2024 NFL Playoff Predictions

We hours away from the best time of the year- NFL FOOTBALL SEASON! With that comes prediction season leading up to the first game of the year. Today, I will be making my final NFL predictions before the season starts. There will be a few surprises, so be ready!

NFC Division Winners

I like the Packers a lot this year, so much so that they're my pick to win the NFC. I think QB Jordan Love will continue to take a step forward and assert himself as a top 10 player at the position (much to the chagrin of the Viking fan in me). In my eyes, the receiving group lacks a true alpha dog but is one of the best all-around groups in the league. The running game will take a huge step forward with the acquisition of All-Pro Josh Jacobs, and their offensive line will continue to be a solid unit. I don't know what to expect defensively from new coordinator Jeff Hafley, but he is an instant upgrade over the meme known as Joe Barry. This is a young up and coming roster that will only get better from here.

The Rams are my pick, I like their young roster. The loss of Aaron Donald undeniably hurts, but they have the young talent to possibly offset that. Between Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, and Cooper Kupp, this is the best supporting cast of skill players that Matthew Stafford will probably have in his career. Their offensive line will continue to get better. My questions about this team are- can Stafford stay healthy, and how will the defense respond to the losses of Donald and coordinator Raheem Morris? If Stafford is upright, and the defense continues to be good, the Rams will be a real threat for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

The Falcons were a team I was hesitant to buy into, but they've come around on me. Although I have concerns about a 36 year old Kirk Cousins coming off a torn Achilles, I like the offensive players and line around him. I predict that running back Bijan Robinson will be seen as the team’s No. 1 offensive option by the end of the year and will allow Cousins to excel at what he does best, play action passing. I think the games of Drake London and Kyle Pitts will be elevated by Cousins. The Falcons defense concerns me, but I think three things will help improve it greatly this year- the hiring of defensive minded Raheem Morris at HC and the acquisitions of pass rusher Matthew Judon and safety Justin Simmons.

In my opinion, the Eagles have the potential to be the best offense in the league. I think that QB Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, and receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have the potential to be the best offensive quartet in the league. Under the guidance of the newly hired Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator, I expect the Eagles to improve on that side of the ball after a disastrous end to last season. Overall, I like this team a lot this year. It will be between them, the Packers, and Rams for the top seed in the NFC this year.

NFC Wild Cards

Although I believe the Lions hit their peak last year, I still like the team this year. They will continue to have a top flight offense under the guidance of QB Jared Goff, and they fixed their main defensive hole, cornerback, with the acquisitions of Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold. So why do I have the Lions as a Wild Card? Well, I believe that they caught a lot of in-division breaks last year. The Packers weren't good until the second half of the season, the Vikings lost Kirk Cousins midseason, and the Bears now have a better QB in Caleb Williams. I also have questions about whether or not the lions can sustain success. When a mostly sad sack organization like them has a period of success, it's usually a one and done scenario. The Lions have not had sustained success since the mid 90s when they had Barry Sanders. Was 2023 just a flash in the pan or is it something we can expect from them for the foreseeable future?

I really like Washington this year as my surprise team. It's a new era for the team under the ownership of Josh Harris, and I like their general manager, head coach, and offensive coordinator hirings. In Kliff Kingsbury’s system, Jayden Daniels should be a candidate for OROY. Between the likes of Da’Ron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Frankie Luvu, and rookie Jer’Zhan Newton, I like their defensive personnel as well and I believe that side of the ball will be elevated under Dan Quinn.

The Seahawks are another surprise team for me this offseason. I love the hiring of Mike Macdonald as head coach. I believe that he will breathe a new wave of fresh air into a young roster, as he will be more relatable than the older Pete Carroll. Geno Smith wasn't quite his 2022 self last year, but still made a Pro Bowl and is surrounded by a solid group of offensive weapons in Kenneth Walker III, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Their defense will instantly be elevated by Macdonald, whom some call the Sean McVay of defense because of the way he calls the plays on that side of the ball.

AFC Division Winners

In a division that is full of uncertainty, I like the Ravens to repeat as divisional champions. Pittsburgh will have a quarterback controversy for most of the year, Cincinnati's season is highly dependent on Joe Burrow staying healthy, and I don't know what I'm getting with Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. If Lamar is upright, he's among the league's most dynamic players. Offensively, the Ravens still have a solid OL, an elite tight end in Mark Andrews, and a promising wide receiver in Zay Flowers. Defensively, I don't like that they lost coordinator Mike Macdonald, but they still have good enough personnel to rank among the top of the league in that department.

As usual, the Chiefs will win the AFC West because of Reid and Mahomes. No further explanation needed.

I really like the Colts to win the AFC South this year. I believe that if Anthony Richardson can stay healthy and reach his full potential, he will be among the most dynamic players in the league. Shane Steichen is an ascending coach who maximizes the most out of his offensive talent. I am slightly concerned about the defense, but the addition of UCLA pass rusher Laiutu Latu should elevate the unit. If this team can reach their potential, watch out for them.

I like the Bills to win the AFC East for the fifth season in a row because of one player- Josh Allen. He is one of the two best players in the league at full strength and he will lead the Bills to division titles as long as healthy. I believe that outside of him, the Bills offense is actually underrated. I think tight end Dalton Kincaid and rookie receiver Keon Coleman will step up and prove themselves to be the team’s pass catchers of the future. Losing so many defensive veterans concerns me, but I trust Sean McDermott to get the most out of that side of the ball. The Bills will remain king of the division over what I see as the overhyped Dolphins. In their case, flashiness doesn't equal success.

AFC Wild Cards

I have the Texans as a Wild Card team only because I am concerned about a “sophomore slump” for C.J. Stroud and I don't know how this team will handle expectations. There's always a super-hyped up team who ends up underperforming during the season and I am concerned that Houston might be that team. I like them a lot, but watch out for a potential slump.

I like the Chargers this year. We've seen what Jim Harbaugh does to a program when he arrives- they win instantly. That's happened at San Diego State, Stanford, the 49ers, and Michigan. I don't love the fact that they moved Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but both Jim and John Harbaugh have been known for winning without quality WR1s and have instead won by building through the trenches and run game. The Chargers are going to be one of the more physical teams in the league this year and will be no fun to play. They will grind their way to a 10-11 win season and could potentially win a playoff game.

The Titans seem like a very bold choice to make the playoffs but hear me out. I have a friend who is obsessed with formulas and sent me one about first year head coaches who make the playoffs- and the Titans fit it. Upon further research, I think it's reasonable to think of this team as a playoff team. New head coach Brian Callahan should elevate the game of second-year quarterback Will Levis, who also has veteran receivers and running backs around him. The defense won't be as good with Mike Vrabel’s departure, but they still do have nice pieces like Jeffrey Simmons, Harold Landry, and L’Jarius Sneed. It would not surprise me if Levis is dealing with a situation like Tua dealt with in Miami- a defensive coach who talked down on the QB, who was then elevated by a new offensive coach. The AFC South is a competitive division and I could see it sending three teams to the playoffs. Besides, there is always one team every year who we pick to finish among the worst in the league and then they make the playoffs. The Titans could be that team.

There are my 2024 NFL playoff predictions. There are some bold picks in here, but I feel confident about them. What do you guys think? Who makes the 2024 NFL playoffs?

Serafino Diaz is a writer at Chaotically Intolerant, Phoenix's finest Vikings, Bucks, and Cubs fan, traveling everywhere I can.