For the first time in nearly two decades, an NFL team has the chance to do something that has never been done before: win three consecutive Super Bowls.

The Chiefs will try to do what eight previous prospects in league history — most recently the 2005 Patriots — have failed to do, and they have most of their horses back to do it. With Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid and a reportedly top-10 defense, it’s easy to like Kansas City’s chances.

But 31 other teams stand in the Chiefs’ way, with a loaded AFC featuring two apparent contenders getting their respective starting quarterbacks back from injury in the Bengals (Joe Burrow) and Jets (Aaron Rodgers). On the NFC side of the coin, the bridesmaids the 49ers are hungry for their first Lombardi Trophy in three decades after a pair of close misses, and they’re joined by plenty of legitimate contenders, including the energetic Lions, the still-dangerous Eagles and Cowboys, plus up-and-coming teams like the Packers and Bears.

This season is packed with juicy storylines across the NFL, and that’s exactly how we want it.

Can Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or C.J. Stroud defeat the Chiefs — or do Jim Harbaugh and the suddenly relevant Chargers have a fair shot? Can the Lions, Texans, Bengals or Bills go from legitimate contenders to first-time Super Bowl champions? And how will this vaunted rookie QB class — with three starters in Week 1 and a fourth (Drake Maye) waiting in the wings — fare in Year 1? I can’t wait to find out.

I’ve shuffled my preseason rankings based on some developments in August, though I’m prepared for that to backfire given that I dropped the Rams and let the Steelers grow just before last season. I’ve tried not to let the preseason pixie dust affect me as much this time around, but I’m prepared to take my hits regardless.

Stay tuned here all season long to follow the weekly franchise stock prices and be sure to check out the Power Rankings Podcast each week, NFL Network’s Mike Yam and I discuss the ups and downs of the 2024 NFL campaign, all the way up to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

Let the good times goboys. Football is back.