As the 2023-24 National Football League (NFL) season gets underway, football fans and experts alike are placing their bets on which team will take home the Lombardi Trophy in early February. With last year’s thrilling Super Bowl seeing the Kansas City Chiefs narrowly defeat the Philadelphia Eagles, this year’s champion is definitely not an obvious pick. After five weeks have gone by, Milford senior and self-proclaimed football expert Carter Webb offered his thoughts on the upcoming season.
Champion: Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
“I really like their team,” said Webb. “They have the fourth-best defense in the league. This is the best team they’ve had in recent history.”
Runner-up: San Francisco 49ers (5-0)
“The Eagles are weaker this year,” he noted. “The 49ers look very strong – especially George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey. Although San Francisco is the front-runner, I also think the Detroit Lions have a good chance of making a playoff run.”
Biggest disappointment: Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
“The Bengals have been a let-down so far,” remarked Webb. “After making the Super Bowl just two years ago, a losing record in Week Five is not a good start. Although they’ve had some health problems with quarterback Joe Burrow, their other star players have not been up to par.”
Dark horse: Detroit Lions (4-1)
“The Lions are very good!” he exclaimed. “They have a high ceiling and lots of potential. The defense has been great so far, and the offense continues to improve each week.”
Fan-favorite: Miami Dolphins (4-1)
“I love Mike McDaniel, the head coach,” stated Webb. “He’s done a great job reshaping their offense and acquiring strong players. The Dolphins have a good story, and I want to see them win.”
With all of this in mind, the NFL world will watch intently as this enthralling season continues to unfold!