The Sportsletter - The Kickoff Edition 🏈

BY JEFF YODER

SEPT. 5, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Happy NFL Kickoff Day! 🏈

We were all in on "The Kickoff Edition" before tonight’s season-opener (Chiefs vs. Ravens, 8:20 pm ET, NBC), then Wednesday night produced some amazing moments in baseball, tennis and basketball. That’s usually how it goes in sports, right? No quiet nights in September. Here are the three biggest moments from last night before we launch the full-scale NFL invasion.

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

Last Night's Top Highlights

⚾️ Cubs Throw Combined No-Hitter: Shota Imanaga Goes 7 Innings, Bullpen Finishes Off Pirates (12-0) for 1st No-No at Wrigley Field Since 1972

🎾 #6 Jessica Pegula Upsets #1 Iga Swiatek: American Takes Down World No. 1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Prime Time via Straight Sets (6-2, 6-4)

🏀 Caitlin Clark Makes More History: Fever Star Drops 2nd Triple-Double (24-10-10), Becomes Fastest Rookie to 100 3-Pointers

NFL

The Week 1 NFL Pick 'Em 🏈

The Sportsletter's NFL Pick 'Em is back! Compete against other readers to see if you can pick the most correct NFL games each week for a shot at prizes, gear, and other perks.

📝 Play The Sportsletter’s NFL Pick ‘Em (Week 1)

🏈 NFL Roster News

NFL

The Kickoff Power Rankings 📊

Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images

The Sportsletter’s Week 1 (of 18) NFL Power Rankings

Here. We. Go. With nothing but preseason reps, offseason transactions and last year’s records to lay the foundation, it’s time for the 2024 NFL Kickoff Power Rankings. Our fall schedule features football from Thursday-Monday each week, but we’ll fill the gaps on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with this weekly game of analysis. Most starting QBs are healthy and every team has a clean slate. Consider this Step 1 (of 18) in a six-month march toward Super Bowl LIX.

The Power Rankings Process: It’s subjective. Otherwise, it would just be standings, and you can google those. Teams will rise and fall alongside your emotions during a long and grueling campaign. Power rankings take into account team records (as they progress) as well as the eye-test, key injuries, opponent strength, and much more. Some will disagree. And you know what? Great. Send us feedback throughout the season and let us know where we fumbled the ball. Here are your Week 1 starting blocks:

NFL Power Rankings 📊

(2023 Record) — Week 1 Starting QB

Top-10

1. Chiefs — (11-6) — QB P. Mahomes

2. 49ers — (12-5) — QB B. Purdy

3. Ravens — (13-4) — QB L. Jackson

4. Lions — (12-5) — QB J. Goff

5. Texans — (10-7) — QB C. Stroud

6. Eagles — (11-6) — QB J. Hurts

7. Bills — (11-6) — QB J. Allen

8. Cowboys — (12-5) — QB D. Prescott

9. Bengals — (9-8) — QB J. Burrow

10. Dolphins — (11-6) — QB T. Tagovailoa

Teams 11-20

11. Packers — (9-8) — QB J. Love

12. Jets — (7-10) — QB A. Rodgers

13. Rams — (10-7) — QB M. Stafford

14. Browns — (11-6) — QB D. Watson

15. Steelers — (10-7) — QB R. Wilson

16. Falcons — (7-10) — QB K. Cousins

17. Buccaneers — (9-8) — QB B. Mayfield

18. Seahawks — (9-8) — QB. G. Smith

19. Jaguars — (9-8) — QB T. Lawrence

20. Colts — (9-8) — QB A. Richardson

Teams 21-32

21. Chargers — (5-12) — QB. J. Herbert

22. Bears — (7-10) — QB. C. Williams

23. Saints — (9-8) — QB D. Carr

24. Vikings — (7-10) — QB S. Darnold

25. Broncos — (8-9) — QB B. Nix

26. Raiders — (8-9) — QB G. Minshew

27. Titans — (6-11) — QB W. Levis

28. Cardinals — (4-13) — QB K. Murray

29. Commanders — (4-13) — QB J. Daniels

30. Giants — (6-11) — QB D. Jones

31. Patriots — (4-13) — QB J. Brissett

32. Panthers — (2-15) — QB B. Young

Sporting News: NFL Power Rankings: Eagles, Bills & Jets Up Behind Chiefs in Week 1

B/R: 2024 NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Entering Week 1?

NFL

2024 NFL Awards Predictions & Super Bowl LIX Picks 🏆

Photo: Rich Storry / Getty Images

Picking Winners for MVP, Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year, Rookies & Super Bowl LIX

Let’s take some shots! We won’t be putting money on a seven-leg parlay for NFL awards prior to Week 1 (and you shouldn’t either), but we’re still making picks. Right now, the internet’s library of NFL coverage is ripe with pre-kickoff awards predictions from the experts. They don’t know much more than you, and neither does our crystal ball. It’s a gut feeling combined with educated insights. It’s also boring to pick another Chiefs-49ers rematch (right?), so we spiced things up a bit. Ready to make some picks?

2024 NFL Awards Picks 🏆

MVP: QB C.J. Stroud (Texans)

There’s always Patrick Mahomes in this conversation. Other QBs like Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson have new offensive weapons that should put them in the running for MVP, but those running backs could vulture TD runs. Don’t forget Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. What Houston did to surround C.J. Stroud with RB Joe Mixon and WR Stefon Diggs? All signs point to an offensive explosion for the Texans. MVP Odds: Patrick Mahomes (+450), Josh Allen (+800), Joe Burrow (+1000), C.J. Stroud (+1100), Jalen Hurts (+1100), Jordan Love (+1400), Lamar Jackson (+1500)

OPOY: WR Tyreek Hill (Dolphins)

After all these years, no defense has figured out how to slow Tyreek Hill. 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey will stack the stat sheet. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson and Jets RB Breece Hall are two young ball carriers poised to have massive seasons. But as long as Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy in Miami, he can chuck the ball downfield and give ‘Cheetah’ another 100-catch, 1,700-yard, 10-plus TD season. OPOY Odds: Tyreek Hill (+750), Christian McCaffrey (+950), CeeDee Lamb (+1100), Ja’Marr Chase (+1200), Justin Jefferson (+1200)

DPOY: DE Micah Parsons (Cowboys)

It’s a sack-stat game when it comes to defensive player of the year, and few players control games like Micah Parsons. The Cowboys’ edge rusher is entering his prime, but what we’ve already seen is downright gross. He has 40.5 sacks in three seasons. He never gets injured, and the Cowboys are cutting him loose in 2024. DPOY Odds: Micah Parsons (+550), Myles Garrett (+700), Maxx Crosby (+850), T.J. Watt (+850), Nick Bosa (+1000)

OROY: QB Caleb Williams (Bears)

I really like Bo Nix (Broncos) and Jayden Daniels (Commanders) as rookie QBs who will make an impact right away, but the Bears gave Caleb Williams a collection of toys through free agency and the draft. The No. 1 overall pick has no excuse to not dink-and-dunk his way to spectacular stats and the offensive Rookie of the Year award. OROY Odds: Caleb Williams (+120), Jayden Daniels (+600), Marvin Harrison Jr. (+650), Bo Nix (+1100)

DROY: DT Byron Murphy II (Seahawks)

This is a difficult one since the first 14 picks of the NFL Draft were on the offensive side of the ball. More edge rushers to watch here, but there's a sleeper on the inside of the defensive line. The Seahawks know how to develop defenders, and training camp insiders said Byron Murphy II is a workhorse at defensive tackle. DROY Odds: Laiatu Latu (+400), Dallas Turner (+440), Jared Verse (+700), Byron Murphy II (+1400), Terrion Arnold (+1400)

Other Awards Picks

Comeback Player: QB Aaron Rodgers (Jets)

Coach of the Year: DeMeco Ryans (Texans)

Playoff Picks

NFC Championship: Eagles vs. Lions

AFC Championship: Texans vs. Ravens

🏆 Super Bowl LIX: Eagles def. Texans (30-27)

Didn’t like our picks? Reply to today’s newsletter and let us know where we went wrong.

ESPN+: NFL Execs Predict Award Winners for 2024: MVP, Rookies & More

FOX Sports: 2024 NFL Awards Predictions: Expert Picks for MVP, DPOY, Rookie of the Year

STORYLINES

⛳️ PGA vs. LIV in “The Match”

The made-for-TV golf spectacle is back this December for the biggest showdown yet. What started with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in 2018 has evolved to feature NBA and NFL stars. Now, it’s the PGA’s Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler against LIV’s Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. (Sports Illustrated)

🏁 Team Outlooks for NASCAR’s Playoffs

Sixteen drivers are getting ready to enter ‘playoff mode’ when the NASCAR Cup Series kicks the tires this weekend in Atlanta. Each team has some good news (and bad news) coming down the stretch. Let’s gauge each team’s ups and downs before Sunday’s Quaker State 400. (NBC Sports)

🏛️ The NCAA Settlement Fallout

Preliminary approval of the House v. NCAA settlement is expected to come Thursday, opening the door for a historic revenue-sharing fallout. The power conference’s “big breakaway” now seems to be right around the corner. In short: The “pay for play” era could change everything, and college leaders are on edge. (CBS Sports)

NEWS 📰

🏀 Charles Barkley Rips ‘Petty’ WNBA Media for Negative Coverage of Caitlin Clark (SI)

🚨 17-Year-Old Suspect in Shooting of 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall Charged With Attempted Murder (Yahoo! Sports)

🏀 Penny Hardaway Fires 4 Members of Memphis Basketball Coaching Staff Ahead of Season (ESPN)

⚾️ San Francisco Giants & 1B Matt Chapman Agree to 6-Year, $151 Million Deal (MLB)

🏈 Washington Commanders Executive Suspended Over Remarks to Undercover Reporter (B/R)

🏅 Multi-Sport Phenom Oksana Masters Captures 8th Paralympic Gold Medal (SI)

🏒 Blue Jackets Fans & Players Remember Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau at Candlelight Vigil in Columbus (AP)

🐯 Louisiana Governor Wants to Bring Live Tiger Mascot Back to LSU Despite Veterinarians’ Safety Concerns (CBS Sports)