2024 NFL Playoff Predictions: AFC
Photo from the Houston Texans
Tomorrow, another NFL season begins, as the Kansas City Chiefs will try to make history and become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls, while 31 other teams (and their fans) hope literally anybody else does.
So it’s time for my yearly predictions.
I will predict the seven playoff teams from both conferences, as well as comment on some close calls or “questionable” decisions on teams left out.
Let’s start right up with the AFC.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs had a down year last year and yet still won the Super Bowl.
Can you really pick anyone else in this spot?
You have to think their regular season will be better than it was last year.
They may be annoying, but they’re really damn good.
2. Baltimore Ravens
They lost their defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald, and some defensive talent in Geno Stone and Patrick Queen.
But that always happens with the Ravens.
And it never matters. This year is no different.
They’re still an extremely talented, extremely well coached team.
I expect nothing different whatsoever.
3. Miami Dolphins
You know March Madness? When the bracket is revealed and you make one and tell all your friends about your Final 4 picks?
Well, in the early 2010s, for no discernable reason, I kept picking Wisconsin to make it to the Final 4.
No idea why. It’s just how the bracket worked. And I kept doing it until, finally, I was right, and Wisconsin made it to the Final 4.
That’s me with the Dolphins.
I know they’ve had good chances in the past and let it slip, but someday I’m going to be right.
Right?
4. Houston Texans
Personally, I think the Texans have been slightly overrated this offseason.
They were close to missing the playoffs last year, and now people have them as a trendy Super Bowl pick. It feels like too much of a jump.
However, they are still the best team in the AFC South. Anything other than a division win would be a disappointment.
5. Cleveland Browns
Did people forget what the Browns did last year?
The defense was absolutely phenomenal, and led the Browns to the playoffs with PJ Walker and Joe Flacco leading the way.
The Deshaun injuries are a concern, but his last game last season was a great game to upset the Ravens in Baltimore.
This is still a really good football team.
6. Cincinnati Bengals
I don’t get the obsession with the Bengals and Joe Burrow.
One playoff run (a playoff run that, if it happened for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, would not be as highly regarded) has people convinced the Bengals are Super Bowl contenders.
Sorry, but I’m not buying it.
Joe Burrow is good, but not the clear cut second best QB in football as people make him out to be, and I’m not sure Zac Taylor is an incredible coach.
Despite all of that, this is still a super talented team, and as long as Burrow stays healthy, should be a playoff team.
7. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were one dropped pass away from being a playoff team last year.
Now, Anthony Richardson takes over again hoping to play a full season.
Richardson is insanely dynamic, but not the most accurate, and not the most healthy.
Enter, head coach Shane Steichen, who has now had a full offseason to design an offense to maximize Richardson’s strengths, and limit any weaknesses or possible upcoming injuries.
I trust in Steichen, and I trust in the Colts.
Teams Missing The Cut
Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen is a really good quarterback, and Sean McDermott is a really good coach.
But this feels like a retooling year for Buffalo, and I worry that Josh Allen, already turnover prone, may try to do just a bit too much for a team that lacks elite weapons, and costs them some football games.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Ignoring Trevor Lawrence’s rookie season, he was subpar the first half of 2022, elite the back half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, and then subpar again the back half of 2023 leading to the Jags missing the playoffs.
So I have no idea what I’m going to get from the Jags, but I know that I don’t like their offensive coordinator Press Taylor.
There’s just too many question marks.
New York Jets
Yeah, the defense is elite. Rodgers is insanely talented. Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson are excellent weapons.
But I’m not picking the Jets to make the playoffs until I see them do it.
It’s like if the Buffalo Sabres somehow got the best player at every position before the season.
Sure, they SHOULD make the playoffs, but haven’t you seen enough from Buffalo to know there’s a way they can screw it up and miss?
That’s the Jets.
Pittsburgh Steelers
I don’t know.
I’m just not feeling it this year.
Super Bowl Prediction
Football is a tough, physical sport.
It’s why teams don’t repeat often, let alone three-peat.
Playing that much football takes a toll!
But if there’s ever a team that could do it, it’s for sure the Kansas City Chiefs.
They’ve won with elite offense. They’ve won with elite defense. This team just wins.
But I’ll be damned if I predict something that’s never happened in the history of the NFL before.
The Baltimore Ravens win the AFC.
