America's game is back.
The National Football League returns for season 2024 with the Kansas City Chief trying to achieve the first three-peat in the Super Bowl era.
Despite winning three of the past five Super Bowls, the Chiefs have will battle history and a host of exception sides all vying for the ultimate prize in professional American football.
But the NFL has become more than what happens on the field, with celebrity culture and intrigue becoming just as vital to the sport's popularity with fans as wins and losses.
As the new season of one of the world's most popular sporting leagues begins, here is everything you need to know before kick-off in to the 2024 NFL season.
When does the NFL regular season begin?
The new NFL year begins on Friday morning (AEST) with a rematch of last season's AFC championship game.
The Kansas City Chiefs will be hosting the Baltimore Ravens in a genuine blockbuster.
The Chiefs hosted the opening game of last season, but we beaten by the Detroit Lions.
The second game of the season will be held at the special time of 10:15am, Saturday (AEST) when the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles play first NFL game in Brazil.
When are the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl?
After 18 weeks of the regular season, the best seven teams from each conference will progress through the to NFL playoffs.
The wildcard round will begin on Saturday, January 11, 2025, with six matches over three days.
The Super Bowl will be held in New Orleans on Monday, February 10, 2025. Kick-off for the Super Bowl is set for 9:30am (AEST).
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Taylor Swift continues to have sway over the NFL
The 2023 NFL season will forever be remembered as the year Taylor Swift entered the NFL.
The global megastar began a relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and the viewing public gobbled it up.
One estimate, from consulting and analysing firm Apex Marketing, put the value of Swift to the Chiefs and the NFL at $US331.5 million last season.
The broadcasters could not get enough of Swift either, constantly panning the camera over to her in the corporate box as she cheered on her man.
So, will the greatest sporting love story since Rocky and Adrian continue to affect this NFL season? It already has.
Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis will all give up their home grounds at some point during the season as Swift's Eras Tour rolls on.
Eyebrows were also raised when the Chiefs we booked to face the Bills in Buffalo on November 17. That game falls in the middle of Swift's concerts in Toronto, less than 180km away. Swift is playing from November 14-23 except for one date — November 17.
Mike North, the NFL's vice president of broadcast planning, said that scheduling was a coincidence. We'll take that at face value.
As the season carries on and the Chiefs attempt to achieve an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl, you can be assured Taylor's NFL era will continue to be broadcast and consumed.
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What you need to know about every NFL team
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
2023 record: 12-5
Division: First
Playoffs: Defeated in wildcard round to Green Bay Packers
First game of 2024: away to Cleveland Browns
Key players: Dak Prescott (quarterback), CeeDee Lamb (wide receiver), Micah Parsons (defensive end), DaRon Bland (cornerback)
America's team, playing America's game, has suffered through close to three decades of heartache.
Dallas had their eye on glory in 2023, going 12-5 in the regular season to win the NFC East.
There was high expectation that the Cowboys would make their first NFC Championship game since 1995, but a home playoff loss in the wildcard round ended those dreams.
It was the same old Dallas when the less fancied Green Bay Packers blew them out of the water, ending another Cowboys season without a championship game played.
Expectations are again high — but then again, everything is bigger in Texas.
Dak Prescott at quarterback has led his team to 12 wins in each of the last three seasons, but he and the other leaders of this team will be judged on their playoff performances, assuming they live up to that hype.
Off the field, many will be interested in seeing the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
The popular Netflix series, America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, graced screens around the world during the NFL offseason.
An institution of the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will be at every home game to support the famous team.
No doubt many new fans to the cheer squad will be tuning into Dallas home games to try and see some of their favourites from the television series.
The first home game for the Cowboys will be against the New Orleans Saints, on Monday, September 16 at 3am AEST.
New York Giants
2023 record: 6-11
Division: Third
Playoffs: Missed
First game of 2024: home to Minnesota Vikings
Key players: Daniel Jones (quarterback), Malik Nabers (wide receiver), Brian Burns (defensive end), Dexter Lawrence II (defensive tackle)
The New York Giants will be hoping 2024, its 100th in the NFL, is a big improvement on last season.
After making the playoffs in 2022, the Giants failed to meet expectations in 2023 with a 6-11 record which was not helped by injuries at key positions.
The G-men ended last season on a high with a win over arch-rivals Philadelphia, but it will take a lot more wins than six for the fans of this famous club to be happy.
They enter the new season without running back Saquon Barkley who has departed for Philadelphia, but have high expectations for defensive end Brian Burns who they traded for during the off-season. A fit and healthy Daniel Jones at quarterback will be better than last season, which Jones spent mostly watching from the sideline.
Can the Giants make it back to the playoffs? Maybe. But the organisation will want to see signs of success or jobs may be in jeopardy.
Philadelphia Eagles
2023 record: 11-6
Division: Second
Playoffs: Defeated in wildcard round to Tampa Bay Buccaneers
First game of 2024: against Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, Brazil
Key players: Jalen Hurts (quarterback), A.J. Brown (wide receiver), Lane Johnson (tackle), Brandon Graham (defensive end)
At the end of week 12 in 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles had eyes on Super Bowl glory.
After losing a nail-biting decider the year before to the Chiefs, the Eagles were 10-1 and on their way to clinching the number one seed in the NFC.
But the wheels on the Eagles bus came off spectacularly. They lost five of their final six regular season games, before crashing out in the wildcard round to Tampa Bay.
In 2024 the simple question for Philadelphia is this: Are they a Super Bowl contender or have they well and truly fallen off the cliff?
The Eagles have brought in well-respected coach Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator, a sign the team did not want another season of leaking points like a sieve.
The Eagles have an explosive offence, with quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown one of the league's most threatening duos.
The loss of Jason Kelce at centre means the offensive line will be relying on stalwart Lane Johnson, and Aussie Jordan Mailata to protect Hurts and star running back signing Saquon Barkley.
Washington Commanders
2023 record: 4-13
Division: Fourth
Playoffs: Missed
First game of 2024: away to Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key players: Jayden Daniels (quarterback), Zach Ertz (tight end), Bobby Wagner (linebacker), Frankie Luvu (linebacker)
The Washington Commanders have made wholesale changes for 2024.
They have the lowest number of players returning from the previous season and have signed 26 players through free agency.
Last year's quarterback Sam Howell is gone and is expected to be replaced by Jayden Daniels, who was selected by the Commanders as the second pick in this year's draft.
Daniels will have a reliable target to throw too, with tight end Zach Ertz being acquired, as well as the steady hand of Austin Ekeler at running back.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu have been brought in to improve a defence that was poor last season.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
2023 record: 7-10
Division: Fourth
Playoffs: Missed
First game of 2024: home to Tennessee Titans
Key players: Caleb Williams (quarterback), Keenan Allen (wide receiver), Jaylon Johnson (cornerback), Kevin Byard (safety)
Is 2024 the start of something beautiful, or another false dawn for the historic club?
The Chicago Bears had the first and ninth pick in this year's draft, taking Caleb Williams (quarterback) and Rome Odunze (wide receiver).
Grabbing Williams was something the Bears could hardly have dreamed of. The year prior they had the first round pick, but gave it up in a trade with the Carolina Panthers.
Among the mammoth amount of compensation the Bears received for trading their first pick in 2023, was getting the Panthers' first pick in 2024. The Panthers had the worst record in the NFL last season, so their draft spot, which now belonged to Chicago, was first overall.
What does this all mean for 2024? Hopefully, a crack at the playoffs, although they are in a competitive division.
The Bears added experience with the signings of Keenan Allen (wide receiver) and Kevin Byard (free safety), instantly adding quality on both sides of the ball.
The Bears also enjoy the fourth easiest schedule, based off last season's statistics.
Detroit Lions
2023 record: 12-5
Division: First
Playoffs: Defeated in NFC Championship game to San Francisco 49ers
First game of 2024: home to Los Angeles Rams
Key players: Jared Goff (quarterback) Amon-Ra St. Brown (wide receiver), Penei Sewell (right tackle), Frank Ragnow (centre)
The Detroit Lions are genuine Super Bowl contenders.
A franchise that had spent so long in the doldrums is now a force to be reckoned with.
They won a playoff game last season, their first in 32 years. The team came within a whisker of winning the NFC Championship and going to the Super Bowl. The Lions also recorded a win over the Chiefs, at Kansas City.
They have a potent offence with quarterback Jared Goff getting to throw to All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, while being protected by Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow who are two of the best offensive linemen in football.
The Lions will want to sure up their defence, which was lacking at times in 2023. They were 23rd in the league in sacks, all the more reason to sign edge rusher Marcus Davenport.
The Lions should be fun to watch in 2024.
Green Bay Packers
2023 record: 9-8
Division: Second
Playoffs: Defeated in divisional round to San Francisco 49ers
First game of 2024: against Philadelphia in São Paulo, Brazil
Key players: Jordan Love (quarterback), Josh Jacobs (running back), Rashan Gary (defensive end) Jaire Alexander (cornerback)
The Green Bay Packers come into 2024 with plenty of belief, after making it to the division round of the playoffs last season.
Smashing the Cowboys in Dallas during the wildcard round was the highlight of the season, as Jordan Love had his first year as the Packers starting QB.
Running back Aaron Jones has left the team, but the Packers signed Josh Jacobs who was terrific for the Las Vegas Raiders in previous years.
The Packers have made additions to their defensive secondary on return game, signing two-time All Pro kick return-man Keisean Nixon.
Green Bay have a good roster who can certainly win games this season. Should Love improve on his performances from last season, then the Packers could be a dangerous team late in the season.
Minnesota Vikings
2023 record: 7-10
Division: Third
Playoffs: Missed
First game of 2024: away to New York Giants
Key players: Sam Darnold (quarterback) Aaron Jones (running back), Jordan Addison (wide receiver) Shaquill Griffin (cornerback)
The Minnesota Vikings are already onto plan B, and the regular season has not started.
The Vikings used their first draft pick this year to select J.J. McCarthy, the quarterback who led the University of Michigan, to the College Football National Championship.
But any plans of McCarthy playing this year were dashed when he sustained a season-ending knee injury in the team's first pre-season game.
The Vikings will presumably rely on Sam Darnold at QB, who they signed from the San Francisco 49ers as a backup.
New running back recruit Aaron Jones will presumably have plenty of work to do as the Vikings' offence tries to get some continuity.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
2023 record: 7-10
Division: Third
Playoffs: Missed
First game of 2024: at home to Pittsburgh Steelers
Key players: Kirk Cousins (quarterback) Kyle Pitts (tight end) Jessie Bates III (safety) Justin Simmons (safety)
In the off-season, the Falcons made plenty of headlines when they signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $US180 million deal.
It is an enormous commitment to the former Viking who the Falcons believe is their future. Or so we thought, until they used their first pick in the draft to select quarterback Michael Penix Jr out of the University of Washington.
That certainly raised eyebrows, as Cousins would have hoped for a new receiving threat, or fans may have wanted a nice addition to their defence.
If the Falcons have a slow start to the year, it could be interesting to see if Atlanta feels the pressure of the quarterback situation they have created for themselves.
Carolina Panthers
2023 record: 2-15
Division: Fourth
Playoffs: Missed
First game of 2024: away to New Orleans Saints
Key players: Bryce Young (quarterback), Robert Hunt (guard), Damien Lewis (guard), Jadeveon Clowney (linebacker)
Bryce Young enters his second year in the NFL hoping for a more enjoyable experience.
As a rookie quarterback, he was sacked 62 times last season, second only to Sam Howell at Washington.
But Carolina has made moves to give Young protection and weapons.
Guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis have been brought in on multi-year deals, improving an offensive line that includes pick six in the 2022 draft, tackle Ikem Ekwonu.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson has joined from the Steelers, who boast enough speed to give Young a deep threat.
The Panthers have also made moves in defence, signing edge-rusher Jadeveon Clowney and defensive tackle tackle A'Shawn Robinson.
These two join 2023 Pro Bowl selection Derrick Brown (defensive tackle) with the trio possessing the potential to cause issues for some teams.
New Orleans Saints
2023 record: 9-8
Division: Second
Playoffs: Missed
First game of 2024: at home to Carolina Panthers
Key players: Derek Carr (quarterback), Alvin Kamara (running back), Chase Young (defensive end), Tyrann Mathieu (safety)
The Saints missed out on the division title, and the playoffs, through tiebreakers last season. A 9-8 winning record was not enough for the black and gold, who will be striving to take matters into their own hands in 2024.
Derek Carr enters his second season as the Saints' QB, after a solid first year in New Orleans.
The Saints have added two weapons to their defence, with Chase Young (defensive end) and Super Bowl winner Willie Gay (linebacker) joining the teams from the Commanders and Chiefs respectively.
The Saints rightfully should go into the 2024 season with optimism.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 record: 9-8
Division: First
Playoffs: Defeated in divisional round Detroit Lions
First game of 2024: at home to Washington Commanders
Key players: Baker Mayfield (quarterback), Mike Evans (wide receiver) VIta Vea (defensive tackle), Antoine Winfield Jr (safety)
After losing Tom Brady at the end of 2022 there were doubts over Tampa Bay last season.
But the revival of quarterback Baker Mayfield's career guided the Bucs to the playoffs, which included a wildcard round win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Tampa Bay goes into the 2024 season with optimism.
Mayfield and star wide receiver Mike Evans have been signed to a new deal.
The Bucs possess an impressive defence which includes 2023 first-team All Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr, defensive tackle Vita Vea and stalwart linebacker Lavonte David.
Tampa's defence is great, they just need Mayfield and the offence to give them a few more points and they can improve on last year's 9-8 record.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
2023 record: 4-13
Division: Fourth
Playoffs: Missed
First game of 2024: away to Buffalo Bills
Key players: Kyler Murray (quarterback), Marvin Harrison Jr (wide receiver) Sean Murphy-Bunting (cornerback) Budda Baker (safety)
2023 was not a kind season for the Arizona Cardinals.
Kyler Murray missed the first half of the season, and their playoff hopes were well and truly dashed by the time the quarterback took the field in November.
But with Murray at the helm, the Cardinals won three of their last eight games, much better than without him.
Murray has a new weapon at receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr, son of Marvin Harrison, who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2016.
Harrison Jr was lethal as a college player and there are high expectations for the Cardinals' first round draft pick.
The Cardinals have made moves to bolster their defence, with Sean Murphy-Bunting (cornerback) Bilal Nichols (defensive tackle), Justin Jones (defensive tackles) all joining the team on three-year deals.
Los Angeles Rams
2023 record: 10-7
Division: Second
Playoffs: Defeated in wildcard round to Detroit Lions
First game of 2024: away to Detroit Lions
Key players: Matthew Stafford (quarterback), Cooper Kupp (wide receiver), Jonah Jackson (guard) Darious Williams (cornerback)
The Los Angeles Rams have committed a fair chunk of money to their offensive line to ensure star quarterback Matthew Stafford has protection this season.
The signing of guard Jonah Jackson was a clear sign of intent that the Rams need their general to have all the time he needs.
With a defence that could be an issue, the Rams may need to be one of the higher-scoring teams in 2024 to win games.
The loss of Aaron Donald, who will surely be inducted into the Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible, is a massive blow to the team.
Several defensive players were signed during the free agency period, including Darious Williams (cornerback) who returns to the team where he won a Super Bowl a few years ago.
The Rams have a lot of potential.
San Francisco 49ers
2023 record: 12-5
Division: First
Playoffs: NFC Champions, lost Super Bowl to Kansas City Chiefs
First game of 2024: at home to New York Jets
Starting quarterback: Brock Purdy (quarterback), Christian McCaffrey (running back), Nick Bosa (defensive end), Fred Warner (linebacker)
Only a Super Bowl win will satisfy the San Francisco 49ers in season 2024.
After coming so close last season, beaten in overtime by the Kansas City Chiefs in one of the great Super Bowls, the 49ers are the team to beat in the NFC.
Their roster is stacked with talent, with five players being picked in the first team All Pro last season — Christian McCaffrey (running back), Kyle Juszczyk (fullback), George Kittle (tight end), Trent Williams (left tackle) and Fred Warner (linebacker).
Brock Purdy proved he is a great quarterback in 2023 and at 24 years of age, he still has room to grow.
With Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel as his wide receivers, the 49ers look formidable in 2024.
Seattle Seahawks
2023 record: 9-8
Division: Third
Playoffs: Missed
First game of 2024: at home to Denver Broncos
Key players: Geno Smith (quarterback), DK Metcalf (wide receiver) Noah Fant (tight end), Leonard Williams (defensive tackle)
Coming off a winning season, which was not enough for the playoffs, Seattle will enter the 2024 season with a similar list.
The Seahawks will be wanting serviceable numbers from quarterback Geno Smith, while they will hope for more production from tight end Noah Fant whose statistics were slightly down on his career best.
Seattle's offence is always a threat with DK Metcalf.
The defence will be a concern for the Seahawks, who no longer have the services of linebacker Bobby Wagner.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
2023 record: 11-6
Division: First
Playoffs: Defeated in divisional round to Kansas City Chiefs
First game of 2024: at home to Arizona Cardinals
Key players: Josh Allen (quarterback), Taron Johnson (wide receiver) Dion Dawkins (tackle) Taron Johnson (cornerback)
Midway through the 2023 season, the Buffalo Bills looked at risk of missing the playoffs.
They were 6-6 after 12 games and needed a massive surge at the back end of the year.