Month: July 2024

Taylor Swift has been accused of blocking artists from the top Billboard spot again as she continues to restock special versions of The Tortured Poets Department.

The 34-year-old megastar – whose latest album topped the Billboard 200 chart for the 11th straight week – restocked webstore versions of The Tortured Poets Department on Sunday.

When Chart Data posted about the release on X, many flooded the comments as Taylor has faced accusations that she has been working behind the scenes to block pop rivals on the charts.

One commenter wrote: ‘the most chart obsessed and desperate artist in history.’

A different X user made the point that Taylor had not done a special release when Megan Thee Stallion released her album Megan on June 28.

Taylor Swift has been accused of blocking artists from the top Billboard spot again as she continues to restock special versions of The Tortured Poets Department

The 34-year-old megastar – whose latest album topped the Billboard 200 chart for the 11th straight week – restocked webstore versions of The Tortured Poets Department on Sunday

They wrote: ‘Taylor Swift is very chart obsessed but it’s so funny to me that she did not have to release any edition last week because Megan is literally not a threat [two crying emojis]’

Lastly, another posted a video of Beyonce saying ‘this b**** will never give up’ with the caption: ‘She really trying to break that record…’

The record that is being referred to is Carole King’s who currently has the longest consecutive run atop the Billboard 200 for a female solo artist thanks to her iconic singer–songwriter album Tapestry.

That 1971 album stayed at number one for an astounding 15 weeks, according to Billboard.

According to publication, the last album by a woman to spend 11 weeks at number one was 1989, which achieved that feat in 2014 and 2015, though its stint was nonconsecutive.

But the last time a woman had the same number of consecutive weeks at the top was all the way back in late 1992 and early 1993, when Whitney Houston scored 11 straight weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 chart with her soundtrack for The Bodyguard.

The soundtrack eventually racked up a total of 20 nonconsecutive weeks at number one.

Although King holds the record for a woman with 15 weeks in a row, other woman have spent many more weeks at number one with nonconsecutive runs.

The outlet notes that, if Taylor’s latest album is number one for an additional week — after debuting on top on May 4 — she will be the first woman to spend at least 12 weeks at number one since Adele scored an incredible 24 nonconsecutive weeks with her album 21 in 2011 and 2012.

When Chart Data posted about the release on X, many flooded the comments as Taylor has faced accusations that she has been working behind the scenes to block pop rivals on the charts

One commenter wrote: ‘the most chart obsessed and desperate artist in history’

A different X user made the point that Taylor had not done a special release when Megan Thee Stallion released her album Megan on June 28

Other Swifties were proud of the A-lister

Lastly, another posted a video of Beyonce saying ‘this b**** will never give up’ with the caption: ‘She really trying to break that record…’

The record that is being referred to is Carole King’s  (pictured in June 2016) who currently has the longest consecutive run atop the Billboard 200 for a female solo artist thanks to her iconic singer–songwriter album Tapestry

The latest chart news comes as the A-lister has faced increasing accusations that she’s been working behind the scenes to block her pop rivals on the charts.

Most recently, pop diehards suspected that Taylor and her record label may have pulled some tactics to prevent Charli XCX’s Brat from topping the UK albums chart.

The drama kicked off last month following the release of Brat – which is currently the most-acclaimed album of 2024, according to Metacritic.

Brat was officially tipped to debut at No. 1 on the UK charts, dethroning Taylor’s The Tortured Poets Department after a five-week run at the top.

However, midway through the charting week, Taylor surprised her fans by suddenly releasing several new UK-exclusive versions of TTPD – which resulted in the album getting a surge in sales and surpassing Charli in the mid-week predictions.

The new versions were only temporarily available and were pulled by the end of the chart tracking week, leading many to assume that the move was all about keeping TTPD in the No. 1 position.

The flash sale ended up being enough to keep Taylor on top, making TTPD her longest-running No. 1 album in the UK, while Charli had to settle for second place.

Music critics and influencers have spoken out about the move, with many suspecting that Taylor may have been intentionally blocking Charli from the top spot.

The latest chart news comes as the A-lister has faced increasing accusations that she’s been working behind the scenes to block her pop rivals on the charts

She’s released about 34 versions of her album The Tortured Poets Department, which some believe have been used as a way to block other artists on the charts

‘Taylor was going for her longest-ever streak at number one on the UK album charts. And just after the news broke that Charli was in number one, [Swift] pulled this move and dropped more special editions of The Tortured Poets Department,’ pop enthusiast and TikTok star Sam Murphy said in a video.

‘I understand that some of these things are planned, but this was not a global release. This was specifically targeted to UK customers, which surely means it’s about the charts.’

In a video titled ‘Taylor Swift is Petty,’ music critic Anthony Fantano – who boasts 1.8 million subscribers on YouTube – blasted the Bad Blood singer.

Most recently, pop diehards suspected that Taylor and her record label may have pulled some suspicious tactics to prevent Charli XCX’s Brat from topping the UK albums chart

Brat is currently the most critically-acclaimed album of the year on Metacritic, beating out Taylor’s own The Tortured Poets Department

‘These moves just continually reek of desperation on her part [and] a total lack of shame on her part,’ he said.

‘She seems to not be pumping the brakes at all on shoving this record down everyone’s throat – a record that many believe to have some of her weakest and most obnoxious songwriting to date.’

Even Meghan McCain weighed in on the speculation, saying on her Citizen McCain podcast that Taylor needed to focus more on her art instead of the charts.

‘There are people coming up who could have their first No. 1 and you have the power to let them have No. 1 or not. … I just don’t know how classy it is,’ Meghan said.

‘I also think that, karmically, you’re messing with some stuff. I get that The Tortured Poets Department is doing this well… but I do think maybe more focus on music and art instead of, like, checks on a scoreboard.’

In a video titled ‘Taylor Swift is Petty,’ music critic Anthony Fantano – who boasts 1.8 million subscribers on YouTube – said the Bad Blood singer has ‘no shame’ and ‘reeks of desperation’

Even Meghan McCain (pictured) weighed in on the speculation, saying on her Citizen McCain podcast that Taylor needed to focus more on her art instead of the charts

As of June 12, there has been a whopping 34 versions of The Tortured Poets Department released.

This is far from the first time that Taylor has been suspected of strategically releasing music to sabotage a rival.

Last month, she faced off against Billie Eilish, who released her third studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft on May 17.

At that point, Taylor’s TTPD had maintained the No. 1 position on Billboard’s album chart for a month.

While TTPD was undoubtedly a huge hit, some critics suggested that Swift had only maintained her spot at the top in part by periodically releasing variant and extended editions of the album to keep sales and streaming figures high.

The fact that she dropped two of these ‘special’ editions the same day Eilish released Hit Me Hard and Soft last month was perceived by many as an attempt to trample the competition.

The move even prompted Eilish’s manager Danny Rukasin to re-share – and then later delete – a tweet accusing Swift of ‘breaking her neck doing everything to prevent other artists from shining.’

The tweet implied Swift had similarly timed releases in the past to hinder artists such as Katy Perry and SZA.

Swift’s move was ultimately successful, with Hit Me Hard and Soft debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, despite bringing in the highest first-week sales of Eilish’s career with 339,000 units.

Swift was also accused of blocking Billie Eilish (pictured) on the charts after the latter seemed to take several subtle jabs at her in the media

Eilish ultimately debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart after Swift released new versions of The Tortured Poets Department

But it’s not just Swift’s perceived gaming of the charts that appears to have rattled Eilish.

Some have suggested that issues between the pair actually date back to January 2022, when Blur frontman Damon Albarn bashed Swift in an LA Times interview, wildly claiming that she ‘doesn’t write her own songs’ and comparing her to Eilish who he said was a ‘really interesting songwriter.’

Albarn later apologized, but not before Swift clapped back, saying his ‘hot take is completely false and SO damaging.’

The argument could have ended there but, in April 2022, Eilish made a surprise move that may have angered Swift when she invited Albarn to join her onstage during her headline set at Coachella.

While they were performing, an unidentified man – who some fans have claimed was Eilish’s brother Finneas O’Connell – could be heard on the concert livestream saying: ‘We’re getting sued by Taylor Swift.’

Eilish had also made a number of comments in the media that were perceived as jabs towards Swift.

She branded three-hour concerts ‘psychotic’ – Swift’s shows are three and a half hours – and slammed the ‘wasteful’ practice of releasing numerous vinyl versions of albums – Swift had dropped multiple editions of TTPD.

Last month, a source close to the 1989 hitmaker told DailyMail.com that she was ignoring ‘jealous’ Eilish’s digs.

‘Taylor is unbothered by Billie’s continued subtle jabs because she is too busy selling out stadiums and traveling the world,’ they said.

‘Billie should really focus on her own album and promoting that instead of trying to tear down another female artist.’

Taylor has also been accused of sabotaging her former nemesis, Katy Perry (pictured)

Back in 2017, Taylor decided to release her entire catalogue of music onto Spotify the same day as Katy’s Witness album was released

Swift has also been accused of trying to block her former rival, Katy Perry, on the charts in the past.

Back in 2017, the songstress announced plans to re-release her entire catalogue of music on Spotify – three years after publicly boycotting the music sharing service.

While fans rejoiced at the news, others were quick to point out that Taylor’s choice to release her music from midnight on June 9 coincided with the release of her long-time nemesis Katy’s fifth album, Witness.

Swarming social media, critics and fans weighed in on the situation, with many accusing Taylor of being ‘petty and immature’ while others lauded the move as savvy and strategic.

The feud between the two chart toppers dates back years, and allegedly stemmed from a dispute about sharing backup dancers.

‘It had to do with business. She basically tried to sabotage an entire arena tour. She tried to hire a bunch of people out from under me,’ Taylor told Rolling Stone in 2014.

In 2014, Swift claimed that Katy had tried to ‘sabotage’ her arena tour, which is what led to their falling out

The pop divas have since made amends, with Katy even appearing in Taylor’s You Need To Calm Down music video

Taylor then released the song Bad Blood about her feud with Katy, while the latter went on to comment about their beef in several interviews over the years.

Speaking to NME in 2017, Katy said, ‘I wish that I could turn the other cheek every single time, but I’m also not a pushover, you know? Especially when someone tries to assassinate my character with little girls (her fans). That’s so messed up!’

However, the pair now seems to have mended things between them, with Katy even attending Taylor’s Eras tour in Sydney back in February.

‘What I’m so grateful for is we did get to make up publicly and got to be an example of redemption for young girls,’ Katy told Howard Stern in 2020.

‘I always wanted the best for her and now we can talk about the best we want for each other.’

 

 

LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan (Image Source: Getty Images)
When the debate of the GOAT in the NBA comes up, names like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James often come forward. However, former NBA star John Stockton has a different perspective. He doesn’t see any of these legends as the perfect fit for the GOAT title.

Stockton recently appeared on The Huddle and shared his bold claims about Jordan, James, and Bryant. He stated that any of these three wouldn’t even be in his top five players of all time.

“Well, I wouldn’t use those three. Some of those three or one of those three wouldn’t even be in my top five. I hate that question and I get asked it all the time. Who’s anybody to say, ‘Well it’s either of those three,” Stockton said.

“There’s so many guys that I would put in that handful of first five. I’m not certain that the guys that are suggested are always the ones that I would put in there with them,” he continued.

In terms of on-court achievements, Bryant may fall slightly behind as one of the five greatest players ever, having won five titles and two Finals MVPs.

But that’s not necessarily true for Jordan and James. The Los Angeles Lakers legend, who recently inked a contract extension, has won four titles and four Finals MVPs till now. Meanwhile, Jordan ended his career by winning six titles and six Finals MVPs.

LeBron James Keeps the Fire Alive to Lead Team USA in Paris

Only James is still active in his NBA career among the legendary trio of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. He is still maintaining nearly the same level of performance and energy he had at the start. Now, James is directing his full attention to the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he will lead Team USA.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, James shared his ongoing dedication to basketball and his appreciation for Team USA.

“I’m still playing a high level. I still love the game of basketball. And Team USA has done well by me, so I felt like it was important for this summer to be able to go out there and play with the rest of the guys,” he said.

Jason shares Wyatt alongside his other two daughters, Elliotte Ray and Bennett Llewellyn, with wife Kylie Kelce

Jason Kelce is opening up about his kids’ experiences in preschool.

On Tuesday’s episode of the New Heights podcast, hosted by the former NFL player, 36, and his brother Travis Kelce, 34, Jason shared an update about his daughters: Wyatt Elizabeth, 4, Elliotte Ray, 3, and Bennett Llewellyn, 1, whom he shares with his wife, Kylie Kelce.

 

 

The conversation was sparked by the brothers playing a cartoon depicting Jason getting expelled from preschool for stabbing someone with a spork. Travis also shared a similar story of his own expulsion for throwing a chair at a teacher who asked him to share his checkers.

In response to Travis’s inquiry about how Jason’s kids are doing in school, Jason said, “Wyatt’s doing great,” adding, “The teachers have nothing but rave reviews. She’s really taking after Kylie.”

“Thatta girl,” Travis replied.

“She’s doing great. She loves it. Ellie actually just started preschool. She’s at the same school with Wyatt,” Jason added, explaining how they’re both in the “frogs” age group at the preschool.

Jason Kelce (center) with daughters Wyatt and Elliotte.

COURTESY OF PRIME VIDEO

During the episode, Jason also shared how fun it is to hear about what his daughters are up to at preschool and how they spend their day. He added how Wyatt already has a crush on a boy at her school.

He said, “I’m not telling you his name, but you can just tell in the way she talks about him. So I’m ready to beat the f— out of him.”

Jason Kelce with his daughters Wyatt (left) and Elliotte.

KYLIE KELCE/INSTAGRAM

Later in their conversation, Jason talked about how impressive the teachers at his kids’ school are. He described a recent parent-teacher conference he and Kylie attended and how blown away he was seeing everything the teachers test students for.

“The same teacher that we have for Wyatt and Elliot was also the teacher at that preschool when Kylie was growing up,” he shared. “And you can just tell how amazing she is and just great at her job.”

He continued, “It’s just awesome to see. And I think it’s really cool to hear your kids experiencing things on their own and then come back to share them with you.”

“That’s gotta be fun, man,” Travis added. “Well, shout out to Wyatt for not getting kicked out yet, and Ellie, keep enjoying it, girl.”

Joel Embiid and Stephen Curry (Image source: NBA)
Twelve prominent NBA stars, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, are gearing up to represent the United States at the Paris Olympics with Team USA. While these players have already proven their prowess on the court, the NBA recently tested their ability to perform a simple trick: spinning a basketball on their finger.

In a video shared by the NBA on social media, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Jrue Holiday, and Anthony Davis effortlessly spun the basketball on their fingers. Though Curry is known for his exceptional ball-handling, he couldn’t keep the ball spinning for even a second.

A skill not all possess… Who on the #USABMNT can spin a ball on their finger? 🤔👀🏀 pic.twitter.com/mRwKDfJOKO

— NBA (@NBA) July 8, 2024

When they first came to the training camp, Curry welcomed Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid with a humorous nickname. Unfortunately, Embiid, like Curry, struggled with the finger-spinning trick. While Curry made an attempt before failing, Embiid openly admitted his inability when asked to perform the trick.

“No, I can’t. Probably the only man in the team who can’t,” Embiid confessed, perhaps unaware that Curry had also failed to master the trick.

Stephen Curry Admits Struggle with Basketball Trick

After his failed attempts, Stephen Curry candidly admitted his fear and embarrassment regarding this trick. The Golden State Warriors star revealed that spinning a basketball on his finger is something he has never been able to master.

“So I can do a lot of things with basketball, that is the one thing I cannot do. That’s one of the most embarrassing things of just me. You got me nervous even thinking about it spinning a ball on my finger. All my life that’s the one thing I can’t figure out. Yeah somebody needs to teach me,” Curry said.

Curry and Embiid should now concentrate fully on Team USA’s victory rather than perfecting the finger spin trick. Following their disappointing semi-final exit at the FIBA World Cup in 2023, the 12-star lineup is determined to secure gold for their country.

The roster also boasts NBA talents like Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, Tyrese Haliburton, and Kawhi Leonard. These players are ready to contribute their skills and dedication to achieving Olympic glory for Team USA.

John Stockton recently appeared on The Huddle, where the age-old question of who is the greatest ever came up once again. Stockton was asked if Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or Kobe Bryant is the GOAT, and not only did he refuse to pick one of the three, but added one of them wouldn’t even make his top five.

“Well, I wouldn’t use those three,” Stockton said. “Some of those three or one of those three wouldn’t even be in my top five. I hate that question and I get asked it all the time. Who’s anybody to say, ‘Well it’s either of those three.’

John Stockton recently appeared on The Huddle, where the age-old question of who is the greatest ever came up once again. Stockton was asked if Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or Kobe Bryant is the GOAT, and not only did he refuse to pick one of the three, but added one of them wouldn’t even make his top five.

“Well, I wouldn’t use those three,” Stockton said. “Some of those three or one of those three wouldn’t even be in my top five. I hate that question and I get asked it all the time. Who’s anybody to say, ‘Well it’s either of those three.’

“There’s so many guys that I would put in that handful of first five,” Stockton added. “I’m not certain that the guys that are suggested are always the ones that I would put in there with them.”

 

Now, these lists are subjective and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but Stockton hinting that neither of these three would be a lock to make his top five is a bit much. I think you can make a case for Bryant not being one of the five greatest players ever, but not the other two.

Jordan won six titles, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, 10 scoring titles, and a DPOY in his storied career. He also made 11 All-NBA teams and nine All-Defensive teams in his 13 seasons with the Chicago Bulls.

James, meanwhile, has won four titles, four Finals MVPs, four MVPs, a scoring title, and an assists title. The 39-year-old is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and has made 20 All-NBA teams to go with six All-Defensive teams. He is also a 20-time All-Star.

For me, those resumes make it a no-brainer to put Jordan and James in the top five. As for Bryant, he won five titles, two Finals MVPs, an MVP, and two scoring titles. He made 15 All-NBA teams and 12 All-Defensive teams in his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

There is no denying that Bryant had an incredible career, but his resume isn’t quite as impressive as that of the other two. It’s why you can make a case for the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird to bump him off that top five.

John Stockton Took A Shot At LeBron James

While Stockton, who played 19 seasons in the NBA with the Utah Jazz, has had some praise for Jordan over the years, he hasn’t quite been all that complimentary towards James. Last year, Stockton even called out LeBron for influencing team decisions.

“I don’t know what it’s like to sit in that front office and have things dictating to you like a plan, and it appears LeBron is,” Stockton said on the DNP-CD podcast.

“I don’t know for sure that he is, but it’d be maddening as a teammate to know that you can be expendable for one of his guys that he thinks he needs to play with. The iffiness it causes with the team, the iffiness that it causes upstairs.”

I think a lot of ex-players do feel that way. Whatever you may think of James’ methods, though, he has won those four championships. Almost all of the players he played with have spoken glowingly of him as well, and I think they all somewhat understood that the top dog gets to call the shots.

Jason and Kylie Kelce are having one heck of a charitable summer.

Spearheaded by the Kelces, the fourth annual Team 62 fundraiser benefiting the Eagles Autism Foundation raised over $865,000 in just two days.

“The enthusiasm and generosity around this event never ceases to amazing (sic) me,” Kylie, 32, boasted via Instagram on Wednesday, July 3. “People can say what they want about Philly and Eagles fans, but it’s things like this that make it clear why we are so proud to be a part of this community.”

She continued, “We might throw snowballs at Santa, but we’ll also throw money across a bar and chug some beers to support people with Autism!”

(Infamously, Eagles fans pelted an individual dressed in a Santa costume during halftime of a game against the Minnesota Vikings in 1968, an incident that has lived on in Philadelphia sports lore.)

 

Kylie shared numerous photos from the celebratory two-day event, which went down June 26 and 27. It was a record-breaking two days for the Autism Foundation, who more than doubled last year’s earnings of $375k. The festivities included an “Eagles Takeover” of Philadelphia’s Excursion Park, a family-friendly event that featured the Eagles’ drumline and cheer teams.

Things got a little less G-rated at Sea Isle City bar The Ocean Drive, which saw Jason, 36, put to work as a guest bartender.

The next day, Jason took part in the “New Heights” Beer Bowl at the Sea Isle Yacht Club, which saw the retired Eagles legend compete in a variety of competitive drinking games. In one particularly rowdy moment, Jason was seen autographing a fan’s fake butt, an homage to Jason and the Eagles’ famed tush push.

“I just show up and drink beer, so I got the fun part,” Jason told Eagles.com about the event. “Kylie and the entire Eagles Autism Foundation team put [in] countless hours of time, work, sponsorships, and everything that goes into setting up today so that the players can just come here and have fun.”

The Eagles and their Autism Foundation are one of four finalists for the Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year Award at the 2024 ESPYs, which air live Thursday, July 11. The other teams nominated for their charity work are the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, the NBA’s Miami Heat and the NWSL’s Angel City Football Club.

THEY say imitation is the highest form of flattery and judging by Katy Perry’s latest looks, she must think highly of Kim Kardashian.

The A-list icons have been pals for a long time now, with Katy bringing Kim’s daughter North West on stage with her and the pair bonding over their ‘ugly cry faces’.

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Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian share a selfie togetherCredit: Instagram

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Katy Perry invited Kims daughter North West on stage with herCredit: Instagram
As well as receiving freebies from Kim’s many brands, Perry once called herself a ‘secret Kardashian’, and recently it seems Katy is looking to her for style inspiration.

This week Perry, 39, has been in Paris for Fashion Week showing off her new daring style.

From attending a Balenciaga show in a fur coat, tights and no bra to walking in Vogue World in a daring cut-out gown she’s swapped her jokey and garish looks for fashion forward and sexy looks.

But we can’t help but notice her showbiz friend Kim, 43, could be behind the transformation.

Here, Fabulous’ fashion editor Clemmie Fieldsend reveals how the famous Kardashian became Katy’s ultimate style icon.

BRALESS

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Kim in daring fur coat look inspired Katy to opt for the same outfit
Perry arrived at French fashion house, Balenciaga, for their couture show wearing a black fur coat, sunglasses and ripped tights.

Everything down to her slick-backed hair and expression mirrored Kim’s look from Paris in March when she also wore a fur coat, sunglasses and slick-backed hair wearing, erm, Balenciaga.

Maybe the pair aren’t just sharing fashion tips but the clothes themselves – we can’t Keep Up.

CUT-OUTS

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Katy copied Kim’s cut-out look at Vogue World: Paris
When Kim Kardashian stepped out in a cut-out black dress covering only her nipples we’d thought we’d reached peak-daring fashion.

The Skims mogul wore a vintage Thiierry Mugler dress in 2019 to the Hollywood Beauty Awards with black straps across her chest, wrists and with a thigh high slit.

Play Video

Skims: From Kim K’s Vanity to Billion-Dollar Brand
Fast forward to now and Katy Perry has replicated the outfit for Vogue World: Paris which took place this month in a dress by Noir Ninomiya.

BARE BUTTS

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Kim revived the exposed thong trend in 2020 and Katy followed suit this year
Katy Perry arrived at the Billboard Music Awards in March wearing a red corseted top and skirt that was partially laced-up with black underwear on show.

But styling a peekaboo G-string isn’t original, it’s a thong of the past.

Her pal Kim wore a similar look (and adported the same pose).

In October 2020 Kim took to Instagram to show off her new scoop-backed LBD with a red G-string poking out of the top.

FISHNETS

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Perry wowed at the iHeartRadio Music Awards and channelled Kims fishnet look
In April earlier this year Katy hit the red carpet in a black bra and pants with a fishnet frock over the top.

At the iHeartRadio Music Awards the Firework singer wowed in the netted look with knee high boots.

With mermaid-like hair to match her nautical look, she appeared to be the double of Kim yet again.

In 2016 a blonde Kim arrived at, then husband, Kanye’s art exhibition in Hollywood wearing a fishnet frock with nude full bodysuit underneath that made her appear completely nude.

It seems Perry fell hook, line and sinker for the punkish look.

RUFFLES

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Kim knows how to ruffle feathers and Katy took note
Katy put on her finest frock and covered herself in diamonds for the reopening of Tiffany & Co’s flagship store in New York in April 2023.

The deconstructed, cream ruffled dress with sheer straps was reminiscent of a gown Kim had worn to the Vanity Fair Oscars After Party.

In 2020 the reality star swept the carpet with her long gown by Alexander McQueen.

Katy must have seen the look worn by mate Kim, and liked it.

SWAP ‘TIL YOU DROP

Fashion editor Clemmie Fieldsend says:

SWAPPING clothes with your mates is a rite of passage for women.
When I was younger, getting ready to go out was more fun than the going out itself.
Arriving at a pals house, trying on clothes, sharing accessories, styling each other whilst splitting some lukewarm plonk.
It was all a part of our Saturday night ritual.
Hats off to Kim and Katy for keeping the Teenage Dream alive and continuing to dress up in each others looks or be inspired by one another.
Luckily for them they’re similar ages, sizes and stages in life.
As far as girl hood goes these two are nailing it and even though their fashion choices are daring – good for them for being bold.

SCULPTED TOPS

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Kim’s Vanity Fair look inspired Katy to opt for a sculptural look too
Last month Katy made a statement for the American Idol last show party wearing a metallic skirt with a huge slit up the leg and a matching sculptural top.

The top finished with a point from the corner of her chest almost up to her shoulder.

Only a few months before Kim Kardashian wore a similarly striking look to the Vanity Fair Oscars After Party.

Kims minimalist gown by Balenciaga made waves in March for its fin-like front and for being more of a demure look for the star.

Following Kim’s Roar-ing success, Katy couldn’t help but create her own version.

On September 23, 2023, Taylor Swift shocked the world when she turned up at Arrowhead Stadium, announcing her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce to the NFL and beyond as she sat alongside his mother, Donna.

Since then, things have moved swiftly with Taylor and Travis have ruled the NFL and entertainment worlds over the past nine months.

However, their relationship started before that fateful day in Kansas City – two months before to be exact. In fact, it can be traced back to a year ago today.

 

In her life, Taylor has accomplished things way greater than dating the boy on the football team, but that hasn’t meant her relationship with Travis hasn’t dominated headlines for the best part of a year. And all it took was one little friendship bracelet. Well, almost.

One year ago, on July 8, 2024, Travis attended Taylor’s Eras Tour at Arrowhead with a friendship bracelet and a dream.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship has taken the world by storm over the past year

Despite being in the stands instead of on the field at his home stadium for once, Travis clung on to hope that he would be able to get up close and personal to the pop superstar. He made a friendship bracelet, participating in the Swifties’ tradition of making them for the tour in honor of a lyric from her song ‘You’re On Your Own, Kid.’ Except his came with a twist – his phone number.

There were signs he had even been plotting even before the concert with the NFL sharing a video of Travis making friendship bracelets for his Tight End University about a week before.

But his hopes were dashed when he discovered Taylor doesn’t meet anyone before the show in order to save her vocal chords for the marathon of songs she performs.

‘I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,’ Kelce said during a July episode of his New Heights podcast, which he cohosts with his brother, Jason Kelce. ‘So I was a little butt-hurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her.’

He added, ‘She doesn’t meet anybody, or at least she didn’t want to meet me, so I took it personal.’

However, fortunately for Travis, Taylor – or more likely someone in her camp – took pity on him and his efforts and the two are said to have begun dating but kept their blossoming romance very much under wraps.

In early September, while NFL broadcasters made countless Taylor-related puns on coverage of Travis’s games, the tight end remained coy, shutting down questions about his personal life.

It went from zero to 100, however, when the songstress stole the show at her NFL debut later that month.

The Kansas City Chief star saw the singer perform her Eras Tour at Arrowhead last July

The pop superstar stole headlines when she attended her first NFL game on September 23

Taylor admitted during her interview with TIME Magazine in December that they only went public with their relationship after dating for some time behind the scenes.

‘This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell,’ she said.

‘We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other. By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple. I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.’

The couple were captured driving off into the sunset, Travis’s convertible acting as their getaway car. But the hard launch was just the beginning. It opened the floodgates to the NFL’s season of Swift.

The following week the Chiefs traveled to the Big Apple for a clash with the Jets – a billing that had been hyped by the NFL all week with Taylor’s hit, ‘Welcome to New York.’ And sure enough, it was waiting for her – well, MetLife Stadium was.

Taylor and her A-List posse of Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Sophie Turner and others watched the reigning Super Bowl champions topple the Jets. The news week the routine continued, this time Taylor, wearing a Chiefs retro-style jacket designed by NFL reporter Erin Andrews, was pictured cheering along Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick, sparking the beginning of a friendship.

The Grammy winner rocked up to MetLife with her A-List posse, including Blake Lively

Travis and Taylor were spotted enjoying a romantic date night in New York City in October

On Saturday October 14, Taylor and Travis took their relationship to the next level: Off the field. The new couple made a surprise appearance at Saturday Night Live in New York. The A-list couple grabbed a meal at Nobu before making cameos during the 49th season premiere episode of the program. They then packed on the PDA at the cast afterparty, kissing and getting ‘handsy’ with one another.

After several weeks of supporting her NFL beau, it was time for Taylor to return to the spotlight, resuming her Eras Tour with the South American leg, and for Travis to take over the supportive partner duties.

During the Chiefs’ bye week, the Super Bowl winner made the trek down to Buenos Aires, Argentina to see his girlfriend perform in front of a sold-out crowd. It marked the first time Taylor switched the lyrics of her finale song, Karma, to ‘Karma is the guy on the Chiefs,’ in a sweet nod to her boyfriend which has become a tradition every time he is in the building for a show – like a Tayvis equivalent of the Royal Standard flying when a monarch is home.

Once she wrapped up her final shows in South America, Taylor returned to cheerleading in Green Bay on December 3 with the ‘Anti-Hero hitmaker’ appearing to have borrowed a red teddy coat from Brittany Mahomes to brace the frigid temperatures. This is when the NFL’s Swiftmania really took off.

Taylor attended every single remaining game in the Chiefs’ run into the postseason, including an appearance at Foxborough with her Philadelphia Eagles fan dad, Scott, the Christmas Day disaster against the Las Vegas Raiders, and New Year’s Eve clash against the Cincinnati Bengals.

With every game she attended, Taylor began to wear her heart more and more on her sleeve – literally. On Christmas, she wore a Santa hat with Travis’s No. 87 stitched into the fur and begun to wear friendship bracelets and more jewelry with his number on, until it culminated in her and Brittany’s now-infamous matching puffer jackets designed by San Francisco 49ers WAG Kristin Juszczyk on January 13.

The songstress became fast friends with Brittany Mahomes – the wife of quarterback Patrick

Taylor wore a Santa hat with Travis’s jersey number stitched into the fur on Christmas

She wowed in a puffer jacket designed by San Francisco 49ers WAG Kristin Juszczyk

However, around this time, the pressure began mounting on Taylor. As the Chiefs’ record began to slump, fans and analysts began inexplicably pointing the finger at the 14-time Grammy Award winner.

Travis, Taylor and Kansas City, though, shook it off with head coach Andy Reid and his players denying the furor around the singer’s support was a distraction. The Chiefs carried on in style, making the playoffs, beating the Miami Dolphins in the wild card round and setting up a clash against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round.

It was at Highmark on January 21 that Taylor met Travis’ brother, now-retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason, and his wife Kylie. Despite being told by Kylie to be on his best behavior around Taylor, a shirtless Jason hilariously downed beers and jumped out of the VIP suite into the crowd of fans.

But the piece de la resistance came at the season finale. Taylor lived up to the Super Bowl billing by hopping on a private jet immediately after finishing a show in Tokyo and jetting to Las Vegas, via Los Angeles, to watch her man hoist the Lombardi Trophy with a Chiefs’ overtime victory.

The couple embraced on the Allegiant Stadium field amid a shower of red and gold confetti in fairytale scenes before partying the night away on the Sin City strip.

The offseason has been a whirlwind of Eras Tour shows with Travis following his girlfriend across the world to Australia and Singapore, vacations in the Bahamas, Coachella and a romantic getaway in Lake Como, which sparked engagement rumors.

Taylor finally met Travis’s sister-in-law Kylie (second left during the postseason

The power couple share a kiss on the field following the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory

The Anti-Hero hitmaker jetted from Tokyo to make the season showdown in Las Vegas

On April 19, Taylor celebrated the release of her latest album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’, which gifted fans with songs, ‘So High School’ and ‘The Alchemy’, which are believed to have been written about Travis.

On May 9, Taylor kickstarted the European leg of her Eras Tour in Paris featuring a snippet of ‘So High School’ as she performed ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ segment for the first time, which included choreography inspired by Travis’s touchdown celebrations and the Chiefs’ ‘Swag Surf’.

The three-time Super Bowl winner attended all three of Taylor’s concerts at Wembley last month and was joined by Jason and Kylie who watched the ‘Blank Space’ icon perform for the first time. However, the box office moment came on night three of the run.

Travis stunned 90,000 fans by walking out on stage and joining backup dancers Kameron Saunders and Jan Ravnik for the pantomime skit during Taylor’s outfit change for ‘I Can Do It With A Broken Heart.’

On New Heights last week, Travis revealed: ‘I initially mentioned it to Tay but was like ‘How funny would it be if I rolled out on one of the bikes for the 1989 era,’ and she started laughing and was like ‘Would you seriously be up for doing something like that?’

Taylor incorporated her new song, ‘So High School’ into her Tortured Poets Department era

Travis stunned 90,000 fans at Wembley stadium when he joined Taylor on stage last month

Travis and Taylor met Prince William, George and Charlotte backstage at the London show

‘I was just like, ‘what? I would love to do that, are you kidding me?’ I’ve seen the show enough, might as well put me to work here.

‘Sure enough she found the perfect part of the show for me to come in. No bike in case I ran into somebody else or hit one of the dancers. It was the safest option.’

Travis continued the grand gestures of love the following by surprising his superstar girlfriend. He jetted over to Dublin following a teammate’s Stateside wedding to once again set up camp in the VIP, eliciting an overjoyed, shocked expression from Taylor when she clocked him in the crowd.

The past 12 months have proven that Travis Kelce is truly the king of manifestation. From one friendship bracelet has spawned an incredible Love Story.

Anais Gallagher was the epitome of chic as she arrived alongside fellow celebs for day seven of Wimbledon on Sunday. 

The model, 24, who is the daughter of Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher and his ex-wife Meg Mathews, opted for a stylish blue sweater for the occasion which she teamed with a matching cardigan.

Anais completed the look with a pair of high-waisted beige trousers and strutted her stuff in £1,000 Prada slingbacks.

The stunner wore minimal make-up and styled her blonde tresses into loose waves, appearing in high spirits as she entered the swanky VIP area.

Anais was joined by actor pal Callum Scott Howells, 25, best known for his role in drama It’s A Sin, who wore a striped shirt and trousers.

Anais Gallagher, 24, was the epitome of chic as she arrived alongside fellow celebs for day seven of Wimbledon on Sunday

The model , 24, who is the daughter of Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher and his ex-wife Meg Mathews , opted for a stylish blue sweater for the occasion which she teamed with a matching cardigan

Last month she showed off her figure while posing in black underwear for a series of sultry Instagram shots.

Anais flaunted her flat tummy as she slipped into a skimpy black two-piece to capture herself in a sizzling mirror selfie snap for a carousel of images from June.

In another gorgeous picture, she beamed sweetly as she sat in a restaurant, sporting a cherry lipstick and a bright red jumper.

She simply captioned her carousel: ‘June!!!,’ and shared some of the best bits from this month.

Another snap saw Anais capturing herself and a female pal called Molly Elson with an old digital camera as the pair did their hair.

Elsewhere, Anais was seen smiling alongside a friend named Tim Preston while she petted a cute dog.

The star’s post comes just a few days after she was spotted dancing the night away with Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce for her Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium.

Anais attended with her friend Gabriella Brooks, who was there alongside her boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth.

Anais completed the look with a pair of high-waisted beige trousers and strutted her stuff in £1,000 Prada slingbacks

Anais was joined by actor pal Callum Scott Howells, 25, best known for his role in drama It’s A Sin, who wore a striped shirt and trousers

The photographer and model was seen singing along in the star-studded VIP tent, which included the likes of Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Cruise and Hugh Grant.

When Shake It Off came on, it was here when the party really came alive with the whole VIP tent dancing and singing at the top of their voices – including Travis Kelce, Taylor’s boyfriend.

Taking to her Instagram stories, Anais shared a video from that moment and captioned it: ‘There are no words.’

She also uploaded a slew of snaps from the concert including a video of her and Gabriella belting out the words to We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.

She also posted a selfie of the two of them where eagle-eyed fans noticed Travis photobombing the girls and grinning at the camera.

She captioned the picture: ‘Best night of my life @ The Era’s Tour.’

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Last month she showed off her figure while posing in black underwear for a series of sultry Instagram shots

The star’s post comes just a few days after she was spotted dancing the night away with Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce for her Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium

Fans took to the comment section to spot their famous face behind her and said: ‘Travis kelce casually in the back’, ‘Travis in the back’, ‘I spot Travis kelce behind uu’, ‘Nice photo bomb in the one pic’, ‘travis seems to be enjoying himself’ and ‘travis in the back hahahah’.

Others took to the comment section to agree with Anais about how great Taylor and her tour has been saying: ‘Girl the show is life changing’ and ‘Absolutely love her!! She’s brilliant!❤️’

Despite Anais being a seemingly huge fan of the megastar, it is unclear what her famous father thinks.

Even before a single snap of the NFL season is played, there are expectations for each team, some being much higher than others. There are always sure bets to make the playoffs and sure bets of teams that are predicted to flounder.

Then the season actually begins and a lot of that goes out the window. Every year there are teams that far exceed the expectations set in the offseason and teams that fall flat of how fans and media believed they would do.

With training camp around the corner and the 2024 season under three months away, we asked a panel of our CBS Sports NFL writers: Shanna McCarriston, Cody Benjamin, Tyler Sullivan, Garrett Podell, Bryan DeArdo and Jordan Dajani to give their predictions for which teams will surprise people with how well they perform and which will surprise people with how they struggle.

Here is a look at who we think will exceed expectations and who will underperform, along with the team’s record last year and their biggest gains and losses this offseason:

Teams that will exceed expectations

McCarriston — Chargers: Maybe I haven’t learned my lesson from the past, but I am once again counting on the Chargers to do something with their talented, well-paid quarterback. They finally have a competent head coach in Jim Harbaugh and while he may not have made as many big splashes as expected this offseason, I can see him leading the Chargers to a winning record and dare I say, possibly a playoff bid.

They fired Brandon Staley late in the 2023 season and replaced him with a proven winner. The Chargers have had high expectations in the past and failed to meet them, but I believe this will be the year they are a team that gives their opponents a bigger challenge and certainly will rack up more wins than last year.

Their offensive losses will take some time to adjust to, but saving money to lose aging players can help them in the end. Keeping defensive end Joey Bosa and linebacker Khalil Mack in L.A. at a cheaper price was huge for a team that needs that veteran presence and experience on defense.

They won’t win the division, since the AFC West includes the defending champion Chiefs, but they have the easiest strength of schedule in the AFC, which will help them heaps.

Last year’s record: 5-12
Offseason losses: RB Austin Ekeler, LB Kenneth Murray, WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams
Offseason acquisitions: Head coach Jim Harbaugh, T Joe Alt, RB J.K. Dobbins, CB Kristian Fulton, RB Gus Edwards
Over/Under win total: 9.0

Benjamin — Vikings: The Minnesota Vikings may not have a clear-cut quarterback for the 2024 season, or at least a confirmed plan for both Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, but the talent level around them under Kevin O’Connell is top-notch. Throw in Brian Flores’ defense, which has a potentially deeper pass rush, and this club could muddy up an NFC North race between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.

Last year’s record: 7-10
Offseason losses: QB Kirk Cousins, DE Danielle Hunter
Offseason acquisitions: QB J.J. McCarthy, RB Aaron Jones
Over/under win total: 7.0

Sullivan — Jets: I think people are sleeping on New York. Yes, Aaron Rodgers is maddening at times, but he’s a four-time MVP. Even if he is 80% of his former self coming off of his torn Achilles last season, that’s still the best quarterback play the Jets have had in decades. Pair that with a stellar defense, a refurbished offensive line, and superstar weapons like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, you have the makings of a very dangerous team. They also have the fourth-easiest schedule in the league based on their opponents’ projected win total, which makes them an outside threat for the No. 1 seed.

Last year’s record: 7-10
Offseason losses: RB Dalvin Cook
Offseason acquisitions: WR Mike Williams, DT Javon Kinlaw, OT Olu Fashanu
Over/under win total: 10.0

Podell — Packers: The Packers earned the distinction of being the youngest team to win a postseason game since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger (average age of 25 years and 214 days) following their 48-32 demolition of the NFC’s No. 2 seed, the Dallas Cowboys, in the wild card round. They led that game 27-0, and quarterback Jordan Love set the Packers’ single game playoff records for passer rating (157.2) and yards per pass attempt (13) after carving up Dallas’ top-five defense for 272 passing yards and three touchdowns while completing 16 of his 21 passes.

Green Bay nearly toppled the San Francisco 49ers, the No. 1 seed and eventual NFC champs, on the road in a 24-21 defeat —  a game in which they led for most of the night. Since, they have aggressively added to their roster with the signings of two-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs (four years, $48 million) and Pro Football Focus’ best safety in coverage (91.2 coverage grade) in Xavier McKinney (four years, $67 million). They also addressed key positions of need by firing Joe Barry and hiring a more aggressive, man coverage based defensive coordinator in Jeff Hafley on top of drafting well to plug spots at offensive line, linebacker and safety. The Packers came away with USC running back Marshawn Lloyd in the third round, a player some viewed as the draft’s top running back.

In summary, the Packers could take a big leap to true Super Bowl contention with the youngest team in football getting a year older and because general manager Brian Gutekunst did what he needed to do this offseason.

Last year’s record: 9-8
Offseason losses: RB Aaron Jones, OT David Bakhtiari
Offseason acquisitions: SAF Xavier McKinney, RB Josh Jacobs
Over/under win total: 9.5

DeArdo — Commanders: I personally love just about everything the Commanders did this offseason, especially the hiring of Dan Quinn as head coach, Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator, the free agent signings of Austin Ekeler, Tyler Biadasz and Bobby Wagner (among others) and the selection of rookie QB Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick. Don’t sleep on D.C. in 2024.

Last year’s record: 4-13
Offseason losses: QB Jake Fromm, TE Logan Thomas
Offseason acquisitions: QB Jayden Daniels, head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, RB Austin Ekeler, LB Bobby Wagner, TE Zach Ertz
Over/under win total: 6.5

Dajani — Titans: Some fans in Nashville have declared this offseason the most exciting offseason in Titans franchise history. Mike Vrabel was replaced by the offensive-minded Brian Callahan, who has a young, big-armed quarterback to develop in Will Levis. That development could be expedited by the moves Tennessee made in free agency, signing center Lloyd Cushenberry, running back Tony Pollard and creating what appears to be one of the best WR trios in the league with Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd. Levis is going to have a shot to prove he’s the guy in an offense that should feature plenty of passing. What’s the Titans’ ceiling if he’s a legitimate QB?

Defensively, the Titans hired a new coordinator in Dennard Wilson, who has excited everyone with his approach to that side of the ball. Tennessee’s pass defense hasn’t finished in the top half of the league since 2018, but will have a chance now that it added cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and L’Jarius Sneed. Could the Titans surprise in 2024?

Last year’s record: 6-11
Offseason losses: RB Derrick Henry, head coach Mike Vrabel
Offseason acquisitions: Head coach Brian Callahan, WR Calvin Ridley, RB Tony Pollard
Over/under win total: 6.5

Teams that will underperform

McCarriston — Bills: Some may look at the Bills as a successful team because yes, at a glance, a team that gets to the playoffs and wins divisional titles is a successful team. For me, they are one of the most disappointing teams in the league, because their ceiling is so much higher than where they are reaching. Making one conference championship in the Josh Allen Era is the definition of underperforming and while it is a difficult road through the Chiefs, it has been a history of small mistakes and unpreparedness that resulted in those losses.

Do I think the Bills will be a playoff team next year? Absolutely, but I do not believe they will meet the high expectations that are set for them for as long as Allen is running the offense. With a salary cap to address, they lost a lot of key players and there will be an adjustment period as they look to replace holes left on all sides of the ball.

When you toss in playing a strong Miami Dolphins team and a potentially revitalized New York Jets team lead by Aaron Rodgers twice each, as well being tied for the sixth toughest schedule in the league, we could see some serious struggles from a team that has already shown some shakiness.

Last year’s record: 11-6
Offseason losses: WR Stefon Diggs, C Mitch Morse, S Jordan Poyer, WR Gabe Davis, CB Tre’Davious White
Offseason acquisitions: WR Keon Coleman
Over/under win total: 10.5

Benjamin — Colts: The Indianapolis Colts are a popular pick to take a leap forward after Anthony Richardson’s hot start to an abbreviated rookie season. Coach Shane Steichen certainly seems cut out for the job. But Richardson’s style of play lent itself to multiple injuries in a short period of time, and his team isn’t exactly loaded with proven play-makers on the perimeter, both offensively and defensively.

Last year’s record: 9-8
Offseason losses: QB Gardner Minshew, RB Zach Moss, WR Isaiah McKenzie
Offseason acquisitions: QB Joe Flacco, DL Raekwon Davis, DE Laiatu Latu, WR Adonai Mitchell 
Over/Under win total: 8.5

Sullivan — Ravens: A year ago, I had Baltimore as my pick to come out of the AFC and reach the Super Bowl. I’m singing a different tune now. Currently, they own the second-best odds to win the AFC only trailing the Chiefs, and I feel like that may be a bit too rich. Their division should be more competitive with Cincinnati getting Joe Burrow back, and if that’s the bar we’re holding them to (winning the AFC North), I can see a scenario where they come up short. The road is also pretty rough for them this year as they own the fourth-toughest strength of schedule based on their opponents’ projected win total. Also, don’t underrate the departure of defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and linebacker Patrick Queen this offseason either.

Last year’s record: 13-4
Offseason losses: OL Kevin Zeitler, RB Gus Edwards, S Geno Stone, LB Patrick Queen, LB Jadeveon Clowney 
Offseason acquisitions: RB Derrick Henry
Over/Under win total: 11.0

Podell — Browns: The Cleveland Browns scratched and clawed their way into the postseason in 2023 on the strength of the No. 1 total defense (270.2 total yards per game allowed) in the entire league powered by Defensive Player of the Year edge rusher Myles Garrett. Cleveland became just the second team ever to make the playoffs with five different starting quarterbacks, joining the 1984 Chicago Bears.

However, Deshaun Watson returning from having surgery on his throwing shoulder may be more of a negative than a positive: he has ranked 35th or worst in completion percentage (59.8%, 41st), passing yards per attempt (6.5 (36th) and passer rating (81.7, 37th) among 45 qualified quarterbacks since 2022 when he became a Cleveland Brown. Plus, four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb is attempting to return from a gruesome knee injury in which he suffered the following: a torn left MCL, meniscus tear and a partially torn ACL. Naturally, Chubb required two separate surgeries last fall to fix his knee.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Cleveland’s offense doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain once again in 2024, which could lead to the Browns missing the postseason if their defense doesn’t bring its A-plus game every single week.

Last year’s record: 11-6
Offseason losses: Offensive line coach Bill Callahan, LB Anthony Walker
Offseason acquisitions: RB Nyheim Hines, QB Jameis Winston, RB D’Onta Foreman
Over/Under win total: 8.5

DeArdo — Bears: Chicago’s wins over/under has been seen at 8.5, which seems a bit high. I know that the Bears went 7-10 last year, and — at least on paper — Chicago is a much better outfit in 2024. While both of those things are true, I’m leery when it comes to putting too high of expectations on a rookie starting quarterback, which is what Caleb Williams will be this season. Add in the fact that they play in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions is another reason why I’m hesitant to buy too much Bears stock this season. Talk to me in 2025, after Williams has had a full season under his belt.

Last year’s record: 7-10
Offseason losses: QB Justin Fields, NT Justin Jones, C Cody Whitehair
Offseason acquisitions: QB Caleb Williams, RB D’Andre Swift, S Kevin Byard, WR Rome Odunze
Over/Under win total: 9.0

Dajani — Bears: Caleb Williams may end up being a star, but will he hit the ground running? Chicago has a head coach fresh off the hot seat in Matt Eberflus, and a new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron. Quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall haven’t surpassed six wins in their first seasons since Andrew Luck in 2012, and the NFC North isn’t exactly a cakewalk. The Bears Over/Under win total is set at 9. Is that too high?