Expect exciting games from the defenses of the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, a solid showing from a highly anticipated first-round rookie quarterback, and at least 100 yards from a first-round rookie wide out.
Every NFC team has a Week 1 prediction provided by Yardbarker NFL writers before Thursday night’s season opener between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.
NFL East
DALLAS COWBOYS | Seven sacks are recorded by the defense Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson has been sacked 211 times as a quarterback since entering the NFL in 2017, according to StatMuse. Dallas should have no trouble getting to a quarterback who missed the preseason after missing 11 games in each of the previous two years, since they registered seven sacks in a game twice last season (including the Giants opening).
Devin Singletary of the New York Giants will rush for at least 62 yards. Saquon Barkley, the former running back for the Giants, averaged just over that in his final four opening games with New York, which takes on Minnesota in Week 1. If you are concerned about New York’s revamped backfield, bear in mind that Barkley only averaged 2.8 extra yards per game over the previous four seasons compared to Singletary, his replacement. While Singletary was a workhorse, missing only two games and rushing for 373 more yards than Barkley, Barkley missed 23 games over that time.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Eagles’ first interception of 2024 goes to Darius Slay |
It is easy to forget that Slay is coming off his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection, especially in light of the secondary’s dismal 2023 performance and the buzz surrounding first-round CB Quinyon Mitchell. Anticipate a lively encounter on Friday night in Brazil as the 33-year-old cornerback intercepts $220 million Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love in the first quarter.
Jayden Daniels scores two touchdowns on rushes for the Washington Commanders.
Throughout his collegiate career, the second overall choice in the 2024 NFL Draft seven times ran for two or more touchdowns in a single game. Kliff Kingsbury, the new offensive coordinator, will not think twice to use his quarterback in a game against the Tampa Bay defense, which allowed opponents to only 95.3 rushing yards per game in the previous campaign—the fifth fewest in the NFL. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS: Marvin Harrison Jr. scores a touchdown and possesses 100 yards.
Despite playing little in the preseason, the first-round choice is expected to make an immediate impression as the team’s primary wide receiver going into Week 1. Harrison and tight end Trey McBride are the only other trustworthy targets for quarterback Kyler Murray, and Harrison possesses the kind of big-play potential that should make him a star in his debut against the Bills.
Matthew Stafford throws for at least 330 yards for the Los Angeles Rams.
Stafford surpassed the 330-yard mark twice in his two games against his old team, the Lions, throwing for five touchdowns against zero interceptions. On Sunday night, expect another exciting game against a Detroit secondary that ranked 29th against the pass in the previous campaign.
The 49ers sack Aaron Rodgers five times. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
In order to relieve pressure on standout defensive lineman Nick Bosa (who has 53.5 sacks in five seasons), the 49ers worked hard this offseason to strengthen their defensive line depth. The Niners will capitalize on their hard work in Week 1 when they take on the Jets’ revamped offensive line, which will be attempting to block for Aaron Rodgers, 40, who was injured for almost all of 2023.
Devon Witherspoon records two interceptions for the Seattle Seahawks.
As a rookie in 2023, Witherspoon made an instant impression in the secondary (just look at this 97-yard pick-six!). Now, he is beginning to take center stage as that group’s leader. Witherspoon will face Denver’s Bo Nix, a rookie quarterback with little weapons, to start the season. This should present Witherspoon with multiple opportunity to make game-changing plays. — Gretz Adam
North Atlantic NFC
CHICAGO BEARS | Quarterback Caleb Williams has scored a touchdown in both passing and running
During the preseason, the youngster showed off excellent playmaking abilities and the capacity to extend plays with his legs; against the Titans defense, which has undergone a makeover, he will need to do both. The Bears, who have signed L’Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, Jamal Adams, and Quandre Diggs, are one of the few teams that can match up effectively against Tennessee’s new-look secondary. The other players on the team are tight end Cole Kmet and wide receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze.
DETROIT LIONS | 200+ yards combined for running back Jahmyr Gibbs
This season, Gibbs will play a larger role in the offense, as stated by Lions head coach Dan Campbell. The second-year running back has set a high personal goal of accumulating 1,000 yards of receiving and rushing. Last season, the Rams’ pass defense was among the worst in the league. As he is no longer a rookie, Gibbs should be in the region of 20 carries and five to eight targets a game.
Josh Jacobs, a rookie running back, struggles for the Green Bay Packers.
The Eagles’ run defense finished in the top 10 last season, and Jacobs is acclimating to a new group of teammates. Although Green Bay’s offensive line is superior to the one Jacobs was forced to play behind in Las Vegas, Week 1 will probably be spent getting to know both players.
MINNE| Due to a knee injury, rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will not play for the Vikings this season. Instead, they are counting on journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold to regain his USC form. This implies that Jefferson will see a lot of ball handling, thus it should not come as a surprise if he has a big day against the Giants secondary.— Michael Gallagher
SOTA VIKINGS | 200-yard receiving day for wide out Justin Jefferson
NFC Southern
ATLANTA FALCONS | Bijan Robinson, the running back, receives over 20 touches
It is anticipated that Zac Robinson, the rookie offensive coordinator for the Falcons, will succeed where former head coach Arthur Smith failed by getting the ball into Robinson’s hands frequently. Fans were unhappy by his uneven usage the previous season, and Atlanta will show him what could have been with Smith as the Steelers offensive coordinator starting Week 1 on the other sideline.By getting the ball into Robinson’s hands regularly, it is expected that Falcons rookie offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will succeed where former head coach Arthur Smith failed. The previous season’s uneven use of him angered fans, and Atlanta will show him what would have happened if Smith had started Week 1 on the other sideline as the Steelers offensive coordinator.
| It will be 259 days until Carolina’s offense scores its first points of the regular season when it takes the field in Week 1 in New Orleans. In their final two games of 2023, the Panthers were shut out, but they will start small and have a crooked number on the scoreboard when they play the Saints.
Panthers end scoring drought in Carolina
It will be 259 days until Carolina’s offense scores its first points of the regular season when it takes the field in Week 1 in New Orleans. In their final two games of 2023, the Panthers were shut out, but they will start small and have a crooked number on the scoreboard when they play theDE Chase Young records numerous sacks for the New Orleans Saints. Saints.The Saints’ greatest acquisition in 2024 free agency is Young. He will have an immediate effect, pestering Panthers quarterback Bryce Young the whole game and recording many takedowns.
Mike Evans leads the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with two receiving touchdowns.
| The Commanders, Tampa Bay’s first-round opponent last season, gave up the most fantasy points to wide receivers. Under first-year Washington head coach Dan Quinn, the team could get better, but the Commanders face a tough opponent here, one that Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans should take advantage of. — Eric Smithling
