Well, in the wise words of former DEI Editor and Sports Assistant Joseph Heinemann, “The Kansas City Chiefs have done it again…“
For the second straight year, the Chiefs took home the Lombardi Trophy, making them three-time Super Bowl Champs in a five year stretch. The Chiefs dynasty is still very much upon us, however, many other teams retooled this offseason looking to dethrone the kings of football.
The 2024 Offseason has seen some notable names and faces switch teams. The Atlanta Falcons went out and signed a solid quarterback in Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal, according to the Atlanta Falcons.
Cousins is coming off a ruptured achilles, so the Falcons went and took a bid on Michael Penix Jr., a quarterback from the University of Washington, with their 8th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans linked to complete a trade around wide receiver Stefon Diggs, sending him to Houston for a 2025 second-round pick, according to the NFL.
The reigning champs even made a move to trade cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans, a main reason being due to the league’s salary cap.
The cornerback has been vital to the teams success, and Super Bowl wins, over the last few seasons. However, with success comes the opportunity to bargain for more money, something the Chiefs couldn’t offer Sneed, according to Bleacher Report.
Those weren’t the only moves this offseason, with other key names switching teams as well. Former Miami Dolphins defense tackle Christian Wilkins signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed quarterback Russell Wilson and traded for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, a low-risk high reward sort of move for Pittsburgh.
Following up from the 2023 NFL Picks, new and familiar faces look to predict the upcoming 2024 NFL season week-by-week. This year’s team includes senior leaders and PGM staff members.
From the senior leader team, Sports Editor Justin Rodriguez, Managing Editor Gabrielle Salgado, Special Editions Editor and Currents Assistant Editor Tony Gleason, Head Podcast Producer and Assistant Sports Editor Nina Fife, Pixel Editor and Assistant News Editor Shalom Montgomery and Life and Arts Editor Amanda Monahan try their luck at predicting each week of the NFL season.
From the PGM staff members, Sports Staff Writers Shane Stephens and Nick Charkhedian, Video Producer Hunter Dunn and Podcaster Jade Gonzalez place their bets for each week of the NFL season.
Enough rambling, here are the picks.
Thursday, Sept. 5, at 5:20 p.m., PDT
Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
- Ravens: Shane, Shalom, Nina, Amanda, Nick
- Chiefs: Justin, Tony, Hunter, Gabrielle, Jade
“For the love of all things good in the world, the Chiefs must be stopped.” – Nina
“Blah blah Taylor Swift blah blah.” – Justin
“The Chiefs beat the Niners in the Superbowl and I shed a tear.” – Amanda
“Kermit (Patrick Mahomes) has nothing on #8.” – Shane
Friday, Sept. 6, at 5:15 p.m., PDT
Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles
- Packers: Tony, Shane, Gabrielle, Nina, Jade
- Eagles: Justin, Hunter, Shalom, Amanda, Nick
“If this was later in the season, I would probably go with the Packers, but the Eagles have been hungry for a win for a while now.” – Nick
“I’m rooting against both of them.” – Hunter
“I am a cheesehead through and through, sorry ’bout it.” – Nina
“[Jalen] Hurts AND SAQUON BARKLEY??? Wrap it up.” – Shalom
Sunday Sept. 8, at 10:00 a.m., PDT
Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons
- Steelers: Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade, Nick
- Falcons: Justin, Tony, Shane, Hunter
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts
- Texans: Justin, Hunter, Shalom, Nick
- Colts: Tony, Shane, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
- Panthers: Justin, Tony
- Saints: Shane, Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade, Nick
Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants
- Vikings: Justin, Tony, Shane, Hunter, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Nick
- Giants: Shalom, Jade
Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills
- Cards: Shalom, Jade
- Bills: Justin, Tony, Shane, Hunter, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Nick
“Cardinals are an overused mascot.” – Amanda
“Always pick the bigger QB.” – Hunter
Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears
- Titans: Tony, Shalom, Jade
- Bears: Justin, Shane, Hunter, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Nick
“When I was 12 I picked the Titans as my Madden Mobile team.” – Tony
“I miss the Teen Titans show.” – Jade
“The Bears have improved drastically and could definitely impress from the jump.” – Nick
New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals
- Pats: Tony
- Bengals: Justin, Shane, Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade, Nick
“Last year, all I would talk about is Tom Brady. This year, I will look for original content. With that being said, I will be sticking with the Patriots.” – Tony
“Always pick the hotter QB.” – Hunter
“I just dislike the Patriots.” – Jade
Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins
- Jags: Justin, Amanda
- Dolphins: Tony, Shane, Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Jade, Nick
“Maybe if OBJ wasn’t so focused on being on Love Island, he’d be playing. Tua [Tagovailoa] will pull through tho.” – Shalom
“Dolphins are NOT an appropriate football mascot.” – Amanda
“I saw a dolphin last week in the ocean, is that a sign they will win?” – Jade
Sunday Sept. 8, at 1:05 p.m., PDT
Las Vegas Raiders at San Diego Chargers
- Raiders: Justin, Tony, Jade
- Chargers: Shane, Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Nick
“We ain’t got a QB, but we got the heart and spirit of champions. 2025 SUPERBOWL CHAMPS BABY!” – Justin
“Justin Herbert, please save my fantasy team.” – Hunter
“Family team forever and ever.” – Jade
“Whole lot of change this offseason! Let’s see it play out.” – Nina
Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks
- Broncos: Tony, Shalom, Nina, Amanda, Jade
- Seahawks: Justin, Shane, Hunter, Gabrielle, Nick
Sunday Sept. 8, at 1:25 p.m., PDT
Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns
- Cowboys: Tony, Shane, Hunter, Shalom. Nina, Jade, Nick
- Browns: Justin, Gabrielle, Amanda
Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Commanders: None
- Bucs: Justin, Tony, Shane, Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade, Nick
Sunday, Sept. 8, at 5:20 p.m., PDT
Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions
- Rams: Shalom, Nina, Amanda, Jade, Nick
- Lions: Justin, Tony, Shane, Hunter, Gabrielle
“Sun God (Amon-Ra St. Brown) is the GOAT” – Shane
“Where are the Lions even from?” – Amanda
“Never seen Lion King.” – Jade
“Rams new look could stun the Lions, but both teams are so good this can go either way.” – Nick
Monday, Sept. 9, at 5:15 p.m., PDT
New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers
- Jets: Justin
- 49ers: Tony, Shane, Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade, Nick
“I ain’t gonna lie, the Niners are due for a ring, but I hate them so Jets till I die.” – Justin
“Miner 49er from Scooby-Doo Where Are You.” – Tony
“I have a crush on Brock Purdy.” – Shalom
“CMC won me fantasy last year so I have to pick them.” – Shane
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Email Justin Rodriguez: justin.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu
