chiefs-Packers and a Chiefs-49ers rematch. The highest non-Chiefs Tremendous Bowls? Texans vs. Eagles and Bengals vs. Lions.

What they mentioned

“Mike McCarthy. McCarthy has confirmed he can win within the common season with three straight 12-5 seasons. However that regular-season success hasn’t translated to the playoffs. If that doesn’t change, the coach of the Cowboys will.” — Dan Duggan, Giants author

“Nick Sirianni. If you hearth and exchange each of your coordinators, the strain is now on you. It’s win or be fired your self.” — Adam Jahns, Bears author

“Robert Saleh. He’s coming into his fourth 12 months in New York with an 18-33 document. Saleh’s character and perch within the league’s most high-profile metropolis give him extra cache than his outcomes have earned. With Aaron Rodgers again from harm, Saleh and the Jets are out of excuses. If this group doesn’t make a run, there shall be main modifications in New York.” — Josh Kendall, Falcons author

“Sean McDermott. He solely will get so many pictures with Josh Allen to show he can get the Payments again to the Tremendous Bowl.” — Paul Dehner Jr., Bengals author

“Mike McCarthy: He’s obtained 36 regular-season wins to at least one playoff win during the last three seasons and is on an expiring contract with Invoice Belichick as a training free agent. That’s a variety of strain.” — Jeff Howe, NFL author

“Robert Saleh. If he can’t win this season with that protection and a wholesome Aaron Rodgers, he is probably not lengthy for his job.” — Adam Hirshfield, NFL editor

“Nick Sirianni. Was final season’s second-half collapse a fluke or an indication of a much bigger downside? The Eagles are proficient, however a gradual begin will flip up the amount and warmth on the person in cost.” — Doug Haller, Cardinals author

“Dave Canales. He’s the least confirmed head coach within the league by way of general monitor document, which implies he has probably the most to show. There are different coaches going through higher strain this season, however they’re much extra seasoned/confirmed.” — Mike Sando, NFL author

“Dennis Allen. The Saints are on the brief listing of middling groups that might backside out this 12 months as a few of their prime expertise is getting older and a bit worse. They’ve points at quarterback and should wrestle on each the offensive and defensive traces. Issues appear a bit stale in New Orleans, and Allen must show that isn’t the case.” — Joe Buscaglia, Payments author

What they mentioned

“Arizona. Final 12 months you noticed the tradition set, now the expertise stage has risen for a full season with Kyler Murray.” — Dehner

“The Falcons are in a very good place. The temper across the constructing with Raheem Morris is thru the roof, and Kirk Cousins and OC Zac Robinson ought to actually assist the ability gamers shine. They’re additionally in a really winnable division.” — Howe

“Tennessee Titans, as a result of after an aggressive offseason following one other double-digit loss season, they are going to power their approach into competition within the AFC South and have a shot on the playoffs.” — Mike Jones, NFL author

“Denver Broncos. I’m a believer that the Sean Payton-Bo Nix pairing will work properly. I don’t love the skill-position items round Nix, however it’s the primary time since Payton coached Drew Brees that I can see him having full confidence in a quarterback. I might envision a second-place end within the AFC West and a doable wild-card berth.” — Larry Holder, NFL author

“The Chargers — they’ve the expertise to show issues round they usually have a head coach who is aware of easy methods to win.” — Dan Pompei, NFL author

“Cardinals. I’m reaching deep for this one as a result of anybody can say the Bears. However the Cardinals might be a sneaky group for the largest turnaround even when they’ll nonetheless be removed from a severe contender. They have been extra aggressive than the standard 4-13 group in Jonathan Gannon’s first season as head coach. Additionally they have been 1-8 with out Kyler Murray and 3-5 after he returned to the lineup. A wholesome Murray mixed with Marvin Harrison Jr. might flip issues round quick for the Cardinals.” — Duggan

“Seattle Seahawks. Geno Smith ought to have a pleasant rebound of a season and the Seahawks protection ought to be a lot improved with extra youth underneath new head coach Mike Macdonald. The Seahawks even have a really favorable schedule, which ought to permit them to make a run to make the playoffs.” — Nate Taylor, Chiefs author

“Falcons. Atlanta will get a brand new coach with a powerful defensive pedigree and management abilities in Raheem Morris, and a confirmed quarterback in Kirk Cousins to pair with ascending playmakers Bijan Robinson and Drake London. It additionally helps that the Falcons play within the NFC South.” — Joe Individual, Panthers author

“Washington. The Commanders solely received 4 video games final 12 months. I feel they might double that win complete and possibly compete for the NFC East title if issues go poorly for the Eagles and Cowboys. Dan Quinn finally ends up bettering the protection and Jayden Daniels exhibits they’ve a franchise QB.” — Jon Machota, Cowboys author

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photographs: Todd Rosenberg, Cooper Neill, Kara Durrette / Getty Pictures)