The wait is finally over. Fall is here, school is back in session, and the NFL is back: just what we have all been waiting for. A new season is upon us, which means new storylines to follow. Will the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles solidify themselves as a dynasty? Will a new champion emerge victorious? Here are the most compelling storylines to follow this NFL season.
A Dynasty Faltering
The Kansas City Chiefs have been on top of the NFL an unimaginable amount of times over the past six years, but just as they were getting ready to potentially win their third straight title, they were brutally crushed by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs did not get their ring, but superstar tight end Travis Kelce got his. Kelce’s relationship with global pop phenomenon Taylor Swift has taken the world by storm, and this summer, they finally got engaged. After an engagement photo shoot seemingly out of a fairy tale, “Swifties” and Chiefs fans alike have been in extremely high spirits. The Chiefs, however, have started off the season 0-2 for the first time in Patrick Mahomes’ already illustrious career. Will Travis’ ring be enough to pull the Chiefs back to the top?
The Reigning Champs
The Philadelphia Eagles have been enjoying life after their massive Super Bowl LIX victory over the Chiefs. This was quarterback Jalen Hurts’ first Super Bowl win and a revenge game after their Super Bowl LVII loss to the same foe. They have started off the season 2-0 with a Week 2 win in a Super Bowl rematch game against the Chiefs. The Eagles are infamous for their play “the Tush Push” where every player on the field piles up in the center and shoves the quarterback over the line to gain. It is a play that the Eagles have perfected, almost succeeding every time, but it is also very controversial due to risk of injury and an “unfair advantage” for the Eagles. Recently, NFL social media has been buzzing over new footage claiming that the Eagles offensive linemen often false start while running the tush push. It seems like a lot of NFL fans are getting tired of the Eagles dominance, but will they become the new dynasty?
Young Quarterbacks Taking Over
The NFL has entered a completely new age of quarterbacks with almost 70 percent of the starting quarterbacks being under the age of 30. The most notable draft class of recent years has been the 2024 draft class with a whopping six starting quarterbacks from the first round. The No. 1 overall pick of the Chicago Bears, 23-year-old Caleb Williams, was hailed as one of the most talented prospects we have ever seen, but he has yet to show it actually translates to wins in the NFL. The Bears have started off 0-2 with two divisional losses, so we will see if Williams is able to bounce back.
24-year-old Jayden Daniels was the second pick by the Washington Commanders and had by far the best rookie season of the six, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and leading his team to the NFC Championship for the first time since 1991. Despite all of these achievements, there have still been many questions about if it was a fluke, so Daniels has been looking to prove himself as a top quarterback in the league this year.
The third pick by the New England Patriots was 23-year-old Drake Maye who had a decent rookie season stat-wise but was not able to bring home a lot of wins. The Patriots went 3-14, and it was clear that the roster needed a lot of work in order to win games. With the signing of new coach and former Patriots player Mike Vrabel, as well as some big free agent signings (wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins) and draft picks (offensive tackle Will Cambell and running back Treveyon Henderson), the Patriots are looking to find their first playoff win in the post-Tom Brady era.
25-year-old Bo Nix was the 12th pick by the Denver Broncos and is probably the most underrated in this class. He sneakily led the Broncos to a playoff appearance last season while also being a finalist for Rookie of the Year. The Broncos are starting off this year at 1-1 with Nix hoping to lead his squad back to the playoffs
22-year-old JJ McCarthy and 24-year-old Michael Penix both did not start a game in their rookie season, so they are hoping to make their mark on the league this year. McCarthy led the Minnesota Vikings to a Week 1 win against their divisional opponent Chicago but then fell to Penix’s Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. Both quarterbacks are hungry to prove themselves among the already decorated 2024 quarterback class.
The Faces of the League
It is crazy to think of them as veterans now, but these guys are all playoff-tested and the faces of the league. Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) and Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) have all proved themselves as top quarterbacks in the league, but there is one other thing they all have in common: They are all still missing a Super Bowl win.
Allen is the reigning MVP of the league, coming off of one of his best seasons ever. He is a two-time All Pro and three-time Pro Bowler but has yet to accomplish the true goal of bringing home the first ever Super Bowl ring for the Buffalo Bills. While it was less publicized than the Kelce-Swift engagement, Allen married actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld this summer. The Bills are already off to a hot 3-0 start, and Allen is looking to finally make it out of the AFC Championship game and to his first Super Bowl.
Lamar Jackson is already a Heisman Trophy winner, two-time MVP and two-time first team All Pro at the age of 28. He is the head of one of the most fast-paced offenses in the NFL, alongside superstar running back Derrick Henry. The Ravens were just edged (41-40) by Allen’s Bills in their opening game, but they were able to bounce back and put up another 40-piece against the Commanders in Week 2 to bring their record up to 1-1. If the Ravens continue to score at such a high level, they will be a tough team to stop.
The Los Angeles Chargers have always been in the shadow of their big brother, the Los Angeles Rams, but Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is ready to prove to the residents of Los Angeles who their true team should be. They have also often been in the shadow of the Kansas City Chiefs, their division rival, but the Chargers opened up the 2025 season with a win against them. Herbert has made many milestones in his young career, such as most passing touchdowns for a rookie ever and most passing yards through a player’s first five seasons, but Herbert is still looking for his first playoff win.
Armaan’s Locks [Disclaimer: This is not gambling advice.]
This NFL season has already gotten off to a crazy start with upsets, spectacular catches, long touchdowns and game winners. It is impossible to know what is going to happen as the season progresses, but here are my locks:
Buffalo Bills Super Bowl Champs: +550
Philadelphia Eagles NFC Champs: +350
Lamar Jackson NFL MVP: +350
** SLEEPER PICK **
New England Patriots to make the playoffs: +120