The NFL season kicks off this week with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs eyeing an unprecedented run of dominance, San Francisco 49ers nonetheless stinging from their Tremendous Bowl loss and Aaron Rodgers hoping to showcase his pre-injury kind with the New York Jets.
With quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the helm of a potent passing offense that options dominant tight finish Travis Kelce, the Chiefs are the crew to beat and seeking to develop into the primary franchise in NFL historical past to win three Tremendous Bowls in a row.
The Chiefs cemented their dynasty standing in February after they captured a 3rd championship in 5 years whereas Mahomes earned his third Tremendous Bowl MVP award, tied with Joe Montana for the second-most of all-time, behind Tom Brady’s 5.
Kansas Metropolis face a troublesome check in Thursday’s season opener towards the Baltimore Ravens and reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, a crew that led the NFL with 13 wins final season earlier than shedding at dwelling to the Chiefs within the penultimate spherical of the post-season.
“I don’t suppose final yr’s an excessive amount of in your thoughts,” mentioned Mahomes, whose Chiefs had been surprised by Detroit in final yr’s season opener after elevating their championship banner.
“You’re so centered on attempting to get higher, and we’re taking part in one of the best of one of the best Week One.
“So we’re going to see the place we’re at. We’re going to should go on the market and play our greatest soccer early within the season. All we are able to do is go on the market and be our greatest.”
Playoff drought
The Jets, who final made the post-season in 2010 and personal the longest playoff drought in main North American skilled sports activities, will put their hopes on the shoulders of 40-year-old quarterback Rodgers, a four-time NFL Most Helpful Participant.
Rodgers joined the Jets in a blockbuster commerce final yr however his highly-anticipated debut with the crew was lower quick when he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles lower than 4 minutes into the sport.
Jets receiver Garrett Wilson, who is predicted to be Rodgers’ most well-liked goal this season, credited the longer term Corridor of Fame quarterback for the impression he has had on all the crew.
“The man is simply so nice and so us, as opponents and athletes, we need to match that greatness,” mentioned Wilson. “We need to discover a approach to attain his stage and he brings that out in us with simply the way in which he’s.”
The 49ers might be wanting to get began after squandering two late leads of their 25-22 additional time Tremendous Bowl loss to the Chiefs however could possibly be sluggish out of the gate after they open their season on Monday towards the Jets.
San Francisco operating again Christian McCaffrey, the reigning offensive participant of the yr, missed pre-season as a result of a calf pressure. As well as, large receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left sort out Trent Williams — one other two key items within the crew’s offense — missed pre-season as a result of contract negotiations.
Elsewhere across the league, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, the NFL’s reigning offensive rookie of the yr, could possibly be much more harmful given the low season acquisition of four-time Professional Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs.
The Chicago Bears haven’t completed with a successful file since 2018 however are optimistic given quarterback Caleb Williams, who they took first total within the 2024 NFL Draft, and a powerful accompanying solid on either side of the ball.
This season will even function 5 worldwide video games, the primary approaching Friday when the Philadelphia Eagles and Inexperienced Bay Packers meet in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the NFL’s first-ever recreation in South America.
Three October fixtures might be held in London adopted by a November conflict in Munich.