NFL Season Preview

The Bills are one of the best teams in the whole NFL. Josh Allen is the star QB and will be the main man once again. On top of that they have improved their defence by bringing in Superbowl winner Von Miller.

If Buffalo don’t win this division, it will be a major shock.

Miami made a massive splash in the trade market this off-season by brining in Tyreek Hill. They now have two quality receiver options for Tua Tagovailoa with Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

They have a strong squad and should be looking to reach the playoffs this season.

New England are still in transition after their period of dominance with Tom Brady. They now have Mac Jones at QB who showed he can play well last year. However, the loss of offensive head coach, Josh McDaniel’s will hurt.

The playoffs might be beyond them this season.

The Jets struggled badly last year finishing 4-13. They have bought in some good young talent through the draft but it will still be a tough year. Zack Wilson might miss the start of the season through injury and six wins should be considered a success.

The Eagles have made some very impressive moves this off-season.

Bringing in top receiver AJ Brown is a massive improvement for the offence. The defence has had depth added to it as well.

The Eagles are in a good place right now and a trip to the playoffs should be a minimum this season.

Dallas have been quiet this off-season. Some big names have gone and have not really been replaced. The biggest worry is the loss of Amari Cooper at receiver and right tackle La’el Collins. They will have to rely on some magic from QB Dak Prescott and star receiver CeeDee Lamb.

It’s unlikely that Americas team will be winning a Superbowl this year.

Giants fans have suffered over the last few years but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Bringing in new Head Coach Brian Dabol is a good move. They have drafted well with the likes of Evan Neal and Kayvon Thibodeaux bolstering the trenches.

Keeping star running back Saquon Barkley fit is a must for them this year in order to improve.

The Commanders have new QB Carson Wentz to pin their hopes on this season. He is an improvement from last year and re-signing stud receiver Terry McLaurin is a massive boost. The defence has some strong pieces on it although main guy Chase Young will miss the first four games at least.

The worry is the overall quality of the roster is not strong enough for a playoff run.

The losers of the Superbowl last year will be looking to bounce back this season. Joe Burrow is leading an explosive offence that will be looking to win the division. The biggest weakness from last year was the o-line and that has been bolstered. The biggest worry for the Bengals is that everyone knows what they can do now.

Expect them to still be contenders.

Baltimore had an injury list as long as your arm last season. However, the Ravens have got their star QB back and Lamar Jackson will be hoping to lead a playoff charge. Also, running back JK Dobbins being healthy will be a huge plus.

If they can go 8-9 with a half-fit roster imagine what they can do with a healthy one.

It’s all change at QB for the Steelers as Ben Roethlisberger retired after 18 seasons. There is now a battle between Mitch Trubisky and newly drafted Kenny Pickett for the job. The Steelers still have a top-notch defence and great attacking options with the likes of Najee Harris and Diontae Johnson.

However, the playoffs might be a tough ask.

Where do you start with the Browns? Trading for Deshaun Watson, trading away Baker Mayfield and not knowing if Watson can play. We now know that Watson has been suspended for the first 11 games, leaving journeyman back-up Jacoby Brissett at the helm.

The rest of the roster is like last year and you should expect them to utilise the run game effectively, but they will struggle to make the playoffs.

Green Bay had two main objectives this off-season. Re-sign Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. Rodgers signed a new deal, but Adams ended up being traded away. Despite this the Packers are still heavy favourites to win the division. Their defence has the potential to be top five this year and the offence still has plenty of weapons.

Expect another division title going to Lambeau.

The Vikings finished 8-9 last season which cost head coach Mike Zimmer his job. Kevin O’Connell got the gig, and he wants to see the receivers get more action. Star wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, will be the main guy for the Vikings but they have a decent supporting cast.

Expect an improvement and a possible playoff appearance.

The Lions are an interesting team this season. They have had a lot of problems over the years, but they look different now. Head Coach Dan Campbell has created a culture and the team has become likeable. Amon-Ra St Brown, DJ Chark, D’Andre Swift and TJ Hockenson are all young exciting players.

They won’t make the playoffs, but they have a chance to set some exciting foundations for the future.

It’s not a great time to be a Bears fan now. Main receiver Allen Robinson has gone to the Rams and pass rusher Khalil Mack has gone to the Chargers. Both have left massive holes in the team and their replacements are not good enough. The biggest worry is the team’s offensive line and how QB Justin Fields is going to cope.

This team is in decline and if they win six games they will have done well.

The Chiefs bowed out in the NFC Championship game last year but getting back will be tougher this season. Tyreek Hill has gone to Miami and the replacements are not as good. Marques Valdes-Scantling and Juju Smith-Schuster have been picked to assist Travis Kelce, but they are not at Hills level.

Despite this, star QB Patrick Mahomes will get this team to the playoffs but may struggle to lift the Lombardi.

This is the year for the Chargers to push on and reach the playoffs. The last time they made it was back in 2018 but they have spent big this off-season. The arrival of Khalil Mack and JC Jackson should improve the defence a lot. The offence is still great with young QB Justin Herbert leading them.

A playoff berth is a minimum this year.

Denver had one missing piece and that was at QB. This off-season they went big and traded for Seahawks star Russell Wilson. This team has a very exciting offence with Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Javonte Williams on it. On top of that the defence is strong with the likes of Bradley Chubb and Patrick Surtain.

A playoff run is possible but it maybe one year too early for them to reach the Superbowl.

The Raiders had a good year last season making the playoffs and have improved their team again. They have bought in star receiver Davante Adams from Green Bay and are looking for another playoff appearance.

However, this division is now stacked and the Raiders roster is not as complete as the others in terms of quality.

You can go all in and then you can do what the Rams have done. This team hasn’t had a 1^st round pick since 2016. However, you can’t say it hasn’t worked for them as they were lifting the Lombardi trophy last year. This year they should be close to doing it again. They have bought in Allen Robinson for extra receiver help after Odell Beckham got injured.

Stafford’s elbow problems are a concern, but this team should make the playoffs easily.

The 49ers have a good squad who should have a playoff run this year. The defence is still stacked with the likes of Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Jimmie Ward. They have re-signed star receiver Deebo Samuel and the offence looks like it could be decent again. The biggest worry is how QB Trey Lance will cope as the starter in his first full season.

The 49ers are a team to keep your eye on.

The Cardinals had an up and down season last year. They went on a great run only to fall away towards the end of the season and limp out of the playoffs. There has been off-season drama with star QB Kyler Murray, but he has signed now. Much of their hopes will be pinned on Murray getting them back to the playoffs.

They are a good team but have a tough schedule and will struggle to compete against the Rams and 49ers.

Seattle have put themselves in a hole after trading away Russell Wilson. Now that Wilson is gone Geno Smith is going to be starting and that is a huge drop in talent. The defence is mediocre and there running backs keep picking up injuries. They still have two great receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but they can only do so much.

They have a hard schedule and winning six games would represent a good season.

Last year the Colts finished 9-8 but will be looking to do better this season. They have bought in experienced QB Matt Ryan who is an upgrade from Carson Wentz. The Colts gameplan is still the same. Run the ball with Jonathan Taylor and be a tough defence. They also have a couple of receivers who could blow up this year in Michael Pittman and rookie Alec Pierce.

The Colts should win this division.

The Titans finished as the number one seed last year, but they might struggle to replicate it this season. Derrick Henry is still their main weapon but after an injury plagued year who knows how he will cope with his normal workload. Stud receiver, AJ Brown has been traded away and there is a lack of confidence in QB Ryan Tannehill.

With a tough schedule, winning the division might be beyond them.

Jacksonville have had the number one pick in the draft the last two years, but improvement is around the corner. New head coach Doug Pederson is a huge step up compared to Urban Meyer. Trevor Lawrence is now in his second year, and he has some decent weapons around him. On top of that, the defence is starting to improve as well.

Jacksonville won’t make the playoffs, but they won’t be the number one pick next year either.

The Texans are still in a massive rebuild and its going to take a few more years before they get anywhere. Davis Mills had a solid year last season at quarterback, but he has very little quality around him. Veteran receiver Brandin Cooks is the only bright spark on the offence and the defence is average as well.

If the Texans get third place in the division, they will have done well.

The Bucs went 13-4 last year but failed in the playoffs when they played the Rams. They do have a tough schedule this season, but they should make the playoffs again. Tom Brady is back for another year along with most of his offence, although the injury to guard Ryan Jensen is a negative.

The defence is looking strong again after a small drop off last year and playoffs should be a minimum.

New Orleans are in a bit of a transition now. Drew Brees retired in 2021 and now Sean Peyton has gone as well. New head coach, Dennis Allen has got Jameis Winston at QB who hasn’t been a starting QB for a couple of years. Michael Thomas is back and fit which is a plus and they still have star running back Alvin Kamara.

The defence has plenty of quality on it and playoffs is not beyond them.

The Panthers have struggled since Cam Newton left in 2019. They have been on the look out for a quality QB since and have now gone for Baker Mayfield. Mayfield got the Browns to the playoffs a couple of years ago and will be an upgrade on Sam Darnold.

If top running back Christian McCaffery can stay fit, then the Panthers could exceed expectations.

Atlanta is another team that have struggled in recent years. It feels like they never really got over their Superbowl loss to the Patriots in 2017. QB Matt Ryan has gone to the Colts and there isn’t much love for Marcus Mariota. Rookie receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts are their main weapons.

There is a lack of quality over the whole roster and making the playoffs would be a huge achievement for this team.