NFL Preview: 2023-2024 Season

The NFL is back! We are only a few days away from Thursday’s opening kickoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions. As it stands, hopes are still high for all NFL 32 teams. Yes, this includes the Arizona Cardinals who are hoping to snag Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL draft. While we can expect the NFL’s elite to be in the mix, football’s inherent volatility can override the best gameplans and schemes, making for great television and serious challenges in predicting who will hoist the Lombardi at season’s end. Nevertheless, TNP’s brain trust attempted to break down the eight divisions and props in its inaugural NFL preview for the 2023-2024 season.

NFC North

Division Winner: Minnesota Vikings

Addition: DJ Moore (CHI)

Coaching Change: Brian Flores (MIN)

Favorite Prop: Amon-Ra St. Brown O 1000.5 rec yards (Caesars)

The Vikings relied on late game heroics and a little bit of luck to cover up a leaky defense that failed them in the playoffs last year. They’re still the favorite but we expect some regression with respect to 50/50 games, creating a path for another team to compete for the division title. Despite losing Aaron Rodgers, the Pack should be competitive but won’t take back the North. There are obvious questions around Jordan Love’s first year as the starter, but he looked solid in preseason and the skill guys have another year under their belts.

The Lions are the hot pick for the division and understandably so after last season’s finish. Dan Campbell gets his guys ready to play, and we expect the Lions to be battling for the playoffs but not quite ready for the NFC North crown. Lastly, despite the Bears adding DJ Moore and potential “Day-1” starter on the OL in rookie first rounder Darnell Wright, the passing game remains very unproven along with a below average defense. The Bears will be frisky but need too much to go right to go from worst to first in their division.

NFC South

Division Winner: New Orleans Saints

Addition: Derek Carr (NO)

Coaching Change: Ejiro Evero (CAR)

Favorite Prop: Brian Burns (CAR) 10+ Sacks (FD)

If projected win totals are any indication, this is one of the weaker divisions in football. The main argument for the Saints simply comes down to having a competent QB in Derek Carr who should be rejuvenated playing for a new team and against a favorable schedule. The Panthers, Falcons and Buccaneers all have major questions at QB, which will likely dictate the outcome of their seasons. Carolina needs to get Brian Burns’ contract figured out, but we like the close-to-even money price coming off a 12.5 sack season in 2022.

NFC East

Division Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

Addition: Darren Waller (NYG)

Coaching Change: Eric Bieniemy (WAS)

Favorite Prop: Sam Howell O 17.5 Pass TD (FD)

It’s hard to imagine anyone stopping Nick Sirianni’s Eagles in the NFC East. They’re loaded on both sides of the ball and we expect a revenge tour after a tough Super Bowl loss. Despite several playoff flops in the Dak Prescott Era, the Cowboys are once again stacked with skill position talent and Mike McCarthy is taking back the play caller’s headset. No matter what happens this season, Commanders fans have to feel good about a new ownership group and pairing Sam Howell with Eric Bieniemy. The Giants have room for optimism as well now that Saquon Barkley is locked down for another year and Daniel Jones has a dynamic weapon (when healthy) in Darren Waller. Without Jones taking another leap forward and playing at a top ten level, it’s hard to imagine the Giants doing any better than 3-3 in this division.

NFC West

Division Winner: San Francisco 49ers

Addition: Javon Hargrave (SF)

Coaching Change: Steve Wilks (SF)

Favorite Prop: George Kittle O 5.5 Rec TD (+106) FD

Now that the Trey Lance experiment is done, the Niners can move forward with Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold in their QB room (revitalizing Darnold’s career might be more fun than winning a Super Bowl for Kyle Shanahan). Nick Bosa has yet to sign a new deal, which has to be concerning in the Bay Area, but the Niners have an elite roster and should be the class of this division. Previous coordinators DeMeco Ryans and Rob Saleh have set the bar unbelievably high for new DC Steve Wilks.

The Seahawks were a great surprise last year. Major props to Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider for unlocking Geno Smith and making the playoffs against all odds. The team is talented and well-coached but lacks the extra gear needed to push for the division title. As for the Rams … who knows? If you followed social media, you’d think the team was starting Stetson Bennett but that’s not the case. If Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald are playing there’s a shot, but we’d be surprised if that trio can stay healthy for 17 games together. See above for thoughts on the Cardinals. Rookie Clayton Tune and Josh Dobbs are in for a world of hurt until (and if) Kyler Murray makes his return this year.

AFC North

Division Winner: Cincinnati Bengals

Addition: Odell Beckham Jr (BAL)

Coaching Change: Todd Monken (BAL)

Favorite Prop: George Pickens O 4.5 Rec TD (-102) FD

We love this division. No easy games. As long as Mike Tomlin is coaching the Steelers, they will be at least .500. Toss in a healthy TJ Watt and the positive signs Kenny Pickett showed in the stretch run, and this team should be better than last season. The chemistry between Pickett and Pickens is obvious and five touchdowns should be the Georgia product’s floor this year. On paper, the Browns have a lot of talent but can Deshaun Watson regain his Pro Bowl caliber form?

The Ravens are tough. They nearly beat the Bengals last playoffs with Tyler Huntley under center. Lamar is now healthy, and the receiving options have improved with first round pick Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham flanking All Pro TE Mark Andrews. We expect the Ravens to be right there for the division. All that said, we’re still picking Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Even if Burrow needs a few games to get back into the swing of things, he’s established himself as the King of the North and will be ready for crunch time.

AFC South

Division Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars

Addition: De’Andre Hopkins (TEN)

Coaching Change: Shane Steichen (IND)

Favorite Prop: Travis Etienne O 875.5 Rush YDS (FD)

Along with the NFC South, this is probably the worst division in football. All signs point to the Jaguars having the most continuity and best QB in the division, making them the clear favorite until you remember that Mike Vrabel and Derrick Henry are still lurking in Tennessee. Both the Colts and Texans have new coaches and rookie quarterbacks so expectations are low for this season. Anthony Richardson’s adjustment to the NFL game after limited college reps will be fun to watch.

AFC West

Division Winner: Los Angeles Chargers

Addition: Jawaan Taylor (RT) Chiefs

Coaching Change: Kellen Moore (LAC)

Favorite Prop: Isiah Pacheco O 775.5 Rush YDS (FD)

If the Chargers can’t break through this year, Brandon Staley is likely gone, no matter how many times he decides to go for it on 4th down or play starters in meaningless games. That being said, highly productive veterans are all over the roster and Kellen Moore will raise Justin Herbert’s game and numbers to new heights. We feel foolish for betting against Mahomes and Reid but it’s not like anyone is really holding us to this … so let’s do it! The Chiefs will be fine but maybe instead of going 14-3, they go 12-5 and the Chargers grab the tiebreaker. It’s worth noting, Chris Jones’ contract situation looms large for Chiefs Kingdom.

Despite already making excuses for his team, Sean Payton remains an elite coach and now has an elite defense. We’ll see how DangeRuss Mr. Wilson can be after the Nate Hackett experiment went sideways. The Raiders will be interesting. Clearly some studs in Adams, Jacobs and Crosby but can Jimmy G be the QB that McDaniels has always wanted and deserved? Too bad Matt Cassell isn’t around.

AFC East

Division Winner: New York Jets

Addition: Aaron Rodgers (NYJ)

Coaching Change: Vic Fangio (MIA)

Favorite Prop: Tua Tagovailoa O 25.5 Pass TDs (FD)

Since Tom Brady left for Tampa, this has been Josh Allen’s division but old-man Rodgers might have something to say about this. The Bills are the favorite but the Jets might now have the best defense and QB-WR duo in the division. Yes, there are questions and perhaps too much Hard Knocks hype but there is legitimate talent and swagger, which served the Manning-Broncos, Brady-Bucs and Stafford-Rams well. If LT Duane Brown stays healthy and man-mountain RT Mekhi Becton can keep Rodgers upright, look out. The Dolphins are the wild card of this division but it’s hard to rely on Tua playing all 17 games despite the ju-jitsu training. The Patriots should be solid and can battle for a playoff spot but likely not enough firepower to win the division.

Season Predictions:

NFC Playoff Teams

• Division: MIN, NO, PHI, SF

• WC: SEA, DET, DAL

AFC Playoff Teams

• Division: CIN, JAX, LAC, NYJ

• WC: KC, BUF, BAL

NFC Champ: SF

AFC Champ: BUF

Super Bowl Champ: BUF

By Garrett Dempsey and Jared Heller