Storylines to Watch for in the NFL Season
By Vinny Lima
Sports Editor
With the first month of the 2024 NFL season now complete, here are the top narratives to keep an eye out for this fall.
Kansas City looking for History
After winning their 3rd Super Bowl in the last five years, the Kansas City Chiefs became the first team in almost two decades to win back-to-back Lombardi Trophies. Led by Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have gone from an explosive offense into one of the league’s best defenses. After becoming the league’s newest dynasty, they are attempting to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. At the time of writing, Kansas City has started 4-0 despite Mahomes looking far from his best, as they are only outscoring their opponents by five points on average. With two of their top offensive weapons in Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice out long term, how will the two-time defending champs respond on their quest for three in a row?
Rookie QBs: Sink or Swim?
The 2024 NFL Draft saw a record six quarterbacks taken in the first round. None have higher expectations or confidence than first-overall pick Caleb Williams. The former Heisman winner has taken over the starting job for the Chicago Bears, who have lacked an elite passer throughout their long history. After a slow start, Williams is slowly but surely improving and learning life as an NFL quarterback, with the Bears sitting at 3-2. Last year’s Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels has had no issues in his rookie season. Picked second after Williams and leading the Washington Commanders to four straight wins with a 4-1 record atop the NFC East, Daniels set an NFL record for completion percentage through four games of a season at 82.1 percent. The no.12 pick and another rookie starter, Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos, has picked up form with a series of good wins to bring his team to a 3-2 record. Meanwhile, picks no.3 and no.8, Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr., both begin the season sitting behind veterans for the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons, respectively. Maye has played a few snaps late in one blowout so far. Which of these passers will succeed, and which will be deemed “busts”?
Comeback Players
The 2023 season saw an unusually high number of quarterbacks fall to injury, with a few prominent names. After four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers saw his debut season with the New York Jets end before it
began in week 1, the 40-year-old returns this season trying to find his new franchise some long-awaited success. Post-wrist surgery, Joe Burrow returns to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he hopes to rekindle the team’s underdog mentality that took them to the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years. Both have had sluggish starts at 2-3 and 1-4, respectively, despite both players, especially Burrow, performing at a high level. Will these elite QBs be able to respond and lead their teams to AFC playoff berths?