The NFL has long made a habit of showing us how little we know.

Granted, there are some things about the 2024 season that we can say with a reasonable amount of confidence. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will be good—something about winning the last two Super Bowls seems to indicate that. Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers probably will not be—it's a franchise with a way to go to become contenders again.

But each and every NFL season is also replete with surprises. We thought the Detroit Lions would be better in 2023, but not many expected them to nearly make the Super Bowl. No one expected a young Houston Texans team to not only win the AFC South but pummel the 11-win Cleveland Browns (themselves a surprise given the injuries that hammered the offense) in the Wild Card Round.

Now, predicting surprises isn't an easy endeavor—if we could see them coming, they wouldn't be surprises. But it's fun to try to predict the unpredictable—to take a stab at identifying the happenings across the NFL that will leave jaws on the floor.

Like say "America's Team" faceplanting this year and a Super Bowl featuring two teams with a combined one appearance in the game.

Let's get to it—beginning with a prediction for who the league's most prolific passer will be in the season to come.

Joe Burrow Will Rebound from Injury to Lead the NFL in Passing Yards in 2024

The 2023 season was a forgettable one for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Burrow missed seven games with a wrist injury, and the Bengals were the only team in the AFC North that didn't advance to the postseason.

Burrow recently returned to the practice field, and while he told reporters it has been a rough offseason, he's confident that he and his team will rebound in 2024.

"This was a difficult injury," Burrow said. "It's been a tough several months, but physically it's not the worst injury that I've had. I've been through much tougher things physically and so that's been a positive. I've been able to really lift and continue my offseason program kind of the way that it always has been."

Two years ago, the Bengals were a 12-win division champion that advanced to the AFC Championship Game. The year before that, they narrowly lost Super Bowl LVI to the Los Angeles Rams. The team lost Tyler Boyd in free agency, but in Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase Burrow still has one of the league's best one-two punches at wide receiver at his disposal.

He's going to need them.

Zack Moss was at least a serviceable replacement for Joe Mixon in the backfield, but his next 1,000-yard season will be his first. After losing cornerback Chidobe Awuzie in free agency, there are questions in the secondary in the Queen City.

Add in the NFL's most brutal division in the AFC North, and you have a scenario where the Bengals are going to be embroiled in quite a few back-and-forth affairs. It's going to fall to Burrow more than ever to carry Cincinnati's offense. That's going to lead to the biggest passing numbers of Burrow's career—and more yards through the air than any other quarterback in the league.

The Pittsburgh Steelers Will Win the AFC North

Burrow's big season isn't going to be enough for the Bengals to win their division, though.

The team with the longest odds in the AFC North is going to pull off that "upset".

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't had a losing season since George W. Bush's first term. But it has also been a little while since the Steelers have captured a division title. Pittsburgh last won the AFC North back in 2020, and they have just two division titles since 2017.

Pittsburgh limped into the playoffs last year despite a passing offense that ranked 25th in the NFL. The Steelers made a pair of splash moves in an effort to address that deficiency in the offseason, signing veteran quarterback Russell Wilson and trading for quarterback Justin Fields.

Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that as we move toward the summer, Wilson is the No. 1 quarterback. But there will be competition in camp.

"Russell is a proven veteran, man. He's got a proven process of readiness. He's been in this league a long time, and he's capable of rallying troops, receivers, tight ends and running backs. He's just got a lot of experience in terms of what it takes over a 12-month calendar. I just think that's something that a younger guy like Justin can learn from, and it provides clarity for all parties involved," Tomlin said.

Frankly, it doesn't matter if the team rolls with Wilson's experience or Fields' explosiveness—both are a sizable improvement on the likes of Kenny "Wormburner" Pickett and Mason "JUST a bit outside" Rudolph.

The Steelers were a 10-win team last year with woeful quarterback play. Whether it's Wilson turning back the clock or Fields taking the next step, they will be at least two wins better in 2024.

And that will be enough to win the league's toughest division.

Marvin Harrison Jr. Will Set New Rookie Receiving Records--Across the Board

Last year, Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams broke a record for receiving yards by a rookie (1,486) that had stood since all the way back in 1960. His 105 catches bested the previous high-water mark of 104 set by Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins in 2021. In 1998, Randy Moss set the record for most touchdowns by a rookie wide receiver with 17.

That's quite the list of pass-catching talent. But with the exception of Moss (one of the absolute all-time greats), Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals is better than those young stars—before ever setting foot on an NFL field.

That's right. I said it. Better than Waddle.

Harrison sat out most of draft season, but that didn't stop him from becoming the first non-quarterback drafted this year. The Cardinals received offers from other teams interested in trading up, but general manager Monti Ossenfort told reporters that none of those offers were good enough for the Redbirds to move off the Ohio State star.

"Once we got on the clock and leading up to that, those offers just didn't come close to getting us to move off of the pick," Ossenfort said. "We felt we had plenty of information, plenty of tools and plenty of tape to evaluate Marvin on. Once we got a chance to meet Marvin at our (top-30) visit, and also at the Combine, we really felt comfortable with who Marvin was as a player and who Marvin was as a person."

Simply put, Harrison is as NFL-ready as any receiver we have seen in some time. He was ready for the pros a year ago. There's just nothing he doesn't do at an elite level. And with Marquise Brown no longer in the desert, Harrison will immediately become Kyler Murray's top target.

It took over six decades for Nacua to break Bill Groman's record. It's going to take Harrison one to top it—and he's going to go ahead and eclipse 105 catches and 17 scores while he's at it.

The Dallas Cowboys Will Miss the Playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys enter every season with the same aspirations—win the Super Bowl. It's a goal the team hasn't realized in 30 years, but the Cowboys have won 12 games in each of the past three seasons, with a pair of NFC East titles over that span.

The 2024 campaign could be an immensely important one for Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott—as things stand today, he's in the final year of his contract. But despite postseason struggles in recent seasons, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones expressed confidence to reporters that the 30-year-old has what it takes to lead Dallas to its sixth championship.

"You know, we've won 12 games three years in a row," Jones said. "I think that's right at the top in terms of what teams have done over a three-year period. And, you know, we're hanging around the rim. We've just gotta go up there and grab it, to use a basketball term, and dunk it in. We're hanging around the rim. We just gotta get the job done."

The problem isn't necessarily Prescott so much as it is a team around him that changed very little in the offseason. CeeDee Lamb is one of the league's best wide receivers, but there's little in terms of reliable targets around him. The Cowboys offensive line isn't what it once was. The defense is stout, but depth on both sides of the ball is an issue.

This is a team with very little margin for error—all it will take is an injury or two or a couple of tough losses for things to start to snowball in Big D.

And if the Cowboys come up short of even making the playoffs, massive changes will be coming next offseason—beginning with the firing of head coach Mike McCarthy.

Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. Will Set a New Record for Sacks by Teammates

Back in 1989, the Minnesota Vikings won 10 games and the NFC Central. Much of their success was keyed by the defense. That year, Keith Millard brought home Defensive Player of the Year honors after amassing 18 sacks.

Hall of Fame teammate Chris Doleman did him one better—his 21 sacks were just one off the then-record of 22 set by Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets in 1984. The 39 sacks the duo combined for is a record for the most sacks by two teammates in a season since sacks became an official statistic.

Kiss that record goodbye in 2024.

The Houston Texans were very aggressive this offseason after last year's surprise playoff run, and the team's prize defensive acquisition was edge-rusher Danielle Hunter. The 29-year-old Texas native, who has posted a career-best 16.5 sacks in 2023, told reporters he's eager to show that he's worth his big paycheck.

"Just being able to go after the quarterback," Hunter said. "On the Texans, I should be able to do it. That's been in my DNA since I came into the NFL, and I'm happy to be able to go out there and play for my teammates and bring that to the table."

Of course, it takes two to tango. Opposite Hunter in Houston this year will be youngster Will Anderson Jr, who brought home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2023. Anderson told a Houston TV station he can't wait to get after it with his new teammate.

"I'm very excited," he told KPRC2. "I was jumping up and down, man, I was so excited, because now teams, they've got to choose who they're gonna double-team. It's really exciting. He's a great guy. He loves football, man. I can't wait to learn from him, go out there and (wreak) havoc with him."

The pair has the potential to terrify opposing quarterbacks, and that's just what they are going to do. Hunter will post his first 20-sack season and be a Defensive Player of the Year front-runner. Anderson will be just behind.

And the pair will combine for a record 40 sacks for a Houston team that many see as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Caleb Williams Will Lead the Chicago Bears to the Playoffs

Two years ago, the Chicago Bears had the worst record in the NFL and earned the first pick in the 2022 draft. Chicago traded that pick to the Carolina Panthers, who then went on to post the worst record in the league, handing the Bears the No. 1 overall pick for a second straight year.

This time, the Bears held onto the pick, selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams. While speaking to reporters, Bears general manager Ryan Poles said he thinks Chicago has positioned Williams well for early success.

"The infrastructure has to be there, and I think we've done that part to have the talent around our quarterback now," Poles said. "I think the other thing is our entire organization is going to have to be on the same page on how we handle this, how we develop Caleb. But I also say I think we have a really good approach with all of the players, and I think that's maybe different than it was in the past."

Williams certainly has a better supporting cast than Justin Fields ever did. In addition to wide receiver D.J. Moore and tight end Cole Kmet, the Bears traded for veteran wideout Keenan Allen, signed running back D'Andre Swift in free agency and drafted Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth overall pick.

The Bears were quietly 12th in the NFL in total defense last season, and that unit steadily built momentum after the in-season acquisition of edge-rusher Montez Sweat. The offensive line had an up-and-down 2023 season, but Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network ranked the unit 10th in the league this season.

If Williams is half the prospect that so many believe he is, a three or four-win improvement over last year's 7-10 squad really isn't that bold a call.

And at 10-7 0r 11-6, the Bears would make the postseason for the first time since an 8-8 mark in 2020 squeaked them in as a Wild Card.

Aaron Rodgers Will Win His Fifth MVP Award--and Lead the New York Jets to SB LIX

The 2023 season was a disaster for the New York Jets. After a summer of hype and expectations brought about by the arrival of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Rodgers made it all of one series into his first game for Gang Green before tearing his Achilles tendon.

The Jets didn't shrink away from their 40-year-old quarterback because of the injury. In fact, as ESPN's Bill Barnwell wrote, general manager Joe Douglas did the opposite, bolstering both the receivers around Rodgers and the offensive line in front of him.

"After signing wideout Mike Williams and acquiring offensive linemen Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and John Simpson in the offseason [via free agency and a trade], New York appears to be surrounding Rodgers with legitimate NFL talent," Barnwell said. "GM Joe Douglas oversaw a team that broke down because of injuries and lack of depth last season, and while the roster might have looked done on offense on paper, he wisely continued to go after more talent on offense [in the draft]."

In Mike Williams and Garrett Wilson, Rodgers has a quality duo of receivers. Breece Hall is an electrifying young running back. The offensive line looks markedly better on paper than it was in 2023. And New York's defense was third in the NFL last year and added an elite edge-rusher in Haason Reddick.

Assuming that Rodgers is healthy, all the ingredients are there for him to post a 2021-esque season (4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns). That year, the Green Bay Packers won 13 games and Rodgers was named the NFL's MVP for the fourth time.

The Jets may have to settle for 12 wins this season. But they will win the AFC East. Rodgers will tie Peyton Manning for the most MVP awards and fans will be treated to a Chiefs-less Super Bowl for just the second time in the last six years.

The Detroit Lions Will Advance to Their First-Ever Super Bowl--and Win It.

Unfortunately, the long-suffering fans of the Jets are going to have to continue their 50-plus year wait for the franchise's second championship.

Because in 2024, a team that has never been to a Super Bowl—let alone won one—is going to stand at the Superdome as confetti rains down at the conclusion of Super Bowl LIX.

The Detroit Lions very nearly made their first Super Bowl appearance a year ago, giving the San Francisco 49ers all they could handle in the NFC Championship Game. Replete with young talent on both sides of the ball, Detroit spent a chunk of the offseason spending an even bigger chunk of cash on locking up young stars like tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

However, while Sewell told reporters that all those new zeroes in his bank account are welcome, the new contract didn't change his goal for 2024—win two more playoff games than a year ago.

"We need it all," he said. "I had a conversation with (Amon Ra St. Brown) after we found out that we were getting the contracts and going to sign, that's our goal is to host that trophy at the end of the day and to just do that. Just to win, bro. There's nothing else to it. All those individual accolades don't mean nothing. I want the big boy and I want it now."

The Lions are loaded with skill-position talent on offense. Detroit has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Jared Goff is one of the league's more underrated quarterbacks. And Detroit addressed their biggest weakness in the draft by selecting cornerbacks with their first two picks.

The Lions have all the pieces necessary to make a deep playoff run. And when that run makes it all the way to victory over the Jets in the Big Easy, the party in Motown will likely go on for weeks.