The Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked like they were ready to defend their Super Bowl title in the season opener Thursday. Can they become the first team in nearly two decades to repeat as champions?

No NFC team has reached the conference title game in consecutive years since Seattle did it in 2013-14. The Seahawks, behind quarterback Russell Wilson are strong, but are they good enough to get past division rival San Francisco?

As for the individual honors, can anyone unseat Lamar Jackson as MVP? Will Aaron Donald recapture his Defensive Player of the Year award? Can Big Ben bounce back at age 38?

As the NFL kicks off with a full slate of games Sunday amid a pandemic, here is how Tribune-Review staff writer Joe Rutter thinks the season will play out:

AFC

East: Buffalo Bills

North: Baltimore Ravens

South: Tennessee Titans

West: Kansas City Chiefs

Wild cards: Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos

NFC

East: Dallas Cowboys

North: Minnesota Vikings

South: Atlanta Falcons

West: Seattle Seahawks

Wild cards: San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints

AFC championship: Kansas City over Baltimore

NFC championship: Seattle over Dallas

Super Bowl: Seattle over Kansas City

Individual awards

MVP: Russell Wilson, Seahawks

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Watt, Steelers

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Joe Burrow, Bengals

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Chase Young, Washington Football Team

Comeback Player of the Year: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

Coach of the Year: Sean McDermott, Bills

•••

Tribune-Review staff writer Chris Adamski’s predictions:

AFC

East: New England Patriots

North: Baltimore Ravens

South: Tennessee Titans

West: Kansas City Chiefs

Wild cards: Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts

NFC

East: Dallas Cowboys

North: Minnesota Vikings

South: New Orleans Saints

West: San Francisco 49ers

Wild cards: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers

AFC championship: Kansas City over Pittsburgh

NFC championship: Dallas over New Orleans

Super Bowl: Kansas City over Dallas

Individual awards

MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Defensive Player of Year: T.J. Watt, Steelers

Offensive Rookie of Year: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs

Defensive Rookie of Year: Isaiah Simmons, Cardinals

Comeback Player of Year: Cam Newton, Patriots

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