After a long wait, football is back. The 2024 NFL Preseason has just ended and we are less than a week away from the 2024 NFL Regular Season kickoff on September 5th, so it’s time to predict the Regular Season. This article will only cover the AFC (NFC will be in a different article) and will be 100% true because I know ball.

Under each team’s schedule, you can find their schedule difficulty ranking based on their opponents’ 2023 winning percentage, with the hardest schedule in each division being bolded.

AFC East

Miami Dolphins (12-6) (2023 – 11-6)

The Dolphins will likely win the East this year due to them having a good offseason and the rest of the division not being in the best place this year. However, their season will be over if Tua Tagovailoa (QB) goes down with a concussion or two again. Also, OBJ will be on IR for the first few weeks of the season, which hurts the wide receiver corps in tough matchups against Buffalo and Jacksonville. 

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-24

Buffalo Bills (10-6) (2023 – 11-6)

This year will be a challenge for the Bills. After losing lots of key players on both offense and defense, such as Stefon Diggs (WR) and Jordan Poyer (S), it may be a challenge to even maintain the same record as last year. This means Josh Allen (QB) will have to step up, which may position him for an MVP run. This also means Buffalo’s new rookies, such as Keon Coleman (WR), will also need to step up. Looking at the rest of the division, neither the Jets nor the Patriots will likely be able to challenge them, so their only competition in the AFC East will be from Miami.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-6

New York Jets (8-9) (2023 – 7-10)

The 2024 New York Jets will go down in history as one of the most over-hyped teams in recent memory. The return of Aaron Rodgers from his Achilles injury will help the offense, but it won’t be enough. Remember, Rodgers is 40 years old and hasn’t played an NFL snap since Week One of 2023. Last season, the Jets offense was at the bottom of the league. A good portion of that failure can be attributed to Zach Wilson (QB), but not everything. But, more can be attributed to poor coaching and a terrible offensive line, which caused the Rodgers injury. On the bright side, however, Jets fans do not need to worry about their defense led by Ahmad Gardner (CB).

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-12

New England Patriots (3-14) (2023 – 4-13)

Since the departure of Tom Brady, and now Bill Belichick, the Patriots have been stuck in a rebuilding phase. This year will be no different, but hopefully, their search for a quarterback will end. With the addition of Jacoby Brissett and the drafting of Drake Maye and Joe Milton III, New England should be able to find some stability in the position group. The Patriots lost a lot of players this offseason, including DeVante Parker (WR) and Matthew Judon (OLB) which set back their rebuild even more.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-8

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens (13-4) (2023 – 13-4)

The Ravens are going to continue their success from last year. With the addition of Derrick Henry, Baltimore’s backfield is going to be unstoppable, except for in high-stakes games (2023 AFC Championship). So, as long as the Ravens call run plays with a couple of passes mixed in, they’ll score plenty of points. The Ravens’ defense may struggle with the losses of important players like Jadeveon Clowney (OLB) and Patrick Queen (ILB), especially with the Ravens having the second hardest schedule in the league.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #2

Cincinnati Bengals (13-4) (2024 – 9-8)

With Joe Burrow (QB) back from injury, the Bengals will do significantly better than last year. The only obvious problems on offense are the running back position and Ja’Marr Chase’s contract situation. With the departure of Joe Mixon to the Texans, the former Colt Zach Moss will need to step up to solidify his position as a successful RB1. In the most recent Bengals practice, Ja’Marr Chase (WR) showed up late wearing street clothes. This is due to him wanting a new contract, even though his rookie contract still has 2 years left on it. HC Zac Taylor has said that Chase will be playing Week One. 

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-16

Cleveland Browns (8-9) (2023 – 11-6)

The Browns aren’t a bad team this season, they just have the hardest schedule in the league. They have a great offense with Nick Chubb (out Weeks 1-4), Amari Cooper (WR), and David Njoku (TE). Their only weakness being unpredictable quarterback play from Deshaun Watson since they don’t have Joe Flacco to save them. Their defense is also solid, being led by Myles Garrett (DE). However, they just won’t be able to stack up against Baltimore and Cincinnati twice, Dallas, Philly, and Kansas City, with their only saving grace being a well-placed Bye Week. But, Jameis Winston might be able to save them with one of his pregame speeches.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #1

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-11) (2024 – 10-7)

Mr. Unliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimited is here! Steelers Nation, Let’s Weld! Steel got it! Sadly, this season will end Mike Tomlin’s 17-season streak of winning seasons. Russell Wilson looked awful in the preseason, along with most of the Steelers (0-3), and will be benched by Week Six. The Steelers simply can’t stack up against Lamar Jackson’s Ravens and a healthy Joe Burrow’s Bengals, both of which have stacked defenses to compliment their offenses, with their only hope in the division being found in the series against Cleveland. However, I do see them possibly being better than 6-11 and jumping ahead of the Browns.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #3

AFC West

Denver Broncos (12-5) (2023 – 8-9)

IT’S BO TIME!!!! The Broncos will put the league on notice this year. After managing to go 8-9 with sack magnet DangeRuss as a QB, the Broncos will definitely improve this year and will likely make a playoff push. The Broncos have a pretty favorable schedule this year, with free wins from the AFC South and from sharing a division with the Raiders and Chargers. This preseason, the Broncos have done extremely well on both sides of the ball, going 3-0 and being the highest-scoring team in the league. On offense, the greatest rookie quarterback prospect of all time Bo Nix has moved the ball efficiently, going 23/30 for 205 yards and scoring on six out of his seven drives (couldn’t score due to a TE fumble). The rest of the young Denver offense has looked very efficient and will grow under the guidance of Sean Payton. The defense has also looked good with the only questionable part being the safeties room after the loss of Justin Simmons to free agency. They’ve caused lots of turnovers, which was a main contributor to Denver’s 2023 5-game winning streak. During training camp and the preseason, the energy in the locker room and on the field is completely different than last year, with the team actually looking happy for once. 

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #20

Kansas City Chiefs (10-7) (2023 – 11-6)

The Kansas City Convicts this year are set up for a slight regression and shouldn’t go to the Super Bowl (they’ll probably still find a way).  The offense shouldn’t be too much of a concern, as long as Mahomes and Kelce stay healthy and Rashee Rice stays out of jail. But, the decision to cut Kadarius Toney (WR) will likely come back to bite them. However, the defense suffered in the offseason with the losses of Mike Edwards (S), Willie Gay Jr. (LB), and L’Jarius Sneed (CB). These losses at nearly every defensive position group, and their replacements being not nearly as good, may cause trouble for the Chiefs, especially in their matchups against high-powered offenses like the Ravens, 49ers, and Bengals. Greg Dulcich (DEN) will beat Travis Kelce as the AFC West’s TE yards leader.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-16

Los Angeles Chargers (7-10) (2023 – 5-12)

The Chargers are the AFC West’s wild card this year. With the hiring of Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers will hopefully improve somewhat. However, the loss of multiple key offensive players in the offseason will likely cause them to have to rely on their defense. It’s gotten so bad that the Chargers’ top wide receivers going into Week One are Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnson. But the defense should be able to hold their own, being led by Joey Bosa and Derwin James Sr. But in the end, the Chargers are probably going to Charger. However, the early Week Five bye may hurt the Chargers, especially if adjustments need to be made under the new Harbaugh system.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-27

Las Vegas Raiders (4-13) (2023 – 8-9)

“Antonio Pierce” and  “Aidan O’Connell” in the 2024 AFC West is so unserious. That’s it.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-8

AFC South

Houston Texans (13-4) (2023 – 10-7)

2023 OROY CJ Stroud and the Texans proved themselves to be contenders last year, and I see the same happening this year with the addition of Joe Mixon (RB) and Stefon Diggs (WR). As long as Diggs’ ego doesn’t tear the team apart, they’ll be scoring at will. On the defense, the Texans are more than set with 2023 DROY Will Anderson Jr and one of the top defensive units of last season that had a net positive offseason.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-4

Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) (2023 – 9-8)

The Jags might be the most mediocre team in the league. They’ll do fine this year having a semi-difficult schedule. As long as the defense holds and Trevor Lawrence (QB) does well they’ll sneak into the playoffs.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-8

Indianapolis Colts (7-10) (2023 – 9-8)

The year could go multiple ways for the Colts. Anthony Richardson could figure out how to be good and the Colts have a winning record. Joe Flacco (who’s in his prime) could come in and save the Colts’ season. They could just regress from last year due to Anthony Richardson still not having fully recovered from his 2023 shoulder injury, which is what I believe will happen. Yes, the rest of the Colts’ offense is good, but Anthony Richardson will need to step up and play well for the Colts to find success. The defense should hold up opposing teams well with their lethal rush from DeForest Buckner (DE) and rookie Laiatu Latu (DE), who could make a case for DROY.

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-21

Tennessee Titans  (4-14) (2023 – 6-11)

The 2024 Tennessee Titans are interesting. They could very easily do really good or really bad. Mayo Man Will Levis needs to continue his 2023 success. Levis’ weapons in Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins (questionable), and Tyler Boyd are okay but not too exciting. Tony Pollard (RB) will have big shoes to fill with the departure of Derrick Henry (BAL). The defense will also be okay with the addition of L’Jarius Sneed (CB).

2024 Schedule:

Difficulty Rank: #T-21