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The NFL common season kicks off with Thursday evening’s Baltimore Ravens-Kansas Metropolis Chiefs sport, adopted by Friday evening’s Inexperienced Bay Packers-Philadelphia Eagles sport in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
On Sunday, 13 extra video games are scheduled, adopted by the New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night time Soccer.”
Optimism abounds (largely) for fan bases of all 32 groups.
On the cusp of the season, we requested Yardbarker NFL writers to challenge the 2024 ground and ceiling for each crew within the AFC.
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | Ceiling: 12-5/Ground: 9-8 | The Payments enter the 2024 season with arguably probably the most uncertainty amongst AFC East groups after chopping ties with impactful contributors earlier this offseason as a consequence of salary-cap constraints. Though Buffalo misplaced WRs Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, the offense might nonetheless be dominant if it performs equally to final season, when Joe Brady took over as interim OC and the Payments completed 6-1 down the stretch. Nonetheless, if QB Josh Allen and his new-look receiving corps do not click on or the revamped protection underperforms, Buffalo might battle towards the sixth-most difficult schedule within the NFL.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Ceiling: 11-6/Ground: 8-9 | The Dolphins return most of their expertise from final season’s crew, which completed 11-6 within the common season and ranked second in points per game (29.2). Nonetheless, the offseason departures of DT Christian Wilkins, RG Robert Hunt and middle Connor Williams, coupled with the early season absence of edge-rusher Bradley Chubb (recovering from torn proper ACL), might trigger the the crew to take a step backward. A repeat of the way it performed towards playoff groups final season (1-6 report) might doom Miami.
NEW YORK JETS | Ceiling: 12-5/ Ground: 9-8 | Regardless of having arguably the worst quarterback scenario within the NFL, New York posted 7-10 records the previous two seasons. The improve at quarterback from the dismal trio of Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian to four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers needs to be important sufficient to enhance on final season’s report by not less than two wins. The Jets have the most effective roster within the division on paper and, if that expertise interprets to on-field efficiency, they’ve the potential to be one of many AFC’s high groups.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Ceiling: 5-12/ Ground: 2-15 | With the lowest projected win total in the NFL (4.5 games), New England very properly might end with the league’s worst report. Such a situation unfolding would not be significantly surprising as a result of the Patriots are getting into a rebuilding season beneath first-year HC Jerod Mayo, who changed Invoice Belichick. Nonetheless, if rookie Drake Maye takes over as New England’s beginning quarterback ahead of later and lives as much as expectations, the crew might string collectively a number of wins within the second half. — Colum Dell
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | Ceiling: 8-9/Ground: 5-12 | Might rookie quarterback Bo Nix assist the Broncos exceed expectations this season? The twelfth total choose flashed promise within the preseason, finishing 23 of 30 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns in two video games. Nonetheless, ESPN’s Mike Clay charges Denver’s roster because the fourth worst within the NFL, so it wouldn’t be shocking if it logs an eighth consecutive dropping season.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Ceiling: 13-4/Ground: 10-7 | The Chiefs are coming off their third Tremendous Bowl win in 5 years and will preserve rolling. This offseason, Okay.C. re-signed defensive sort out Chris Jones (five years, $158.75M) and gave tight finish Travis Kelce (two years, $34.25M) a brand new contract. Per Pro Football Reference, the Chiefs ranked thirty first within the league in common goal depth (6.2 yards) final season, however rookie broad receiver Xavier Worthy (choose No. 28) might assist them rekindle their passing assault.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Ceiling: 8-9/Ground: 5-12 | The protection ought to flourish in its first full season beneath new head coach Antonio Pierce. Per the team website, the unit allowed a league-low 16 factors per sport in 9 video games final season beneath Pierce after he changed the underwhelming Josh McDaniels. Quarterback play might maintain Vegas again, although, as starter Gardner Minshew II has a 15-22 regular-season record in five seasons.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Ceiling: 10-7/Ground: 8-9 | New head coach Jim Harbaugh ought to maximize quarterback Justin Herbert’s abilities. Nonetheless, it’s unclear if the Bolts have a viable alternative for six-time Professional Bowl broad receiver Keenan Allen, whom they dealt to the Bears this offseason. Plus, questions in regards to the protection linger after it completed twenty fourth within the league in factors allowed (23.4) final season. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Ceiling: 14-3/Ground: 10-7 | The Ravens, who had the NFL’s finest regular-season report final season (13-4), might match that once more as a result of they retained most of their key free brokers and added RB Derrick Henry, a two-time NFL speeding yards and touchdowns chief. Baltimore’s 2024 success will largely rely upon the well being of two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, however the final yr he missed time in 2022, the crew nonetheless completed with a profitable report (10-7).
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Ceiling: 13-4/Ground: 10-7 | The Bengals appear primed to return to their Tremendous Bowl-contender standing with a wholesome QB Joe Burrow. When Burrow was wholesome from 2021-22, he led Cincinnati to back-to-back AFC title video games and a Tremendous Bowl look. That needs to be the case as soon as once more, though issues might begin off a little bit rocky as three-time Professional Bowl broad receiver Ja’Marr Chase continues his hold-in whereas he waits for a much-deserved contract extension.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | Ceiling: 12-5/Ground: 7-10 | The Browns, the largest wild card within the AFC North. return with the most effective protection within the league in total yards allowed but in addition have inconsistent QB Deshaun Watson, who has performed in simply 12 video games since becoming a member of the crew in 2022 due to a suspension and accidents. If Watson returns to his 2020 kind (NFL-high 4,823 yards passing with Houston), Cleveland is usually a contender, but when he disappoints and/or can’t keep wholesome, the crew may very well be in retailer for its third dropping season previously 4 years.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Ceiling: 12-5/Ground: 9-8 | On paper, the Steelers have upgraded or remained the identical at each place besides broad receiver, and that might nonetheless change even with the Brandon Aiyuk saga lastly over. Pittsburgh’s 2024 success shall be depending on the play of 35-year-old quarterback Russell Wilson and possibly 25-year-old QB Justin Fields, however HC Mike Tomlin has by no means had a dropping season in his 17 years as head coach, and that’s not about to alter. — Aaron Becker
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Ceiling: 12-5/Ground: 10-7 | The Texans enter 2024 as the favourite to repeat as division champion and maybe do much more if quarterback C.J. Stroud can take one other step ahead. The budding celebrity led the NFL in yards passing per sport (273.9) and threw for 23 TDs en path to Offensive Rookie of the 12 months honors in 2023. That looks as if a superb guess, contemplating Houston’s offense, which ranked twelfth within the NFL final season, added Professional Bowl wideout Stefon Diggs and working again Joe Mixon to a unit that already contains receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell, who mixed for 1,936 yards, 127 receptions and 15 touchdowns in 2023.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Ceiling: 10-7/Ground: 8-9 | The Colts surpassed expectations in head coach Shane Steichen’s first yr, ending 9-8 regardless of being with out a number of key gamers for important chunks of 2023, together with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson (13 video games) and working again Jonathan Taylor (seven). The potential to enhance at full power makes Indianapolis one of many extra intriguing groups within the AFC South. However issues might take a downward flip once more if Richardson will get damage and misses time.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Ceiling: 10-7/Ground: 8-9 | The Jaguars fell in need of expectations in 2023, collapsing after an 8-3 begin to end 9-8 behind a banged-up quarterback and a leaky protection, which completed twenty second within the NFL. There’s optimism for a bounce-back yr as Trevor Lawrence is now wholesome and paid after receiving a five-year, $275 million contract extension. Plus, new coordinator Ryan Nielsen ought to give the protection a contemporary look.
TENNESSEE TITANS | Ceiling: 8-9/Ground: 5-12 | Within the first yr of a post-Mike Vrabel period, the Titans have causes to be hopeful after including wideout Calvin Ridley and working again Tony Pollard to an offense led by second-year quarterback Will Levis. In the meantime, the protection added thrilling, younger cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, a former Chiefs star, and chosen defensive sort out T’Vondre Sweat within the second spherical. Nonetheless, anticipate rising pains with the brand new items and a first-year head coach Brian Callahan. — Mike Santa Barbara
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