The NFL season has officially started and it’s already been exciting. Like any year, there are rookies ready to prove themselves in the big leagues and teams are already battling it out for their spot in the playoffs. We are going to take a look at what teams are favorites in their divisions, rookies to pay attention to, and early predictions for the playoffs.
Division Favorites:
AFC
West: Kansas City Chiefs
East: Miami Dolphins
North: Baltimore Ravens
South: Houston Texans
NFC
West: San Francisco 49ers
East: Philadelphia Eagles
North: Detroit Lions
South: New Orleans Saints or Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rookies to Watch For:
Here are a few fresh faces to keep an eye out for during this season;
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Arizona Cardinals)
Caleb Williams (QB, Chicago Bears)
Jayden Daniels (QB, Washington Commanders)
Malik Nabers (WR, New York Giants)
Xavier Worthy (WR, Kansas City Chiefs)
Brock Bowers (TE, Las Vegas Raiders)
Laiatu Latu (DE, Indianapolis Colts)
Quinyon Mitchell (CB, Philadelphia Eagles)
Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (CB, New Orleans Saints.
Caleb Williams
Williams started his college career with the Oklahoma Sooners but ultimately ended up transferring to the USC Trojans (which may have been the best move for him.) At USC, Williams set single-season school records in passing yards and touchdowns, leading up to winning the 2022 Heisman Trophy. His awesome college career also earned him the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, AP College Football Player of the Year, and SN College Football Player of the Year honors. Williams was also a unanimous All-American and named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, as well as being a first-team All-Pac-12 selection. Previously, Williams was a second-team All-Big 12 honoree in 2021. USC even retired his No. 13 jersey.
During the 2024 NFL Draft, he was selected first overall by the Chicago Bears. At the time of writing, he has had 66 passing attempts, 37 completions, a 56.2% completion rate, 267 passing yards, and a passer rating of 53.0, with 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the NFL.
Xavier Worthy
In college, Worthy played for the Texas Longhorns. With Texas, he earned three All-Big 12 honors, including two first-team selections in 2021 and 2023, and a second-team nod in 2022. He was also named a Freshman All-American and Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Worthy set the 40-yard dash record with an impressive time of 4.21 seconds and ended up being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. So far in the NFL, at the time of writing, he has tallied 4 receptions for 64 yards and 1 touchdown, with additional 26 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown.
Early Playoff Predictions:
Recently, ESPN used ESPN's Football Power Index to project the rest of the season. They included updated odds for every team to even make the postseason, secure its division, and possibly even make the Super Bowl.
According to ESPN, there are two teams in the league that have an 85% chance or possibly better to make the playoffs this season and both of them happen to be in the AFC. In first place is, of course, the Chiefs at 91% (who beat the Bengals in Week Two.) Right behind them is the Buffalo Bills who sit at 89% after a win against the Miami Dolphins. The lowest in the AFC is the Denver Broncos, who currently sit at 4%.
For the NFC, the Eagles have a 73% chance, which is the second best in the conference (even after an early loss to the Atlanta Falcons.) Who’s the top in the NFC currently you may ask? The Saints are sitting at a nice 81% after a dominant win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington.
Even though the season has just started, there has been a lot to make us look forward to the rest of the season. With division favorites making their presence known and rookies starting to show what they’ve got, it’s shaping up to be a great year. As the season heats up and teams battle for those playoff spots, there’s plenty of action to keep the season interesting.
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