2024 NFL Predictions: Standings, Playoffs, and Super Bowl Picks

The 2024 NFL Kickoff Game takes place Thursday night. The Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens in the first of 272 scheduled regular games this season. It will not be the last meaningful game for either squad, as both are expected to compete for a spot in Super Bowl 59.

Kansas City can become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. An NFL team has won three straight championships only twice in league history, but never in the Super Bowl Era. The Green Bay Packers were the first team to do it (1929-1931). Green Bay later accomplished the feat a second time (1965-1967). The last two titles won in that run were the first two Super Bowls.

There are plenty of storylines heading into the season. Can the Chiefs win again? Will a franchise (Bills, Bengals, Lions, etc) bring home their first Lombardi Trophy? Which teams will emerge as surprisingly good or bad over the coming months? While there is no crystal ball at Patriots Football Now HQ, it won’t stop an attempt to predict how the 2024 season will unfold.

Also Read – Dan Kelley: Not All Rookie QBs Need to Be Handled the Same Way

Without further ado, here are PFN’s 2024 predictions for the NFL standings, playoff outcomes, and Super Bowl 59.

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills (13-4)
2. Miami Dolphins (9-8)
3. New York Jets (7-10)
4. New England Patriots (6-11)

The Dolphins have weapons. The Jets have Aaron Rodgers back to take some pressure off their excellent defense. But the AFC East has belonged to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills since Tom Brady left New England. No reason to believe that will change. The Patriots have been reduced to the role of spoiler.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass against the Miami Dolphins, Oct. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (12-5)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8)
4. Cleveland Browns (5-12)

The AFC North might be the toughest division in the NFL. The Ravens and Bengals are both legitimate contenders to win the AFC. Pittsburgh is an average team that could be better or worse based on their QB play in 2024. Cleveland is not impressive from this perspective. A five-win season could land Kevin Stefanski on the hot seat.

AFC South

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-5)
2. Houston Texans (11-6)
3. Indianapolis Colts (7-10)
4. Tennessee Titans (3-14)

Another competitive division with three teams capable of winning it. The Titans brought in talent, but not enough to alter their trajectory for this season. Trevor Lawrence needs to take another step to make this projection come true, though he can do it. The Texans remain tough. How much will their young core improve in 2024? The Colts getting significantly more interesting this season with Anthony Richardson in at quarterback.

LAWRENCE TO ZAY JONES. 39-YARD TD. #SuperWildCard

📺: #LACvsJAX on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LG9lf52l9m pic.twitter.com/E7VZZpAExe

— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2023

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
2. Los Angeles Chargers (8-9)
3. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)
4. Denver Broncos (3-14)

Not predicting a letdown for the Chiefs. In part because the rest of the AFC West is not strong. Kansas City should cruise to the division title. Jim Harbaugh and a healthy Justin Herbert should help reinvigorate the Chargers. The Raiders or Broncos, even reaching the playoffs, would win Coach of the Year for somebody.

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys (15-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
3. Washington Commanders (5-12)
4. New York Giants (3-14)

The Cowboys and Eagles are both Super Bowl contenders. However, either of their coaches could have job security issues if they fall short of lofty expectations. Washington starts to rebuild with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, while the Giants attempt a major turnaround for the franchise and the career of Daniel Jones.

NFC North

1. Detroit Lions (13-4)
2. Green Bay Packers (11-6)
3. Chicago Bears (8-9)
4. Minnesota Vikings (4-13)

Picking the Packers to go far this season is a common trend among analysts. While Green Bay should be competitive, Detroit remains the team to beat here. Chicago turned over the reigns of their franchise to No. 1 overall selection Caleb Williams (already named captain) and a group of new offensive weapons. They should be competitive all season. The Vikings should struggle to compete in 2024. They have some players, but not enough roster depth to do serious damage.

Repetition repetition repetition.

Caleb Williams is building the foundation for success 🎥#HardKnocks all episodes available on @Streamonmax pic.twitter.com/ZHQjqkpGRz

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) September 4, 2024

NFC South

1. Atlanta Falcons (9-8)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
3. New Orleans Saints (7-10)
4. Carolina Panthers (2-15)

The Falcons would not be the choice to win any other division, but the NFL South is very much up for grabs. Aside from the Panthers, any of the teams could either squeeze into the playoffs or get a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The guess here is that all three will be close to .500, with the additions of Kirk Cousins and Matthew Judon (among others) helping Atlanta finish first.

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers (15-2)
2. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
3. Seattle Seahawks (6-11)
4. Arizona Cardinals (5-12)

San Francisco might be the most talented team in football, including Kansas City. The only thing left for this team to do is bring home a Lombardi Trophy. Will this be the year? The Rams should be solid despite the retirement of Aaron Donald. Seattle and Arizona both have work to do to contend. It is unlikely that will happen in 2024.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

NFL Playoffs – Wild Card Round

AFC

Baltimore Ravens (No. 2) d. Miami Dolphins (No. 7)
Buffalo Bills (No. 3) d. Houston Texans (No. 6)
Cincinnati Bengals (No. 5) d. Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 4)

NFC

Dallas Cowboys (No. 2) d. Los Angeles Rams (No. 7)
Detroit Lions (No. 3) d. Green Bay Packers (No. 6)
Philadelphia Eagles (No. 5) d. Atlanta Falcons (No. 4)

No major surprises here, other than the two No. 4 seeds both losing to the top Wild Card teams.

NFL Playoffs – Divisional Round

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs d. Cincinnati Bengals
Buffalo Bills d. Baltimore Ravens

NFC

San Francisco 49ers d. Philadelphia Eagles
Detroit Lions d. Dallas Cowboys

These eight teams are all capable of reaching the Super Bowl. Injuries will play a major factor by the time it’s down to this point in the season. Buffalo-Baltimore and Detroit-Dallas both feel like coin tosses.

NFL Playoffs – Conference Championships

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs d. Buffalo Bills

NFC

Detroit Lions d. San Francisco 49ers

The Chiefs return to the big game once again. In the NFC, the choice between the 49ers, Cowboys, and Lions has changed multiple times before releasing Detroit as the final pick. It likely would have been different two days before and two days after this was posted.

Super Bowl 59

Kansas City Chiefs d. Detroit Lions

The Lions come so close to winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl, coming up just one game short. The Kansas City Chiefs are once again the champions. The Chiefs get the first three-peat of the Super Bowl Era and just the third overall in NFL history. Patrick Mahomes gets named Super Bowl MVP once again, and the debates kick into full gear as to whether this latest accomplishment puts him on the same tier as Tom Brady.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, left, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)