In the words of Dak Prescott before taking every offensive snap, “Here We Go”, and no, that doesn’t mean he plans to join the Pittsburgh Steelers — who also use the same phrase as their slogan— should he decide to hit free agency in 2025. The National Football League (NFL) is back for another season and if last season is anything to go by, I can’t wait to see what the “scriptwriters” have in store for us this time.
In the spirit of predictions, here are 24 likely or perhaps unlikely scenarios that we should look out for this season.
1. Black Quarterbacks
The most important position in the sport. More than 70 years after the first black quarterback appeared in the league — Willie Thrower in 1953 – the NFL has 15 black players who have been named as starters for the opening weekend, a far cry from when black quarterbacks were considered unintelligent to play the position at the top level. And with the way some teams have their rosters set up — a la Falcons — expect more in the not-so-distant future.
2. We are supposed to be best friends
Your best friend is supposed to ride or die with you in almost every scenario — unless you’re committing a crime. However, no one told that to the offensive linemen, whose primary objective is to protect the quarterback and can you blame them? The release of the Netflix series, Receivers, has shown that the quarterback's best friend might be the wide receiver, who has to catch passes, and run empty routes (sometimes) while becoming a moving target.
3. Three-peat for the Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs ended the 2023 season as Super Bowl champions despite having wide receivers who forgot how to catch the ball and stay onside at the line of scrimmage. Travis Kelce’s return, coupled with the additions of Xavier Worthy and Juju Smith-Schuster should help fuel the Boogie Man’s desire for a three-peat.
You know who the Boogie Man is right? Right??
Alright, I’m talking about Patrick Mahomes.
4. Deshaun Watson needs to justify his pay
Does he? Oh yes, he does.
I might dislike the Cleveland Browns, however, they made an unprecedented move that could have changed the future of the NFL by handing out a fully guaranteed long-term contract to Deshaun Watson. But Watson’s struggles and unavailability have made it difficult for any other player to demand such terms.
The former Texans quarterback had one great game last season, playing injured against the Ravens to prove a point, and that ultimately cost him the season. Joe Flacco led the team on an impressive run to the playoffs in his absence — before falling to the Texans — and it’s time for Watson to prove he still has it or else the Browns might become a one-sided team.
5. Goodbye boring weekends, hello overreaction Mondays
My weekends have been exciting, ironically. After all, why should a grown man be screaming at the screen and shouting “fumble” or “pass interference”? But come next Monday, I plan to join a group of fans, pundits, and ex-players who will over-analyze every situation whilst suggesting every mistake made in a football game will lead to the end of the world.
6. More points from kicking
What’s a new season without new rules, at least it’s not like the league decided to make playing defense much more difficult…oops! They did that — but more on that later. The new kickoff rule doesn’t look too bad, as we’ve seen during the pre-season and I expect it to lead to more points.
Hi Devin Hester, it’s not too late to drop that Gold Jacket.
7. The challengers
As much as I expect the Chiefs to be favorites to win it all this season, I expect some teams to either stop them or fail at the last hurdle — hello 49ers. The Eagles will be hoping to stay healthy and motivated, while the Kyle Shanahan’s led 49ers will be praying the clock of fortune points their way this season.
On the other side, the Ravens will hope Derrick Henry’s ability to run the ball leads them past the Chiefs — hopefully, they don’t shiver when they see Steve Spagnuolo again — and the Bad Man’s (Aaron Rodgers) return could spur the Jets to success this season.
Or is it going to be the team in Cincinnati?
8. The Newbies
Caleb Williams has generated the most hype of any college quarterback since Andrew Luck (even more than Trevor Lawrence) and he leads a bunch of exciting rookies into the league this season. From Laiatu Latu to Keon Coleman, I’m excited to see how this new class of newbies performs in the league. Hopefully, we won’t see banners of Justin Field, in the Soldier Field Stadium at the end of November.
9. Money, money, and more money
Speaking of quarterbacks, almost every good one got paid during the offseason and Trevor Lawrence too. Jordan Love, Jared Goff, and Tua Tagovailoa all got new deals following their impressive performances last. The wide receivers were not left out of the action either. With Ceedee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Justin Jefferson all getting paid. And this is only the start of the bigger contracts, cos with the league’s revenue going up, expect the player’s contract to continue to do the same.
If only NFL owners would stop robbing Peter to pay Paul.
10. Defense wins championships
Yes, Patrick Mahomes is great and is in the goat conversation but I’m sure his biggest fans would agree with me when I say, the Chiefs’ roster on offense last season had no business winning the Super Bowl.
Enter Steve Spagnuolo. The Chiefs’ defensive coordinator proved once again that defense wins championships and if you go through the roster of the teams I considered contenders earlier, you would see why.
11. Hello QB whisperers
Another season of head coaching changes. Every team is scrambling to find the next Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan, or quarterback whisperers, as they are somewhat known. Brian Callahan and Dave Canales both arrive as new head coaches for the Titans and Panthers respectively, hoping to improve the quarterback play of the team. Meanwhile, in LA, Jim Harbaugh has been appointed by the Chargers to ensure Justin Herbert’s arm talent can help a flattering team win a few more games.
12. 12 is back…
Yes, both 12’s are back in the NFL.
Aaron Rodgers is back on the field after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in the Jets’ first game of last season and Tom Brady is also back in the NFL, however as a broadcaster. I hope I didn’t scare you, fans of the Jets, Bills, Dolphins, and even the Chiefs too.
13. 99 calls it a day…
The sad part of the 2024 season is I won’t get to hear broadcasters use the phrase, “sooner or later 99 is going to get you”. And while I might be sad, there’s a collective sigh of relief from both offensive linemen and quarterbacks, as Aaron Donald ended his illustrious career at the end of last season.
Arguably, one of the greatest defensive players of all time, Aaron Donald had 10 stellar seasons with the Rams and the only downside to his career is that he didn’t play for his hometown team, my Pittsburgh Steelers. I forgive you, Aaron.
14. It's time for a non-QB MVP
Tyreek Hill won the NFL's Top 100 -voted for by the players- and I don't think anyone would have begrudged San Francisco 49ers' Christain McCafrey had he won last season's regular-season MVP award. Don't get me wrong, Lamar Jackson deserved his MVP award, following a stellar campaign with the Ravens however, with each passing season we are starting to see non-quarterbacks stake huge claims for the top crown and 2024 might end up being that season.
Who knows, a defensive player might come out trumps...I see you, T.J. Watt.
15. Sorry, I can't throw the ball and then catch it too...
Why do I feel like that's the statement currently being echoed by Justin Herbert and Josh Allen? Herbert and the Chargers lost their top two wide receivers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, leaving the team devoid of star power in that position.
Sean McDermott and the Bills are either convinced of Keon Coleman's ability -despite still only being a rookie - or they want Josh Allen to run into the endzone on every play because the team's failure to replace Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis is quite telling.
16. Father time might be lurking in the corner...
For some players, the 2024 season is another opportunity to prove they still have it and that the proverbial "Father Time" has nothing on them. Russell Wilson was chased out of town in Denver - who is paying his $39 million to play for the Steelers. The former Super Bowl champion has to show the rest of the league that he's still the Russell Wilson of old. Should Wilson fail to deliver in the Steel City or lose his starting job to Justin Fields? Canton, Ohio might not be too far away from Pittsburgh.
Aaron Rodgers is another player on this list. Despite claims he could've returned last season had the Jets made the playoffs, recovering from an Achilles injury at age 40 is no joke. The four-time MVP is in the twilight of his career and a less-than-impressive season could convince him to hang up his cleats.
17. Who says I can't beat Mahomes
Joe Burrow a.k.a Joe Cool or Joe Sheisty like some call him might be the AFC's only hope of stopping Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs from going to another Super Bowl. The former LSU star quarterback suffered a season elbow injury midway through last season and the Bengals season ended with it. However, a healthy Burrow with weapons at the wide receiver position in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins could make the AFC an interesting conference.
18. We need help at the QB position, someone stole our quarterback…
The Netflix Receivers series was as insightful as it gets into what goes on in the locker room of an NFL team. The Raiders desperately needed a top quarterback via free agency or the draft and had eyes on Washington’s Michael Penix only for the Atlanta Falcons to select him in the top 10.
Antonio Pierce’s side picked up journeyman Gardner Minshew as a free agent and the former Jaguar has been named as the starting quarterback. Minshew would need to hit the ground running almost immediately if the Raiders are to build on Pierce’s impressive leadership to end the 2023 season and also to ensure they don’t have a disgruntled star wide receiver in Davante Adams.
19. A black head coach in Boston???
Jerod Mayo was appointed as the Patriots head coach, replacing Bill Belichick who had a 24-year successful spell in New England. All I can say is, I wish Mayo all the best of luck…because he’s gonna need it.
20. You've had too many chances to win
Yes, I’m talking about you Kyle Shanahan. Regarded as a genius head coach and offensive mind, Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers continue to fall short of glory despite a plethora of talents on both sides of the ball. It’s time for the 49ers to put up or shut up.
21. Regular season champs or are you just flat-out bullies?
Teams that show up and show out during the regular season and then simply fall apart at the first sign of trouble in the playoffs. Don’t worry Cowboys fans, you’re not alone in this category, the Ravens and the Dolphins have proven to be also very adept in this area of mediocrity.
22. He’s still a rookie, or is he not?
The Bears have been mediocre for more than I can choose to remember but alas, the savior has arrived. The pressure on the shoulders of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is as huge as the skyscrapers you see in Illinois and following the acquisition of wide receivers like Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze (via the draft), the Bears are expected to be at least noise makers in the NFC North.
However, I must stress the need for patience, after all, Caleb Williams is still a rookie.
23. We don’t need a decent QB, we have a genius head coach
Those are the words being echoed in the corridors of the Denver Broncos facility. Sean Payton was given the keys to the kingdom last season and following a dismal 8-9 record; which coincided with paying Russell Wilson to play for another team, the former Saints head coach is on the hot seat.
The Broncos drafted Bo Nix and spent the weeks after telling anyone who would listen that he was their first-choice quarterback. The 24-year-old rookie has been named the starter amongst a trio of unimpressive quarterbacks that include Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. And it remains to be seen how Sean Payton and the Broncos perform this season.
24. Flags, penalties, and more flags…
The NFL banned the hip-drop tackle at the end of last season which led to a huge uproar and further adding more voice to the debate that the league continues to favor offensive plays. I expect the adjustment period for this new rule to take longer than expected, hence more flags and penalty calls at the start of the season and during the playoffs.
I pray for good health for all NFL players, but sometimes injuries create interesting dynamics during a season. Irrespective of what happens, we’re in for an exciting NFL season and I can’t wait for the kickoff on Thursday.
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