Ira Kaufman Picks Season Records For All 32 Teams
September 4th, 2024
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
We’re all set for a new NFL season as the Buccaneers try to extend their postseason streak to five years.
That’s an eternity for a league that prides itself on shifting fortunes and new division winners each fall. An exciting crop of rookies intends to shake up the balance of power, so here’s what to expect once the starters play and the scoreboards count:
NFC SOUTH
1. Buccaneers 9-8. Same record as 2023, but good enough once again to secure a fourth consecutive division crown with a stirring late stretch.
2. Falcons 9-8. If healthy, Kirk Cousins is a major upgrade for an offense undermined by brutal QB play last season.
3. Saints 7-10. In Dennis Allen’s swan song, age and some shaky drafts catch up to a franchise at the crossroads.
4. Panthers 4-13. A plodding offense will test the patience and enthusiasm of first-year head coach Dave Canales.
NFC EAST
Eagles 10-7. After last year’s implosion, Philly fans will turn on Jalen Hurts in a hurry if things go sideways again.
Cowboys 9-8. Only a deep playoff run will save Mike McCarthy’s job as Jerry Jones serenades Bill Belichick by humming, “You Were Always on My Mind.”
Giants 7-10. Daniel Jones has shiny new weapons but it’s not enough as a leaky offensive line fails in the protection racket.
Commanders 6-11. Jayden Daniels will make some big plays with his arm and legs, but rookie QBs tend to struggle.
NFC NORTH
Lions 12-5. If Jared Goff remains upright, this attack has all the pieces to lead the league in scoring.
Packers 10-7. Green Bay is flying under the national radar, despite last year’s torrid finish under Jordan Love.
Bears 8-9. Plenty of targets abound for Caleb Williams as Chicago comes up just short of its first winning record since 2018.
Vikings 4-13. Justin Jefferson will get his share of accolades but this has been an offseason to forget for Kevin O’Connell.
NFC WEST
Rams 11-6. For a guy who thought about retirement at the age of 38, Sean McVay can’t wait to prove he’s still one of the NFL’s premier coaches.
49ers 10-7. There’s too much talent on this roster to prevent a collapse, but John Lynch can’t be happy with all the distractions.
Cardinals 8-9. Marvin Harrison Jr. is the real deal and he’ll help revive the career of Kyler Murray.
Seahawks 6-11. Seattle doesn’t have enough playmakers to provide a winning edge in crunch time.
AFC EAST
Dolphins 11-6. All that speed and finesse plays well until Miami has to win a big game in cold weather.
Bills 10-7. Buffalo made some key changes on both sides of the ball in an effort to help Josh Allen reach the Super Bowl for the first time.
Jets 10-7. With a defense this stout, Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have to be a savior. Just make some key throws and stay off I.R.
Patriots 5-12. Although Bill Belichick didn’t leave a completely bare cupboard, this roster will need a few years to compete in a rugged division.
AFC NORTH
Ravens 12-5. If John Harbaugh can squeeze out a 1,200-yard season from Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson and a stingy defense can grab the conference’s No. 1 seed once again.
Bengals 10-7. Joe Burrow looks healthy. but an uncertain ground game could prove decisive when it counts in January.
Steelers 9-8. Even while Mike Tomlin’s remarkable streak of non-losing seasons rolls on, Pittsburgh’s pedestrian offense will be exposed.
Browns 8-9. One of the league’s most respected defenses and a savvy head coach can’t overcome erratic play under center.
AFC SOUTH
Texans 11-6. Expectations have grown dramatically for a franchise that will ride the strong right arm of C.J. Stroud and a group of talented receivers.
Jaguars 9-8. This is a big year for Trevor Lawrence to prove he belongs on the short list of young quarterbacks on the rise.
Colts 8-9. This team appears stuck in the middle of the pack — which is nowhere to be.
Titans 4-13. Can Will Levis establish himself as a passer who instills fear in defensive coordinators? We’re about to find out.
AFC WEST
Chiefs 10-7. Going with a rookie left tackle to protect the blind side of Patrick Mahomes looks like risky business for Andy Reid.
Chargers 10-7. Yes, Jim Harbaugh is one kooky cat, but the man can coach. You won’t be pushing the Chargers around anymore.
Broncos 9-8. Bo Nix craves respect from the national media, but he’s already won over teammates and Sean Payton with an impressive summer.
Raiders 6-11. The search for a franchise QB continues in earnest for a team that hasn’t won a playoff game in more than two decades.
September 4th, 2024 at 4:34 am
Bucs should be 10-7 minimum. Falcons will win 7 and the Saints maybe 6.
September 4th, 2024 at 5:03 am
Bucs will win at least 12 games
September 4th, 2024 at 5:48 am
9 – 8 ? With a stirring late stretch. Cover your ass. That’s what I call that you Joes. Can’t pull the trigger Joe? And you go on and on about our lack of respect.
These are Ira Kaufman’s predictions. So Joe doen’t know what you’re talking about. The Joe typing here already picked the Bucs to win 10 and win the South outright.–Joe
I’m on the bandwagon despite this fan base trepidation. It’s nice up here on this bandwagon. Lots of room to stretch my legs. Maybe you guys could catch on with BSPN. Their prediction for our year mirrors yours. 12 – 5 and a strong finish.
September 4th, 2024 at 5:50 am
But I really think we’re gonna win 13.
September 4th, 2024 at 6:13 am
I thought Ira wrote this.
September 4th, 2024 at 6:37 am
Watch it Ira, Licht is keeping receipts. I have to believe we do better than last year. I’m going 11- 6.
September 4th, 2024 at 6:54 am
Really Ira? You do not believe our beloved Bucs will improve?
A team can improve and not have a better regular season record. –Joe
We are obviously not seeing the same things in preseason. I see a team that is much deeper across the roster landscape that actually cut several players that will make it in this league. Bucs win 11 games , remember you read it here first. Nix is horrid and Denver will have a valet ready to pack Sean Paytons’ bags at the end of the year.
September 4th, 2024 at 7:20 am
Apologies for the snafu on my end Ira. Just replace Ira wherever I put Joe or Joes.
September 4th, 2024 at 7:33 am
Respectfully, the Bucs will be stronger and better this season. Unsure if Cousins will be the number one QB mid-season. Could be Penix. That worries me more.
Overall, good rundown on the teams and thank you. Expecting a lot less from the Broncos. Not too sure that the Chiefs will have a great year. The hype and so much more have taken over their team to the point of way too much distraction from the game. Totally agree about the Texans. The Jags, not all about Trevor, Mac Jones looks pretty good too. The Saints might be just as low as the Panthers. Not expecting much from Carr.
September 4th, 2024 at 8:10 am
If I was head coach I tell this team we have 17 one game seasons. Nothing else exists except the opponent for that week.
September 4th, 2024 at 8:17 am
The Bucs will be 5-1 in the South, and they’ll win on Sunday for sure. People forget Raheem Morris is the coach of the Falcons. So There’s six wins right there.
They’ll beat the Giants in November for sure.
I think 9 wins would be disappointing.
September 4th, 2024 at 8:17 am
You basically have everything almost middle of the pack Ira and 3- 11 win teams
September 4th, 2024 at 8:24 am
Thanks Ira. Now, I see why the Jets let Whitehead go. The Bucs have improved but 17 games is brutal, and so’s their schedule. So, we’ll see. Regular season starts Sunday.
September 4th, 2024 at 10:10 am
Ira is a lot more plugged in than any of us. He’s looking at the whole league, not just Jason’s team.
With this roster, if the Bucs only win 9 games, Licht will finally get to select the NFL’s next great head coach after the season.
September 4th, 2024 at 10:35 am
Even the Chefs had enough of Donovan Smith.
September 4th, 2024 at 10:41 am
7 or 8 wins
Bowles is a HUGE liability managing game situations and scheming up a competent pass defense.
Pass Rush, what pass rush? Hoping for Diaby and a combo of a rookie and a bust to pressure the edge is a bad decision by a GM who only fields a winning roster 40% of the time here
Run game and a new offensive coordinator will struggle out of the gate and against better defensive coordinators that come with a 1st place schedule
7-10 seems right
NFC South
ATL 9-8
AINTS 8-9
Bucs 7-10
Carolina 5-12
September 4th, 2024 at 11:07 am
ATL fan above
September 4th, 2024 at 1:15 pm
Bucs 10-7, Falcons 7-10 again, Ain’ts 5-12, Panthers 3-14.
September 4th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
This has 16 more wins than possible so these are just arbitrary guesses at best. Do better Ira!
September 4th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
I don’t know how this is possible. There are a total of 272 games in an NFL regular season and each game will produce a single winner (assuming there are no ties). If you count the total wins per team in every division the total will be 272.
September 4th, 2024 at 6:40 pm
I said the same thing. The sage gave almost everybody a winning record.
Dang, Sage somebody has to lose.
TB 10 wins ATl 8 wins