Almost two months ago, the NFL strategically unveiled its 2024 season schedule over the course of a day. First, fans were treated to the delicious Primetime games, which, even four months before opening day kickoff, appeared as enticing as ever. However, what truly excites me is the Week 1 slate.
It's the schedule makers' only chance to deliver 16 matchups knowing everything there is to know going into a game, where football is yet to do the talking. From marquee rivalries reigniting to intriguing showdowns between the league's rising stars, 2024’s Week 1 schedule promises a thrilling start to the next football season.
In this article, I will offer some guttural reactions, comments, concerns, questions, and maybe even a prediction for half of the NFL's Week 1 slate, with the second half coming later this week. Without further ado…
8:20 pm TNF: Ravens vs Chiefs
It's the world against the Chiefs, who, under Andy Reid's stewardship, have already offered up an 11-year stretch worth of the dynasty designation. Four Super Bowl appearances and three rings later, Reid may have just assembled his best Chiefs team to date this offseason.
Standing in their way in Week 1 is the Baltimore Ravens, a team whose only playoff win under electric quarterback Lamar Jackson came against the Titans back in 2021. Despite both these teams competing for the AFC’s coveted 1st seed last year, only one of these rosters appears ready to do it again.
While the Chiefs actively sought to remedy their shallow offense this offseason, the Ravens failed to answer questions at wide receiver or replace two departed offensive line starters. The Chiefs averaged 350 yards per game while only posting >401 yards twice last year, a significant decrease from their 413, 396, and 415 averages during the prior Mahomes years.
In 2024’s first TNF affair, I predict a more 2021-inspired gunslinging Mahomes to lead the Chiefs offense past the 400-yard, resulting in a 10-plus point win over the Ravens.
8:15 pm International Friday: Packers vs Eagles
The NFL’s 2024 international agenda kicks off with a high-quality affair between the Eagles and Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The NFC outfits endured virtually opposite trajectories last season.
While the Eagles moved swiftly and directly towards internal implosion, the Packers surged towards the playoffs fueled on rich offensive juice. You can probably guess which team got upset and which team did the upsetting in the playoffs.
Despite losing Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce, the Eagles got stronger this offseason. Between free agent addition running back Saquon Barkley and first two draft picks cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and defensive back Cooper DeJean, the Eagles look poised to repeat as division winners. Most importantly, Jalen Hurts has a full offseason to recover from his various 2023 nicks.
After starting 2-5, Jordan Love led his team on a 7-3 run to end the year, putting up over 325 total yards in all ten games. The offense has a never-ending list of young, exciting pass-catchers, my favorites being second-year wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks and tight end Luke Musgrave. Offseason addition Josh Jacobs, who led the league in rushing yards two years ago, will give offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich yet another way to kill you.
I don't know who's winning this game, but for some reason, the unit I'm most confident in is the Packer's offense. The Eagles gave up 356 yards per game last year, a number I think the Packers will crush by 50 in Week 1. Brazil, you got a good one.
1 pm: Cardinals vs Bills
Around this time last year, everyone and their nan projected the Arizona Cardinals to be the worst team in the league. It was a foregone conclusion that new Head Coach Jonathan Gannon would move on from Achilles-recovering quarterback Kyler Murray and execute a tank job. Many thought the Cardinals would hold Murray out the entire year to secure the presumed top college signal-caller, Caleb Williams.
The same people were shocked when Murray returned to the lineup in a Week 10 win vs the Falcons, finishing the year 3-4 without reaggravation. At this point in the season, Gannon’s uniquely devised offensive and defensive schemes were fully in place, allowing the Cardinals to remain competitive against the objectively more talented Rams, Texans, and 49ers while beating the Eagles.
Despite never exploding in the box score during this promising stretch, the eye test convinced me Kyler and the Cardinals could be a dark horse playoff contender this upcoming season and show that immediately versus Buffalo.
The Bills will be doing everything in their power to avoid a repeat of their 2023 opening-day result, a primetime loss to a reeling Rodgerless Jets. For some reason, the media isn’t lambasting the Bills for replacing Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis with Curtis Samuel and Keon Coleman, but I will. Pound for pound, is this pass-catching group really better than the New England Patriots, who are consistently ranked as the lowest in the league?
While Josh Allen's hero ball style of play is incredibly effective for fantasy football owners, I believe the Bills will struggle to win nine games in a loaded AFC without a more balanced offense. It's starting here, where I predict the team will score less than 22 points against the Cardinals.
1 pm: Vikings vs Giants
The fact that these teams and coaches met in the playoffs two seasons ago baffles me. When Brian Daboll's Giants and Kevin O'Connell's Vikings cross paths again in Week 1, they’ll do so with vastly different rosters.
Quarterback Daniel Jones is a cat in his ninth life. Fortunately for him, I’m convinced an offense structured around rookie LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers is exactly what Jones needs to extend his tenure as the Giants franchise quarterback.
Nabers isn’t talked about nearly enough, considering the pedigree of WRs drafted 6th overall (Julio Jones, Jaylen Waddle, Malik Nabers). Regardless, I back LSU’s next NFL star to break the Giant's five-year drought without an 800-yard pass catcher. Nabers has 1200-yard potential in his rookie season.
Elsewhere on the offense, the departure of Saquon Barkley and the retirement of tight end Darren Waller means Jalin Hyatt and/or Wan’Dale Robinson need to turn their erratic flashes of talent into consistent production.
The Vikings equally enter a pivotal stretch for their franchise. This will be Sam Darnolds' team in Week 1. The former second-overall pick accepted a backup role in San Francisco last year, aiming to learn and eventually secure a starting position. His plan succeeded, and now Darnold finds himself surrounded by more talent than ever.
Also new to the offense is running back Aaron Jones. Over 200 rushing yards in last season's playoffs for the Packers was encouraging; sadly, historical data for running backs over 30 isn't, so keep an eye out for Ty Chandler later in the year.
Justin Jefferson, the Vikings' offensive standout, will be without longtime partner Kirk Cousins for the first time in his career. In his only six non-Cousin games, Jefferson has averaged 6.3 catches and 93.3 yards.
Darnold has never thrown to a receiver even half as good as Jefferson (except Robbie Chosen, of course), so I expect Jefferson to be targeted early and often. In Week 1, I think this could look something like 8+ catches for 165+ yards and a score for Jefferson.
1 pm: Steelers vs Falcons
It's not hard to get excited about this revenge game between new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and his former squad, the Atlanta Falcons. Reports suggest Kirk Cousins is a full go for all team activity this offseason, with the former Viking quarterback coming off his greatest statistical season, and a devastating ACL injury.
Anyone who attempts to explain Michael Penix’s selection with the 8th overall pick, including the Falcons, doesn’t really know what they’re talking about. Instead of investing in a much-needed blue-chip defender - and they had their pick of the bunch - the Falcons drafted a quarterback safety net to protect them from their ACL-recovering 34-year-old free agent signing. Both wide receiver free-agent signings Rondale Moore and Darnell Mooney have the potential to thrive in a new offense. Head Coach Raheem Morris claims 2024 will be Kyle Pitts's best season yet. Like we haven't heard that one before...
Cousins' first chance to fend off the Penix chance comes against the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose defense - returning almost every single one of its starters from last campaign - looks as menacing as ever. Tomlin already named Russell Wilson the Week 1 starter, he’ll get the first audition over Justin Fields to direct a fascinating offensive cast. While ridiculously dynamic, I’m not entirely convinced George Pickens is a WR1. I’m keeping my ear trained for rumblings that the team is looking to add a stud wide receiver via trade before the season kicks off.
If they don't make a significant pass-catching addition before the season starts, I expect Pat Freiermuth to hit the ground running. The 6'5 tight end has surprisingly scored just four times in his career, one shy of the four documented concussions he's accrued in two pro seasons. If Freiermuth isn't seeing stars in 2024, I'll be betting on him to become one. Gimme a Muth touchdown in Week 1.
1 pm: Titans vs Bears
Possibly the matchup I’m most excited for, the Titans and Bears should both feel like they have a shot at sneaking into the playoffs. ‘QB whisper’ Head Coach Brian Callahan did a fantastic job in his first offseason, giving second-year quarterback Will Levis a chance to succeed. The last regime traded AJ Brown away and drafted Treylon Burkes to bear the entire weight of the passing game.
Now, Burkes sits 4th on the depth chart behind DeAndre Hopkins and notable free agent additions Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley. Moreover, 8th overall pick tackle JC Latham and free-agent Tony Pollard round out a prospective unit.
After almost a decade of the Titans being synonymous with Derrick Henry and the running game, Brian Callahan shared plans for the offense to "air it out". This has me very excited; we could be thinking about Will Levis a lot differently from now if he develops properly.
I’ve written endlessly about the Bears this offseason, basically long story short Caleb Williams has a chance to outproduce CJ Stroud's historic rookie statistics in what is the best offense ever procured for the first overall pick. I can’t remember a scarier three-headed backfield than Swift, Johnson, and Herbert, who should bear the load in Week 1 as Williams settles into things. I think the Bears will rush for 200+ against the Titans in Week 1.
1 pm: Patriots vs Bengals
After losing the Super Bowl in his second season, everyone expected Joe Burrow to have a ring and maybe even an MVP by the start of the 2024 season. Instead, two injury-plagued campaigns later, Burrow and the Bengals have nothing to show for it besides a real chip on their shoulder.
The schedule makers gave them a layup in Week 1 in the form of the New England Patriots, a team rid of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick for the first time this century. You can't understate the significance of Belichick's departure for the franchise, hence I was certain trading out of the three pick was the best course of action for the rebuilding team.
Instead of trading down, drafting their pick of receivers or offensive linemen, acquiring premiere draft capital, and riding veteran Jacoby Brissett, the Patriots kept their pick and drafted the third most desirable quarterback in the class, failing to upgrade their bottom five O-line and 32nd ranked WR room. And guess what? They're still starting Jacoby Brissett!
You can’t deny Drake Maye's ceiling, but taking a project quarterback second overall who isn’t going to start Week 1 when your team has endless offensive holes is questionable at best. Expect this team to be right back at the top of the draft next season, possibly with a different Head Coach.
I love the idea of the Bengals, but we haven't seen them at full strength for what feels like two years. Were we too quick to anoint Ja'Marr Chase, a top-three wide receiver who has yet to top 100 receptions in his three seasons? It's not bold, but I do think Chase is that top-three receiver we saw his freshman year, and if he and Burrow can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for the offense.
Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anouroumo is known to make even the savviest quarterbacks sweat in the pocket, I expect the Patriots to fail to eclipse the 10 points come Week 1. If the Patriots do have 1 thing going for them, it's their defense. Expect a healthy Burrow to struggle in his first game back, throwing an interception, but leading his team to a low-scoring Week 1 victory.
1 pm: Texans vs Colts
What CJ Stroud did in 2023 cannot be overstated. We're talking about a guy who, a year ago, was taken second overall after Bryce Young and who was entirely written off by a sector of general managers and the media based on his low S2 cognitive test. Well, you can scrap the S2 test because Stroud has already opened up a Super Bowl window for himself and the Texans. Adding Stefon Diggs on a one-year deal is a great sign that the front office is prepared to be aggressive in the short term and a battle cry for the team to go even deeper into the playoffs.
Anthony Richardson hasn’t started more than 20 football games between high school, college, AND the NFL, yet they looked as game-breaking and composed as Stroud in limited starts. When the two dueled in the first quarter of Week 2 last season, Stroud completed just one pass for 8 yards while Richardson accounted for 56 passing yards, 33 rushing yards, and two rushing TDs. At 6’4 245 pounds, the 21-year-old is an inch taller and just as heavy as Derrick Henry. Richardson's biggest adversary is the injury bug; I’ll be praying for him to make it out of Week 1 and beyond unscathed.
Richardson is the exact prospect and talent that people want to see in Drake Maye, a wrecking ball in the run game with a cannon for an arm. I think the former Gator has MVP potential, and a Week 1 upset vs Stroud and the Texans will quickly wake people up to this fact.
1 pm: Jags vs Dolphins
After a sneaky successful second season, apparent ‘can’t miss’ draft prospect Trevor Lawrence plummeted down to par at best in year three. His Jaguars lost five out of the last six, dramatically fumbling a playoff spot that appeared locked up after an 8-3 start.
Somewhat similarly, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has experienced a bumpy start to his career; despite improving his yardage and TD totals in each of his four first seasons, as well as posting a career-high 70% completion rate last year, Tua is still one of the most heavily criticized QBs in the league.
After signing a four-year $212 million contract, the pressure shifts to Head Coach Mike McDaniels to deliver the Dolphin's first playoff win in 24 years. Imagine this: Tyreek Hill's worst season with Tua is still 250 yards better than his best season with Patrick Mahomes. The 30-year-old Cheetah has averaged 1700 yards over the past two seasons in McDaniels offense and isn't the only 30+ year-old McDaniels has helped pace career highs. Raheem Mostert dropped a cool 20 touchdowns in 2023, rewarding fantasy enthusiasts like myself who drafted him in the 12th round.
Despite this production, I'm hoping he's phased out of the offense by Week 8 in favor of De'Von Achane, who broke the game on limited touches in his rookie year. The team is hoping that the 31-year-old free agent addition Odell Beckham Jr. will still have something left in the tank.
Like Tua, Lawrence signed a monster extension this offseason and was immediately rewarded with weapons. Free agent addition Gabe Davis and first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. round out the most dynamic offense Trevor Lawrence has had to date.
Neither of these defenses looks convincing in Week 1, so I expect both QBs to start the season strongly, posting 275+ yards and 2 TDs apiece.
1 pm: Panthers vs Saints
The biggest snooze fest of Week 1, let's be honest, you're not watching this game unless you’re a fan of these teams or you drafted Xavier Lleggette way too high in fantasy.
I’ve never been convinced of Dennis Allen's ability to lead a team, and I don’t think this year will be any different. Alvin Kamara hasn’t topped 4.0 yards per carry in 4 years and has still never rushed for over 950 yards. Both Derek Carr and Chis Olave played hurt last year, while other offensive pieces Juwan Johnson, Rashid Shaheed, and Kamara all missed time. This unit hasn't yet been given a chance to succeed, and without notable additions this offseason, the best thing they can wish for is a clean bill of health.
If there's any hope for diminutive second-year Bryce Young, it's new Panthers coach Dave Canales. Like Titan's coach Brian Callahan, Canales has a history of fixing broken quarterback mechanics. Hopefully, Young has enough substance for Canales to mold into a franchise quarterback.
The first step for Canales was revamping the offense through the draft and free agency: the team used their first, second, and fourth-round picks on skill position players, as well as trading for wide receiver Diontae Johnson. The ball is in Young's court to reverse the ‘BUST’ chants. The team drafted the first running back off the board, but don't get too excited; according to reports, Jonathon Brooks is 'playing the long game' on his return. Good thing I'm a Chuba Hubbard guy.
Here's a Hubbard stat that will have you scratching your head; over the final eight games of last season, no back had more runs of 0 yards or less, but also no back had more runs of 10+ yards. With Brooks guaranteed to miss time early, I'm intrigued to watch more of Hubbards dichotomous running style.
If one of these quarterbacks is gonna hit the ground running, I'm picking the veteran Derek Carr and the Saints. While he's yet to throw three scores in any of his last eight Week 1 games, he's only failed to top 259 yards once. This stretch includes a 435-yard game and four other games over 295 yards. With that being said, I predict Carr will clear 275 yards en route to a Saints win.
4:05 pm: Raiders vs Chargers
Every year, a handful of NFL front offices dismiss their head coach before the season is over; the Raiders and the Chargers were two of those teams in 2023, appointing interim bosses Antonio Pierce and Giff Smith amidst their teams' respective torrid seasons. While Giff struggled to keep his Chargers competitive, Pierce inspired the Raiders to a strong finish, ultimately convincing management to upgrade his title from interim to Head Coach.
Offseason defensive addition, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins should terrorize O-lines alongside all-pro Max Crosby and rising star Robert Spillane. Keep an eye out for 2023 top-ten pick edge Tyree Wilson, who disappointed in his injured-plagued rookie year. If fully healthy, the 6'6, 2023, 7th overall pick has the range and explosiveness to burst onto the scene on a top-heavy Raiders defense.
On the other side of the ball, the team has more questions than answers. For starters, who’ll be quarterbacking this team? Nobody thought incumbent ‘starter’ Aiden O’Connell would get another chance to play, but I think he might be the better option over free-agent addition journeyman Gardner Minshew. Regardless, odds are both guys will quarterback this fascinating offense at some point next season. Zamir White is better than you think, Davante Adams isn’t going anywhere, and Brock Bowers will give this unit a new dimension.
Expectations shouldn’t be high for the Chargers in Jim Harbaugh's long-awaited return to the league. Think of the 2023 Broncos under Sean Payton; a struggling team secures a franchise-altering coach who uses the first season to weed out those who won’t buy into their philosophy as they slowly instill large-scale operational changes. Harbaugh's already on course, using this offseason to build up his offensive and defensive lines.
Even with the mighty Justin Herbert, I expect the Raiders to overpower the Chargers in Week 1, in large part due to a strong 2-touchdown showing from Zamir White.
4:25 pm: Broncos vs Seahawks
It's the Drew Lock Bowl, but wait, he doesn’t play for either of these teams? No one believed a Sean Payton and Russell Wilson marriage would work, and sure enough, the team went into training camp a year later with a new starter at their most important position. 12th overall pick Bo Nix tops the depth chart, followed by returning quarterback Jarrett Stidham and former Jet Zach Wilson. Whoever’s throwing the ball will be doing so to arguably the league's lightest pass-catching group, led by Josh Reynolds and Courtland Sutton.
Any chance this room has at exciting rests in the hands of youthful burners Marvin Mimms Jr. and rookie Troy Franklin. The latter, a teammate of Nix at Oregon, was frequently mocked in the first round merely a week before the draft, yet somehow fell to the 4th round.
The Seahawks went from the oldest coach in the league to the youngest this offseason, replacing franchise legend Pete Carroll with former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. Exciting EDGE rookie Bryon Murphy III should benefit from Macdonald’s coaching, not to mention the youthful cornerback duo of Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. The team's uncertainty lies more in the offense.
How will year three of the Geno Smith experience look without Dave Canales? Will Jaxon Smith-Njigba justify his status as the first wide receiver selected only a year ago? Jordan Addison, Josh Downs, Rashee Rice, and even Dontavyion Wicks showed more promise in their rookie years.
Despite currently being listed as the WR5 on the depth chart, I predict Troy Franklin will rehash his endzone connection with Nix in Week 1.
4:25 pm: Cowboys vs Browns
In 2023, the Cowboys' defense performed exceptionally well on the surface, ranking fifth in both the fewest points and passing yards allowed per game. A closer examination, however, reveals the unit preyed on weaker opposition, playing small when the lights were brightest. This culminated in a devastating blowout loss to the Packers in the Wildcard round, where they allowed a whopping seven touchdown drives.
This offseason, general manager and owner Jerry Jones made no significant additions on offense despite claiming to go ‘all in’. The unit largely underwhelmed last season behind CD Lamb; is a reunion with 28-year-old Zeke Elliot enough to spark the offense?
Dak Prescott's abilities continue to be overlooked, and with a new deal on the horizon, I’m starting to think he will sign it for a team outside of Dallas. With reports suggesting certain Cowboys personnel want to see star Micah Parsons out the door, Cowboys fans will be hoping there isn't fire behind the smoke.
On the other side of the ball, the Cleveland Browns are in equal flux. Two years into Deshaun Watson's historic contract (the most guaranteed money EVER at the time), the former Texan has looked like a shell of his pocket-passing mobile self. We’re likely one year away from a highly awkward conversation between the Browns and Watson; the soonest the Browns could move on from Watson without losing tens of millions of dollars is 2026.
One positive, the team was active in acquiring offensive talent this offseason. Jerry Jeudy has a real chip on his shoulder and could revive his career as a Brown. There's some level of uncertainty around Nick Chubb; however, the team did excellently recruit pass-catching specialist Nahime Hines and goal-line battering ram D'Onta Foreman while retaining Jerome Ford. Cleveland will likely rely on this heavy-run attack next season.
The Browns ran the ball the 4th most in the league last year yet ranked middle of the pack in rushing yards. I believe a healthier, deeper running back room will be the key for the Browns and particularly Watson to start the season strong. Give me the Browns to convincingly eclipse their 120 rush-yard per-game average from last year.
4:25 pm: Commanders vs Buccaneers
While both of these teams won eight games in 2022, the Buccaneers and Commanders completed vastly different trajectories during the following 2023 season.
After taking a chance on former first-overall pick Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers secured their 4th consecutive playoff berth and their third straight division title. Perhaps Head Coach Todd Bowles doesn't get enough credit for the job he's doing down in Tampa Bay.
Committing to Mayfield for at least another year guarantees a level of stability for this offense, which will retain all of its significant contributors despite genuine fear that both the quarterback and Mike Evans would depart this offseason. When firing, Evans and slot wideout Chris Godwin are as good a pair as any; however, I fear for the passing game should one of them get injured.
For the first time in many years, the Commander's onfield product should entertain. Second overall pick Jayden Daniels is surgically accurate with a leopard-quick ability to escape the pocket, a skillset that will surely wind up NFL defenses. Streaking downfield, Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, rookie Luke McCaffrey, and Dyami Brown will keep secondaries occupied. Between Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler, new Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury can manipulate the tempo of his offense.
Keep an eye out for a Brandon Aiyuk x Commanders trade; Aiyuk and Daniels played college ball together at Arizona State University back in 2019. Despite both these teams ranking in the bottom half of the league in points scored last season, I expect this game to be a shootout. Gimme the over on Vegas's early 41.5 points total.
SNF 8:20 pm: Rams vs Lions
Not often do teams play back-to-back games against each other, especially not this far apart. Unfortunately for NFL defenses, 40-year-old Matthew Stafford is playing in his prime surrounded by a star-studded offense and play caller. In Chris Simms's top 40 QBs for 2024, the former NFL quarterback and current talent evaluator ranked Stafford 5th, above the likes of Herbert, Stroud, Prescott, and Hurts. Turn on the tape and watch for yourself; Stafford's 2023 game resembled that of 2021 Mahomes, deploying an arsenal of slingshot throws and sidearm passes to keep plays alive.
Behind Stafford, 23-year-old superstar pair Kyren Williams and Puka Nukua set the league on fire last year and should only get better in their years two and three, respectively. Nakua dropped a sweet 9 for 180 and a TD in his playoff debut and will be licking his chops facing off against these Lion defensive backs.
I’ll tell you who he won’t be facing: former Lions Cornerback Jeff Okudah, who busted more impressively than anyone before him. Already on his third team in three years after being picked third overall by the Lions in 2020, the team has struggled to find secondary talent since.
The team's second-round pick in 2023, cornerback Brian Branch, showed glimpses of starting potential in his rookie campaign. Joining him in the secondary is Lion's 2024 first-round pick, Ohio State cornerback Terrion Arnold, and second-round pick Missouri’s cornerback/safety Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Can you spot the trend?
Fans should be ready for another high-scoring affair between the NFL's most innovative offensive minds. After a full offseason of preparation, I’m backing both offenses to score more points than they did when these teams met in the playoffs back in January (Rams 23-Lions 24).
MNF 8:15 pm: Jets vs 49ers
The Jets land the Monday Night Football slot for the second year running, reinforcing the idea the team is its most exciting package before they’ve played a single game. Arguably the two most star-studded, robust rosters in the league, fans are finally privy to the Super Bowl matchup predicted by mentalist Oz Pearlman last offseason on Hard Knocks. A year later, these teams have only added more talent in their bid to challenge for Super Bowl 59.
I watched more wide receiver draft tape than ever this year and came away enthralled by Ricky Pearsall's contortionist act. The former Florida Gator reminded me of Justin Jefferson in how they can defy all odds to make a catch on the most crucial down of a game. Without a Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk trade, however, I fear there isn’t enough volume for Pearsall in this 49ers offense. The team maintained 7 out of 8 of its 2023 yardage leaders. The one departure: Ray-Ray McCloud III, 12 catches for 120 yards.
The Jets are hoping Head Coach Robert Saleh remembers the formula to slow down his former employer. Last season, almost every offense that came into contact with the Jets buzzsaw of a defense got shredded. Most notably, cornerback Sauce Gardner, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, and EDGE Jermaine Johnson made CJ Stroud, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Josh Allen look pedestrian.
On offense, we’re still yet to see Aaron Rodgers complete a pass as a Jet. It should come against the 49ers, the team who passed on Rogers 20 years ago, whom he’s gone 6-3 against in the regular season and 0-4 in the playoffs.
If the Jets are to succeed in Week 1, I’m betting it comes off the back of a monster Breece Hall game. If he can elude mammoth 49ers acquisition Javon Hargrave when they come face to face in the trenches, I believe Hall will easily eclipse his 94 yards per game in 2023 to the tune of 140 total yards and a score.
