With the 2024 NFL regular season over, fans are preparing to watch the 14 playoff teams fight for a spot in the Super Bowl and claim the Lombardi Trophy. The Super Bowl will be hosted in Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9.
So, Who’s Going to Win?
The Detroit Lions.
This season has been nothing short of phenomenal. The Lions lead the NFL in total offensive points scored and have a Top 10 defense. Despite massive injuries on both sides of the ball, the Lions have repeatedly shown they can still win games when needed, as exemplified by the 31-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings that secured the No. 1 seed and sent Minnesota on the road to play the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.
The playoffs are nothing new for Lions QB Jared Goff who led the Rams to Super Bowl LIII and got the Lions to last year’s NFC Championship Game. In the backfield, they have Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who finished the season with 1,412 rushing yards. The explosive back will punish teams with poor defenses. Combined with three-time Pro Bowler and 1st Team All-Pro receiver Amon Ra St. Brown, the Lions offense is full of playmakers.
Road to the Super Bowl
The Lions will likely face the Vikings again in the Divisional Round. Although the Vikings have allowed the second fewest rushing yards to opposing backs and the fifth fewest points to opposing teams, the Lions offense will find a way through the Vikings defense. The Lions have beaten the Vikings both times this season, and will look to make it a third.
In the NFC Championship Game, the Lions will likely face the No. 2 seed Philadelphia Eagles, who are looking for a return trip to the Super Bowl after a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. This season, new Eagles running back Saquon Barkley became just the ninth player in NFL history to record over 2,000 rushing yards in a season. Combined with receiver Devonta Smith and 3-time Pro Bowler and 2nd Team All-Pro receiver A.J. Brown, this team has plenty of weapons.
On defense, the Eagles feature one of the best secondaries in the league with rookies Cooper DeJean and Quniyon Mitchell along with veterans C.J. Gardener-Johnson and Darius Slay Jr.. The Eagles defense has allowed the fewest total yards to opposing teams for just 17.8 points a game on average.
Getting past the Eagles will be tough for the Lions, but Goff has been playing at an MVP-caliber level, and the Lions play well against the top teams. With the help of an elite backfield, the Lions will find a way to squeeze by the Eagles.
Who Makes It From the AFC?
In the Super Bowl, the Lions will likely face the back-to-back Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, who finished the season 15-2. Throughout the season, the Chiefs have kept games close, including 10 games decided by one score. Many claim that the Chiefs have been lucky, or that the league wants KC to win because of Taylor Swift fans, but winning 15 games is no fluke.
Patrick Mahomes has an unfathomable 15-3 record in the playoffs and has reached the AFC Championship every year he’s been a starter. Only Tom Brady and Joe Burrow have slain the dragon.
On defense, the Chiefs are led by future Hall of Famer defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback Trent McDuffie. The Chiefs feature a bend-but-don’t-break defense, only allowing 51% of Red Zone possessions to end with a touchdown.
The defense can step up when it’s needed to, and with Andy Reid’s experience (and perhaps the help of a well-timed penalty flag), so it would be unwise to count them out.
The Chiefs have displayed a knack for winning important games, so odds are good that the Chiefs will be the final boss.
Dark Horse Team to Watch
The Los Angeles Rams face the Vikings in the Wild Card round. Some are counting out the Rams, but let’s not forget that the playoffs are nothing new for quarterback Mathew Stafford, who led the Rams to a victory in Super Bowl LVI.
Stafford is surrounded by strong receiving options in Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, and an explosive back, Kyren Williams. Beyond a solid offensive core, the Rams have proven they can take on the top teams after defeating the Bills and the Vikings.
The defense has been struggling, especially after the loss of three-time Defensive Player of the Year defensive tackle Aaron Donald, but the Rams still have top rookie defenders Jared Verse and Branden Fiske.
The playoffs are nothing new for head coach Sean McVay who knows what to do in tough situations and has led the team to victory. If the stars align, it is possible for the Rams to make a deep playoff run and bring home another title. Don’t count out the Rams!
Most Likely to be One-and-Done
The Steelers finished the season with a top five defense, but are on a four-game losing streak. Every season after head coach Mike Tomlin reaches his 10-win quota, the Steelers proceed to lose in the first round.
I would not be surprised to see another Wild Card exit. The Steelers are also facing the Baltimore Ravens and reigning MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson who has been nothing short of spectacular, finishing the regular season with more than 5,000 scrimmage yards (4,000+ yards through the air and over 900 yards on the ground). Jackson also threw 41 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions.
New running back Derrick Henry has had a career revival, rushing for 1,921 yards. And let’s not forget that Henry led the Tennessee Titans to an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2020. The Steelers stand no chance in stopping this offensive duo and will very likely fall to the Ravens in a 31-17 loss.
Do the Texans have a Chance?
Going into the 2024 season, the Texans were poised to follow up on an impressive 2023 campaign. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was expected to follow his impressive rookie campaign with an MVP-caliber season, and the offseason acquisitions of Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon and Danielle Hunter led many to believe this team was unstoppable.
But as the season played out, injuries and mediocre QB play disappointed fans. Now the Texans face a tough Chargers defense. Yes, the Chargers have a history of “Chargering” in the playoffs, but new head coach Jim Hardbaugh knows what to do in the playoffs. He led the Michigan Wolverines to an NCAA Championship last year and, during his last NFL stint, his 49ers made it to the Super Bowl.
I don’t think the Texans offense has what it takes to defeat the Chargers. Even if the Texans manage to win, they will likely face the Kansas City Chiefs, so good luck with that. The Chiefs will be the nail in the coffin for the Texans season.
