The NFL season is simply days away and the thrill is palpable. The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are kicking off the 2024 common season with an AFC Championship rematch that may characteristic a banner ceremony for the back-to-back Super Bowl champs.
Final yr, the very best division in soccer was the AFC North, however will that be the case once more? We requested CBS Sports activities workers writers to foretell the very best division in soccer for 2024, together with their Super Bowl matchup and choose to win all of it.
The crew at CBS Sports activities additionally gave its boldest predictions for the season, from the Packers profitable all of it to the Rams being the very best NFC crew. These daring predictions will both land us on “worst takes” on the finish of the season, or we’ll get the final giggle.
Observe: Employees writers Shanna McCarriston, Tyler Sullivan, Jordan Dajani, John Breech, Garrett Podell, Bryan DeArdo, Cody Benjamin and Jared Dubin participated.
Finest division predictions
Hottest choose: AFC North
It is no shock that the AFC North is the preferred choose. All 4 groups had a win share over .500 final season, the one division within the league to realize that. With Joe Burrow coming again for the Bengals, Lamar Jackson coming off an MVP season, the Steelers having new quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and the Browns hoping for a full yr of Deshaun Watson, every crew is about up for fulfillment this yr.
The Bengals and Ravens are each +145 to win the division, with the Browns subsequent at +525 and the Steelers at +750.
Super Bowl matchup and winner predictions
- McCarriston: Chiefs over Lions
- Sullivan: Packers over Jets
- Dajani: Lions over Chiefs
- Breech: Bengals over Lions
- Podell: Packers over Ravens
- DeArdo: 49ers over Bengals
- Benjamin: Eagles over Bengals
- Dubin: Chiefs over 49ers
Hottest choose to achieve Super Bowl: Lions
Hottest choose to win Super Bowl: Chiefs
The Chiefs are the favorites to win all of it once more this yr (+575), with the 49ers at No. 2 (+625), adopted by the Ravens (+900), Lions (+1000), Eagles (+1300) and Bengals (+1300).
Three writers have the Lions making it to New Orleans and they’re arguably the most important up-and-coming crew. Their historic 2023 season and sustaining their stars makes them an excellent choose to take that subsequent step and make it to the most important stage in American sports activities. They got here shut final season, shedding to the 49ers within the NFC Championship.
Daring predictions for 2024 season
McCarriston: Jets miss playoffs
The Jets are favored to win the AFC East at +165 and are -180 to make the playoffs. They’ve the sixth-best odds to win all of it at +1700.
Sullivan: Seahawks attain the playoffs, win a playoff recreation
The Seahawks have the third-best odds to win their division at +600 and are +170 to make the playoffs.
Dajani: Jets win the AFC East
The Jets are getting again their Corridor of Fame quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, who missed all the season final yr.
Breech: Rams get No. 1 seed in NFC
The Rams aren’t even favored to win their division, by no means thoughts have the highest spot within the convention. L.A. is +350 to return out on high of the NFC West.
Podell: Jordan Love wins NFL and Tremendous Bowl MVP
The Packers have barely higher odds than many might imagine, coming within the high 10 to be topped Tremendous Bowl champs on the finish of the yr (+1700). Love definitely confirmed he has potential on this league and is tied for the sixth-best odds to win league MVP together with Brock Purdy (+1500).
DeArdo: Ravens miss playoffs
The Ravens will not be solely anticipated to make the playoffs (-270), however have the third-best odds to win all of it (+900), so that is certainly a daring prediction.
Benjamin: Seahawks emerge as a high contender within the NFC
The Seahawks are a preferred alternative as a shock crew to carry out effectively this season. CBS Sports predicted that Seattle will go 9-8 this yr.
Dubin: The Saints backside out and have a high 5 choose subsequent yr
CBS Sports activities predicts the Seahawks will go 6-11 and so they have points in lots of areas, particularly their offensive line.