With the NFL’s regular season getting started, let’s take a look at some of the teams sure to keep the League as exciting and dramatic as ever this upcoming season.
In the fairly loaded National Football Conference (NFC), I expect the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers to be the frontrunners this season. Both teams feature excellent quarterbacks — Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, respectively — and have plenty of weapons at their disposal to dominate through the air.
If Jordy Nelson of the Packers can remain healthy, the combination of him and newcomer Martellus Bennett, acquired from New England, as well as contributions from Randall Cobb, could create problems for opposing defenses.
However, their pass defense was the second worst in the League last year, which the Atlanta Falcons picked apart in their NFC Championship game matchup with the Packers. Improvement in that area, along with another strong performance by Rodgers, could end in a magical season for the Packers.
Likely to be the Packers biggest threat in the Conference, Wilson’s Seahawks feature the one-two receiving punch of Doug Baldwin and tight end Jimmy Graham.
Last year, however, their running game sputtered — 25th in the League — behind a line that had a tough time keeping their quarterback upright. The addition of lineman Luke Joeckel could provide some fire to last year’s underwhelming offensive line; Plus, the acquisition of running-back Eddie Lacy from the Packers could provide the spark that Seattle needs to create a balanced attack.
The “Legion of Boom” — defensive backs Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman — consistently make up one of the best secondary groups in the League, and Bobby Wagner and K. J. Wright are beasts at the line, posting career highs in tackles last season. If the offensive line can protect Wilson this year, expect the Seahawks to be dangerous come the playoffs.
While the Packers and the Seahawks seem to be early front-runners in the NFC, it is hard to count out last year’s Super Bowl runners-up, the Atlanta Falcons.
After an MVP season from QB Matt Ryan and the emergence of Devonta Freeman as one of the League’s elite running backs, coach Kyle Shanahan had a record-setting offense on his hands.
While it is hard to imagine many teams keeping up with the Falcons’ offensive firepower, their defense needs work. All you need to know about last year’s struggling defense is that even after being carried to the Super Bowl by the offense, they still found a way to blow a 25-point lead to the Pats in Super Bowl LI.
Over in the American Football Conference (AFC), we have the reigning Super Bowl LI Champions, the New England Patriots, looking to repeat last season’s success. After one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history and more than a fair share of “crying Jordan” memes, the Patriots are once again the favorites to take home the Lombardi Trophy.
Even after the loss of star wide receiver Julian Edelman in the preseason to a torn ACL, quarterback Tom Brady will still have plenty of targets to throw to in Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Hogan and Danny Amendola, as well as Rob Gronkowski, who is coming off back surgery and may take a step back in production. Still, Vegas has their odds to win at 13/4.
The team has one of the deadliest duos in the game’s history: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Since Brady became the starting quarterback in 2001, the two have won five Super Bowl titles and seven AFC Championships together and have not missed the playoffs since 2008. As long as No. 12 is still under center for the Pats and Belichick is still Belichick, it is hard to bet against such consistency.
Not to mention that the defense last year led the League in fewest points allowed. Additionally, with a strong secondary in Malcolm Butler, Stephen Gilmore, Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon, the Pats won’t be allowing much through the air.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the best odds amongst AFC teams to hoist the Lombardi Trophy behind the Patriots at 10/1. Despite being lackluster on defense the past few years, especially in the secondary, they’ve shown improvement.
Although this group is not the “Steel Curtain” that once terrified opposing offenses in the ‘70s, it may not be necessary with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. Roethlisberger may not have many years left in the League, but he has been a consistently solid quarterback who has led the Steelers to three Super Bowls.
Complimenting Big Ben are the other “Killer-B’s” — wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell — who are considered by many to be the best at their respective positions.
Led by a strong offensive line, if the Steelers’ defense can continue to improve while the offense lights up the scoreboard, as they did in 2016, Pittsburgh could make a deep run in the playoffs.
The Oakland Raiders have similar goals in unseating the Pats from their throne, and quarterback Derek Carr might even have the tools to do it. Despite breaking his leg in December, Carr is expected to make a complete recovery and pick up where he left off last year, throwing for 3,937 yards with 28 touchdowns on just six interceptions.
The acquisition of running-back Marshawn Lynch could sure up their game, provided he stays injury free. Meanwhile, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree and the incoming Cordarrelle Patterson will give opposing secondaries plenty of issues.
Reigning defensive MVP Khalil Mack will anchor a defense that finished ranked 26th in total defense last season and allowed an NFL-worst 6.1 yards per play, while also being last in the League for sacks and 24th against the pass.
As with the Steelers, the Raiders will be looking to their offense to create big leads while hoping that their defense is stalwart enough to win ball games.
Time will tell how the season will turn out, but until then, it is time to just sit back, put aside all the homework that can “totally wait until halftime,” and enjoy America’s game.
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