Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders are in the midst of perhaps the longest Super Bowl hangover ever — a 14 year playoff drought since getting blown out in Super Bowl XXXVII, and haven’t posted a winning record in just as long. Which streak (if either) will end? The answer might surprise you.
Is this the year the NFL has its first 2,000 yard receiver?
In the offseason, Julio Jones brought up the possibility of an NFL first: a 2,000 yard receiver. The continued emphasis on passing in today’s NFL certainly makes this realistic but it would take unparalleled consistency between an elite quarterback and elite receiver. Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown are the most likely pair to do it…but will they stay healthy and productive enough to pull it off, or will another dynamic duo make history?
How will the league’s new rules effect the 2016 season?
Now that multiple personal foul penalties will get a player ejected, it makes the potential for another Josh Norman vs. Odell Beckham bout that much more compelling. The NFL continues its bid to phase out the kickoff so it’ll be interesting to see if the new touchback rule aids that effort or backfires completely.
OK, those are enough questions. It’s time for division-by-division answers.
(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
NFC East
Redskins 11-5 The Redskins haven’t won back-to-back division titles in 32 years, and nobody’s won the NFC East in consecutive seasons since 2004. Both streaks end this season…by default. The Skins will play a first place schedule — which generally doesn’t mean anything — but this year, it translates to Washington playing defensive world beaters Arizona and Carolina. Couple that with the division-wide misfortune of facing the AFC North, and gaudy records won’t be in the cards for the NFC East. That said, the Redskins are more talented than they were last year. Kirk Cousins is better after a productive offseason, Jordan Reed is healthy (and well paid) after his 2015 coming out party, and DeSean Jackson looks extra motivated in a contract year. Josh Norman brings swagger and star power to a defense desperate for both, Preston Smith looks poised for a breakout sophomore season, and rookie Su’a Cravens has shown signs that he can be a difference maker. That should be enough to overcome the stagnant rushing attack and a shaky defensive line that didn’t add any notable help in the offseason. With only one or two juggernaut offenses on the schedule, don’t be surprised to see the Skins not only repeat as division champs, but actually make a deep playoff run 25 years after their last Super Bowl. Giants 8-8 Last year, Big Blue came up mighty small late in games, losing five games they led in the 4th quarter. So the Giants spent $114 million in guaranteed money to four defensive free agents (Janoris Jenkins, Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison and Jason Pierre-Paul) and added ex-Redskin linebacker Keenan Robinson to help breathe life into one of the league’s worst defenses. Management thinks they’ve got something good but I’m not sold on the notion that simply dumping a two-time Super Bowl winner (Tom Coughlin) for a young offensive coordinator (Ben McAdoo) who was also a part of the back-to-back 6-10 seasons will fix what ails the Giants. The ground game remains a question mark, but Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. will continue to play catch in opposing secondaries and the long-awaited return of Victor Cruz can only help matters. That will keep New York competitive, but I see them fading down the stretch after a fast start, which will allow the Redskins to clinch the division before their Week 17 tilt. Cowboys 7-9 Despite the growing preseason legend of Dak Prescott (even in his own mind), the reality is this: Any Dallas prediction has to be predicated on the health of Tony Romo. The Cowboys are 10-23 without him since he took over the starting job in 2006 and over their last 36 games, the Cowboys are 17-5 with Romo and 1-13 without him. However, the rest of the offense looks good with Dez Bryant back healthy, rookie Ezekiel Elliott bringing big play ability to the backfield, and ex-Redskin Alfred Morris providing at least a good change of pace option behind the best offensive line in football. It’s not so sunny on defense though; the unit opens the year with multiple key suspensions–Randy Gregory (10), Rolando McClain (10 games), and Demarcus Lawrence (4) — and the secondary has more questions than answers. With a patchwork D and an offense led by a rookie at least half the season, count on a very slow start but a competitive finish for not-so-big D. Eagles 6-10 Though there’s evidence to the contrary, Philadelphia thinks they’ve got a link to their glory years with new coach Doug Pederson taking the helm. The former Andy Reid assistant says he’ll keep elements of predecessor Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense in place, but the fact of the matter is they don’t have as good a QB situation as their investment in it suggests: Sam Bradford’s inexplicably arrogant holdout indirectly led to his trade, Chase Daniel comes to town to be a present-day Todd Collins, and the Eagles gave up a bounty of picks for Carson Wentz, who was pegged for a redshirt season before the Bradford trade (and is already banged up). Add in the 10-game suspension of offensive lineman Lane Johnson, and there isn’t much reason to believe this will be a top flight unit. However, the defense seems to be in good hands with Jim Schwartz. His squad was flying around, creating turnovers in the preseason and he brought linebacker Stephen Tulloch to Philly just before preseason. If Schwartz can keep the D swarming in the regular season, the Eagles could be more competitive than expected.
(Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) Redskins 11-5 The Redskins haven’t won back-to-back division titles in 32 years, and nobody’s won the NFC East in consecutive seasons since 2004. Both streaks end this season…by default. The Skins will play a first place schedule — which generally doesn’t mean anything — but this year, it translates to Washington playing defensive world beaters Arizona and Carolina. Couple that with the division-wide misfortune of facing the AFC North, and gaudy records won’t be in the cards for the NFC East. That said, the Redskins are more talented than they were last year. Kirk Cousins is better after a productive offseason, Jordan Reed is healthy (and well paid) after his 2015 coming out party, and DeSean Jackson looks extra motivated in a contract year. Josh Norman brings swagger and star power to a defense desperate for both, Preston Smith looks poised for a breakout sophomore season, and rookie Su’a Cravens has shown signs that he can be a difference maker. That should be enough to overcome the stagnant rushing attack and a shaky defensive line that didn’t add any notable help in the offseason. With only one or two juggernaut offenses on the schedule, don’t be surprised to see the Skins not only repeat as division champs, but actually make a deep playoff run 25 years after their last Super Bowl. Giants 8-8 Last year, Big Blue came up mighty small late in games, losing five games they led in the 4th quarter. So the Giants spent $114 million in guaranteed money to four defensive free agents (Janoris Jenkins, Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison and Jason Pierre-Paul) and added ex-Redskin linebacker Keenan Robinson to help breathe life into one of the league’s worst defenses. Management thinks they’ve got something good but I’m not sold on the notion that simply dumping a two-time Super Bowl winner (Tom Coughlin) for a young offensive coordinator (Ben McAdoo) who was also a part of the back-to-back 6-10 seasons will fix what ails the Giants. The ground game remains a question mark, but Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. will continue to play catch in opposing secondaries and the long-awaited return of Victor Cruz can only help matters. That will keep New York competitive, but I see them fading down the stretch after a fast start, which will allow the Redskins to clinch the division before their Week 17 tilt. Cowboys 7-9 Despite the growing preseason legend of Dak Prescott (even in his own mind), the reality is this: Any Dallas prediction has to be predicated on the health of Tony Romo. The Cowboys are 10-23 without him since he took over the starting job in 2006 and over their last 36 games, the Cowboys are 17-5 with Romo and 1-13 without him. However, the rest of the offense looks good with Dez Bryant back healthy, rookie Ezekiel Elliott bringing big play ability to the backfield, and ex-Redskin Alfred Morris providing at least a good change of pace option behind the best offensive line in football. It’s not so sunny on defense though; the unit opens the year with multiple key suspensions–Randy Gregory (10), Rolando McClain (10 games), and Demarcus Lawrence (4) — and the secondary has more questions than answers. With a patchwork D and an offense led by a rookie at least half the season, count on a very slow start but a competitive finish for not-so-big D. Eagles 6-10 Though there’s evidence to the contrary, Philadelphia thinks they’ve got a link to their glory years with new coach Doug Pederson taking the helm. The former Andy Reid assistant says he’ll keep elements of predecessor Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense in place, but the fact of the matter is they don’t have as good a QB situation as their investment in it suggests: Sam Bradford’s inexplicably arrogant holdout indirectly led to his trade, Chase Daniel comes to town to be a present-day Todd Collins, and the Eagles gave up a bounty of picks for Carson Wentz, who was pegged for a redshirt season before the Bradford trade (and is already banged up). Add in the 10-game suspension of offensive lineman Lane Johnson, and there isn’t much reason to believe this will be a top flight unit. However, the defense seems to be in good hands with Jim Schwartz. His squad was flying around, creating turnovers in the preseason and he brought linebacker Stephen Tulloch to Philly just before preseason. If Schwartz can keep the D swarming in the regular season, the Eagles could be more competitive than expected.
Photo by Larry French/Getty Images
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith
AP Photo/Bob Leverone
AP Photo/Kathy Willens
Steelers 12-4 Folks, here’s the NFL’s best offense. And Pittsburgh knows it. There’s talk in that building of putting up 30 points per game and I don’t disagree. Ben Roethlisberger is playing the best football of his career, Antonio Brown is the best WR in the league, and LeVeon Bell is back from a knee injury in a contract year (though he’ll miss the season’s first three games due to suspension). So expect DeAngelo Williams to play well in his stead and the offensive line to hold up well if Ryan Harris can fortify the left side. The only real concern comes at tight end, where Heath Miller is retired and Ladarius Green has struggled to stay on the field. The big question is whether the defense can properly compliment such a prolific offense. Pro Football Focus ranks the Steelers’ front seven as 25th in the league and Bud Dupree won’t be around to help for much of the season (he’s on IR with designation to return). The secondary isn’t much better so first round pick Artie Burns will need to contribute immediately. If the D can play above expectations, Pittsburgh might come close to putting a ring on the other hand. Ravens 10-6 Baltimore loves playing in Olympic years. No, not because of local product Michael Phelps; the Ravens have posted a winning record in every leap year (not including their inaugural 1996 season). The injury bug bit Baltimore early and often 2015, sending 20 players to injured reserve and that’s a major reason why they fell so hard in the standings. There might be a slow start to this year as Joe Flacco works his way back from a knee injury and copes with losing Ben Watson for the season, but Steve Smith is back and really motivated. The running game returns Justin Forsett to the fold but rookie Kenneth Dixon is already banged up. The defense added safety Eric Weddle in free agency and he’ll have impact on what was a lousy secondary last year. Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil return from injury to help bring splash plays back to the Inner Harbor, and their health will determine whether the D can withstand challenges from potent offenses in Pittsburgh (twice), Jacksonville, Washington and New England. This could be another losing campaign in Baltimore but I believe John Harbaugh — with the help of three former head coaches on his staff — will get the most of his roster and get the Ravens back in the wild card hunt. Browns 5-11 Maybe I just really liked Believeland…but I like what the Browns are doing (even if Vegas disagrees). Hue Jackson is the 8th head coach of the Cleveland Browns since 2003 — and he’s probably the best. He once resuscitated Jason Campbell’s career in Oakland and he’s got the chance to salvage another failed former Redskins QB in Robert Griffin III. RGIII will have his old Baylor buddy Josh Gordon back from suspension in Week 5 and another former Bear (Corey Coleman) to throw to. Duke Johnson will need to have a strong sophomore season behind a shaky offensive line but the key is Griffin: If he’s even remotely close to who he was in 2012 and Gordon can recapture his 2013 form, Cleveland can make the same kind of first year leap Jackson’s Raiders did in 2011. However, it’ll be tough to overcome the defensive deficiencies. Pass rusher Barkevious Mingo was dealt to New England and the unit will be Bryant-less for at least a month (Armonty is serving a 4-game suspension and 2015 sack leader Desmond is out for the season with a torn pectoral). Cleveland’s front seven figures to be the worst in football and the secondary isn’t nearly good enough to pick up the slack. I think the well-coached Browns will sneak up on some people and win just enough to avoid earning the first pick in the 2017 Draft. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Chargers 7-9 Were it not for Denver, San Diego might have had the worst offseason in the AFC West. The long, contentious Joey Bosa holdout headlined the Chargers’ summer and perhaps set reasonable expectations for Bosa’s rookie season pretty low. That’s bad news for a defense that ranked in the bottom half of the league last season and is relying on Corey Liuget (coming off injury) and Brandon Mebane (delusional former Seahawk added in free agency) to not only shore up a questionable front seven, but make life easier for a secondary without the departed Eric Weddle. The 34-year-old Philip Rivers and his quality receiving corps are just about the only things to feel good about on offense. The line isn’t much better than the porous squad that struggled in 2015 and Melvin Gordon has a lot to atone for after a lackluster rookie season (six fumbles, only 3.5 yards per carry). In a tough division, a team that’s bad along the offensive and defensive lines can’t compete unless their QB carries them…and that’s what I expect from Rivers and the Bolts. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Elliott
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Karl Joseph
Offensive Player of the Year: Antonio Brown
Defensive Player of the Year: Tyrann Mathieu
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians
MVP: Ben Roethlisberger
Super Bowl LI: Cardinals over Patriots (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
