A part of the enjoyable of the start of a brand new NFL season is making predictions about which gamers will stand out and the way the standings will end. However what’s much more enjoyable is making “daring” predictions that will appear outlandish to some, however function a chance to exit on a limb and be completely different.
Listed here are a number of “daring” predictions for the 2024 NFL season.
The Payments will miss the playoffs
After being eradicated by the Chiefs for the third time in 4 years, Payments followers had been as soon as once more left with an all too acquainted feeling, like “When will it ever be our flip?”
However sadly for Buffalo, the nice vibes by no means returned within the offseason. The Payments broke up probably the most potent quarterback-wide receiver duos in soccer by delivery four-time Professional Bowler Stefon Diggs to Houston.
Diggs was additionally removed from the one key departure. Middle Mitch Morse, security Jordan Poyer, huge receiver Gabe Davis and cornerback Tre’Davious White are all elsewhere in 2024.
And to rub extra salt within the wound, Payments followers need to stay with the very fact Buffalo traded with the Chiefs throughout the NFL Draft, permitting Kansas Metropolis to take rookie speedster Xavier Worthy (who scored two touchdowns in his NFL debut on Thursday).
Whereas the Payments did draft a rookie receiver of their very own and made different strikes, this can lastly be the yr they take a step again. Merely having an elite sign caller like Josh Allen main the cost will not be sufficient in a crowded AFC and the Payments find yourself at residence when the playoffs kickoff for the primary time since 2018.
Kirk Cousins can be an MVP candidate
The Falcons signing Kirk Cousins was probably the most high-profile strikes of the offseason. And no less than for one yr, Cousins will show to be among the finest additions any workforce made, too.
Regardless that some had been confused when Atlanta drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 total decide, Cousins can have management of the offense in 2024.
Think about Cousins’ common manufacturing with a wide-open NFC South and there is not any motive to not consider he can immediately be helpful sufficient to show Atlanta round.
Cousins surpassed 4,000 yards passing in every of the three prior seasons with the Vikings earlier than his 2024 was minimize brief with an Achilles damage. Cousins ought to have sufficient round him for the Falcons to have one of many high offenses in soccer.
The Texans attain the Tremendous Bowl
It might not appear all that daring to say the Texans can be a contender, however all indicators level to Houston going a step past contender standing and making the franchise’s first Tremendous Bowl look.
Dethroning the back-to-back champion Chiefs will not be simple, however the Texans have the roster to do it. Add Diggs and operating again Joe Mixon to an offense that ranked No. 12 in total yards and Houston has supplied 2023 Offensive Rookie of the 12 months C.J. Stroud with all the pieces he must be even higher in his sophomore season.
Houston’s offense and formidable protection ought to carry the Texans to a different division title in a comparatively weak AFC South and arrange a path to Tremendous Bowl LIX.
