With the 2024 NFL season just around the corner, quarterbacks are currently the talk of the town. The Green Bay Packers’ man under center has just signed a whopping $220m deal to remain at Lambeau Field, the biggest contract in NFL history. Meanwhile, the man he replaced for the Cheeseheads, Aaron Rodgers, is aiming to make a miraculous return from injury to lead the New York Jets to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years at the ripe old age of 40.
Cleveland Browns man Deshaun Watson is someone who can relate to both Love and A-Rod. He signed the biggest guaranteed contract in history back in 2021, while he too is returning from injury this term.
His replacement in Ohio last term, Joe Flacco, led the Browns to the playoffs on the back of several blistering displays. Can the controversial Watson pick up where the 39-year-old veteran left off? Or will he fail to live up to the billing?
There are plenty of battles to look forward to in the upcoming campaign, but here are our three favorites.
Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes
The Buffalo Bills and the reigning back-to-back champion Kansas City Chiefs are two of the AFC’s biggest heavyweights, but in recent years, it has been the Arrowhead outfit that has seemingly had their rivals’ number. The Chiefs have eliminated the Bills in three of the last four playoff campaigns as they have ascended the summit to become the NFL’s newest dynasty. On week 11, all eyes will be on Highmark Stadium as Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes come face-to-face once again.
The duo make up two-thirds of the top three quarterbacks in the NFL, with Joe Burrow the other. In recent times, the Bills have more than held their own in the regular season, and their former University of Wyoming man will be hoping for more of the same in this one.
The NFL betting odds for week 11 haven’t yet been published – with the bookies waiting to see how the prior weeks of the campaign play out first – but the Lombardi odds certainly have. They currently make the Chiefs overwhelming +500 favorites to complete the three-peat for the first time in history, while the Bills are a distant +1500 seventh-favorite.
However, those odds could change significantly should Buffalo manage to emerge victorious. Their signal-caller has rapidly risen to stardom with his impressive arm strength and athleticism. His ability to extend plays and deliver accurate passes downfield has made him a nightmare for opposing defenses, and he has almost single-handedly transformed fortunes in New York State.
On the other side, Patrick Mahomes is the NFL’s undisputed king. He has taken the Chiefs to levels never seen before, and he is in the driving seat when it comes to the league’s mountaintop. Allen aims to topple the current king, and victory on week 11 would certainly aid him in his bid to do exactly that.
Dak Prescott vs. Joe Burrow
In Week 14, the Dallas Cowboys will host the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium in a showdown that features a tantalizing quarterback matchup between Dak Prescott and Joe Burrow. The former of that duo is a part of the NFL’s class of 2016 and is a stat machine, throwing a whopping 36 touchdowns in 2023, the most in the entire league. However, while he thrives in the regular season, he regularly falls apart when the pressure is on, as demonstrated by the shocking 48-32 reverse at the hands of the Packers in last season’s wildcard round.
On the other side of the spectrum, Jackpot Joey is certainly the man for the big occasion. The former Heisman winner has shone under the bright lights in recent years, masterminding a stunning upset of the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game in 2022 as well as dismantling the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs last winter.
With this late-season game, the pressure will most certainly be on for both QBs. Will Prescott manage to handle it, or will Joe Brrr be as cold as ever in his bid to lead his team to the Lombardi for the first time?
C. J. Stroud vs. Caleb Williams
Last season, C. J. Stroud took the league by storm. He was overlooked by the Carolina Panthers, who selected Bryce Young with the first overall pick of the draft.
The Houston Texans were only too happy to take the former Ohio State Buckeye with the second pick, and the Panthers’ loss was the Lone Star State outfit’s gain. While Carolina slumped to a dismal 2-15 record, the worst in the entire league – the Texans reached the Divisional Round of the postseason.
Much of their success was thanks to the brilliance of their quarterback. Stroud won Rookie of the Year honors with several record-breaking displays, and this season, he has additional support from the likes of Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs. But while he was the number one rookie in 2023, Caleb Williams is aiming for that spot in 2024.
The University of Oklahoma standout was selected with the first overall pick of the recent draft by the Chicago Bears, and he will be supported by wide receiver Rome Odunze, who was also brought to Soldier Field with the ninth overall pick. Williams is aiming to establish himself as the face of the franchise in the Windy City, and what better way to do that than by impressing against last year’s Rookie of the Year? It will certainly be a test, but the rest of the league will be watching with eager eyes to see just how far along he is with his development.
