The 2024 NFL season is quickly approaching, and it’s time to reveal our picks and predictions for the upcoming year. Keep in mind, these predictions will be updated a handful of times: once more after the preseason and again around 4-6 weeks into the season which will be the final one.

The Turnover in Playoff Teams

Every NFL season brings surprises, and history shows that roughly half the teams that made it to the playoffs last year won't make it this time around. Here are the teams that made the playoffs last year:

Near-Locks for the Playoffs

While surprises always happen in the NFL, a few teams seem almost guaranteed to make the playoffs. These four teams are about as close to being guaranteed as you can get in the unpredictable world of the NFL.

• Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs remain a powerhouse with their high-powered offense and strong defense keep them in contention year after year.
• Baltimore Ravens: With Lamar Jackson and new addition Derrick Henry, the Ravens are poised for another playoff run. Their dynamic offense and historically good defense make them a formidable opponent every year.
• San Francisco 49ers: Despite some potential setbacks and a little offseason noise, the 49ers' overall talent and coaching make them a near-lock. Their strong roster has consistently kept them in the playoff race.
• LA Rams: After a somewhat slow start, the Rams bounced back and secured a playoff spot. They look to build on that this year.

Strong Contenders

There are a few other teams that I’m pretty confident will make the playoffs, though with a bit less certainty:

• Buffalo Bills
• Houston Texans
• Miami Dolphins
• Dallas Cowboys
• Green Bay Packers

The Battle for the Remaining Spots

Assuming the above teams make it, we have five remaining playoff spots to fill. Let's break down how these teams can clinch their spots and who might take the others.

Division Winners

• AFC East: Buffalo Bills
• AFC North: Baltimore Ravens
• AFC South: Houston Texans
• AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs
• NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
• NFC North: Detroit Lions
• NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• NFC West: LA Rams

Wildcard Contenders

NFC Wildcard

For the NFC Wildcards, it gets tricky. I think the NFC East has reached its peak, with the Eagles as the lone representative. People love the Eagles, but I don’t love Jalen Hurts. Simultaneously, I have not once, not ever, been a fan of Dak Prescott. With looming contracts for himself, McCarthy, and the defensive coordinator, it seems like bad vibes all around. Not to mention, did any team do less to improve in the offseason? My point is, I think only one team comes from this division.

In the NFC North, the Vikings might hover around .500, the Bears will have growing pains, and the Packers, while talented, aren't as formidable as they once were. The Lions should emerge as the stronger team. Let’s not forget that the Packers went 9-8 last year, not 13-4 as people seem to want to pretend they did. They were okay last year and got the great fortune of playing the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs, to the point where I’m not convinced this team is actually all that good.

I like the Rams to win the West, but I like the 49ers to still make the playoffs as said before. I also like the Cardinals to make a return to relevancy and grab one of these wildcard spots. I think the story of Geno Smith has been wonderful, but he’s not the guy, let’s not kid ourselves. They will give a lot of teams headaches throughout the year, but I don’t expect them to be in the final 14.

That leaves the South where I think the Atlanta Falcons finally make the playoffs. There was a lot of offseason noise about the draft after signing Cousins in the offseason, but ultimately he will be the starter. I am a firm believer in this fact in football: QB competence and stability will get you to be a roughly .500 team. The Falcons have some really good offensive players, and Cousins will be able to just steer this thing to 9-10 wins, which should be good enough for the #7 seed.

AFC Wildcard

Now, over in the AFC, there is a lot more congestion in the middle. There are a ton of teams that could make the top 7. In fact, it would be much easier to talk about the handful of teams we believe aren’t. That said, up first, the Bengals. It’s imperative they keep Joe Burrow upright. Seems obvious, but tell them that. He’s the 2nd best QB in football to me, and that’s more than good enough to get them in. I may even pick them to win the division and swap them with Baltimore as we see a little of the preseason and first few weeks.

The AFC West gets one team, and that’s of course Kansas City. I don’t think anyone else is good enough. From the East, I believe the Dolphins just have too much speed and talent on offense at the skill positions to miss the playoffs. The season would have to be disastrous.

Leaving the AFC South, the Jaguars, Colts, and Titans I think fight it out for the last playoff spot. Probably all around .500, maybe one of them can get to 10 wins. The fan in me picks the Titans, of course, and frankly, I’m having trouble seeing why they can’t. I can certainly understand why people wouldn’t pick them coming off last year, despite all the offseason moves. But for me, it’s about what the other teams didn’t do. The Jags lost their best WR to the Titans, and neither the Colts nor Jags did anything in the draft or free agency that was eye-popping. Not to mention, we’re still waiting for this magical season from this god-sent prospect Trevor Lawrence, and who knows if Anthony Richardson will make it 10 plays? Their outlooks on the season are as big of a question mark as the Titans, and so until I see it from the Colts and Jags, I don’t believe it.

Final Playoff Predictions

Here’s the final rundown of the teams making it to the playoffs:

The NFL is always full of surprises, and while these are our predictions now, we'll be sure to update them as the season progresses, with the first changes coming as soon as the preseason wraps. Get ready for an exciting 2024 NFL season!