The 2024 NFL season is almost upon us and football fans across Nassau County will be eagerly looking forward to the opening game. This will see the Chiefs take on the Ravens and usher in another NFL campaign that should keep us enthralled until Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
Before the new season starts, though, it pays for fans of pro football’s top league to get up to speed with what they need to know. But what are the most important pieces of information to take on board for the upcoming NFL campaign?
Jets and Giants could do well
Any NFL supporter in or around Nassau County will be keen to find out how their favorite local side might fare in the coming year. Whether you love the Jets or follow the Giants, this is always fun to delve into.
The New York Giants might not have much hype around them as the new season starts but they could do better than expected. Daniel Jones at quarterback should hopefully be in for a better season with more experience under his belt, and will be keen to show just what he can do.
The Giants have an improved offense for the new season and this could also help Jones make better plays. Malik Nabers at wide receiver, for example, should give him someone to hit, and a set of new offensive linemen bodes well. Andrew Thomas at left tackle and Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle could be pivotal to the team’s fortunes this time around.
The New York Jets’ 2024 campaign may well hinge on how well star quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns from injury and whether he can hit top form. Rodgers looked good in training camp this summer and that is a great sign for Jets fans. When you add in other top talents like Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson, this is a side that could shock many in the coming year.
49ers tipped to take NFC Championship
Although the Giants could have a decent season in 2024, many fans are finding it hard to look beyond the 49ers for NFC Championship winners. This is also true for online bookmakers, who have the 49ers as clear favorites for the NFC title in 2024. With odds of around +300 to win the championship, you can see why the side from San Francisco could be well backed in the coming year. For a full rundown of the NFC Championship odds this season, check out https://www.wsn.com/nfl/nfc-championship-predictions-odds/.
But why is there so much noise around San Francisco at the moment? It mainly comes down to them having the most talented squad overall in the NFC, and some truly elite-level players to choose from. Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey are the two best examples and should dominate in most games. Due to this, the 49ers should be too much for most other sides to handle and should win the NFC at a canter.
Chiefs favorites for AFC Championship
As the NFL players who were poised for trades in early 2024 showed, there is always plenty to find out about in the offseason. But what can we expect from the AFC Championship race in 2024?
This sees Kansas City Chiefs as many people’s pick for the title. They should be extra motivated to do this, as it would give them their third championship win on the bounce.
As with the 49ers, much of the hype around a Chiefs AFC win in 2024 is based on the world-class talent they have to choose from. Patrick Mahomes naturally stands out and should be ready to once again showcase his awesome leadership and playmaking skills.
This is no one-man side, though – new man JuJu Smith-Schuster, for example, is a smart addition and should bring his blistering speed to the table. With Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy also possessing great pace, the sheer offensive firepower of Kansas should blow most other NFL teams away in 2024.
Super Bowl LIX: Chiefs vs 49ers?
If all goes as predicted, you would expect the Super Bowl game in February 2025 to be the Chiefs against the 49ers. This would be a repeat of the 2024 Super Bowl matchup – and another treat for fans to savor.
Anything can happen in sports, though, and things very often do not go as fans predict. With this in mind, are there other sides that could make a shock Super Bowl appearance this season?
The Bengals are worth a mention in the AFC and have a healthy Joe Burrow back to lead them in 2024. Burrow is without doubt an elite-level player and someone who could take them back to the Super Bowl in Louisiana.
The Falcons are picking up some hype in the NFC and look to be clear favorites to clinch NFC South. This could spur them on to even better things in postseason and take them to the Super Bowl. The addition of Kirk Cousins looks a wise move and they have beefed up their defense with players such as Matthew Judon.
Close race for Rookie of the Year awards
As the latest NFL Rookie of the Year rankings show, it could well be a close race for these awards in 2024. For Offensive Rookie of the Year, Caleb Williams is being tipped by many pre-season and looks set for a breakout year. He was snapped up by the Bears in 2024’s draft and was named as their starting quarterback for their coming campaign in May. When you combine his sheer physicality and ball skills with the talent in the Bears locker room, he should have a great season.
For the Defensive Rookie of the Year, Dallas Turner of the Minnesota Vikings could be the one to impress most. Although Laiatu Latu at the Colts looks an excellent prospect, Turner could benefit from playing in a blitz-heavy defense that gives him lots of chances to rack up positive stats.
NFL MVP 2024: Mahomes favorite to take top spot
For more established NFL pros, the race for the award of Most Valuable Player is always fun to focus on. In 2024, Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs is favorite to win and this is no surprise when you consider how consistent a performer he has been over the years. Last season, for instance, he led his team to a 11-6 regular season and took them to a third Super Bowl victory. A fit and firing Mahomes this season could be a shoe-in for MVP.
His closest rivals seem set to be Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. Allen has some seriously impressive stats and this leaves him with 128 passing/running touchdowns since 2021. If his team can offer him more protection in 2024 and he can reduce those turnovers, he could be a good pick for MVP.
Burrow might be a young player but needs no introduction. He has already shown his elite-level passing and playmaking abilities at quarterback, and seems ready to come back from injury with a bang in 2024. If he can stay fit, then he could have a year to remember.
Last year’s MVP, Lamar Jackson, might not be getting the props others are in the 2024 MVP race but he shouldn’t be counted out just yet. The arrival of Derrick Henry at the Ravens could help him excel and be in the running to win again.
NFL 2024: thrills, spills and drama
Anyone around Nassau County who is looking ahead to the 2024 NFL season should take all of the above into account. This will not only prepare you perfectly for the action when it starts but also get you fully ready for the sheer excitement another NFL campaign brings.
