Welcome to the Labor Day version of the Decide Six e-newsletter!
It is becoming that at present is Labor Day, and that is primarily as a result of I spent my whole weekend laboring over my predictions for the 2024 NFL season. I have not slept in three days, my blood is now product of espresso and I’ve eaten 41 Pop-Tarts over the previous 72 hours, and I’ve to say, it was all value it as a result of my predictions at the moment are accomplished.
Who’s going to make the playoffs? Who’s going to win the Tremendous Bowl? Who’s going to complete with the worst report within the NFL? We’ll reply all of that at present.
We’re additionally going to try the best-case and worst-case situations for every NFL workforce, plus we’ll have an replace on 49ers rookie large receiver Ricky Pearsall.
As all the time, this is your every day reminder to inform all your pals to enroll in the e-newsletter. To get them signed up, all you need to do is click here.
1. Particulars on taking pictures of Ricky Pearsall: 49ers rookie launched from hospital after being shot in chest
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Ricky Pearsall was launched from a hospital in San Francisco on Sunday, lower than 24 hours after being shot within the chest throughout a theft try within the Union Sq. space.
This is a breakdown of what occurred over the weekend:
- Pearsall was shot within the chest. In accordance with San Francisco police, the incident went down simply after 3:30 p.m. PT on Saturday after a person tried to take a Rolex that Pearsall was carrying. Throughout the tried theft, an altercation broke out between Pearsall and the 17-year-old suspect. By the point police arrived, each Pearsall and the suspect had been shot. The 49ers rookie had been in downtown San Francisco signing autographs simply hours earlier than the taking pictures. Regardless of being shot, Pearsall was in a position to walk to the ambulance on his own.
- Pearsall within the hospital for lower than 24 hours. The 49ers first-round decide was shot within the chest with the bullet exiting out his again, based on a social media put up from his mother. When Pearsall arrived on the hospital on Saturday, he was listed as being in “critical however steady situation.” By Sunday morning, he was upgraded to truthful situation and by early Sunday afternoon, he was discharged from the hospital. The bullet missed Pearsall’s very important organs, based on the receiver’s mother, who had posted an replace on social media.
- Expenses have not been filed but. The truth that the suspect is a juvenile and that undeniable fact that it is a vacation weekend has slowed down the authorized course of. District Lawyer Brooke Jenkins noted over the weekend {that a} resolution on expenses will likely be made Tuesday or Wednesday.
In order for you all the main points on this case, you can read our full story here.
2. Full AFC predictions for 2024: Payments miss playoffs for first time in six years
As I discussed on the prime, I spent my whole Labor Day weekend going by all 272 regular-season video games on the NFL schedule, and after 37 straight hours of considering the 2023 season, my picks are lastly in. In considerably associated information, I additionally spent 14 hours getting mentally ready for all of the hate mail I will be getting from Buffalo.
This is my prediction for a way the whole lot within the AFC will break down this yr:
*make playoffs
AFC East
1. *Dolphins: 11-6
2. *Jets: 10-7
3. Payments: 9-8
4. Patriots: 3-14
AFC North
1. *Ravens: 12-5
2. *Bengals: 11-6
3. Browns: 9-8
4. Steelers: 8-9
AFC South
1. *Texans: 10-7
2. Jaguars: 8-9
3. Colts: 7-10
4. Titans: 6-11
AFC West
1. *Chiefs: 12-5
2. *Chargers: 10-7
3. Broncos: 7-10
4. Raiders: 6-11
AFC playoffs: 1. Chiefs 2. Ravens 3. Dolphins 4. Texans 5. Bengals 6. Chargers 7. Jets
AFC Tremendous Bowl workforce: Bengals
I took the Bengals final yr and that turned out to be an on the spot jinx — Joe Burrow injured his calf 5 seconds into his first coaching camp follow — however I am selecting them once more as a result of there is not any approach you may jinx a workforce two years in a row. Proper. Proper?!
3. Full NFC predictions for 2024: Rams earn prime seed in convention
USATSI
Within the NFC, I see issues ending with Matthew Stafford going through the Lions with a TRIP TO THE SUPER BOWL on the road.
This is my prediction for a way the whole lot within the NFC will shake out this yr:
*make playoffs
NFC East
1. *Cowboys: 10-7
2. *Eagles: 9-8
3. Commanders: 7-10
4. Giants: 6-11
NFC North
1. *Lions: 12-5
2. *Packers: 11-6
3. Bears: 8-9
4. Vikings: 6-11
NFC South
1. *Falcons: 10-7
2. Buccaneers: 8-9
3. Saints: 6-11
4. Panthers: 4-13
NFC West
1. *Rams: 12-5
2. *49ers: 11-6
3. Seahawks: 7-10
4. Cardinals: 6-11
NFC playoffs: 1. Rams 2. Lions 3. Cowboys 4. Falcons 5. 49ers 6. Packers 7. Eagles
NFC Tremendous Bowl workforce: Lions
Tremendous Bowl winner: Bengals 27-24 over Lions
The Lions have probably the greatest rosters within the NFL they usually bought over their largest hump final yr by successful a playoff sport for the primary time since 1991. Now that they’ve gotten that out of the way in which, this appears like a workforce that is able to take the subsequent step, and the subsequent step is attending to the Tremendous Bowl for the primary time in franchise historical past.
The issue for the Lions, although, is that if there’s one man you do not wish to face in New Orleans, it is Joe Burrow. Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase gained a university nationwide title on the SuperDome, and now, they will workforce as much as win a Tremendous Bowl.
This matchup would give us the NFL’s first Tremendous Bowl involving two cat groups and I am unsure how anybody can root towards that. Everybody loves cats.
Moreover predicting the Tremendous Bowl winner and the ultimate data for every workforce, I additionally made 9 daring predictions in regards to the 2024 NFL season, together with a darkish horse MVP winner, and you can check out all of those by clicking here.
4. Ceiling and ground for every NFL workforce
Should you’re questioning what the best-case state of affairs is on your favourite workforce this yr, I’ve some excellent news: Jeff Kerr went forward and figured that out for you. With the beginning of the season simply three days away, Kerr went by each workforce to determine their best-case and worst-case state of affairs for the 2024 season.
This is a take a look at how he sees issues going for 5 totally different groups:
FALCONS
Finest case: 11-6 (Win NFC South)
Worst case: 8-9 (Miss playoffs)
COWBOYS
Finest case: 12-5 (Attain NFC title sport)
Worst case: 9-8 (Miss playoffs)
TEXANS
Finest case: 13-4 (Attain AFC title sport)
Worst case: 8-9 (Miss playoffs)
CHARGERS
Finest case: 10-7 (Make playoffs)
Worst case: 7-10 (Miss playoffs)
PATRIOTS
Finest case: 6-11 (Miss playoffs)
Worst case: 2-15 (Miss playoffs)
Kerr clearly thinks the Patriots are going to be horrible and it is arduous to disagree with him. At 6-11, the Patriots’ best-case state of affairs is tied with the Panthers and Broncos for the worst ceiling within the league.
If you wish to know the ceiling and ground for each NFL workforce, then be sure to click here.
5. 10 offensive gamers within the excellent state of affairs to thrive in 2024
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You probably have a Fantasy draft developing within the subsequent 72 hours, you are undoubtedly going to wish to take note of this part of the e-newsletter. Garrett Podell made an inventory of 10 offensive gamers who might put up massive numbers this yr on account of the truth that they’re within the excellent state of affairs to thrive.
Let’s take a look at the highest 4 names on his checklist:
- Packer QB Jordan Love. “The loopy factor about Love’s first season on the controls of head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense is he actually did not begin clicking till the second half of the season when he threw 18 touchdowns and just one interception from Weeks 11-18. He can simply take his sport up one other degree.”
- Falcons RB Bijan Robinson. “Robinson produced a powerful rookie season with 1,463 scrimmage yards, the second most amongst rookies in Falcons historical past. He will be even higher in 2024 with a quarterback defenses should respect in four-time Professional Bowler Kirk Cousins, somebody who, in contrast to Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, will forestall defenses from promoting out and loading the field to cease the run.”
- Ravens RB Derrick Henry. “Henry has been a top-two chief throughout the NFL in dashing yards and carries in carries and dashing yards in 4 of the final 5 seasons, which makes him simply the tenth participant in league historical past to finish up within the prime two within the league in dashing yards 4 or extra instances. … Now that he is in Baltimore, Henry’s effectivity might dramatically enhance in 2024. He nonetheless produced a stable affect in 2023 with rookie Will Levis initially struggling to attach within the NFL as he averaged the worst completion share in skilled soccer (58.4%). Lining up subsequent to 2023 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson ought to take away the metaphorical weight round Henry’s ankles and free him up for a way more environment friendly 2024.”
- Commanders WR Terry McLaurin. “McLaurin is an underrated large receiver: He’s one in every of six gamers with 900 or extra receiving yards in every of his 5 seasons, becoming a member of Mike Evans, A.J. Inexperienced, Randy Moss and Jerry Rice. The loopy half about that stat is one of the best quarterback McLaurin has performed with might be Alex Smith. That every one adjustments in 2024 with second total decide quarterback Jayden Daniels.”
If you wish to see the remainder of Garrett’s checklist, be sure to click here.
6. Further factors: Invoice Cowher hates one a part of the brand new kickoff rule
It has been a busy 24 hours within the NFL, and because it’s practically unimaginable to maintain observe of the whole lot that occurred, I went forward and put collectively a roundup for you.
- Cowher desires to see one change in new kickoff rule. With the brand new kickoff rule in place, groups are not in a position to try shock onside kicks and plainly’s the one factor that the previous Steelers coach would not like in regards to the new rule. Cowher spent a while speaking with us in regards to the new kickoff rule, and you’ll take a look at his full interview here.
- Caleb Williams voted a captain. The Bears rookie quarterback was officially voted a team captain on Monday, which tells you the way a lot the remainder of the workforce already respects him, though he has but to play a single down.
- CEH to overlook at the very least first 4 video games. The Chiefs have positioned Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the reserve/non-football sickness checklist, which implies he now has to overlook the primary 4 video games of the season when Ok.C. will face the Ravens, Bengals, Falcons and Chargers. Edwards-Helaire will likely be eligible to return for Ok.C.’s Week 5 sport towards the Saints on Oct. 7.
- Rams rent Scott Frost. The previous Nebraska head coach is joining the Rams coaching staff as a senior football analyst. Frost coached the Huskers from 2018 through September 2022 earlier than getting fired after going 16-31. You do not often see groups add to their teaching workers lower than per week earlier than the beginning of the season, so this actually qualifies as an fascinating rent for Sean McVay.
- Dicker will get large extension from Chargers. Dicker hit 93.9% of his discipline targets final yr and the Chargers have rewarded him by giving the kicker a four-year, $22.04 million extension, which incorporates $12.5 million in assured cash. With the brand new deal paying him a median of $5.51 million per yr, Dicker is now the fifth-highest paid kicker within the NFL.
- X banned in Brazil. The social media set previously generally known as Twitter has been banned in Brazil. The one motive we’re mentioning that right here is as a result of there’s an NFL sport being performed in Brazil on Friday (Packers vs. Eagles). If X would not get reinstated within the subsequent few days, nobody — from reporters to NFL groups — will likely be permitted to tweet from the sport.
