By Mardeio Cannon | OBSERVER Columnist
The first week of the 2024-25 NFL season is completed and the drive to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February is in full swing. The two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs look like a strong candidate to three-peat, which would set the Chiefs as an all-time NFL team. However, they will be challenged again by the San Francisco 49ers, who have lost twice to the Chiefs in Super Bowls. Other teams that will challenge for the Super Bowl trophy are the Detroit Lions, the Baltimore Ravens, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys.
Some additional storylines that people are talking about as the NFL seasons gets under way:
- The new kickoff rules should reduce contact injuries as players do not have far to run to contact each other at full speed.
- The controversy brewing is that many NFL fans object to the playing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” aka the “Black national anthem,” before NFL games. Many say only one song should be played as the national anthem.
- This is a make-or-break season for some African American quarterbacks, led by Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns with his massive guaranteed contract; 2023 first-round pick Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers; Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, who both are under the gun with the Pittsburgh Steelers; and Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, who both are under immense pressure to perform in the playoffs and take their teams to at least the conference championship game.
- Many people are excited about Kendrick Lamar being the halftime entertainment for the 2025 Super Bowl.
- Hats off to the Washington Commanders, whose African American president of business operations is Jason Wright, and the Las Vegas Raiders, whose team president is Sandra Morgan, who also is African American.
- My Super Bowl prediction is: San Francisco 49ers 26, Baltimore Ravens 21.