Every NFL season brings hope, excitement and the topic that causes the most debate – predictions.
From the opening game on Thursday, it will be a long, hard road to Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans on 9 February 2025, and there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.
But who will lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the Superdome? Who will win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award? Who will shine and who will disappoint?
We’ve assembled a panel of experts to answer these questions – former Buffalo Bills assistant coach Phoebe Schecter, and BBC Radio 5 Live NFL hosts Rob Staton and Mike White, BBC sports news correspondent Nesta McGregor and BBC Sport journalists Paul Higham and Ben Collins.
Nesta McGregor: Kansas City Chiefs
The ‘three-peat’ has been achieved in almost every other major sport, so why is this the year American football joins the party? The answer is Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes, despite all his achievements, was not number one in the top 100 list voted for by NFL players this year. I expect that to be top of Kansas City‘s bulletin board and for him to once again prove he’s not only the current number one but the best quarterback to ever put on a helmet.
Phoebe Schecter: Cincinnati Bengals
Let’s go for the Cincinnati Bengals versus the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl. The Bengals reached the Super Bowl two years ago and they have that determination to get back there. Even with quarterback Joe Burrow injured last season, they almost beat the Chiefs (in week 17). That said so much about how strong their team are. Now imagine you’ve got a healthy Burrow too. They really could take it all the way.
Mike White: Kansas City Chiefs
As much as I’d like to say the San Francisco 49ers will get over the hump this time, only a fool (a category I easily fall into) would back against the Chiefs finding a way to make it a three-peat and pick up their fourth Lombardi Trophy in the past six seasons. With head coach Andy Reid still cooking up creative ways to beat teams and Mahomes at the helm, it’s a no-brainer.
Rob Staton: Kansas City Chiefs
How do you bet against this team, this coach and this quarterback? The simple answer is you don’t.
Paul Higham: Kansas City Chiefs
Nobody’s done three in a row, but nobody’s had Mahomes before – and, if anyone can do it, he can. Plenty of teams have chances – and I’d like to pick against them just for variety – but the Chiefs are the team to beat until proven otherwise.
Ben Collins: San Francisco 49ers
After losing two Super Bowls in five years, the 49ers will make it third time lucky after keeping their stacked roster together.
Phoebe Schecter: Joe Burrow
If the Bengals win the Super Bowl, Joe Burrow would have had a good enough regular season to win the MVP. When he’s fully healthy, the Bengals are pretty much unstoppable.
Nesta McGregor: Lamar Jackson
The Baltimore Ravens again have the best chance of dethroning the Chiefs, thanks largely to the dynamism of reigning MVP Lamar Jackson. Add Derrick Henry to the mix and wow. I expect the Ravens to again make the conference finals and Lamar to again be named MVP.
Mike White: CJ Stroud
I won’t be as predictable to say Patrick Mahomes but I’ll stick with the AFC. I really like the look of the Houston Texans and what I saw of CJ Stroud in his rookie season has me believing, so I’ll give it to the second year quarterback.
Rob Staton: Patrick Mahomes
He’s due another MVP, which would be his third, to go with all the winning.
Paul Higham: Christian McCaffrey
Mahomes, Jackson and Aaron Rodgers have won the past six MVPs between them, the past 11 winners have been quarterbacks and only four non-quarterbacks have won since 2000. However, if anyone can buck that trend, it’s Christian McCaffrey, who came third in MVP voting last year after a 2,000-yard, 21 touchdown season.
Ben Collins: Christian McCaffrey
It’s McCaffrey, not quarterback Brock Purdy, who is the star for the 49ers.
Rob Staton: Los Angeles Chargers
Head coach John Harbaugh will get them going as a serious threat and they have all the necessary pieces to make a big run this season.
Mike White: Green Bay Packers or Houston Texans
It’s a toss-up between the Packers and the Texans. I came out of last season appreciating what I saw from both teams and I’ve not changed my opinion seven months on.
Phoebe Schecter: Atlanta Falcons
Looking at the NFC South, the Falcons could easily win that. They’ve added Kirk Cousins to Bijan Robinson and signed defensive giants Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons. Deciding to sit Michael Penix Jr is a great idea to let him learn under Cousins for a year.
Nesta McGregor: New York Jets
I remember staying up late to watch the Jets’ opener last season, only to be in bed 10 minutes later after quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered that season-ending Achilles injury. A year on, if Rodgers is back to full health and is anything near the player he was in Green Bay, the Jets could cause a few upsets.
Paul Higham: Cleveland Browns
The first team to start five different quarterbacks for 40 years still won 11 games last year thanks to one of the meanest defences in the league. Even some average play from Deshaun Watson will give them a chance of a deeper run.
Ben Collins: Arizona Cardinals
If quarterback Kyler Murray finally manages to stay healthy for a full season, he can form a partnership with rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr and lead the Cardinals back into contention after a couple of poor seasons.
Mike White: New York Jets
They might not even be eligible for this category as they’re now perennial underperformers, but, after last season’s false dawn with Aaron Rodgers, all eyes are on them again. Given their history, it’s hard not to think something won’t conspire against them again.
Phoebe Schecter: Dallas Cowboys
I’m sure some people will hate me for this but, for the most part, the Cowboys have had the most useless kind of off-season. It’s a shame because Dak Prescott had an almost MVP performance last season. The Cowboys are a funny team – they should be so good but they never seem to push through.
Rob Staton: Dallas Cowboys
Something just doesn’t seem right in Dallas and this could be a chaotic year. The Philadelphia Eagles could be another shout with head coach Nick Sirianni seemingly on borrowed time.
Nesta McGregor: San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl finalists last year and an Avengers-style array of talent, but the pressure is on. Unbelievably, questions still surround quarterback Brock Purdy. Is ‘Mr Irrelevant’ the real deal? Was last season his ceiling? He’s due a huge new contract but he could try too hard to show he’s worth it.
Paul Higham: Buffalo Bills
There will be plenty of teams worse, but in the cut-throat AFC the Bills may suffer the biggest letdown from recent years. Even though Josh Allen will be great again, he’s got too much to do this season.
Ben Collins: Buffalo Bills
The Bills have been knocking on the door but I fear their window has closed. Allen remains elite but they’ve lost too many key players in the off-season, allowing the New York Jets to usurp them.
Mike White: Caleb Williams
There’s so much pressure that comes with being the number one draft pick that not every player is cut out for. Athletically and personality-wise, Williams comes across as impressive, and the Chicago Bears have improved their roster, but will that offensive line be able to protect their rookie star well enough? I have my doubts.
Rob Staton: CJ Stroud
One of the most naturally gifted players to enter the league in recent years had a great rookie season, so let’s see what he does in year two.
Phoebe Schecter: Rondale Moore
Moore has been at Arizona the past three years and been kind of non-existent. Now he’s joined the Falcons, who have new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson coming from the Rams, and he loves a slot receiver. He had Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, so I’m thinking they’ll use Moore in the same style as those two.
Nesta McGregor: Caleb Williams
This is an easy one. I’ve spent six months listening to US analysts wax lyrical about this young man – and countless hours watching YouTube footage of him in action. His stock is so high that we’ve been told not to rule out his becoming the first rookie quarterback to take a team to the Super Bowl.
Paul Higham: Jayden Daniels
Daniels was picked second overall in the draft behind Williams, but there are plenty of people who believe he’s the more talented quarterback. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner and only player in college history to record 12,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards could lead Washington to a sneaky good season and upstage his more hyped-up fellow rookie in Chicago.
Ben Collins: Derrick Henry
He may be 30, but Henry, a battering ram of a running back, has been added to the Baltimore Ravens’ offence. He is set to form a partnership with star quarterback Lamar Jackson which is sure to do some serious damage.
