Back
2024 NFL Season Preview | LeoVegas

2024 NFL Season Preview

Hold on to your seats NFL fans, as this season - the 105th of the National Football League - aims to bring more excitement than ever. From new overtime rules to the debut of international regular-season games, the fan experience is about to get a serious boost. And we're kicking it off with a 2024 NFL preview highlighting key players, safety changes, and the league's quest to expand the game's global fanbase.

Table of Content:

2024 NFL Season Quick Facts

Season Kickoff

The 2024 NFL season begins on September 5th, 2024.

International Games

The NFL will host its first-ever international game in regular season in South America on September 6th, 2024, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles versus the Green Bay Packers at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil.

The league will also take its international roadshow to the following locations:

  • October 6th, 2024 - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England: New York Jets vs. Minnesota Vikings
  • October 13th, 2024 - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chicago Bears
  • October 20th, 2024 - Wembley Stadium, London, England: New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
  • November 10th, 2024 - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany: New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers
  • TBD 2025 – Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain

Coaching Changes:

Major coaching changes can have a monumental impact on an NFL team. Let's see which coaches have retired, been fired, and hired to take the reigns of the NFL's top teams in 2024.

  • Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris hired. Arthur Smith fired.
  • Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales hired. Frank Reich fired.
  • Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce hired. Josh McDaniels fired.
  • Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh hired. Brandon Staley fired.
  • New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo hired. Bill Belichick retired.
  • Seattle Seahawks: Mike Macdonald hired. Pete Carroll stepped down.
  • Tennessee Titans: Brian Callahan hired. Mike Vrabel fired.
  • Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn hired. Ron Rivera fired.

Power Rankings:

When it comes to looking for teams that could make it all the way to the Super Bowl, you need to know the latest NFL power rankings. We’ll talk more about why certain teams are riding high in the current 2024 NFL power rankings later in this preview. For now, here are the top 5 NFL picks for 2024:

  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • San Francisco 49ers
  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Detroit Lions
  • Philadelphia Eagles

Main Roster Moves:

Which players will lace up their boots for a new team in 2024 and make an impact on the NFL?

  • Stefon Diggs - traded by the Buffalo Bills to the Houston Texans.
  • Keenan Allen - traded by the Los Angeles Chargers to the Chicago Bears.
  • Jerry Jeudy - traded by the Denver Broncos to the Cleveland Browns.
  • Brian Burns - traded by the Carolina Panthers to the New York Giants.
  • L’Jarius Sneed - traded by the Kansas City Chiefs to the Tennessee Titans.

League Overview

The 2024 NFL season will look different to those that went before it, thanks to a sweeping series of changes. Before we get into the latest NFL rule changes, let’s assess where we are heading into the new season.

The 104th NFL regular season started on January 7th, 2023, with the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, losing to the Detroit Lions. That loss could have set the tone for the season, but as it transpired, the Chiefs would rally and make it into the playoffs as the AFC Champions.

Also running hot heading into the playoffs were the San Francisco 49ers (the NFC Champions). However, despite a close-fought contest where both teams struggled to gain momentum, the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII by 25 points to 22.

The close of the 2023 NFL season means the Chiefs and the 49ers go into the 2024 NFL season at the top of the power rankings. Of course, as is often the case when it comes to fantasy football picks, power rankings, and NFL betting, a team’s previous form only counts for so much.

Indeed, with major changes coming into force this season, other teams have made their way to the top of the latest NFL odds charts. We’ll take a look at the hottest football picks for the upcoming NFL season in a moment. Before that, let’s discuss the NFL rule changes for 2024.

NFL Key Rules and Regulation Updates

  • Third challenge: teams can now make a third challenge, even if two previous challenges were unsuccessful, as was in previous seasons.
  • More replays: coaches will have access to more replays than in previous seasons.
  • Hip-drop tackles dropped: league officials have banned the hip-drop tackle.
  • Kick-off shake-up: kickers now line up on the 35-yard line, and the returning team can now have two returners inside the landing zone.
  • Unlimited returns: teams now have unlimited designated-to-return transactions in the postseason.
  • New trade deadline: the trade deadline for NFL teams has been moved to the Tuesday after Week 9 wraps up.
  • More emergency QBs: teams can now take emergency quarterbacks from their practice squad, as well as the 53-man roster.
  • Did not travel: the injury reporting rules for players who don’t travel with a team are now more clear, making it easier for opposing teams to determine a team’s roster.
  • More Hawk-Eye: the continued rollout of Hawk-Eye technology will extend throughout the 2024 NFL season.

Key Matchups

  • Ravens vs. Chiefs (Week 1)
  • Bengals vs. 49ers (Week 2)
  • Eagles vs. Packers in Brazil (Week 2)

Key Players to Watch

Fantasy sports pickers and NFL betting enthusiasts need to know which players to look out for in the coming season. When it comes to betting specifically, the latest NFL odds are often predicated on the players in a team and their current form. With this in mind, here are some NFL players to watch during the 2024 season.

Quarterbacks: Top Talents and Rising Stars

Will Levis: many see Levis as a potential great quarterback, and the Tennessee Titans are giving him every opportunity to fulfill that promise. New head coach Brian Callahan should usher in a wide-open, explosive style of football that will suit Levis, who threw for 1,808 yards, four interceptions, and eight touchdowns in just nine games last season.

Running Backs: Breakout Candidates

Gus Edwards: people have high hopes for the Chargers’ new head coach, Jim Harbaugh, this season. His attacking style will give QB Justin Herbert more freedom to run. This will put more emphasis on Edwards’ workhorse-like mentality. Harbaugh will put Edwards to the test, but if he can rise to the challenge, expect big things from him.

Wide Receivers: Game-Changers and New Faces

Drake London: any player who can set records when the rest of the team is struggling to achieve mediocrity is one to watch. London has 141 passes for 1,771 yards since entering the NFL as an eighth-round pick during the 2022 draft. In addition to his own talents, London will benefit from Kirk Cousins coming into the Falcons fold.

Defensive Stars: Dominators and Emerging Threats

Dorance Armstrong: moving to the Washington Commanders gets Armstrong out of Micah Parsons’ and DeMarcus Lawrence’s shadows. He showed his potential last season, getting 7.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits, despite only starting one game for Dallas.

Rookies: Impact Players from the 2024 Draft

Marvin Harrison Jr.: at 6’3 and 205 pounds, Harrison Jr. has a formidable stature combined with blistering speed. This physiology helped him achieve 144 catches, 2,474 yards, and 28 touchdowns at Ohio State to make him the hottest rookie prospect this season.

Malik Nabers: despite picking up an ankle injury during preseason, wide receiver Nabers is an NFL rookie to watch in 2024. Ranking in the top eight for catches, yards, and touchdowns in his college career, his speed and catching prowess can turn heads this season.

Predicted Standings and Playoff Contenders

The only way to wrap up this NFL 2024 season is to break down the conferences and pick out some teams that could make it through to the playoffs:

AFC Predictions

  • AFC East Top Pick: Miami Dolphins – 21/10
  • AFC West Top Pick: Kansas City Chiefs – 7/20
  • AFC North Top Pick: Cincinnati Bengals – 6/4
  • AFC South Top Pick: Houston Texans – 21/20

NFC Predictions

  • NFC East Top Pick: Philadelphia Eagles – 4/5
  • NFC West Top Pick: San Francisco 49ers – 4/9
  • NFC North Top Pick: Detroit Lions – 13/10
  • NFC South Top Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 3/1

Potential Wild Card Teams

Three teams that upset the NFL Super Bowl odds are:

  • Philadelphia Eagles – 12/1 to win the Super Bowl
  • Green Bay Packers – 18/1 to win the Super Bowl
  • Los Angeles Rams – 28/1 to win the Super Bowl

FAQs

What are the major changes in the 2024 NFL season?

A variety of NFL rule changes will be implemented during the 2024 season, including new kickoff rules, a different trade deadline, and a ban on hip-drop tackles.

Who are the key players to watch this season?

Some of the NFL players to watch during the 2024 are Chargers running back Gus Edwards, Titans quarterback Will Levis, and Falcons wide receiver Drake London. Of the NFL rookies making their debuts in 2024, look out for Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers.

Which teams are expected to make the playoffs?

Some of the NFL betting favourites to make the playoffs this season are the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and the Detroit Lions. For those wanting a wild card pick, consider the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles.

What is the first game of the 2024-2025 NFL season?

The first game of the 2024-2025 NFL season will be the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Baltimore Ravens. This replay of their 2024 AFC title match takes place on September 5th, 2024, at 8:20 pm ET at the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Who is predicted to be in the Super Bowl in 2025?

The latest NFL football betting odds have the Kansas City Chiefs as favourites for the 2025 Super Bowl. The reigning champions start the new season as 11/2 favourites for the Vince Lombardi Trophy, ahead of the San Francisco 49ers (13/1) and Baltimore Ravens (10/1).

Learn more about NFL betting in our guides