NFL · 1 year ago

NFL 2024 Season Preview: Predicting the NFC Playoff Bracket

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

No. 7 Seed: Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams made the playoffs last season as a wild-card team, and there is no reason to expect them to finish any worse in 2024. Offensively, Sean McVay has everything he needs around Matthew Stafford to excel, loaded with high-octane weapons. On the defensive side, there are some worries amid Aaron Donald's retirement. Still, they used their first and second-round draft picks on defensive linemen to keep the unit performing well. The Rams will be a respectable team, but one can argue they don’t have enough to chase after the NFC West crown.

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No. 1 Seed: Philadelphia Eagles
The 2023 collapse of the Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t have been more ugly if it had been written in a book. However, signs indicate a strong rebound in 2024, and we’re buying into it. Much of their struggles were thanks to post-Super Bowl fatigue and poor coaching, which should be remedied by a long offseason and two new proven coordinators in Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio. On the field, Jalen Hurts has been lights out in training camp, Saquon Barkley will benefit from running behind an elite offensive line, and they have arguably the league’s best group of pass-catchers. Defensively, many questions need to be answered, but they added a ton of talent to their secondary, and Fangio’s scheme should pair well with the defensive line. Grab as much stock in the Eagles before it’s too late.
No. 2 Seed: Atlanta Falcons
No one is talking about the Atlanta Falcons, but they have the potential to stack up many wins in 2024. They made many moves this offseason, starting by naming Raheem Morris head coach, and thus far, he’s had glowing reviews. Offensively, Kirk Cousins should be able to give them reliable quarterback play as they’re loaded with solid weapons and an excellent offensive line. Defensively, they played well in 2023 and now add Justin Simmons and Matthew Judon alongside Morris’s defensive expertise. They’ll earn a much higher playoff seed with a cake schedule than most expect.
No. 3 Seed: Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a team that everybody is rooting for, and it will be interesting to see how they respond to their horrific NFC Championship game loss. They have all the talent a team can ask for on the offensive side of the ball to be the league’s best unit, and defensively, they are on track to improve. However, we slot them in as the third seed thanks to a demanding schedule and an unfortunate break with divisional tiebreakers.
No. 4 Seed: San Francisco 49ers
As talented as the San Francisco 49ers are, plenty of teams lose the Super Bowl in crushing fashion and collapse the following season. The Philadelphia Eagles just did it in 2023, and given all the drama surrounding the Niners this season, they are a prime candidate for the same. They have a first-place schedule, a banged-up defense, and an offense that may not have Trent Williams on the field in Week 1. It is still hard to imagine that the 49ers will not be NFC West champions, but as all three of the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and Arizona Cardinals should improve, it will be much more challenging than most anticipate.
No. 5 Seed: Green Bay Packers
Many people believe the Green Bay Packers are potentially threatening the Detroit Lions for the NFC North title, but I think they’re still a year away from doing that. Jordan Love is balling. Josh Jacobs should bring a solid punch to the ground game, and they have multiple serviceable options at receiver. Defensively, they have the playmakers to be a collectively great unit, so it will be exciting to see if and when it comes together.
No. 6 Seed: Seattle Seahawks
Amid NFC wild card contenders, the Seattle Seahawks are not discussed, and I struggle to understand why. They finished 9-8 last year and gave away a couple of games that they should have won, and now have a fresh face as their head coach with Mike Macdonald after it began to seem like Pete Carroll was losing his voice in the locker room. On offense, they have no shortage of weapons surrounding Geno Smith and a talent-rich defense that MacDonald should be able to maximize their talent. Don’t discount this team as a very dangerous low-seed come playoff time.
No. 7 Seed: Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams made the playoffs last season as a wild-card team, and there is no reason to expect them to finish any worse in 2024. Offensively, Sean McVay has everything he needs around Matthew Stafford to excel, loaded with high-octane weapons. On the defensive side, there are some worries amid Aaron Donald's retirement. Still, they used their first and second-round draft picks on defensive linemen to keep the unit performing well. The Rams will be a respectable team, but one can argue they don’t have enough to chase after the NFC West crown.

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No. 1 Seed: Philadelphia Eagles
The 2023 collapse of the Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t have been more ugly if it had been written in a book. However, signs indicate a strong rebound in 2024, and we’re buying into it. Much of their struggles were thanks to post-Super Bowl fatigue and poor coaching, which should be remedied by a long offseason and two new proven coordinators in Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio. On the field, Jalen Hurts has been lights out in training camp, Saquon Barkley will benefit from running behind an elite offensive line, and they have arguably the league’s best group of pass-catchers. Defensively, many questions need to be answered, but they added a ton of talent to their secondary, and Fangio’s scheme should pair well with the defensive line. Grab as much stock in the Eagles before it’s too late.