Can the Chiefs three-peat? I say no.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Football is back. It’s been a long offseason. I can’t even remember who won last year’s Super Bowl.
Oh, right. The Chiefs. And the year before that, the Chiefs. And three years before that, the Chiefs
We finally got rid of the Patriots winning every year and now the Chiefs keep dominating. Six years in a row they’ve played in the AFC championship game, winning it four times.
Four Super Bowl appearances in five years. Back-to-back Super Bowl titles.
I say they don’t three-peat.
Who knocks them down? A team from Ohio, of course.
Here is my 2024 Fearless Forecast.
Division winners: The Super Bowl teams come from here
1. Cincinnati Bengals (projected record: 13-4)
Joe Burrow is healthy, the defense has been upgraded and their schedule includes games vs. New England, Washington, Carolina, the Giants and Las Vegas.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)
Add Xavier Worthy to Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid. Scary, right? So why no Super Bowl three-peat? Because no team has ever done it before. That’s all I got.
3. Green Bay Packers (11-6)
No organization is better at evaluating quarterbacks and receivers. Jordan Love is for real and he has five promising wideouts on rookie contracts.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
The most loaded roster in the NFL, plus major changes at offensive and defensive coordinator, should propel Eagles back into NFC championship game.
5. Houston Texans (11-6)
Hannah McNair, wife of the team owner, recently publicly roasted the Browns for relieving them of Deshaun Watson and supplying them “all of our players.” Well, C.J. Stroud was not a product of the Watson trade. He and DeMeco Ryans are the main reasons the Texans are serious contenders.
6. San Francisco 49ers (11-6)
Preseason turmoil portends a rocky season ahead. Still, I wouldn’t count them out.
7. Miami Dolphins (10-7)
Their demise comes in the months of December and January. Their only hope is to claim AFC’s best record for home-field advantage in postseason, which is doubtful.
8. Atlanta Falcons (10-7)
Honestly, I’d like their chances more if they’d hired Bill Belichick as coach.
Wild cards: Won’t advance beyond divisional round
9. Detroit Lions (11-6)
They seem to have everything they need to make another run at the Super Bowl. I guess I don’t trust Dan Campbell to steer them to the finish line.
10. Baltimore Ravens (10-7)
They’re 58-19 in regular-season games with Lamar Jackson at quarterback, and 2-4 in the postseason.
11. Dallas Cowboys (10-7)
Drama makes Jerry Jones happy and wealthy, but it doesn’t translate to post-season success.
12. Buffalo Bills (10-7)
I’ve always said Josh Allen is this generation’s John Elway. Elway didn’t win a Super Bowl until the Broncos eased the load on his shoulders. Buffalo’s getting there with Allen, but the defense took a step back.
13. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
Can they contend for the Super Bowl without future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who retired? Eventually, but not this year.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
They’re easy to overlook. I’ve decided not to overlook them.
Oh, so close: Should be in playoff chase till the end.
15. Cleveland Browns (9-8)
Too many question marks on offense to rank them higher.
16. New York Jets (9-8)
Same as above.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)
Only team in NFC with four straight post-season appearances. That streak will end.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8)
Like every team in AFC North, can finish first or last.
19. Seattle Seahawks (9-8)
First time in 15 years Pete Carroll isn’t their head coach. Probably gone as far as they could with Geno Smith at quarterback.
20. Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)
They will be physically and mentally tougher under Jim Harbaugh. Another year of roster upgrade needed for post-season appearance.
21. Chicago Bears (9-8)
Caleb Williams has a pretty good supporting cast, but division is tough at the top.
Maybe next year
22. Denver Broncos (8-9)
Sean Payton sees Bo Nix as the next Drew Brees. He ought to rehire Gregg Williams as his DC. Come get some.
23. Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
Anthony Richardson has to prove he can stay healthy the way he plays quarterback.
24. Tennessee Titans (7-10)
Is Will Levis the quarterback of the future? They’ll answer no after this year.
25. Minnesota Vikings (7-10)
J.J. McCarthy’s preseason injury took the wind out of the Vikings’ sails.
Going nowhere
26. Las Vegas Raiders (6-11)
Winning 3 of last 4 earned Antonio Pierce full-time head coach job. But the quarterback situation is uninspiring.
27. Arizona Cardinals (6-11)
Marvin Harrison should turn Kyler Murray into a better quarterback. Still.
28. New Orleans Saints (5-12)
This team is stuck in the bayou with no apparent bail-out plan.
29. Washington Commanders (5-12)
Kliff Kingsbury has a new toy in Jayden Daniels. They are years from competing for the postseason.
30. New York Giants (3-14)
Hard Knocks exposed the cluelessness of this former bedrock organization.
31. New England Patriots (3-14)
It’s payback time from all over the NFL for 20 years of losing to this dethroned dynasty.
32. Carolina Panthers (2-15)
You have to feel for Bryce Young. What did he do to deserve being the quarterback of this franchise?
Individual awards
MVP: Joe Burrow, Bengals
Defensive player of the year: Myles Garrett, Browns
Offensive player of the year: Saquon Barkley, Eagles
Offensive rookie of the year: Xavier Worthy, Chiefs
Defensive rookie of the year: Jared Verse, Rams
Comeback player of the year: Burrow
Coach of the year: DeMeco Ryans, Texans