The best time of the year has arrived for all football fans. A new NFL season begins on Sept. 7, as the defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs will begin their quest to repeat starting against the Detroit Lions.
During the off-season, plenty of stars around the league changed teams. Among the most notable, long-time Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey was traded to the Miami Dolphins after spending four seasons with the L.A. Rams. Former 49er Jimmy Garoppolo has now replaced Derek Carr in the Las Vegas Raiders after Carr himself moved to the New Orleans Saints.
Fans will also have a close look at the new wave of rookies that were drafted in April. This year saw three QBs drafted within the top five picks, including #1 pick Bryce Young. Fellow QBs C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson will compete against Young in what promises to be an exciting Offensive Rookie of the Year race.
Looking around the league, there are some teams that stand out more than others in terms of being real contenders towards the playoffs and beyond. The Philadelphia Eagles are considered the main threat to the Chiefs, as they are seeking to avenge their Super Bowl loss from last season. They are arguably the most well-rounded team in the league heading into the year.
The Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals are two teams in the American Football Conference (AFC) to keep an eye on. Led by Josh Allen and Joe Burrow respectively, both teams boast a wealth of superstars on the offensive side of the ball.
The L.A. Chargers with Justin Herbert & Co. have a revamped offensive scheme, which will look to extend what their team can accomplish after their agonizing playoff defeat in January.
The National Football Conference (NFC) doesn’t seem to be as strong as the AFC, but the 49ers’ defense puts them among the elite despite their QB controversy during training camp. The Dallas Cowboys and the Lions can rise if any of the projected contenders slip throughout the season.
The 2024 Super Bowl will be hosted in Las Vegas on Feb. 11 and all 32 teams will soon begin their journey towards the Lombardi Trophy.