Category Archives: nfl

2015 NFL Team Preview: New Orleans Saints

The NFC South was a joke last season. The Carolina Panther won the division and made it into the playoffs with a sub-.500 record. The Saints were expected to win the division, but they uncharacteristically failed at home. The Superdome was not kind to them.

The Saints are once again favored to finish near the top of the division, but it won’t be easy. They are without Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham who soured on the franchise after they failed to grant him wide receiver money when they franchise tagged him last season. Which receiver/running back will benefit from increased targets?

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the New Orleans Saints.

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2015 NFL Team Preview: New England Patriots

The New England Patriots held off the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl 49. They have since had an interesting offseason. They’ve had to defend their success after rumors of cheating was brought to light by the Indianapolis Colts during the AFC Championship Game. A lot is still unknown about the situation. Tom Brady is still battling the league to get his suspension reduced or thrown out completely.

The Patriots lost some key players on defense this offseason. Brandon Browner, Darrelle Revis and long-term veteran Vince Wilfork left Belichickville. Can the Patriots repeat as champs with only an average defense?

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the New England Patriots.

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2015 NFL Team Preview: Minnesota Vikings

All within the span of four months, the Vikings went from the high of drafting one of the best quarterbacks in the 2014 NFL Draft to the low of having their star running back indefinitely suspended. They rebounded and won seven games after many wrote them off immediately after Adrian Peterson’s suspension.

The Vikings have all their main stars back from suspension and injury this season. The experience many of their young players earned last season is priceless. Both Jerick McKinnon and Jarius Wright showed they can step in if needed.

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the Minnesota Vikings…also, I have no idea who the Vikings guy in the picture is, but he screams ‘I live in Minnesota’, right?

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2015 NFL Team Preview: Miami Dolphins

A lot was made of the $96 million contract extension Ryan Tannehill signed this offseason. He is only 23-27 as the starter and the ridicule is somewhat warranted. Those people fail to look at the free agent quarterback pool and realize it was smarter to just dish out $45 million guaranteed to Tannehill over signing Ryan Fitzpatrick or Josh McCown.

The Dolphins have been mediocre for most of the last decade. Other than New England, the rest of the AFC East hasn’t exactly been the model of NFL efficiency. The Patriots have run amok and the rest of the division has been stuck running in place.

Can Miami knock the mighty Patriots off their pedestal?

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the Miami Dolphins.

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2015 NFL Team Preview: Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs went the entire 2014 season without throwing a touchdown pass to a wide receiver. Yes, that actually happened in a year in which the NFL saw an increase in passing yards across the board. Alex Smith threw 18 touchdowns, but they were all to tight ends, running backs and fullbacks. I doubt that feat will ever be duplicated again.

The Chiefs have looked great under head coach Andy Reid. He put in his West Coast offense and Alex Smith is the perfect quarterback for it. He runs well and doesn’t have to throw the ball 25 yards ever time he drops back. It also helps to have Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles lining up behind you.

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the Kansas City Chiefs.

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2015 NFL Team Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been the butt of many jokes over the years. They haven’t been good for years, get high draft picks and blow those draft picks on quarterbacks that sound more like female stars on The CW (Blaine and Blake). See, it’s so easy to make fun of them.

The Jags do have one thing going for them. They play in a division that is one of the worst in the NFL. Well, one of the reasons it is the worst is because Jacksonville plays in it.

I do believe Jacksonville has improved on both sides of the ball. The improvements aren’t night and day, but their younger players have gained experience the last few years. They will be better…but not good.

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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2015 NFL Team Preview: Indianapolis Colts

The Colts made some splashy signings this offseason. They cut loose some dead weight (i.e. Trent Richardson) and signed hungry veterans like Frank Gore and Andre Johnson, who would love to win a ring before they call it quits. The Colts made it clear with their signings that their goal is the Super Bowl. Anything less would be considered a failure.

The AFC South has improved across the board this season, because it couldn’t get much worse. The Colts are still favored to win the division and possibly be in contention for home-field advantage in the postseason.

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the Indianapolis Colts.

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2015 NFL Team Preview: Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are currently featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks”, so a lot of eyes are watching them this preseason. The show usually brings a ton of undeserving expectations to whichever team appears on the program. Actually, very few teams that have been on the show went on to make the playoffs that season. It still doesn’t stop people from expecting big things.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien has a big decision to make this preseason. He has to choose who will become the team’s starting quarterback. Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett both have their positives, but no one is the clear pick to lead the team. The race should be close throughout camp.

Which man will win the starting quarterback job?

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the Houston Texans.

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2015 NFL Team Preview: Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are a machine with Aaron Rodgers. They have won four-straight NFC North division titles and Rodgers is a perennial MVP candidate.

Green Bay was a touchdown shy of appearing in the Super Bowl last season. They bring nearly everyone back from that team. They also add B.J. Raji, who missed the entire 2014 season after tearing his biceps last preseason.

The Packers look like the table is set for them to have a monster season. Detroit and Minnesota will both battle for a playoff spot, but Green Bay is on a different level right now.

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the Green Bay Packers.

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2015 NFL Team Preview: Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have been known to take one step forward and ten steps back. They haven’t been able to patch together two decent seasons They were 10-6 in 2011, but then had back-to-back losing seasons before rebounding last season with an 11-5 record.

I expect a big year from both Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. Stafford has thrown for 4,000+ yards for four straight seasons, but struggled with turnovers for a few seasons. The addition of Golden Tate last year kept him from constantly throwing to Calvin Johnson when he was double and triple covered.

Detroit hasn’t won a division title since 1993. Can they defy the odds and overtake Green Bay in the North?

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the Detroit Lions.

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2015 NFL Team Preview: Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos have been on a hot streak since signing Peyton Manning before the 2012 season. They are 38-10 with a Super Bowl appearance since luring him to the Rockies. I’m sure many Denver fans expected a Super Bowl win by now, but you can’t be too disappointed, can you?

I’m a life-long fan of the Indianapolis Colts. I understand some of their frustration with making the postseason every year, but often falling short of the main prize. Manning played for the Colts for 13 seasons and managed one Super Bowl win. He is proof that you can have the best quarterback in the league, but you need a complete team (and a little luck) to win the big one.

If Denver doesn’t win the Super Bowl this season, will Peyton’s tenure be viewed as a failure?

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the Denver Broncos.

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2015 NFL Team Preview: Dallas Cowboys

Everything went right for the Dallas Cowboys during the 2014 regular season. DeMarco Murray was a beast, Tony Romo played like an elite quarterback and their defense showed up for the first time in years. It was a perfect storm leading to a 12-4 record. They fell short in the postseason thanks to a bogus referee call.

It will take another season of the Cowboys getting a Pro Bowl-level from the running back, Tony Romo and their defense for them to get to double-digit wins this year. DeMarco Murray is now in Philly, so Dallas could have some issues moving the ball on the ground. Their offensive line is great, so it could all happen again.

Here is the 2015 NFL team preview for the Dallas Cowboys.

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