MIAMI — The NFL’s 105th season kicks off Sept. 5 as King Sport again reminds all others who’s boss. That means it’s time for my annual Miami Herald NFL Team Rankings — the outlook for 2024 from the No. 1 squad overall to the bottomfeeding 32nd.This ain’t science or math, folks. Like political polling, the margin for error is always there. Certainties in life are death, taxes, tomorrow’s sunrise and me being embarrassingly wrong on my estimation of at least a few teams.The previous two years I correctly predicted 19 of 28 playoff teams, or 68%. Not bad. Last year that included the Chiefs and 49ers, the eventual Super Bowl matchup, the Dolphins reaching the postseason again, and the Lions’ first playoff season in seven years.Then again I also ranked the Texans 31st last year; they made the playoffs. Also had the Bengals ranked No. 3 overall and they missed the postseason (although Joe Burrow’s unforeseeable injury slaps an asterisk on that one).I separate the 32 teams into four categories, tiers to tears, best to worst. OK, enough preamble. Here are my 2024 NFL Team Rankings, with ‘23 record, regular season and playoffs where applicable, in parentheses: Super Bowl favorites — 1. Baltimore Ravens (134, 1-1) — Crows’ defense last year was first in NFL history to lead league in fewest points allowed, most sacks and most takeaways in same season. Offense is led by two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, and new RB Derrick Henry will show the world he’s got plenty left at age 30. It’s the Year of the Raven.— 2. San Francisco 49ers (12-5, 2-1) — Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system makes a fantasy darling of RB Christian McCaffrey and an unlikely star of Brock Purdy. Add a top-five defense for the most complete, balanced, airtight roster in NFL. But SF, as of this writing, still needed to settle WR Brandon Aiyuk and LT Trent Williams’ contract disputes.— 3. Kansas City Chiefs Chiefs (11-6, 4-0) — K.C. aims for a third straight Super Bowl title, but there’s a reason only two NFL teams have won three championships in a row (both Green Bay) in pre-SB 196567 and 1929-31. Chiefs’ D is solid and Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce is still awesome, but stooping to sign Juju Smith-Schuster verifies rest of offense underwhelms.— 4. Detroit Lions (12-5, 2-1) — Lions were NFL’s “it” team in ‘23, with club’s first playoff ...
