2024 NFL Season Predictions: Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Baltimore Ravens Earn Top Spot in AFC

The Baltimore Ravens are never bad. Unfortunately, during the Lamar Jackson era, they haven’t quite been able to get over that hump in the postseason.

Pro Football Network’s Playoff Predictor sees the Ravens finding their usual regular-season success in 2024, leading them to yet another No. 1 overall seed. Who else joins them in the postseason in this latest simulation?

Predicting the 2024 NFL Regular-Season Standings in the AFC

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills (11-6)
2. New York Jets (10-7)
3. Miami Dolphins (6-11)
4. New England Patriots (5-12)

The buzz is all around the Jets this season. With Josh Allen losing Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, combined with a healthy Aaron Rodgers and a greatly improved offensive line, the Jets are actually favored to take the AFC East. But quarterbacks are king in the NFL, and Allen is, by far, the best one in the division.

Even with a makeshift group of pass catchers, Allen is talented enough to will this team to the top on his own. Fortunately, the Jets are still able to sneak in via a Wild Card spot.

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens (14-3)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (11-6)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-9)
4. Cleveland Browns (8-9)

Another year. Another Ravens division title.

This one is far from a lock, though. With a healthy Joe Burrow, the Bengals might be being a bit slept on as legitimate contenders. Plus, the Browns were in the playoffs last year, and the Steelers are never a complete disaster.

This is a very tough division. It would be far from a surprise if Cincinnati were able to take back the crown from Baltimore. However, in this simulation, Jackson and the king stay atop the AFC North.

AFC South

1. Houston Texans (11-6)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-6)
3. Tennessee Titans (5-12)
4. Indianapolis Colts (4-13)

Last year really felt like a changing of the guard in the AFC South. C.J. Stroud has been anointed ruler, and his reign is set to last for many years.

This simulation has the Jaguars rebounding a bit to secure a Wild Card spot, but the Texans and their explosive passing attack featuring Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Diggs secure the title for a second consecutive year. Houston is a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-4)
2. Las Vegas Raiders (7-10)
3. Los Angeles Chargers (7-10)
4. Denver Broncos (4-13)

Ho hum, Chiefs. For eight consecutive years, Kansas City has won the AFC West. That includes two with Alex Smith before Patrick Mahomes took over.

The Chiefs managed to win the division last year with their worst offense since Andy Reid took over as head coach. This year, they’re a whole lot better. Meanwhile, the rest of the division either stagnated or got worse. No one is a threat to Kansas City this year.

Projecting the AFC Playoff Picture

1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Houston Texans
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Cincinnati Bengals
7. New York Jets

For the second consecutive year, the Ravens secure the No. 1 seed. Perhaps this is the season they actually do something with it. Jackson is right up there with Allen as the best QB in the league to not reach a Super Bowl.

The Chiefs and Bills are postseason regulars, so their appearances should be no surprise. We should also start viewing the Texans in the same way.

After a year hiatus, the Jaguars and Bengals return to the playoffs, but they’ll have uphill battles trying to win three consecutive road games.

Rounding out the field are the Jets. If Rodgers stays healthy, it’s certainly more likely than not that the Jets will earn a postseason berth for the first time in 13 seasons.

Predicting the 2024 NFL Regular-Season Standings in the NFC

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-4)
2. Dallas Cowboys (11-6)
3. Washington Commanders (7-10)
4. New York Giants (6-11)

There hasn’t been a repeat winner in the NFC East since the Eagles won it every year from 2001-2004 in the heart of the Donovan McNabb era. Since 2013, Philadelphia and Dallas have alternated pretty much every year, with Washington sneaking in titles in 2015 and 2019.

This year, it projects to be more of the same. The Cowboys stole what looked to be a certain title from the Eagles last season. It projects to flip once again as Kellen Moore helps get Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith back on track. With the addition of Saquon Barkley, this may be the best Eagles offense we’ve seen since the legendary Michael Vick year.

NFC North

1. Detroit Lions (14-3)
2. Green Bay Packers (10-7)
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-9)
4. Chicago Bears (7-10)

Improving every year under Dan Campbell, the Lions captured their first division title since 1993 last season. With Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Sam LaPorta only getting better, Detroit projects to continue its ascent toward the top of the NFL.

This year, the Lions look to win more games and more easily secure the NFC North crown.

Much like last season, the NFC North projects to send two teams to the playoffs, with the Packers going in as a Wild Card. Bolstering one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the league, Jordan Love may not have a true alpha to throw to, but he has a whole bunch of very capable NFL WR2s and WR3s. The Packers are a dark horse if they get in.

NFC South

1. Atlanta Falcons (10-7)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)
3. Carolina Panthers (6-11)
4. New Orleans Saints (6-11)

After three straight seasons going 7-10, the Falcons completely overhauled their offense. They fired head coach Arthur Smith, replacing him with Raheem Morris, along with Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator. Atlanta brought in Kirk Cousins, who provides an unfathomably large upgrade over Desmond Ridder.

While the Falcons aren’t suddenly going to be this elite, unstoppable force, they do look to flip their record and win what should be a relatively weak NFC South.

The Bucs were a bit of a surprise division winner last season, led by a resurgent Baker Mayfield. They project to still have a winning record but come up just shy of the final Wild Card spot.

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers (11-6)
2. Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
3. Los Angeles Rams (6-11)
4. Arizona Cardinals (3-14)

The 49ers were the best team in the NFL last year and should have won the Super Bowl. But when you run into the greatest player in the history of the sport firmly in his prime, these things happen.

Fortunately, there’s no Mahomes in the NFC West. While the Seahawks are likely a much more formidable force this season, the 49ers remain the class of the division.

The whole gang is back together, with Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Brock Purdy all reprising their roles from last season. Combined with an elite defense, San Francisco is once again a favorite to win the NFC.

Projecting the NFC Playoff Picture

1. Detroit Lions
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Dallas Cowboys
6. Green Bay Packers
7. Seattle Seahawks

The 49ers may have the best roster, but that doesn’t automatically mean they will secure the No. 1 seed again. This simulation has the Lions earning the top seed and the precious bye, meaning the path to the Super Bowl will run through Detroit.

A resurgent Eagles squad also earns a home game, making it unlikely they get bounced in the first round again.

The 49ers and Packers will meet in a rematch from last year’s Divisional Round.

Finally, the Falcons will host the Cowboys, continuing the latter’s modern tradition of having to play a road game against a team with a worse record than them.