Every NFL season has plenty of surprises, and this year will be no different. With the season kicking off tonight, it’s time to make some controversial predictions.

CJ Stroud will win MVP.

After winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, Texans quarterback CJ Stroud looks to continue to dominate. Stroud passed for 4,108 yards and 23 Touchdowns with just 5 interceptions in 15 games last season while leading the Texans to the AFC Divisional round of the playoffs. Stroud’s odds to win MVP are +850, per DraftKings, which places him far below former MVP Patrick Mahomes.

The Texans acquired four-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who adds to a talented receiving core that includes Nico Collins and Tank Dell; Stroud will thrive with this receiving core. 

Stroud knows and appreciates the difference that Diggs will make for the Texans. ‘’He’s helping me out a lot. Telling me how Josh played. He’s come in and been a leader, which is what I’m proud of him for.’’ Via The Houston Chronicle.

The Detroit Lions will miss the playoffs.

While the Lions revived their franchise last year, finishing with a 12-5 record and as NFC North Champions, that success won’t continue this year; this team will be closer to its old self.

With a much more demanding schedule ahead, facing teams such as the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers (twice), Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, and San Francisco 49ers, the Lions will regress and finish this season with a 9-8 record. The Lions play eight games against teams who made the playoffs, compared to just six last year; the Lions were 3-3 in those games. The Lions also play five games this year against teams that won ten or more games last year, compared to just playing three teams last year; the Lions were 1-2 in those games.

The Aaron Rodgers experiment fails for the Jets again.

Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in his first game with the New York Jets in 2023. In 2022, Rodgers had one of his worst seasons, passing for 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns while throwing 12 interceptions and finishing with a 41.3 Quarterback rating, the third-worst rating of any of his seasons. It’s doubtful that Rodgers could turn his career or the constantly failing Jets around, especially at 40.

The Los Angeles Rams will win the NFC West. 

The Rams finished second in the NFC West last year with a 10-7 record, even though most NFL fans thought they would experience a playoff drought. 

The Rams drafted running back Blake Corum from Michigan, the rushing touchdown leader in the NCAA last year, who will play alongside one of the most productive running backs in the league, Kyren Williams. Coupled with a strong passing and receiving game consisting of Super Bowl LVI Champion quarterback Matthew Stafford, rookie reception record holder Puka Nacua, and 2021 Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp, this offense will be a nightmare for opposing defenses.

The Rams allowed 232.4 passing yards per game, 11th most in the league, but that will change with the signings of former Bills All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White and former Commanders safety Kamren Curl. While the San Fransisco 49ers look great, the Rams’ explosive offense and strong defense will be too much for the 49ers.

The new kickoff rule will increase scoring significantly. 

The new kickoff rule has all kicking team players, aside from the kicker, line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line and must wait to move until someone from the receiving team catches the ball. At least seven players of the receiving team line up at their 35-yard line, the rest must line up between the 10 and 35-yard line. Offenses will start at their 30-yard line in the case of a touchback, instead of their 25-yard line, the previous spot for touchbacks.

In the 2024 preseason, 70.2% of kickoffs were returned compared to just 22% in the 2023 regular season, per Fox Sports. The average starting field position this preseason was at the 29-yard line compared to the 26-yard line last year. Those three yards can make a difference since drives that start inside the 30-yard line are twice as likely to result in a punt than a touchdown, per Fox Sports. Because the average starting field position is closer to the endzone than before, it’ll be much easier for offenses to put many more scoring drives.

Baltimore Ravens head Coach John Harbaugh felt this new rule was a shot in the dark but could work. “It’s going to be a lot of crazy, sloppy play early. Maybe it’ll be weird. Maybe it’ll be really cool. The unintended consequences, it could be a lot of fun.’’ Per USA Today.

Josh Jacobs fails in Green Bay.

Former Raiders running back Josh Jacobs had a major decline after leading the NFL in rushing yards in 2022. Jacobs held out of Raiders training camp in 2023, waiting on a new contract, which likely caused his decline.

Jacobs signed a 4-year, $48 million contract with the Green Bay Packers in March 2024, which was a mistake for the Packers. Jacobs had the worst season of his career, rushing for 805 yards and 6 touchdowns, while fumbling three times, and missing the last four games of the season due to a quad injury. Jacobs’s decline and injury will disappoint the Packers and its fans. 

Feature photo credit: Troy Taormina/USA Today Sports