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08 Sep 11
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New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers: Inside the game
Published: Thursday, September 08, 2011, 6:00 AM
By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune
Breaking down the New Orleans Saints' NFL season-opening game against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers tonight in Wisconsin. Here's a look at rankings, players to watch and key matchups.
WHERE THEY RANKED IN 2010
Offense: Saints 6th; Packers 9th
Pass: Saints 3rd; Packers 5th
Rush: Saints 28th; Packers 24th
Defense: Saints 4th; Packers 5th
Pass: Saints 4th; Packers 5th
Rush: Saints 16th; Packers 18th
KEEP AN EYE ON ...
Saints running back Mark Ingram
It has been a while since the Heisman Trophy-winning tailback from Alabama had to make a first impression, but that will be the case tonight as the rookie lines up for his first NFL game at legendary Lambeau Field, where his father Mark once played for the Green Bay Packers.
"It's prime time; it's the first game of the NFL season," Ingram said. "Everybody's going to be watching. I'm excited. I'm really excited about it. I've been working hard my whole entire life to wait for this moment. So just for my first NFL game to be on the national stage like this, I'm excited -- and I'm really looking forward to it."
Ingram slipped to the 28th pick in the draft, partly because of concerns about a past knee injury and partly because NFL teams no longer rely on every-down tailbacks as much. But based on his summer performance, he looks poised to make a difference for a Saints team that must re-balance its offense.
The 5-foot-9, 215-pounder should share touches equally with fellow backs Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles tonight, but he'll still draw the most attention as he introduces himself to a new audience.
Packers DT B.J. Raji
Green Bay's burly nose tackle doesn't get as much attention as some of his more high-profile teammates, but he has the potential to be the most disruptive member of the bunch.
The 6-2, 337-pounder had a breakout year in his second NFL season with 7.5 sacks -- including the playoffs. He capped things off with a memorable 18-yard interception rumble for a touchdown in the NFC championship game win over the Chicago Bears.
Saints guards Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks have earned All-Pro reputations based on their ability to create a safe pocket for quarterback Drew Brees. They'll have their hands full tonight. So will new Saints center Olin Kreutz, who arrived from Chicago with a vivid memory of this Packers team.
KEY MATCHUPS
Packers OLB Clay Matthews vs. Saints RT Zach Strief
Strief will make his debut as the Saints' starter in place of departed veteran Jon Stinchcomb tonight, and he'll be thrown right into the fire against one of the NFL's most dynamic pass rushers.
Matthews (6-3, 255) has 28 sacks the past two seasons -- including the playoffs -- using a rare combination of power, speed and athleticism. He lines up most often on the left side in creative defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 defense, which usually makes for mismatches against right offensive tackles who are traditionally built more for run blocking than pass protection.
Strief (6-7, 320) said that's an old-school stereotype, especially in the Saints' offense, where pass protection is priority No. 1.
"Certainly in an offense like ours, everybody needs to be able to pass protect," said Strief, who has been with New Orleans since 2006, starting seven career games at left tackle and as a blocking tight end. "This will be a great way to find out right out of the gates where I'm at and where the team is at."
Saints WR Marques Colston vs. Packers CB Charles Woodson
Usually, Colston (6-4, 225) uses his size advantage against cornerbacks to box them out like an NBA power forward.
But that won't be so easy against 6-1, 202-pound Woodson, who has been one of the league's most physical and aggressive corners during his stellar 14-year career.
These two should see a lot of each other, especially when Colston lines up in the slot, where Woodson usually lines up in nickel packages.
"He plays pretty physical," Colston said. "And he's so smart and instinctive, a lot of times you'll see him finish a route even before a receiver does."
Game plan
Few teams in the NFL blitz as often as the Saints, but no quarterback in the league was more effective against the blitz than Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers last season.
Rodgers is just as dangerous on the run as he is in the pocket, as both a passer and an opportunistic scrambler. So opposing defenses are generally damned if they do and damned if they don't.
"What we'll have to do is take our calculated chances, but that's how we play," New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. "That's like all of a sudden telling Mike McCarthy to take the air out of the ball and run it all the time. He's not going to do that, and we're not going to do it either. We're going to have to play our way. We just have to pick our times to do it."
There's hope that the Saints can create pressure with their front four. Green Bay's veteran left tackle Chad Clifton has shown signs of age this summer, but New Orleans will be without its best pass rusher while Will Smith is serving a two-game suspension.
By the numbers
The Packers have a 14-7 edge in the all-time series, though the Saints have won two in a row, including a 34-27 win at Lambeau Field in 2006. ... The Saints are 16-28 all-time in season openers. Under Payton, they're 4-1. ... The Saints have 16 players on their opening 53-man roster who weren't on the roster or practice squad last year.
Published: Thursday, September 08, 2011, 6:00 AM
By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune
Breaking down the New Orleans Saints' NFL season-opening game against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers tonight in Wisconsin. Here's a look at rankings, players to watch and key matchups.
WHERE THEY RANKED IN 2010
Offense: Saints 6th; Packers 9th
Pass: Saints 3rd; Packers 5th
Rush: Saints 28th; Packers 24th
Defense: Saints 4th; Packers 5th
Pass: Saints 4th; Packers 5th
Rush: Saints 16th; Packers 18th
KEEP AN EYE ON ...
Saints running back Mark Ingram
It has been a while since the Heisman Trophy-winning tailback from Alabama had to make a first impression, but that will be the case tonight as the rookie lines up for his first NFL game at legendary Lambeau Field, where his father Mark once played for the Green Bay Packers.
"It's prime time; it's the first game of the NFL season," Ingram said. "Everybody's going to be watching. I'm excited. I'm really excited about it. I've been working hard my whole entire life to wait for this moment. So just for my first NFL game to be on the national stage like this, I'm excited -- and I'm really looking forward to it."
Ingram slipped to the 28th pick in the draft, partly because of concerns about a past knee injury and partly because NFL teams no longer rely on every-down tailbacks as much. But based on his summer performance, he looks poised to make a difference for a Saints team that must re-balance its offense.
The 5-foot-9, 215-pounder should share touches equally with fellow backs Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles tonight, but he'll still draw the most attention as he introduces himself to a new audience.
Packers DT B.J. Raji
Green Bay's burly nose tackle doesn't get as much attention as some of his more high-profile teammates, but he has the potential to be the most disruptive member of the bunch.
The 6-2, 337-pounder had a breakout year in his second NFL season with 7.5 sacks -- including the playoffs. He capped things off with a memorable 18-yard interception rumble for a touchdown in the NFC championship game win over the Chicago Bears.
Saints guards Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks have earned All-Pro reputations based on their ability to create a safe pocket for quarterback Drew Brees. They'll have their hands full tonight. So will new Saints center Olin Kreutz, who arrived from Chicago with a vivid memory of this Packers team.
KEY MATCHUPS
Packers OLB Clay Matthews vs. Saints RT Zach Strief
Strief will make his debut as the Saints' starter in place of departed veteran Jon Stinchcomb tonight, and he'll be thrown right into the fire against one of the NFL's most dynamic pass rushers.
Matthews (6-3, 255) has 28 sacks the past two seasons -- including the playoffs -- using a rare combination of power, speed and athleticism. He lines up most often on the left side in creative defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 defense, which usually makes for mismatches against right offensive tackles who are traditionally built more for run blocking than pass protection.
Strief (6-7, 320) said that's an old-school stereotype, especially in the Saints' offense, where pass protection is priority No. 1.
"Certainly in an offense like ours, everybody needs to be able to pass protect," said Strief, who has been with New Orleans since 2006, starting seven career games at left tackle and as a blocking tight end. "This will be a great way to find out right out of the gates where I'm at and where the team is at."
Saints WR Marques Colston vs. Packers CB Charles Woodson
Usually, Colston (6-4, 225) uses his size advantage against cornerbacks to box them out like an NBA power forward.
But that won't be so easy against 6-1, 202-pound Woodson, who has been one of the league's most physical and aggressive corners during his stellar 14-year career.
These two should see a lot of each other, especially when Colston lines up in the slot, where Woodson usually lines up in nickel packages.
"He plays pretty physical," Colston said. "And he's so smart and instinctive, a lot of times you'll see him finish a route even before a receiver does."
Game plan
Few teams in the NFL blitz as often as the Saints, but no quarterback in the league was more effective against the blitz than Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers last season.
Rodgers is just as dangerous on the run as he is in the pocket, as both a passer and an opportunistic scrambler. So opposing defenses are generally damned if they do and damned if they don't.
"What we'll have to do is take our calculated chances, but that's how we play," New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. "That's like all of a sudden telling Mike McCarthy to take the air out of the ball and run it all the time. He's not going to do that, and we're not going to do it either. We're going to have to play our way. We just have to pick our times to do it."
There's hope that the Saints can create pressure with their front four. Green Bay's veteran left tackle Chad Clifton has shown signs of age this summer, but New Orleans will be without its best pass rusher while Will Smith is serving a two-game suspension.
By the numbers
The Packers have a 14-7 edge in the all-time series, though the Saints have won two in a row, including a 34-27 win at Lambeau Field in 2006. ... The Saints are 16-28 all-time in season openers. Under Payton, they're 4-1. ... The Saints have 16 players on their opening 53-man roster who weren't on the roster or practice squad last year.
Back Detroit at home to Tampa Bay this weekend, 11/10.
Detroit are not at home
in the NFL 1st team named is on the road.HTH
in the NFL 1st team named is on the road.HTH
only decent preview i can see is from the guardian.co.uk
NFL: 2011-12 season preview
Can the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl again? Will the lockout prove a leveller? Previews and predictions for the 2011-12 NFL season
In the end they stepped away from the brink. The new NFL season kicks off on Thursday, bang on schedule, but only after a summer in which many had begun to fear that it might not happen at all. A lockout that began in early March, when the collective bargaining contract between players and owners expired, was not resolved until the end of July. Agreement on a new deal arrived so late that the pre-season Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears and St Louis Rams had to be cancelled.
The impact of the lockout, though, extends far beyond the loss of one exhibition fixture. During the lockout coaches were barred from communicating with their players, much less spending time with them, as they typically would at team mini-camps throughout the summer. When the main training camps finally did open, they were later than scheduled – affording teams less time to prepare for their first pre-season games. Furthermore two-a-day practices, formerly a staple, had been banned under the new agreement.
For coaches and players alike, the experience was bewildering. Free agents were obliged to relocate at a moment's notice, while rookies – barring the lucky few early picks who had been able to take advantage of a temporary court-ordered break in the lockout – struggled to digest entire NFL playbooks while simultaneously adjusting to a new level of competition.
To make up for the reduced schedule the league allowed teams to sign up to 90 players for training camp, yet by 3 September the number would still have to be cut to 53 – effectively leaving them with more personnel decisions to make from a smaller evidence base. More than one coach resorted to sticking name badges on players in team meetings. Even the veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, newly signed with Tennessee, admitted to feeling overwhelmed. "It's like the first day of school," he said. "But you're an adult, so nobody is holding your hand."
In such an environment it is the teams with most stability who stand to gain – the ones for whom camp was more of a freshener than a learning exercise. The sorts of rags-to-riches turnarounds for which the NFL has been famous in this age of parity seems slimmer than ever. The reigning champion Green Bay Packers, while not the bookies' favourites, may have the best chance of repeating of any team since the New England Patriots in 2004.
There is a high chance of sloppiness, too, in the first few weeks: of miscommunications leading to broken plays. But even the fans of the downtrodden may find cause to feel upbeat as the season begins. Bad football, in the end, is far better than none at all.
Guardian coverage
Before pushing on to the division-by-division preview, a quick note about our expanding coverage plans for the new season. As well as the regular NFL Talkboard blog, which returns on Friday, we will be conducting live blogs throughout the season – starting this weekend with Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers from 1pm ET, or 6pm BST. Here's hoping you'll join us then.
AFC East
Predicted finish: 1) New England Patriots, 2) New York Jets, 3) Miami Dolphins, 4) Buffalo Bills
Few teams came out of the lockout better than the Patriots, who retained the core of a team that went 14-2 last season while adding two potentially huge playmakers in Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco. Although some have expressed concern over the switch to a 4-3 base defence, it is safe to assume with Bill Belichick that we will be seeing plenty of variation throughout the season.
The Jets will continue to snap at their heels but despite last season's play-off win in Foxborough, doubts remain over Mark Sanchez's ability to keep pace for a full 16 games (although Plaxico Burress could prove an invaluable asset to the quarterback if he can shake off the rust of a near two-year stay in a New York State correctional facility). Behind them, the Dolphins seem more likely to be overtaken by a young Bills team than they do to make a run at the division, after replacing Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams in their backfield with Reggie Bush and the rookie Daniel Thomas.
AFC North
Predicted finish: 1) Baltimore Ravens, 2) Pittsburgh Steelers, 3) Cleveland Browns, 4) Cincinnati Bengals
Pick your poison between the Ravens and the Steelers, each of whom lost significant components but still look more than qualified to slug it out for the division title. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco must learn to make do without his safety blanket in Todd Heap (now an Arizona Cardinal) but equally the Steelers' stable of running backs may find the going rather more tricky after the team replaced both its starting tackles.
At least neither should be troubled by their division rivals: the Browns are headed in the right direction, with Madden 2012 cover star Peyton Hillis tenderising defences and a young, talented corps of wide receivers, but the shortened off-season will have done the new head coach Pat Shurmur no favours. The same goes for Cincinnati's rookie quarterback Andy Dalton … as if landing with the Bengals wasn't enough to deal with already.
AFC South
Predicted finish: 1) Houston Texans, 2) Indianapolis Colts, 3) Tennessee Titans, 4) Jacksonville Jaguars
Yes, you read that right, the Houston Texans will win the AFC South. The same Texans who have never gone to the play-offs, who have beaten the Colts just twice in nine seasons, and who have continually flattered to deceive: managing just six wins last season in a year when their offence ranked third in the whole league. Why? Because this time Peyton Manning is injured.
The Colts' quarterback, who has not missed a game since entering the NFL, will miss his team's season opener against the Texans and with enduring back problems following a neck operation this summer it's possible he could miss a whole lot more than that. If he does, the Texans would appear comfortably the best-positioned to capitalise, especially with Wade Phillips restoring focus to the defence. The Titans and Jaguars are likely to be held back by their own question marks at quarterback.
AFC West
Predicted finish: 1) San Diego Chargers, 2) Kansas City Chiefs, 3) Oakland Raiders, 4) Denver Broncos
To win this division the Chargers must do two things: cut out the mistakes on special teams and remember that the season starts before November. Too often in the past they have been able to get away with a pathetic first-half of the season because of a lack of competition within the AFC West, but last year Kansas City finally punished them. The Chiefs have improved further but if San Diego can right their wrongs they remain the cream of the division.
A healthy Vincent Jackson – the wide receiver played just five games last year - should help San Diego, as should first-round draft pick Corey Liuget on the defensive line, but Kansas City have upgraded their own offence with the additions of Steve Breaston and the rookie Jonathan Baldwin. Oakland have a new head coach in Hue Jackson but need to work out how to play as well against teams from outside the division as they do against those within it. Denver have too many problems for the incoming coach John Fox to overcome at the first attempt.
AFC Wildcards: New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC Championship game: San Diego Chargers beat New England Patriots
NFC East
Predicted finish: 1) Philadelphia Eagles, 2) Dallas Cowboys, 3) New York Giants, 4) Washington Redskins
The headlines, as usual, will be about Vick (ESPN the Magazine dedicated its entire latest edition to him), but there is a lot more for Philadelphia fans to be excited about this season than their quarterback. To a secondary that was perhaps their greatest area of weakness they have added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a Pro Bowler in 2009, and the peerless Nnamdi Asomugha. The pass defence will be further enhanced by the arrival of Cullen Jenkins at defensive end. A team that finished 11-5 last year believes it is primed for a run at the Super Bowl.
Behind them there will be the usual twists and turns in a division that is never straightforward, but where there is optimism in Dallas, as Jason Garrett begins his first full season as head coach, the same may not be true for New York following the departure of veterans such as Kevin Boss, Steve Smith, and Shaun O'Hara. Washington look set to start Rex Grossman against John Beck at quarterback in their season opener, but a lack of certainty at the position will do them no favours.
NFC North
Predicted finish: 1) Green Bay Packers, 2) Detroit Lions, 3) Chicago Bears, 4) Minnesota Vikings
It is easy to forget that it was the Bears, not the soon-to-be Super Bowl champion Packers, who won this division last year, but securing a repeat will be no small challenge. The Packers will have running back Ryan Grant back after last year's ankle injury and – Jenkins aside – have retained the bulk of their starting line-up. The Bears' formidable defence, meanwhile, is getting older, and question marks remain along a reworked offensive line. This could even be the moment they are surpassed by the improving Detroit Lions – if the latter can just stay healthy.
In the rare moments when Matthew Stafford was available for Detroit last year he showed signs of developing into a highly effective NFL quarterback, while the then rookie running back Jahvid Best was hindered by turf toe. This year's first-round draft pick, defensive tackle Nick Fairley, is now also set to miss the start of the season with a foot complaint, but will provide a much-needed upgrade to the run defence when available. In Minnesota, meanwhile, even Adrian Peterson may not be able to cover for another summer of upheaval.
NFC South
Predicted finish: 1) Atlanta Falcons, 2) New Orleans Saints, 3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4) Carolina Panthers
The only division to produce three teams with double-digit wins last season will once again be fiercely competitive. The Falcons gave Matt Ryan a much-needed alternative to Roddy White when they traded up for the Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones in the first round of the draft, as well as upgrading their pass rush with the signing of Ray Edwards at defensive end. The Saints made similar moves, with a draft day deal for another Alabama alumnus - the running back and Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram – having already picked up a defensive end of their own in Cameron Jordan.
Where, then, does that leave Tampa Bay – whose 10 wins last season were not even enough for a wildcard? Most likely on the outside looking in once more, despite the impressive development of Josh Freeman. Carolina will hope first-round pick Cam Newton can eventually enjoy similar success, though with the shortened pre-season he is in very much jumping in at the deep end on a team that went 2-14.
NFC West
Predicted finish: 1) St Louis Rams, 2) Arizona Cardinals, 3) Seattle Seahawks, 4) San Francisco 49ers
Oh dear … Must we? The NFL's weakest division will be stronger than last time out, though that's perhaps not saying a great deal when last year's champions Seattle won less than half of their games (even if you include the wildcard win over New Orleans). Sam Bradford showed enough as a rookie to believe the Rams are in good hands going forward, but even with one of the league's top running backs behind him in Steven Jackson, the team still finished 26th in scoring.
The Cardinals, at last, have a worthy starter at quarterback, though they paid over the odds for Kevin Kolb and probably do not have an adequate offensive line to keep him on the field. The Seahawks are relying on Tarvaris Jackson – mediocre with a wonderful supporting cast in Minnesota – to be wonderful with a mediocre supporting cast in Seattle. The 49ers, incredibly, will give Alex Smith another crack of the whip leading their own offence. In truth this might be the one division in which any team really could come out on top. But that's probably nothing to be proud of.
NFC wildcards: New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions
NFC Championship game: Philadelphia Eagles beat Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowl: San Diego Chargers beat Philadelphia Eagles
NFL: 2011-12 season preview
Can the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl again? Will the lockout prove a leveller? Previews and predictions for the 2011-12 NFL season
In the end they stepped away from the brink. The new NFL season kicks off on Thursday, bang on schedule, but only after a summer in which many had begun to fear that it might not happen at all. A lockout that began in early March, when the collective bargaining contract between players and owners expired, was not resolved until the end of July. Agreement on a new deal arrived so late that the pre-season Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears and St Louis Rams had to be cancelled.
The impact of the lockout, though, extends far beyond the loss of one exhibition fixture. During the lockout coaches were barred from communicating with their players, much less spending time with them, as they typically would at team mini-camps throughout the summer. When the main training camps finally did open, they were later than scheduled – affording teams less time to prepare for their first pre-season games. Furthermore two-a-day practices, formerly a staple, had been banned under the new agreement.
For coaches and players alike, the experience was bewildering. Free agents were obliged to relocate at a moment's notice, while rookies – barring the lucky few early picks who had been able to take advantage of a temporary court-ordered break in the lockout – struggled to digest entire NFL playbooks while simultaneously adjusting to a new level of competition.
To make up for the reduced schedule the league allowed teams to sign up to 90 players for training camp, yet by 3 September the number would still have to be cut to 53 – effectively leaving them with more personnel decisions to make from a smaller evidence base. More than one coach resorted to sticking name badges on players in team meetings. Even the veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, newly signed with Tennessee, admitted to feeling overwhelmed. "It's like the first day of school," he said. "But you're an adult, so nobody is holding your hand."
In such an environment it is the teams with most stability who stand to gain – the ones for whom camp was more of a freshener than a learning exercise. The sorts of rags-to-riches turnarounds for which the NFL has been famous in this age of parity seems slimmer than ever. The reigning champion Green Bay Packers, while not the bookies' favourites, may have the best chance of repeating of any team since the New England Patriots in 2004.
There is a high chance of sloppiness, too, in the first few weeks: of miscommunications leading to broken plays. But even the fans of the downtrodden may find cause to feel upbeat as the season begins. Bad football, in the end, is far better than none at all.
Guardian coverage
Before pushing on to the division-by-division preview, a quick note about our expanding coverage plans for the new season. As well as the regular NFL Talkboard blog, which returns on Friday, we will be conducting live blogs throughout the season – starting this weekend with Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers from 1pm ET, or 6pm BST. Here's hoping you'll join us then.
AFC East
Predicted finish: 1) New England Patriots, 2) New York Jets, 3) Miami Dolphins, 4) Buffalo Bills
Few teams came out of the lockout better than the Patriots, who retained the core of a team that went 14-2 last season while adding two potentially huge playmakers in Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco. Although some have expressed concern over the switch to a 4-3 base defence, it is safe to assume with Bill Belichick that we will be seeing plenty of variation throughout the season.
The Jets will continue to snap at their heels but despite last season's play-off win in Foxborough, doubts remain over Mark Sanchez's ability to keep pace for a full 16 games (although Plaxico Burress could prove an invaluable asset to the quarterback if he can shake off the rust of a near two-year stay in a New York State correctional facility). Behind them, the Dolphins seem more likely to be overtaken by a young Bills team than they do to make a run at the division, after replacing Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams in their backfield with Reggie Bush and the rookie Daniel Thomas.
AFC North
Predicted finish: 1) Baltimore Ravens, 2) Pittsburgh Steelers, 3) Cleveland Browns, 4) Cincinnati Bengals
Pick your poison between the Ravens and the Steelers, each of whom lost significant components but still look more than qualified to slug it out for the division title. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco must learn to make do without his safety blanket in Todd Heap (now an Arizona Cardinal) but equally the Steelers' stable of running backs may find the going rather more tricky after the team replaced both its starting tackles.
At least neither should be troubled by their division rivals: the Browns are headed in the right direction, with Madden 2012 cover star Peyton Hillis tenderising defences and a young, talented corps of wide receivers, but the shortened off-season will have done the new head coach Pat Shurmur no favours. The same goes for Cincinnati's rookie quarterback Andy Dalton … as if landing with the Bengals wasn't enough to deal with already.
AFC South
Predicted finish: 1) Houston Texans, 2) Indianapolis Colts, 3) Tennessee Titans, 4) Jacksonville Jaguars
Yes, you read that right, the Houston Texans will win the AFC South. The same Texans who have never gone to the play-offs, who have beaten the Colts just twice in nine seasons, and who have continually flattered to deceive: managing just six wins last season in a year when their offence ranked third in the whole league. Why? Because this time Peyton Manning is injured.
The Colts' quarterback, who has not missed a game since entering the NFL, will miss his team's season opener against the Texans and with enduring back problems following a neck operation this summer it's possible he could miss a whole lot more than that. If he does, the Texans would appear comfortably the best-positioned to capitalise, especially with Wade Phillips restoring focus to the defence. The Titans and Jaguars are likely to be held back by their own question marks at quarterback.
AFC West
Predicted finish: 1) San Diego Chargers, 2) Kansas City Chiefs, 3) Oakland Raiders, 4) Denver Broncos
To win this division the Chargers must do two things: cut out the mistakes on special teams and remember that the season starts before November. Too often in the past they have been able to get away with a pathetic first-half of the season because of a lack of competition within the AFC West, but last year Kansas City finally punished them. The Chiefs have improved further but if San Diego can right their wrongs they remain the cream of the division.
A healthy Vincent Jackson – the wide receiver played just five games last year - should help San Diego, as should first-round draft pick Corey Liuget on the defensive line, but Kansas City have upgraded their own offence with the additions of Steve Breaston and the rookie Jonathan Baldwin. Oakland have a new head coach in Hue Jackson but need to work out how to play as well against teams from outside the division as they do against those within it. Denver have too many problems for the incoming coach John Fox to overcome at the first attempt.
AFC Wildcards: New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC Championship game: San Diego Chargers beat New England Patriots
NFC East
Predicted finish: 1) Philadelphia Eagles, 2) Dallas Cowboys, 3) New York Giants, 4) Washington Redskins
The headlines, as usual, will be about Vick (ESPN the Magazine dedicated its entire latest edition to him), but there is a lot more for Philadelphia fans to be excited about this season than their quarterback. To a secondary that was perhaps their greatest area of weakness they have added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a Pro Bowler in 2009, and the peerless Nnamdi Asomugha. The pass defence will be further enhanced by the arrival of Cullen Jenkins at defensive end. A team that finished 11-5 last year believes it is primed for a run at the Super Bowl.
Behind them there will be the usual twists and turns in a division that is never straightforward, but where there is optimism in Dallas, as Jason Garrett begins his first full season as head coach, the same may not be true for New York following the departure of veterans such as Kevin Boss, Steve Smith, and Shaun O'Hara. Washington look set to start Rex Grossman against John Beck at quarterback in their season opener, but a lack of certainty at the position will do them no favours.
NFC North
Predicted finish: 1) Green Bay Packers, 2) Detroit Lions, 3) Chicago Bears, 4) Minnesota Vikings
It is easy to forget that it was the Bears, not the soon-to-be Super Bowl champion Packers, who won this division last year, but securing a repeat will be no small challenge. The Packers will have running back Ryan Grant back after last year's ankle injury and – Jenkins aside – have retained the bulk of their starting line-up. The Bears' formidable defence, meanwhile, is getting older, and question marks remain along a reworked offensive line. This could even be the moment they are surpassed by the improving Detroit Lions – if the latter can just stay healthy.
In the rare moments when Matthew Stafford was available for Detroit last year he showed signs of developing into a highly effective NFL quarterback, while the then rookie running back Jahvid Best was hindered by turf toe. This year's first-round draft pick, defensive tackle Nick Fairley, is now also set to miss the start of the season with a foot complaint, but will provide a much-needed upgrade to the run defence when available. In Minnesota, meanwhile, even Adrian Peterson may not be able to cover for another summer of upheaval.
NFC South
Predicted finish: 1) Atlanta Falcons, 2) New Orleans Saints, 3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4) Carolina Panthers
The only division to produce three teams with double-digit wins last season will once again be fiercely competitive. The Falcons gave Matt Ryan a much-needed alternative to Roddy White when they traded up for the Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones in the first round of the draft, as well as upgrading their pass rush with the signing of Ray Edwards at defensive end. The Saints made similar moves, with a draft day deal for another Alabama alumnus - the running back and Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram – having already picked up a defensive end of their own in Cameron Jordan.
Where, then, does that leave Tampa Bay – whose 10 wins last season were not even enough for a wildcard? Most likely on the outside looking in once more, despite the impressive development of Josh Freeman. Carolina will hope first-round pick Cam Newton can eventually enjoy similar success, though with the shortened pre-season he is in very much jumping in at the deep end on a team that went 2-14.
NFC West
Predicted finish: 1) St Louis Rams, 2) Arizona Cardinals, 3) Seattle Seahawks, 4) San Francisco 49ers
Oh dear … Must we? The NFL's weakest division will be stronger than last time out, though that's perhaps not saying a great deal when last year's champions Seattle won less than half of their games (even if you include the wildcard win over New Orleans). Sam Bradford showed enough as a rookie to believe the Rams are in good hands going forward, but even with one of the league's top running backs behind him in Steven Jackson, the team still finished 26th in scoring.
The Cardinals, at last, have a worthy starter at quarterback, though they paid over the odds for Kevin Kolb and probably do not have an adequate offensive line to keep him on the field. The Seahawks are relying on Tarvaris Jackson – mediocre with a wonderful supporting cast in Minnesota – to be wonderful with a mediocre supporting cast in Seattle. The 49ers, incredibly, will give Alex Smith another crack of the whip leading their own offence. In truth this might be the one division in which any team really could come out on top. But that's probably nothing to be proud of.
NFC wildcards: New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions
NFC Championship game: Philadelphia Eagles beat Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowl: San Diego Chargers beat Philadelphia Eagles
Grantlands preview is the best i have read, comes in 4 parts.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6918507/part-i
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6934823/grantland-mega-nfl-preview-part-ii
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6936469/grantland-mega-nfl-preview-part-iii
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6940766/grantland-mega-nfl-preview-part-iv
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6918507/part-i
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6934823/grantland-mega-nfl-preview-part-ii
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6936469/grantland-mega-nfl-preview-part-iii
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6940766/grantland-mega-nfl-preview-part-iv
go to covers.com
great forum for american sports,
no lang balls there to slate u ...
great forum for american sports,
no lang balls there to slate u ...
Super Eagles this year 
they must surely go close to winning it with the signings they have made
they must surely go close to winning it with the signings they have made
Premier, as good as Vick is i still wouldnt trust him in the last 2 minutes of a playoff game if they needed a TD. Teams will be a lot better set up to counteract Vick this year but their offense is still explosive.They need to sort out the Desean Jackson situation ASAP. Add into the equation of having a Head Coach who is the worst time manager i have ever seen and i cant be having the Eagles. They will be the Miami Heat of the NFL this year with everybody looking to beat them. Their schedule isnt the toughest and they should win their division easily enough but i can see them coming undone in the playoffs.
I don't get the DeSean Jackson situation at all, he is one of if not the most exciting player in the NFL in my opinion and they need him.
I won't be punting them this year though, think they are too short. Being an Eagles fan though i hope they win it
I won't be punting them this year though, think they are too short. Being an Eagles fan though i hope they win it
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