We are counting down the days until the start of the 2024 NFL Season as training camps start later this month. There were some major switch ups this offseason regarding big names moving to new teams and legendary coaches – Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll – being relieved of their duties. On top of that, tons of franchise players were taken in the draft. Let’s get caught up with our 2024 AFC West preview.
Last Year
What if I told you that the Kansas City Chiefs won the division, and it wasn’t all that close? Or how about after a slow start to the year, the Chiefs were counted out by the national media, they still dominated in the playoffs, they trailed in the Super Bowl, and then went on to win it anyway. Would you believe that? It feels like we’ve seen two identical Chiefs seasons as they won a second straight Super Bowl. Kansas City was the best in the West, and it wasn’t particularly close. Las Vegas fired their coach halfway through the year, Antonio Pierce took over and got better results but it was still too little. The Chargers had a massively disappointing season which ended in the firing of Brandon Staley and the Broncos were as bad as we assumed they’d be with Russell Wilson for a second year in a row which forced them to dump their signal caller in the offseason.
Favorite to win in 2024
I mean…c’mon. The Chiefs are easily the favorites yet again as they go for a third-straight Super Bowl victory. Kansas City had an incredible offseason where they were able to keep their best player on defense. They drafted a new stud in the draft in Xavier Worthy who is as fast as a Lamborghini and they still have a guy named Patrick Mahomes. Not even a Taylor Swift tour that Travis Kelce attends on a nightly basis could slow down this team in 2024.
Offensive Player to Watch: Xavier Worthy
He is the real deal. He is a massive deep threat with burning speed who went over 1000 yards at Texas last year and somehow the league allowed him to drop to the Chiefs at the back end of the first round in the draft. He is the exact kind of player that Patrick Mahomes desperately needed at the wide receiver position.
Defensive Player to Watch: Maxx Crosby
He is one of the most dominant defensive players in the league right now and 2024 could be the year that he takes home Defensive Player of the Year. He plays with an edge and a toughness that is hard to overcome. He had 14.5 sacks a year ago.
Prediction
This one is easy. The Chiefs are going to have a better regular season than they did a year ago and march straight back to the playoffs. Until we see another team dethrone them in the West, I am not betting against a Patriots-esque run for KC. Record (12-5)