2024 NFL division predictions, Super Bowl predictions

Jess Root’s predictions for how each division will play out in 2024, who makes the playoffs and who wins the Super Bowl.

The NFL season starts tonight with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens. Then there will be 15 more games in Week 1 to kick off the season.

The Chiefs are two-time defending champions looking to win a third consecutive Super Bowl, becoming the first team to do it.

Will it happen?

It is time for some predictions. Below, I will give my predictions for how the standings will go in each division and then what will happen in the playoffs.

AFC North

  1. Baltimore Ravens
  2. Cincinnati Bengals
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers
  4. Cleveland Browns

AFC South

  1. Houston Texans
  2. Indianapolis Colts
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars
  4. Tennessee Titans

AFC East

  1. Miami Dolphins
  2. Buffalo Bills
  3. New York Jets
  4. New England Patriots

AFC West

  1. Kansas City Chiefs
  2. Los Angeles Chargers
  3. Denver Broncos
  4. Las Vegas Raiders

NFC North

  1. Detroit Lions
  2. Green Bay Packers
  3. Chicago Bears
  4. Minnesota Vikings

NFC South

  1. Atlanta Falcons
  2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  3. New Orleans Saints
  4. Carolina Panthers

NFC East

  1. Dallas Cowboys
  2. Philadelphia Eagles
  3. Washington Commanders
  4. New York Giants

NFC West

  1. San Francisco 49ers
  2. Los Angeles Rams
  3. Arizona Cardinals
  4. Seattle Seahawks

AFC playoffs

  1. Dolphins
  2. Chiefs
  3. Texans
  4. Ravens
  5. Bills
  6. Colts
  7. Bengals

Wild Card round:

  • Chiefs over Bengals
  • Colts over Texans
  • Ravens over Bills

Divisional round:

  • Colts over Dolphins
  • Chiefs over Ravens

AFC Championship

  • Chiefs over Colts

NFC playoffs

  1. Lions
  2. 49ers
  3. Cowboys
  4. Falcons
  5. Packers
  6. Rams
  7. Eagles

Wild Card round

  • 49ers over Eagles
  • Rams over Cowboys
  • Packers over Falcons

Divisional round

  • Lions over Rams
  • Packers over 49ers

NFC Championship

  • Lions over Packers

Super Bowl

  • Chiefs over Lions

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on SpotifyYouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Super Bowl LVIII predictions: NFL Wire editors favoring Chiefs over 49ers

See who our 32 NFL Wire editors are picking in Super Bowl LVIII, with many of them taking the Chiefs over the 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are just about ready to square off in Super Bowl LVIII, a rematch of the big game four years ago. The Chiefs won that battle, 31-20, but the 49ers come into this game as the slight favorites over Patrick Mahomes’ squad.

While San Francisco is likely the more talented team, the Chiefs have won two of the last four Super Bowls and will try to make it three in a five-year span.

With this marquee matchup right around the corner, our NFL Wire editors each predicted which team would win. Surprisingly, the Chiefs are heavily favored despite technically being the underdogs, but it’s hard to bet against Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid.

Here are our official Super Bowl LVIII predictions, with 21 picking the Chiefs and 11 taking the 49ers.

Expert picks: Most taking Rams to win NFC West, some picking them to win Super Bowl LV

Most experts are taking the Rams to win the NFC West again, with a couple taking them to be crowned Super Bowl champs

The last time an NFL team repeated as Super Bowl champions, Matthew Stafford hadn’t even been drafted yet. Aaron Donald was only 13 years old and Sean McVay was a senior in high school.

The New England Patriots were the last team to go back-to-back, doing so in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Los Angeles Rams will attempt to be the ninth team to pull it off this season, but it’ll be a real challenge – even for this star-studded team.

With Week 1 upon us, experts are making their picks for division winners and Super Bowl predictions, and the Rams are a popular pick for the former. Even when it comes to picking the eventual league champ, Los Angeles is getting some love.

USA TODAY Sports’ panel of experts submitted their picks for the season and six of seven are taking the Rams to win the NFC West. Lorenzo Reyes, who took the 49ers to win the division, also had the Rams winning the top wild-card berth.

As far as playoff picks go, two experts have the Rams winning the NFC and going on to win the Super Bowl. Tyler Dragon has them beating the Chiefs, and Mike Jones picked them to take down the Bills in Super Bowl LV.

No one picked a Rams player to win league MVP, but Parker Gabriel took Cooper Kupp to win Offensive Player of the Year and Dragon has Donald winning the defensive award.

It’s hard not to like the Rams’ chances this year, especially in a weaker NFC West than usual, and a conference that lost a lot of talent. But come playoff time, it’s all about winning when it matters most.

[listicle id=673445]

Tampa Bay vs Kansas City Super Bowl Prediction, Game Preview

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl prediction, game preview.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl prediction, game preview.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers Broadcast

Date: Sunday, February 7
Game Time: 6:30 ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Network: CBS

[jwplayer sOP4pQhQ]

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Super Bowl: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14-5) vs Kansas City Chiefs (16-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM


Why Tampa Bay Will Win The Super Bowl

The defense has taken things to another level at just the right time.

It was terrific throughout the season and outstanding against the run throughout, but with the pressure on down the stretch, the D has improved, it continues to be a takeaway machine, and it was able to stuff New Orleans and Green Bay on the road to get the first ever home Super Bowl.

Don’t blow off how important it is that this is in Tampa Bay. Not only is this Super Bowl without all meaningless overblown hoo-ha of normal, but the teams are taking very different paths.

Kansas City is preparing at home – almost like it’s a regular road game – while the Buccaneers are practicing in their normal surroundings, they’re staying in their own beds, and in a year when the home field advantage crowd-wise doesn’t really matter, they’re able to truly make this like it’s a pumped up Sunday night Week 11 game.

On the field, Kansas City isn’t going to run much against the No. 1 run defense in the NFL, it’s not going to get its normal passing game going against one of the best teams in the league at preventing the big play, and then there’s that guy on the other side.

Don’t just assume the Tampa Bay offense is going to move because Tom Brady is in a Super Bowl, but it’s not a bad thing. He threw two picks in the first meeting against the two, but he also threw three interceptions in the NFC Championship win over Green Bay. The team was able to overcome the mistakes because of, again …

The defense.

This is where having two weeks off should help. In the first game – a 27-24 KC win, by the way – it was the end of a 12-game run before the Bucs got their bye week. The team was leaking oil with two losses in a row before getting the time off, and it hasn’t lost since.

Kansas City was a week removed from its bye.

But about that Tampa Bay defense …

Why Kansas City Will Win
What’s Going To Happen, Who’ll Win

NEXT: Why Kansas City Will Win The Super Bowl

Tampa Bay vs Kansas City Expert Picks, Predictions, Prop Bets

NFL expert picks, predictions, prop bets: Super Bowl, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Kansas City Chiefs

NFL expert picks, predictions, prop bets: Super Bowl, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Kansas City Chiefs


[jwplayer mzihsd7u]

* next to the pick means the team will win, but not cover.

Sunday, February 7

Super Bowl: Tampa Bay vs Kansas City

7:30 CBS
Line: Kansas City -3
– Bet on this at BetMGM

Gill Alexander, VSIN: Kansas City
Patrick Conn, Longhorns Wire: COMING
Jeff Feyerer, Fighting Irish Wire: Tampa Bay
Pete Fiutak, CFN: Tampa Bay
Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire: Kansas City
Jeremy Mauss, MW Wire: Kansas City
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN: Kansas City
Nick Shepkowski, Fighting Irish Wire: Kansas City
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners: COMING
Keith Stewart, WinnersandWhiners: Kansas City
Brian Stultz, Auburn Wire: Kansas City
Clucko the Chicken, CFN: Tampa Bay
CONSENSUS PICK: Kansas City

Over/Under | MVP Prediction
Mahomes & Brady to throw 300+
Player to score first TD

NEXT: Over/Under Prediction

Super Bowl First Thought Prediction, Line: Kansas City vs Tampa Bay

The first prediction, early lines, and quick analysis of all the 2021 NFL playoff games – Super Bowl version.

The first prediction, early lines, and quick analysis of all the 2021 NFL playoff games – Super Bowl version.


[jwplayer 3sfuE3m5]

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

We did this already.

Kansas City beat Tampa Bay 27-24 in Week 12 when Tyreek Hill went wacky with 13 catches for 269 yards and three scores. The Chiefs held a 27-10 lead before Tom Brady hit Mike Evans for two scores in the fourth quarter to make it interesting, but it was too little too late.

It was wild, both star quarterbacks threw for a bazillion yards, and …

Can we have that again?

Without doing any research or giving it any real thought, here’s the knee-jerk thoughts and prediction for your Super Bowl LV. The actual line is added after the thing is written and predicted.

As always, this can and will change over the next two weeks when our game preview comes out, but until then …

Always go with your first answer.

2021 NFL Playoffs: Super Bowl LV

5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs 1 Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday, February 7th
CBS 6:30
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Maybe you watched the fabulous HBO documentary on Tiger Woods, and you surely saw the phenomenal series ‘The Last Dance’ on Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

As amazing as they were, they were so, so bittersweet – who didn’t want to go back in time and relive the greatness at an all-time level?

Here you go. You’re getting Tom Brady in his tenth Super Bowl.

Best of all, this isn’t like Peyton Manning taking home Super Bowl 50 in a last gasp, along for the ride sort of way. This is Brady still playing as well as any quarterback in the NFL, even if he’s off just a wee bit.

Here you go. You’re getting Patrick Mahomes in his second Super Bowl, and almost certainly not his last.

There obviously weren’t any issues against Buffalo after the concussion suffered against Cleveland, and the toe problem didn’t slow him down a bit, but getting two weeks off to rest up isn’t going to hurt.

Getting two weeks off to rest up isn’t going to be a bad thing for the 43-year-old guy, either.

The home field side of this for Tampa Bay doesn’t make a difference. It’s the Super Bowl – it’s not going to feel like anything like normal for the Buccaneers.

What will make a difference, though, is the Tampa Bay pass rush that managed to harass Aaron Rodgers for a full 60 minutes, and a run defense that’s the best in the NFL.

Watch out for a reverse of the first meeting in styles.

Kansas City wasn’t able to run all that well, and Mahomes was protected, but the offense still held on to the ball for almost 37 minutes to go along with the tremendous day from Hill and the passing game.

Brady threw a few picks, and the offense couldn’t move the chains, but this time around, it’s going to be pound, pound, pound as the Bucs go against type and try controlling the clock and the tempo.

Of course it’s all going to be about Brady vs. Mahomes, but Leonard Fournette will be every bit as important. Tampa Bay was able to get away with Green Bay having the ball for almost ten minutes longer in the NFC Championship, but in this, expect the Bucs to try doing everything possible to grind this down to a stop early – that’s where Fournette comes in.

And then the Kansas City defense will step up.

2021 Mock Draft from the college perspective: January Version

The two weeks off will allow the two coaching staffs time to figure out how to take out the opposing main men. That will last for a while for the Bucs, but eventually the dam will break, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill will start to get going in the third quarter, and Mahomes will find his groove.

Brady will be fantastic right up until a key interception early in the fourth quarter turns the game completely around. Boom, boom, boom – three plays later, Kansas City gets into the end zone and takes control of the game.

It’ll be fascinating. It’ll be history. It’ll be the greats going at it before the documentaries come out.

Enjoy this.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Kansas City 33, Tampa Bay 27
Early Line No-Look Guess: Kansas City -4
Actual BetMGM Line: Kansas City -3.5 o/u: 57.5

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Fighting Irish Wire: Staff Super Bowl Picks

So what happens Sunday when Kansas City tries to end their 50 year title drought and San Francisco tries to join the Steelers and Patriots as the only teams with six Super Bowls?

What happens Sunday evening in the final football game we get until late August?

Alright, that’s said an no offense is meant to the XFL or fans/players of any other league but you catch my drift.

So what happens Sunday when Kansas City tries to end their 50 year title drought and San Francisco tries to join the Steelers and Patriots as the only teams with six Super Bowls?

Here is how the Fighting Irish Wire Staff sees Super Bowl Sunday going:

Mike Chen: Chiefs 35, 49ers 24

Pat Mahomes is just too damn good and proves to be too much for the 49ers to handle.

Geoffrey Clark: Chiefs 35, 49ers 17

Mahomes is built for moments like this and when the lights shine brightest he won’t disappoint. Not exactly a reach but he’s easily the MVP come 10 pm Sunday.

Jeff Feyerer: Chiefs 27, 49ers 23

The Chiefs just have so many weapons I don’t know how you stop them. Sure the 49ers have a great running game but I trust the KC game plan and secondary to both be better against that running game than the Packers were.

Nick Shepkowski: Chiefs 27, 49ers 24

Oddity of this game is that the stats don’t match the narrative. The 49ers actually allowed more points than the Chiefs did this year while the Niners also out-scored Kansas City in 2019. Defense wins championships, right?! Chiefs in a classic.

2020 Super Bowl Prop Betting: Conquer Deebo Samuel receiving props

Looking at prop bets centered around San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel’s receptions and receiving yards in the 2020 Super Bowl.

[jwplayer 2XgmjwzG]

There is no juicier sporting event to bet on than the 2020 Super Bowl. Aside from picking the San Francisco 49ers or Kansas City Chiefs to win, a sharp can win money via player prop betting. Let’s analyze, and pick, BetMGM‘s Super Bowl prop betting odds and lines for 49ers WR Deebo Samuel’s receptions and receiving yards projections.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. ET.

Deebo Samuel’s 2020 Super Bowl receptions: 4.5

Don’t sleep on the Chiefs pass defense. They have given up the fewest catches and receiving yards to wide receivers this season. Kansas City has allowed the eighth-fewest passing yards and, according to Football Outsiders, the Chiefs have the sixth-best pass defense by their DVOA metric.

The biggest thing keeping Samuel away from going Over on his receptions props could be the 49ers themselves. Positive game script for San Francisco is them bludgeoning the Chiefs defense with the run. Plus, the 49ers’ most dynamic pass-catcher is TE George Kittle. Acquiring WR Emmanuel Sanders at the trade deadline before Week 8 added yet another option for QB Jimmy Garoppolo. In the 15 games in which Samuel has played this season, he has caught five or more balls in only five games. His 68.9% catch rate ranks 68th in the NFL but Samuel’s 5.29 targets per game ranks 85th.

BetMGM has factored in these things before making their line, hence the Under 4.5 catches is juiced to -143. The math says this prop goes Under so swallow the vig and BET DEEBO SAMUEL UNDER 4.5 CATCHES (-143).


Special sports betting line for the big game

Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if either team scores a touchdown during the big game February 2, 2020. Regardless of the outcome, you win with a touchdown! Bet now.

New customer offer; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.


Deebo Samuel’s Super Bowl LIV receiving yards: 56.5

(Photo credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)

It’s almost guaranteed head coaches Kyle Shanahan and Andy Reid will dial-up exquisite shot plays. They’ve been doing it all year. Both have the play design and personnel to throw the kitchen sink at each other.

The Chiefs’ secondary has played well all season long but their best player is All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu, and it makes sense if his main assignments are Kittle and the 49ers’ vaunted ground game. San Francisco is tied with the New England Patriots for the fourth-most pass plays of 20-plus yards, and Samuel had 18 of those in his 15 regular season and postseason games played. So, between the 49ers’ powerful rushing attack and the explosive Kittle, expect Garoppolo to take some shots downfield against one-on-one coverage to his wideouts. BET DEEBO SAMUEL OVER 56.5 RECEIVING YARDS (+100).

Also see:

Want action on this game or prop bets? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Chiefs or 49ers? Panthers Wire Super Bowl LIV staff picks

We’re expecting a classic championship game. Here’s who our staff is picking.

Super Bowl LIV promises to be a far more compelling matchup than last year’s dud between the Rams and the Patriots. The 49ers have the most ferocious defense in the NFL, a brilliant play-caller and a potent rushing attack. The Chiefs have a generational quarterback, the fastest player in football, a great offensive mind of their own and a defense that has radically improved since last year.

We’re expecting a classic championship game. Here’s who our staff is picking.

Bill Riccette

Ultimately this game will come down to the quarterbacks and as much as I like Jimmy Garoppolo, Patrick Mahomes is simply going to be too much and the Chiefs’ offense just has more firepower. The Chiefs will dare Jimmy G to win this game for the 49ers as they’ll keep a close tab on the rushing attack, namely Raheem Mostert. The 49ers won’t be able to stop Mahomes from finishing the job. Andy Reid finally wins the big one.

Chiefs 34, 49ers 27

Anthony Rizzuti

Kansas City cannot afford a third straight struggle out of the gate, as San Francisco won’t be as forgiving as Houston and Tennessee were in their previous two outings. For that not to occur, especially against the most formidable mix of offense and defense the league has to offer, the sport’s brightest star may have to turn in one of the greatest performances in Super Bowl history. But when it comes to Patrick Mahomes and his extraordinary ability to create, that’s not a bad bet.

Kansas City 37, San Francisco 28

Lucas Ewing

This Super Bowl matchup between one of the top defenses in points allowed in the Kansas City Chiefs and the second-highest scoring offense in the San Francisco 49ers should be one for the ages. Both sides feature some high-profile players on defense, but I’m expecting this to become an offensive shootout and the highest-scoring Super Bowl of all time.

49ers 48, Chiefs 37

Gerald Huggins

This contest will boil down to whether or not the Chiefs’ defense can slow down the rushing attack of the 49ers, who have been averaging 144.1 yards rushing per game this year. The Niners will not win if Jimmy Garrappolo has to throw too much. However, if Kyle Shanahan can call a game equal to the one he called against the Packers they will be tough to beat. Even though history says the better defense wins a majority of the time, I believe Eric Bieniemy and Patrick Mahomes will find a way to run up the score.

Chiefs 31, 49ers 24

Tim Weaver

The 49ers defense has been undeniably impressive this season, especially their pass rush. The question is does defense even matter when you’re facing Patrick Mahomes and the absurd talents Kansas City has at the skill positions? If the Chiefs can effectively neutralize Nick Bosa and the other Niners game-wreckers up front, the Niners will be in trouble. Getting an early lead will also be critical for San Francisco’s chances, as they can’t rely on Jimmy Garoppolo to bring them back from a big deficit the way Kansas City can with Mahomes.

Chiefs 38, 49ers 34

[lawrence-related id=617659]

[vertical-gallery id=616940]

2020 Super Bowl Prop Betting Odds: Race to 20 points

Looking at prop bets for Super Bowl LIV, and betting between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs to be the first to 20 points.

[jwplayer 2XgmjwzG]

The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are in the final days of their two weeks or preparation for Super Bowl LIV in Miami, and kickoff will come Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

A big factor in deciding which team will come out on top will be which side is able to better handle the added nerves of all the extra attention during the 2020 Super Bowl. Below, we analyze the betting odds and lines at BetMGM to see which side will win the race to 20 points.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Super Bowl LIV race to 20 points: 49ers (+110)

(Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)

As with most of the scoring props for Super Bowl LIV, the Niners are modest underdogs. This, despite the fact they got off to the better start in each of their two NFC playoff games, and they’ve scored a total of 64 postseason points with just 30 allowed.

The Niners have given up 20 or more points in 10 of their 18 regular-season and playoff games thus far. The defense will face one of its toughest tests yet in the Chiefs. The offense has been held below 20 points just twice all year, and the Chiefs have allowed at least 20 points in three straight games dating back to Week 17.

With the Chiefs favored by 1.5 points and the Over/Under set at 54.5 points, the 49ers’ implied team total is 26.5 points, while the Chiefs are projected to score 28 points. With both sides expected to reach the mark, chase the plus-money and back the 49ERS (+110) to get to 20 points first.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the 49ers to win the race to 20 points returns a profit of $11.


Special sports betting line for the big game

Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if either team scores a touchdown during the big game February 2, 2020. Regardless of the outcome, you win with a touchdown! Bet now.

New customer offer; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.


Super Bowl LIV race to 20 points: Chiefs (-106)

The Chiefs fell behind 21-0 after the first quarter against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round. They then gave up 17 first-half points in the AFC Championship against the Tennessee Titans, before clawing back to take a 21-17 lead into the half and going on to win 35-24.

I don’t like the Chiefs as favorites on this bet. The 20 team points is still a low enough number each side is projected to hit at some point in the game. The Chiefs aren’t worth a wager given their recent history of slow starts on both sides of the ball. PASS.

Super Bowl LIV race to 20 points: Neither (+1250)

One of the more profitable prop bets, a $10 bet on neither the 49ers nor Chiefs reaching 20 points in Super Bowl LIV fetches a profit of $125. Unless your betting strategy is to blindly chase the highest payouts (hey, it is for some), this warrants a PASS.

Also see:

Want action on this game or prop bets? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]