One Question For Each Team

[corta765]

We are nearing the official start of football as training camp and preseason football itself is 3 weeks away. This is the major question I have for each team heading into the season that I feel will determine whether it goes well or not. Like it, comment. Hate it, comment. Feel indifferent, comment or don't comment. Hate me, also comment lol.

 

ATL- On paper they could have the most dynamic rushing attack in the NFL, but can Ridder do enough at QB to get to 9-10 wins? He looked OK last year and it seems like a make it or break it year for the coaching staff who is gambling on Ridder to move them forward.

ARZ- Will they actually play Murray? This is the most talentless roster in the NFL and they look to be going for the #1 pick, do you bring back Murray who if healthy can win games on his own and risk that.

BAL- Can the passing attack actually evolve to what on paper looks like a pretty decent corps? This division is always a buzzsaw and everyone has weapons, BAL needs their weapons to impact week 1 not week 9.

BUF- Can they finally break through (and also get a little luck)? After four years with the window there and opportunities gone can the Bills finally move forward. Also a little luck would be nice after last years gulag worth of distractions and injuries.

CAR- Can Bryce Young be the guy out of the gate? If so this division has opportunity and Reich has worked magic with QBs quite a few times now.

CHI- Can the Bears pass for 200 ypg? Fields is dynamic and got weapons added. Last year CHI passed for just 130 ypg, 200 ypg would be a nice start to see improvement and would certainly translate to more Ws.

CIN- How will CIN handle adversity? The last two years they have had a pretty open division and really not faced adversity as they were up and coming. Now as a favorite how do they react.

CLE- Can Watson return to being an elite passer? Last year in 6 games Watson was the 42nd ranked passer, even backup Jacoby Brissett was 20th by comparison. Everything in CLE hinges on Watson returning to form and there are a lot of question if he actually can.

 

DAL- Was firing Kellen Moore a good idea? Dak's best years came with Moore at OC and the offense was quite dynamic. McCarthy apparently wants more "balance" (aka run the ball) but this could look like a bad reactionary move if the DAL offense regresses.

DEN- Can Payton bring Russell Wilson back from the dead? Everything went wrong on offense in DEN last year and Wilson looked cooked. The defense is there and the offense has some talent, can Payton get Wilson to a level where they can compete with him or is he "cooked".

DET- Can they live up to the hype and at least make the playoffs? Everyone's preseason fav, the Lions have historically wilted at expectations. Can this group which looks to have promise actually meet the hype.

GB- Can Jordan Love show he was worth a 1st, not giving weapons to Rodgers instead, and show some true promise? This feels like a step back year in GB where the most important growth is at QB, can Love take a step.

HOU- Can the Texans 1st round picks show that giving next years 1st up was not a mistake? The Texans bet heavily on CJ Stroud and Will Anderson being pillars to their team, failure to show some promise this year will bring back buyers remorse can draft day 2024.

IND- Some "ifs" here but is this the best rushing team no one is talking about? Taylor at RB, Richardson is dynamic as a rusher too with a potentially good offensive line when healthy sounds quite juicy.

JAX- Can Trevor Lawrence go to an elite QB level? He showed a ton of growth last year and he certainly is a good QB, but the Jags reaching big goals (AFC title, 1 seed etc..) rest of Lawrence moving to that next tier of QB play.

KC- What does the Chiefs passing attack look like? Kelce is 34 and injuries have started creeping up, after that is a lot of promise but no true #1 target. Juju Smith last year would've hit 1000 yds if he didn't miss a game played, right now the Chiefs have more questions then answers. The offense will still be good but does year 2 with Hill finally show a few cracks in the otherwise potent KC offense.

 

LAC- Can Brandon Staley rebound after an atrocious end to last year? Between injuring players in week 18 who shouldn't have been playing and his team blowing a 27 pt lead the hot seat is real for him. Kind of feels like a make it or break it year given the talent and unmet expectations.

LAR- Can the glut of rookies drafted make an impact where LA can compete again? Injuries wrecked havoc last year and the foundation got reinforced in the draft, but for the Rams to compete to any capacity they need a few of their 11 draft picks to become every down players.

LV- Are they secretly tanking? They have the 3rd best QB in division in an AFC loaded across the board, are they just biding their time for a year to get one of the top guys because this roster stinks.

MIA- Can Tua play a full season with aliment? The ceiling is incredibly high for MIA if Tua is healthy. Also can McDaniel adjust his offense after defenses took the Chargers blue print of bumping and slowing the Phins WRs at the line. The offense took a small step back once that happened.

MIN- Can Kirk Cousins go the distance or is this it? Cousins has always been above average but when the pressure mounts he seems to fall apart. His contract is done after this year so it is now or never in the NFC that is pretty open after PHI.

NE- Can the offense compete with the rest of the AFC? This feels like the Jauron Bills, decent to good defense with an offense that has a piece or two but lacks any true talent and the QB is one giant question mark.

NOLA- Can Dennis Allen actually coach? Career record is 15-38 and was 7-10 last year. They are the favs in the South, but can he show he can get a team to a decent year.

NYJ- Can Aaron Rodgers play at a competent level at QB? The Jets QB play has been so bad for years that just competency would've landed a playoff appearance at some point in the last decade. Rodgers had a down year and advanced stats show father time may be here a bit, but just average QB play can at least have them in the wild card race.

 

NYG- After a year where seemingly everything fell there way, can the Giants make their own luck? The Giants got some superb luck last year that benefited them to a playoff year. They are destine to have some things not go their way, can they perform at a higher level across the board to mute that.

PHI- Can the defense return to a high level after losing four starters and their defensive coordinator along with having perfect injury luck? The Eagles offense will be fine, but the defense saw seismic changes that may take some time to adjust to. They also had superb injury luck which very rarely smiles on a team two years in a row.

PIT- Can Kenny Pickett be the 2nd best QB in the AFC North? Pickett improved as 2022 went on and showed some real promise. If he can jump to just 2nd best QB in division the Steelers are probably a playoff team.

SEA- Can Geno just stay around the level he was at in 2022? The offense is loaded with weapons and the defense has added talent to improve. This is my darkhorse team in the NFC to be the 1 seed, can Geno give another quality year at QB. I'm pulling for him.

SF- Will the 49ers QB questions slow their season down? Purdy looked really good last year and then he got an awful injury that may stop him from starting the season. Lance has talent but can't stay healthy and Darnold would be what feels like Shanahan's 12th QB reclamation project. Certainty at QB would help to let the 49ers focus on their big goals, but it feels like they just won't get that.

TB- Will they stop lying to themselves? Brady and Arians elevated a decent roster with some strong pieces in key spots to contender overnight. With both gone and aging stars like Evans only getting older when will TB admit a reset is the best option rather then just burning through years of guys late in their prime.

TEN- Can anyone name a WR after Trevon Burks? For real this is one of the bleakest WR corps in a long time. In seriousness after resetting their roster to get younger is their enough talent to compete for divsion? The Titans tried to move Tannehill, drafted Levis, and the roster itself is young but unproven, do they have enough gas to stay with the Jags for a while.

WSH- Can Sam Howell be this years Daniel Jones? The talent is there for a decent offense in WSH and the defense usually is pretty stout. Howell is a major question, but the NFC is open wide for someone to surprise as a wildcard. Can Howell show some flashes or is the big cheers in WSH this year limited to just new ownership.

 

Edited July 11, 2023 by corta765

[RoyBatty is alive]

Great questions, most fairly obvious.  I particularly like the Pats. they "fell like the Jauron Bills", wowzer, how they have fallen.  I think an addendum to the Bills is can the Offense be less Allen centric and can Allen limit the turnovers.

Edited July 11, 2023 by RoyBatty is alive

[Marcus Aurelius]

Looooove this little smidgen of negativity  .... KC:

 

 "What does the Chiefs passing attack look like? Kelce is 34 and injuries have started creeping up, after that is a lot of promise but no true #1 target. Juju Smith last year would've hit 1000 yds if he didn't miss a game played, right now the Chiefs have more questions then answers."

 

OH PLEASE MAKE IT SO

PLEEEEEEASE 

[corta765]

6 minutes ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

Looooove this little smidgen of negativity  .... KC:

 

 "What does the Chiefs passing attack look like? Kelce is 34 and injuries have started creeping up, after that is a lot of promise but no true #1 target. Juju Smith last year would've hit 1000 yds if he didn't miss a game played, right now the Chiefs have more questions then answers."

 

OH PLEASE MAKE IT SO

PLEEEEEEASE 

 

Haha listen they never are going to suck. But maybe just maybe if the cast is just smidge mortal, maybe Mahomes is slowed and they have to be the 4th seed for once lol.

[RoyBatty is alive]

19 minutes ago, corta765 said:

 

Haha listen they never are going to suck. But maybe just maybe if the cast is just smidge mortal, maybe Mahomes is slowed and they have to be the 4th seed for once lol.

"they never are going to suck"?   Sure about that?

 

Why even play the games.

[corta765]

8 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

"they never are going to suck"?   Sure about that?

 

Why even play the games.

 

lol I aint touching football voodoo. I can 100% see KC at some point have some down points because it is natural and also incredibly hard to run that hot 24/7. Even the Pats crapped out for a while, but until we get a ring I am leaving the football gods at bay with other team predictions

[Buffalo_Stampede]

I wonder why the media isn’t putting the pressure on the 49ers like they are the Bills 

[corta765]

1 hour ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I wonder why the media isn’t putting the pressure on the 49ers like they are the Bills 

 

One SB appearance changes everything. The odds of the Bengals going back after losing the first time in the SB with Burrow are insanely small. Last time a team lost in SB with their guy and then went back to win was Elway. Before that Phins with Griese. It just doesn't happen often, but they are viewed far better because they made it despite blowing the AFC title this year.

[LABILLBACKER]

4 minutes ago, corta765 said:

 

One SB appearance changes everything. The odds of the Bengals going back after losing the first time in the SB with Burrow are insanely small. Last time a team lost in SB with their guy and then went back to win was Elway. Before that Phins with Griese. It just doesn't happen often, but they are viewed far better because they made it despite blowing the AFC title this year.

Whoever plays the Bills in the playoffs and wins, usually doesn't fair well the next week.  The Bills do need to become a little less Allen-centric. And yes the turnovers need to decrease.

[Gregg]

Folks we have no shot. It's the Jets year. Check out this quote from a Jets fan at the Jets nation board. 27-year-old Josh Allen is in decline, but I guess a 40-year-old Rodgers has a lot left in the tank. LOL at that fanbase. The thread is comical its titled Optimistic vs Pessimistic thread on their season.

 

 

Tua won't last. Mac Jones is garbo. Josh Allen is on the decline. The AFC East is ours for the taking.

[Gregg]

More NYC media hype. WFAN's Craig Carton predicts... not that anyone gives a crap what he thinks.

 

 

 

[billybrew1]

Just rewatched Bills @ Jets and Miami @ Bills….

 

Conclusion…. We need a real #2 WR…. Yeah, we got Kincaid and that’s great but we also needed to replace Smoke/Emmanuel….

Maybe Davis finds his hands again, maybe not…. Either way, we need more speed and big play ability….

[maddenboy]

12 hours ago, corta765 said:

 

Haha listen they never are going to suck. But maybe just maybe if the cast is just smidge mortal, maybe Mahomes is slowed and they have to be the 4th seed for once lol.

they are never Not going to scheme people open.

 

Even 34 year old people can get open and catch the ball. 

 

In fact, next time i watch a KC game on replay, i am going to see how many plays they have where not a single person is open.  It feels like zero.

[corta765]

7 hours ago, maddenboy said:

they are never Not going to scheme people open.

 

Even 34 year old people can get open and catch the ball. 

 

In fact, next time i watch a KC game on replay, i am going to see how many plays they have where not a single person is open.  It feels like zero.

Scheming people open is fine, Reid is the best in the game at it. But there is something to be said for talent that can do things and the Patriots learned that the hard way for a few years in the mid 2000s when they saw even a great gameplan and QB can be let down by lesser player. KC has a ton of cap space so they can add if needed, but everyone has there down points to some degree.

[newcam2012]

19 hours ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

Looooove this little smidgen of negativity  .... KC:

 

 "What does the Chiefs passing attack look like? Kelce is 34 and injuries have started creeping up, after that is a lot of promise but no true #1 target. Juju Smith last year would've hit 1000 yds if he didn't miss a game played, right now the Chiefs have more questions then answers."

 

OH PLEASE MAKE IT SO

PLEEEEEEASE 

Chiefs look like a dynasty team with Mahomes and Reid. Looks like the next Brady and Belicheck.

 

KC is the team to beat without a doubt. 

19 hours ago, corta765 said:

 

Haha listen they never are going to suck. But maybe just maybe if the cast is just smidge mortal, maybe Mahomes is slowed and they have to be the 4th seed for once lol.

I doubt that. Only way KC drops is if Mahomes gets hurt. He's in a league all by himself. We are watching a special hall of fame QB. I think he gives Brady a challenge for his record. 

 

I'd be surprised if the Bills can beat KC or Cinci in the playoffs. Both teams are clearly better than the Bills. 

19 hours ago, corta765 said:

 

lol I aint touching football voodoo. I can 100% see KC at some point have some down points because it is natural and also incredibly hard to run that hot 24/7. Even the Pats crapped out for a while, but until we get a ring I am leaving the football gods at bay with other team predictions

When did the Pats "crap out" under a healthy Brady? 

[newcam2012]

19 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I wonder why the media isn’t putting the pressure on the 49ers like they are the Bills 

They don't have a franchise QB. 

 

Also, I'm not sure your premise is correct. Is the media really putting more pressure on the Bills than SF? 

 

I think the pressure is coming from the Buffalo fans more than the media. 

Edited July 12, 2023 by newcam2012

[corta765]

6 minutes ago, newcam2012 said:

I doubt that. Only way KC drops is if Mahomes gets hurt. He's in a league all by himself. We are watching a special hall of fame QB. I think he gives Brady a challenge for his record. 

 

I'd be surprised if the Bills can beat KC or Cinci in the playoffs. Both teams are clearly better than the Bills. 

When did the Pats "crap out" under a healthy Brady? 

 

Drop to me is they are a 4 seed or maybe a wild card. No way I see them ever missing unless like you said Mahomes gets hurt. Buffalo will have there day where they go the distance but what they do in that moment is entirely up in the air. Everyone said the same crap about Manning and then he got by NE and won two SBs. Brady was still better and NE was the unstoppable machine, but it happens from time to time.

 

05-06 NE flamed out in the post season partly because their offensive weapons burned out. After 07 they didn't make the SB again until 2011 which included home losses to BAL and NYJ. Crap out is relative KC will not make the SB or AFC title every year, so when that happens it is up to whoever takes their spot to make the most of it.

[newcam2012]

17 hours ago, Gregg said:

Folks we have no shot. It's the Jets year. Check out this quote from a Jets fan at the Jets nation board. 27-year-old Josh Allen is in decline, but I guess a 40-year-old Rodgers has a lot left in the tank. LOL at that fanbase. The thread is comical its titled Optimistic vs Pessimistic thread on their season.

 

 

Tua won't last. Mac Jones is garbo. Josh Allen is on the decline. The AFC East is ours for the taking.

What do you expect Jets fans to say? It's homerism at its best. Not unlike many of the posters here with regards to the Bills. 

[Don Otreply]

The Bills biggest issue is the O-LINE! 
(and has been for years) 
 

Followed by play calling concepts / scheming / design and execution, last but not least, in game playoff coaching. 
 

The talent is basically in place. 
 

I do enjoy reading about NE’s plunge to the bottom, makes me feel happy, 

[newcam2012]

8 hours ago, billybrew1 said:

Just rewatched Bills @ Jets and Miami @ Bills….

 

Conclusion…. We need a real #2 WR…. Yeah, we got Kincaid and that’s great but we also needed to replace Smoke/Emmanuel….

Maybe Davis finds his hands again, maybe not…. Either way, we need more speed and big play ability….

Oh I agree. That 51% catch rate by Davis isn't going to cut it. The Bills WR core isn't anything scary. Teams will 100% take Diggs out of the game cone playoff time.

 

Relying on a rookie TE is a scary proposition. Rarely does a rookie TE have a significant impact in his rookie season. Remember Kincaid is a liabilty blocking and who knows what Dorsey can scheme. 

 

Once again, the team is heavily dependent on Allen. Hopefully, the Bills cab establish a solid running game that opens up the passing game.