Article

Chiefs’ three-peat bid, rookie QBs highlight 2024 NFL storylines

The 2024 NFL season is right around the corner with the two-time defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs looking to become the first team since the 1965-67 Green Bay Packers to win three consecutive titles.Chiefs’ three-peat bid, rookie QBs highlight NFL 2024 storylines[100]

The 2024 NFL season is right around the corner with the two-time defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs looking to become the first team since the 1965-67 Green Bay Packers to win three consecutive titles.

The Chiefs’ 2023 season was projected to be a down year. Having lost star wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins a year prior, the Chiefs’ offence lacked a true deep threat that had made their offence revered for seasons. Through, that didn’t stop quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce from putting the Chiefs on their backs, dragging them to a 25-22 win in Super Bowl LIV win over the San Francisco 49ers. 

Following an offseason of changes, the Chiefs enter the 2024 campaign with a bolstered offence thanks to the addition of former University of Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, whom the Chiefs drafted with the 28th pick after trading with the Buffalo Bills. 

Worthy, 21, cemented himself as the fastest-recorded player in NFL Combine history, posting a 4.21-second 40-yard dash time. The California native played three seasons with the Longhorns (2021-23), putting up 2,755 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. 

For the Bills, they enter the season fresh off a deal that sent their star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans to join forces with former rookie sensation C.J. Stroud. 

Diggs, 30, joined the Bills in 2020, two seasons after quarterback Josh Allen was drafted by the Bills in 2018.

Stroud, a 22-year-old Californian, earned Pro Bowl and Offensive Rookie of the Year honours for his 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. 

The former Ohio State pivot led the Texans to an AFC South division title before falling to Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional round. 

The Ravens are another team that enter the season with re-stocked cupboards as they added four-time Pro-Bowl running back Derrick Henry to their backfield in free agency. 

Henry, 30, was drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the 45th overall pick in 2016 and played eight seasons with the Titans (2016-23) rushing for a whopping 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2020, earning Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Pro and Pro-Bowl honours. 

In the NFC, all eyes will be on the Chicago Bears and their first-overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft: Caleb Williams. 

Williams enters the NFL on the heels of a Heisman Trophy-winning 2022 season, where he led the University of Southern California Trojans to an 11-3 record and an appearance in the Cotton Bowl against No. 16 Tulane. His following season, Williams and his Trojans went 7-5 as Louisiana State University quarterback Jayden Daniels squashed Williams’ chance at back-to-back Heisman Trophies. 

The Bears look to improve on a 7-10 record and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. 

Daniels is poised with a similar task after being drafted by the Washington Commanders second overall.

Fellow rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss his entire rookie season for the Minnesota Vikings after suffering a torn meniscus. 

The Chiefs and Ravens kick off the 2024 season at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, September 5th followed by the Packers and Philadelphia Eagles clashing on a neutral site game on Friday in São Paulo, Brazil.

Up next
Article

Tips for starting a record collection

The world of vinyl record collecting can be an intimidating one. But whether you're a seasoned crate-digger, dusting off your old collection, or brand new to analogue audio, these tips will ensure you can enjoy the new hobby and get the most out of your music.