‘Ominous’ sign Super Bowl bid could fall apart; sad reality in QB controversy: NFL Talking Points

Another season of NFL action is almost upon us, with the Philadelphia Eagles starting their Super Bowl defence against the Dallas Cowboys on Friday morning (AEST).

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Although don’t tell the Eagles players it is a Super Bowl defence. To them, it’s just another year. A fresh slate.

Whether the Eagles will fall victim to a Super Bowl hangover is just one of many talking points ahead of the new season, with some big-name quarterbacks under pressure and contenders at risk of falling out of playoff contention.

Here, foxsports.com.au looks at the biggest talking point for every NFL team ahead of the new season!

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Can the offence go to the next level just running it back?

Now, there is no doubting the Cardinals were right to upgrade their defensive front this season. But to make no major changes on offence seems an oversight? Marvin Harrison Jr. underwhelmed relative to the lofty expectations put on him in his rookie season and while part of that was on him, he also wasn’t done many favours by his deployment and it is hard to see that changing with Arizona not bringing in any big bodies to take ‘X’ receiver reps away from him. Michael Wilson could do it but he profiles better as a third receiving option. Sure, the Cardinals’ top receiving option last year was actually tight end Trey McBride and it is hard to see that changing, while veteran running back James Conner continues to defy the age cliff. But whether Arizona takes another step this season will largely depend on quarterback Kyler Murray elevating his game. Murray has never been good at targeting the middle of the field and that remains a weakness for him ahead of the 2025 season, while he struggled too on converting red zone trips into touchdowns. Unlocking Murray’s legs, which was such a feature of his game before the torn ACL, may be the key to adding an extra dimension to this offence.

Kyler Murray will look to elevate the Cardinals offence. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

ATLANTA FALCONS

Is Michael Penix Jr.the guy and what happens now for Kirk Cousins?

The Falcons generated plenty of headlines during last year’s draft when they inexplicably drafted Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall despite signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed the month prior. In the end, the draft pick in itself turned out to be a smart one even in the process getting there wasn’t as the Cousins move backfired spectacularly. Fortunately, the Falcons had a readymade replacement to turn to in Penix. As for whether he is the long-term answer, well it is hard to gauge based on the small sample size from last year. He showed enough down the stretch to at least get the start this season, but injuries to the offensive line will test him early. Right tackle Kaleb McGary is set for an extended stint on the sideline while backup Storm Norton is going to miss six to eight weeks with an ankle injury. Considering Penix is a leftie, it means the Falcons will desperately need to find an answer to protect the blind side of their potential future quarterback. As for Cousins, he is staying put on the roster for now but could become a trade candidate for a quarterback-needy team mid-season if a contender is willing enough to take on part of his salary.

Michael Penix Jr. will look to prove himself this season. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Does anything matter until the playoffs?

Realistically, there aren’t many questions or holes to fill with this roster. There will be a new starting guard after Patrick Mekari left in free agency while they lost Michael Pierce and Brent Urban on the defensive side of the ball. But Baltimore plugged those gaps with moves around the edges and late draft picks, while there are internal options to replace Mekari. Otherwise, as has been the case for a number of years now, the Ravens are a team that has all the firepower to make it to a Super Bowl but they have continually come up short in the playoffs. Last year it was the drop from Mark Andrews while Lamar Jackson even committed two turnovers for the first time since Week 10 of the 2023 season. At this point it feels like until the playoffs it is not worth worrying about anything in Baltimore. Only then should this roster come under the microscope.

Can the Ravens live up to their lofty potential? (AP Photo/LM Otero) Source: AP

BUFFALO BILLS

What is the answer at safety?

There is still a question as to whether the Bills need a genuine top option in the receiving room, although they were more than OK without one last year before again just falling short of a Super Bowl appearance. Either way, the bigger concern is at safety with Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp currently Buffalo’s leading options to start. Bishop, however, has battled injuries over the past few years having missed much of last season’s training camp with a shoulder issue before struggling with a quadriceps complaint this summer. He had a tough outing in the preseason against the Bears too in a 38-0 loss. The Bills at least know what they have in Rapp but Bishop remains a major question mark and one that could be exploited by opposition teams until Buffalo is forced to make a move.

Safety play is a concern for the Bills. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) Source: AP

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Which version of Bryce Young do the Panthers get this time?

The one from earlier last season who was timid and lacking in confidence before being benched for veteran Andy Dalton or the one later in the year who had command of the offence and was starting to show why he was a former first overall pick? The Panthers have certainly done everything they can to make sure it is the latter, using their top pick in the draft to add another pass-catching weapon for Young in Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan should be the true alpha receiver Young needs after former first-round pick Xavier Legette was miscast as a boundary option for most of his rookie season last year after Diontae Johnson was traded by the Panthers, with the kind of frame and catch radius that will make him a target magnet. The loss of veteran safety blanket Adam Thielen doesn’t help, but the return the Panthers got for him (a 2026 fifth-rounder and 2027 fourth-rounder) makes it more than worth it even if his replacement, impressive undrafted rookie Jalen Coker, will miss at least the first four games of the year with a quad injury. Beyond McMillan, the offensive line remains a strength and considering the leap the Panthers made last year with their running game, there is plenty of optimism that Young could finally put it all together for an entire season.

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Can Bryce Young take another step in his third year? (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

CHICAGO BEARS

Are there any excuses for Caleb Williams if it doesn’t work?

There were high expectations for the former first overall pick in his rookie year. He had what, at least on paper, was one of the best situations a first-year quarterback had been dropped into in recent memory. A top-10 pick at receiver in Rome Odunze along with already established veterans in DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. They signed D’Andre Swift at running back. They had a star-studded defence and while there were question marks surrounding Matt Eberflus as head coach, he had the experienced coordinators to somewhat ease those concerns. Instead, Williams’ rookie year was a disaster. The offensive line was a mess, Williams himself was sporadic and wasn’t help by uninspiring play-calling from now former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. He was fired, Eberflus too after that shocking Thanksgiving loss to Detroit. In comes a fresh face in former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the new head coach. He was the top candidate for all teams around the league with vacancies, and he ended up picking Chicago. Now, instead of reportedly having to watch his own film without much help from the coaching staff, Williams is working under one of the sharpest young minds in the game. Allen is out but in comes another top rookie receiver in Luther Burden along with a top-10 pick at tight end in Colston Loveland. Most importantly, the Bears have fortified the offensive line by trading for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and signing Drew Dalman in free agency. Williams, like fellow former first overall pick Trevor Lawrence, had enough excuses for his poor rookie season. But like Lawrence, he too now has everything he needs to succeed and while the Bears won’t be moving on from him or anything even if this season also fails, another disappointing year would cast doubt over the lofty expectations draft analysts had for Williams before he entered the NFL.

Caleb Williams has been given plenty of help. Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Are they genuine contenders with this defence?

Nothing has changed with the offence. It still remains one of the most potent units in the league, led by a healthy Joe Burrow and superstar receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who is fresh off winning the triple crown. But as was the case last season, the defence remains a major question mark and while it is only the pre-season, the way the Commanders in particular ran all over Cincinnati in Week 2 was an ominous sign for the AFC contenders. It doesn’t seem like the Bengals’ front office cares all that much though. Time and time again, they have dug their heels in when it comes to paying their star players and in the case of Trey Hendrickson, their standout defensive end, the Bengals were at one point listening to trade offers for the NFL’s sack leader. They eventually came to an agreement with Hendrickson, but it was more of a band-aid solution with the team giving him a $14 million raise for this season. You would think they would prioritise all the help they can get on that side of the ball last season, especially when you consider Hendrickson won’t be able to do anything to help Cincinnati solve its issues defending the run. But when you factor in the fact rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart was the final first-rounder to agree to a contract this summer, and not until after an ugly standoff, it becomes clear the Bengals are just fine settling for a repeat of last season where they are constantly relying on Burrow to get them home in shootouts.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Source: AP

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Is the 2026 quarterback even on the roster?

Probably not. Joe Flacco has been named the starter as expected, but ideally the Browns would like to get a look at rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders at some point this season. They also traded a fifth-round pick for Kenny Pickett over the summer, only to ship him off for the same price to the Las Vegas Raiders. Gabriel, taken in the third round of the draft, has the highest draft capital and seems, based on that alone, the likeliest to see the field next if Flacco falters like he did in Indianapolis last season. He is undersized and while he has the accuracy and timing on shorter passes, he struggles when extended beyond that and was largely projected as a back-up quarterback in the NFL by most draft analysts. Sanders, meanwhile, slid down boards having initially been slated as a late-first to second-round pick and has been restricted by injuries in training camp. He had a solid first pre-season hit-out but his second game was a disaster. It doesn’t really seem like any of Cleveland’s current four quarterbacks on the roster are the answer, but considering the 2026 draft class could be loaded at the position there is a light at the end of the tunnel even if 2025 is a painful year.

Dillon Gabriel and his teammates take the field. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

DALLAS COWBOYS

Which direction are they going in after the Micah Parsons trade?

Well, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t rule out the possibility of using the two first-round picks they received as part of the Parsons trade to upgrade the roster right now. He also admitted that, “make no mistake”, they could have signed Parsons. Not sure you should have said that out loud Jerry. Yes, he was right to say that the Cowboys have struggled to stop the run for years but three-time Pro Bowler Kenny Clark isn’t the run-stopping force he was before battling injuries, while he is also about to turn 30 years old. The two first-round picks are a solid return and give Dallas some level of flexibility as to what the next move is. But having already gone through controversial negotiations with quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb last year, surely the Cowboys could have avoided getting to this point in the first place. And how will Prescott and Lamb be feeling? Sure, they got paid but the Parsons trade signals some form of a soft rebuild in Dallas, which probably is the right move anyway but it is hard to think that was the vision sold to them by the front office this time last summer. After all, if the Cowboys weren’t willing to pay the four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro that is the heart of their defence, how can they also claim to be serious about wanting to win a Super Bowl? It’s not just Parsons either. Time and time again, the Cowboys have largely proven themselves to be an unserious organisation ran by an unserious owner in Jones, who seems more interested with yelling at radio hosts than actually winning games. The appointment of former two-year offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as head coach, even if he ends up being a fine hire, was further proof of it. The criticism of that decision wasn’t so much a reflection of Schottenheimer’s skills as it was the process where Dallas interviewed just four candidates before settling on him. Sure, at least they traded for George Pickens in the offseason to add some juice to the pass-catching room but the running back situation remains dire, with Javonte Williams now the lead candidate for the most touches in Week 1.

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Micah Parsons was traded to the Packers. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) Source: AP

DENVER BRONCOS

What is the next step in Bo Nix’s development?

When Nix was taken 12th overall by the Broncos in last year’s draft, it raised plenty of eyebrows. Even more when Denver coach Sean Payton, when explaining the selection, compared it to not wanting to miss out on Patrick Mahomes. Now, no one was expecting Nix to be Mahomes in his rookie year. In fact, few were expecting him to play like a typical early first-round pick considering most draft experts had him pinned as more of a second-round talent. But Nix enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, setting a franchise rookie record with 29 passing touchdowns, which also ranked as the second most by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. So, what is the next step? Well, to start the season Payton was using training wheels with Nix, easing him in with short, low-risk passes. In fact, there was one game where he had -7 passing yards by halftime. By the end of the year, Nix was threading the needle with a 93-yard bomb for speedster Marvin Mims. Now, that is obviously not to say that you can expect that from Nix every week. But who would have thought pairing one of the most accurate passers in NCAA history with a play-caller like Payton would deliver such strong results. It was a match made in heaven. While Denver’s strong offensive line helped, Nix also did well in his rookie season to recognise pressure and get rid of the ball when he needed to to avoid sacks. His underrated strength as a rusher should also add an extra wrinkle to this offence, which like fellow standout rookie Jayden Daniels will make it easier for Nix to handle whatever opposition defences throw at him in his second year.

Can Bo Nix go to the next level? (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

DETROIT LIONS

Can a new-look Lions maintain the rage on offence?

They were once the laughing stock of the NFL and in the past few years have been an offensive juggernaut. But there are genuine reasons to be concerned about Detroit’s offence taking a step backwards in 2025, starting with the loss of All-Pro centre Frank Ragnow. Much of the Lions’ success in recent years has been predicated on the strength of their offensive line, which helped the dynamic Jahmyr Gibbs and bruising David Montgomery to lead one of the league’s most efficient run games. It will take time to adjust without their longtime starting centre. There have been major changes on the coaching front too. Offensive mastermind Ben Johnson is out while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn also joined him in taking up a head coaching job elsewhere. Losing both coordinators is always going to hurt, but it’s not just those two. Passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett, tight ends coach Steve Heiden, wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El and defensive line coach Terrell Williams have also all left. That is a serious brain drain. Now, as brilliant as Johnson was as a play-caller, head coach Dan Campbell deserves plenty of respect too and is a far more cerebral mind than he is often given credit for. But so much turnover in such a tough division leaves the Lions in a vulnerable position.

There is plenty of pressure on the Lions. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Is this the year Jordan Love puts it all together?

Green Bay was run-heavy for most of last season and it seemed to be by necessity as Love battled through injuries, having first suffered a sprained MCL before then dealing with a groin injury later in the year. Now, with Love healthy after undergoing offseason surgery on his non-throwing hand, the Packers should have a far more balanced offence and the passing game could go to another level after the addition of first-round rookie receiver Matthew Golden. The Texas speedster may not be the primary pass catcher from the jump (although he may have to be given the injuries in the Green Bay receiving corps) but his speed should help take off the top of defences, allowing the likes of Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed to pick up yards after the catch. Golden also has reportedly been catching everything in training camp, which is something Green Bay’s receivers struggled with last year. The combination of drops and injuries, both for Love and among the wide receiver room, held the 26-year-old back from really taking the next step towards becoming an elite quarterback. A healthy Love should be able to extend plays better, which in turn could also limit the number of interceptions he throws and while those numbers have hardly been egregious in his first two seasons as a starter, the ball security could be better. Still, the Packers don’t want Love shying away from the confident, gun-slinger mentality that has produced plenty of big plays since he took over for Aaron Rodgers.

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Jordan Love is healthy and ready to go. Patrick McDermott/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

HOUSTON TEXANS

Was last year just a blip in the radar?

After a breakout rookie season, C.J. Stroud and the Texans came crashing back to earth in a big way last year and while Stroud himself regressed and looked down on confidence, a lot of it came back to external factors. Starting with the offensive line, which was one of the worst in the league. Stroud was under constant assault, facing a league-high 79 unblocked pressures according to Pro Football Focus. The lack of a consistent run game didn’t help either. The result was Stroud consistently found himself in third-and-long situations without much of a hope of having enough time to even find an open receiver. In fact, he finished second in the NFL in dropbacks on third-and-10-plus according to TruMedia. The play-calling from new offensive co-ordinator Bobby Slowik didn’t help either. Despite Houston’s struggles on the ground, he stubbornly continued to call run plays on early downs, putting far too much pressure on Stroud to produce miracle throws to keep the drive alive. There is a new-look offensive line this year while Slowik is also gone, replaced by Nick Caley, who previously served as the passing game coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams. He and Stroud will have plenty of new weapons to play with too after the Texans drafted Iowa State pair Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, having already snapped up the reliable Christian Kirk via trade. The run game remains a major concern with Joe Mixon injured and unlikely to start the season, meaning the Texans may lean on Stroud’s arm even more. The fresh faces in the offensive line will also take time to gel. But the hope is that with a new play-caller and run scheme, Stroud will feel more at home in his third season in the league. That will be especially true given he is being given the chance to change protections and call audibles before the snap for the first time in his career. In other words, Stroud is being empowered and given what he showed in his rookie year, there has to be some level of confidence that it is a challenge he will rise to.

C.J. Stroud has some new weapons to throw to. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Is there any chance Shane Steichen keeps his job?

Well, it seems like the Colts head coach is doing everything he can to give himself the best chance of keeping his job. After all, while picking Anthony Richardson as his starting quarterback for Week 1 may have given Indianapolis a chance to get more of a look at the former fourth overall pick and whether there is any future for him with the franchise, it was hard to see that delivering the kind of on-field consistency that would see Steichen keep his job. Instead, he has opted for the more experienced Daniel Jones who he trusts more to have a command of the offence. Yep, it speaks volumes about the state of Indianapolis’ quarterback room that Jones is viewed as a steadying presence. Richardson though was one of the least accurate quarterbacks in recent memory (his 47.7 completion percentage was the lowest mark in the NFL in 2024 and the third-lowest mark of any passer over the last 20 years).

At least with Jones you will have an offence that can move the chains fairly consistently, although his deep ball – which was never a strength of his – has well and truly dissipated along with his arm strength over time. Jones should be good enough to get the Colts to a 7-10 record or maybe even a wildcard berth, but the sad reality is that this just looks headed for a wasted season of mediocrity which could have instead been spent giving Richardson the valuable in-game reps he desperately needs to be properly evaluated in the first place. The Colts knew what they were getting when they drafted Richardson in the first place despite his limited experience in college, and yet they haven’t given him much of a chance. They instead look locked in as a potential candidate for a first-round quarterback in next year’s draft.

Anthony Richardson was benched... again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Source: AP

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

What happens if Trevor Lawrence fails to deliver again?

Well, the Jaguars won’t be moving off of him, that’s for sure. After all, Lawrence signed a five-year, $275 million extension last year with $200 million guaranteed. It was a lot of money for a quarterback who entered the league with high expectations that he has never really lived up to. The generational billing was probably unfair and not something Lawrence could control, while the Urban Meyer disaster certainly was a reason to be patient with him too. The Doug Pederson hiring didn’t deliver the desired results either, while injuries have certainly hampered Lawrence’s momentum as well. But at some point Lawrence has to take responsibility, especially for the turnovers and poor ball security that has plagued his career to this point. The arrival of offensive genius Liam Coen as new head coach and standout rookie receiver Travis Hunter this season means there are no excuses for Lawrence. The offensive line is admittedly still a work in progress but Coen was able to transform Tampa Bay’s ineffective run game into one of the best in the league and if he is able to do even half of that in Jacksonville it will help ease the pressure on Lawrence. Lawrence also had one of the shortest times to throw last season and yet averaged among the highest yards per attempt in the NFL. In other words, he was attempting the most difficult of passes despite playing behind one of the league’s worst lines. Coen was behind one of the best screen games in the league at Tampa Bay too and Hunter is a yards after the catch freak, so there should be plenty more easy buttons for Lawrence to press in this new-look offence. All of which means if it doesn’t lead to better results, serious questions will be asked.

Trevor Lawrence needs to step up this season. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Can they get the explosive plays going again?

Not that it’s overly important. After all, they got to another Super Bowl last year without them. But the Chiefs look to have struck gold with Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons, who they took with the 32nd overall pick in this year’s draft. Simmons was rehabbing from a torn patellar tendon and that injury was the only reason he slid down the board. Otherwise, he was regarded as one of the top tackle prospects in the draft and all the reviews from training camp in Kansas City have been about how good the rookie looks already. Given the major issues the Chiefs had protecting Mahomes, which showed up in the worst possible way against Philadelphia, finding a long-term solution at left tackle could be just what Kansas City needs to reignite its offence after finishing dead-last in explosive play rate last season. Isaiah Pacheco is one year removed from that fractured fibula, but more than anything better protection means more time for those deeper routes to develop and for Mahomes to find speedster Xavier Worthy down the field or even veteran Hollywood Brown, who was banged up last season. The suspension for the ever-reliable Rashee Rice doesn’t help, but when he returns this offence could start to look a bit more like what it was during the Tyreek Hill days. Also, the vibes at Miami for Hill don’t seem great right now and if things go south again for the Dolphins, could Kansas City be a potential trade destination for the ‘Cheetah’ down the line when Rice is suspended? Just something to consider.

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Xavier Worthy had a big game in the Super Bowl. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Can the Raiders shock the NFL’s toughest division?

If Vegas wasn’t in the vaunted AFC West, they would be plenty of people’s picks for playoffs dark horses. It is going to be tough for the Raiders to make much noise in a division headlined by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs along with a Justin Herbert-led Chargers and Broncos unit in its second season with Bo Nix under centre. But consider this. As much as the Simmons pick is a reason for optimism in Kansas City, the Rice suspension will test a Kansas City wide receiver room that already lacks a clear alpha. Xavier Worthy has his strengths but is still a work in progress while Travis Kelce has recently been managed a bit more during the regular season. The Chargers have their own major question mark without Rashawn Slater, while there is every chance with more time and tape on him that Nix could regress in his second year in the league. So, what about the Raiders? Well, the offensive line is a concern but Geno Smith has plenty of experience operating behind a shoddy line from his recent seasons in Seattle. The hope is that there will be enough improvement that Smith, one of the NFL’s most accurate passers with a clean pocket, can show just how much he was held back with the Seahawks. The addition of rookie running back Ashton Jeanty gives one of the league’s worst rushing units from last year some serious juice while Brock Bowers is an absolute monster at tight end. Jakobi Meyers is one of the league’s most underrated receivers and this defence remains a fearsome unit. There is plenty to like about the Raiders and if things fall their way, maybe they could surprise a few people in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions.

Geno Smith is leading a new-look Raiders team. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

How big a loss is Rashawn Slater?

Head coach Jim Harbaugh described it as a “gut punch to the solar plexus”. Just 11 days after signing a contract extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman in history, Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater was wiped out for the season with a knee injury. It is a huge hit for a team that has struggled to keep Justin Herbert upright in previous seasons and forces changes across the offensive line, although there is a silver lining for L.A. in that respect. Starting with the fact that former fifth overall pick Joe Alt, who is moving from right tackle to left, spent his college career at Notre Dame playing that position. It will still be an adjustment but not a major one, especially given the success Alt was in his rookie year. It also helps that Trey Pipkins can play both ends of the offensive line. Again, it is hardly ideal but the Chargers do have the versatility to make it work.

The Chargers need to keep Justin Herbert upright. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

LOS ANGELES RAMS

How close is this to all falling apart?

Or more specifically, how close is Matthew Stafford’s body to breaking down? As much as Sean McVay is one of the best coaches in the NFL, this whole operation is Los Angeles threatens to come undone the moment Stafford retires and considering the nature of the back injury he has been hampered by this offseason, there is a fear that could be closer than first thought. Stafford was all smiles when he addressed media for the first time since June last week, although his admission that “some days feel better than others” spoke to just how fragile this whole situation feels. Stafford, who also suffered a spinal cord contusion in 2022, has been dealing with an aggravated disc in his back and had an epidural as part of his treatment. There is even a “restorative and rejuvenation” chamber parked next to the Rams’ practice field. It all feels very “ominous” as Michael Florio put it on ProFootballTalk. “This can go sideways at any moment, especially once they start playing games and he gets hit,” he said. And he’s right, especially with the already existing concerns over the Rams’ offensive line. Yep, starting left tackle Alaric Jackson was not at minicamp as he dealt with blood clots in his lower leg. The defence, meanwhile, is a young group and while they exceeded expectations last season there is every chance it doesn’t come together like it did this time around and that will only put more pressure on Stafford to chase points. In the scenario Stafford does go down, it will leave the Rams without any explosive element to their offence given Kyren Williams will get what he is blocked but otherwise the run game struggled to get much going. In other words, one bad hit could spell the end of the Rams’ Super Bowl hopes and the Stafford era in Los Angeles – and it doesn’t feel like an exaggeration to say that.

It all rests on Matthew Stafford’s shoulders. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Could another poor year spark big changes?

Well, considering Mike McDaniel is the currently betting favourite to be the first head coach fired in 2025 you would have to say the answer is yes. Widely regarded as one of the league’s best offensive masterminds before last season, it was confounding the way McDaniel and the Dolphins seemingly had no answers to fix a porous offensive line and defensive adjustments. Rival teams played two-high against Miami at an extremely high rate, taking away the deep balls to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle that had made the Dolphins one of the NFL’s most explosive offences the year prior. Instead, with an injured and ineffective offensive line, Miami was forced to try dink and dunk its way down the field with short passes to De’Von Achane and Jonnu Smith. The concussion issues for Tua Tagovailoa obviously didn’t help and given his history of head knocks, that will always remain a cause for concern. But even with Tagovailoa back in the fold, if McDaniel can’t find a way to get the Dolphins run game going again and complementing a deep passing attack, Miami could well struggle again and McDaniel will be out the door.

The Dolphins will look to bounce back. Rich Storry/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Can Kevin O’Connell work his magic again?

If he did with Sam Darnold, why not? Of course, Darnold always had the arm talent but it was hard to believe that all the years of erratic play were a lie and that he had suddenly turned his career around as opposed to benefiting from playing under O’Connell and with a star-studded receiving room. Of course, Darnold deserves credit for making the most of that opportunity but it didn’t make sense for the Vikings to pay him when they could potentially get similar production out of second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy on his rookie contract. McCarthy is effectively a rookie himself this season, having sat out his first year in the league after undergoing surgery on a torn right meniscus. There isn’t a whole lot to go off in that regard outside of his college tape, where McCarthy was limited by a Michigan offence that only required him to throw an average of 22.1 passes per game. But clearly the Vikings had seen enough in their evaluation of McCarthy to be confident that despite the injury setback, this was their long-term answer at quarterback and considering O’Connell has even made it work in stretches with someone like Josh Dobbs, you have to think they will do just that.

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Kevin O’Connell will try work his magic again. Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

What are realistic expectations for Drake Maye in year two?

Considering the circumstances of his rookie season, there is plenty of optimism surrounding Drake Maye entering his second season in New England. With one of the worst receiving corps and offensive lines in the league, it was a miracle that Maye was able to salvage anything from his first year in the NFL. But it was a credit to Maye’s mobility and arm talent that he was able to make the best out of a poor situation, playing for a team that ranked 31st in pass block win rate last season. Maye was sacked 34 times and while the addition of fourth overall pick Will Campbell in the draft will help, the offensive line is still a major question mark and may preclude Maye from really showing off his legs in the designed run game. After all, the Patriots don’t want to go about killing their star quarterback so early in his career. The receiving room is better but still not much to write home about, with its success largely riding off Stefon Diggs bouncing back from a torn ACL and rookie Kyle Williams emerging as the genuine speed threat this offence needs. At least first-year running back Treveyon Henderson is drawing rave reviews from training camp and should be the most electric option on offence, while he was also the most accomplished pass protector of his class at his position.

There is plenty of optimism for Drake Maye. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Is it all-in on the top pick in the 2026 draft?

Apparently not if the trade for second-year Broncos receiver Devaughn Vele is anything to go by. The Saints sent a fourth and seventh-round pick for Vele, who adds much-needed size to their pass-catching room. But given the state of New Orleans’ quarterback competition, with second-rounder Tyler Shough no guarantee to beat out 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler for the top job, you have to question whether the Saints should really be trading away draft capital. Sure, the NFC South is one of the weaker divisions in the NFL but even still, years of salary cap mismanagement haven’t left the Saints in a strong place to make any further upgrades across the roster while the major question mark at quarterback caps their ceiling beyond an unlikely division title. On the off chance Arch Manning, nephew of Saints legend Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton and two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli, declares for the 2026 draft it will be a chance for New Orleans to draft the kind of quarterback prospect that can suddenly vault the franchise into relevancy after years of middling results. It will take a full-blown tank job, and odds are Manning doesn’t enter the NFL until 2027 anyway, but regardless at this point the Saints should be incentivised to embrace the future and that should mean going all-in on the draft.

Tyler Shough was a second-round pick. Sean Gardner/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

NEW YORK GIANTS

How long does Russell Wilson get?

Not long if this Jaxson Dart hype continues to build. The 25th overall pick impressed in his most recent pre-season game against the New England Patriots, completing 6 of 12 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown while also adding in 23 yards on the ground. That stats line didn’t tell the full story either since there were a number of drops, including one from speedster Jalin Hyatt on a perfectly placed deep ball from Dart. Considering the question marks over how Dart’s success in the Ole Miss offence would translate to the NFL, it was the kind of throw the Giants would have wanted to see and while it was only the pre-season, there are at least reasons to be optimistic. Make no mistake, Russell Wilson will open the season as the starter and considering how strong New York’s front end is, it is understandable why the Giants would think they have a chance of winning more games than many people expect with the more experienced quarterback at the helm. This is, of course, a coaching staff and front office that is under pressure to win games. But with the Commanders, Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Saints, Eagles (twice), Broncos and 49ers early in the schedule, there could be calls for Dart sooner than expected if those games go as expected.

Jaxson Dart is waiting in the wings. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

NEW YORK JETS

Will the passing game get going?

Based on the pre-season results and training camp, it looks highly unlikely. All reports from Jets beat writers have indicated that if there is a passing game in New York this season, it will largely be restricted to short completions and if anything goes beyond 10 yards, it is anyone’s guess as to where the ball will end up because Fields has reportedly been far from accurate on those throws. In some ways it makes sense. Why wouldn’t you lean into Fields’ strengths as a runner when combined with this improved offensive line and deep running back room? Especially when new head coach Aaron Glenn comes from the Detroit Lions, who built their offensive success over the past two years on the ground game. But that also set up play-action shots for Jameson Williams deep down the field or Amon-Ra St. Brown over the middle. At the moment, it looks like there will be very little of that in New York. A visibly frustrated Glenn fielded questions about Fields as a passer at a recent media opportunity, asking journalists: “Who says it’s a passing league?” To some extent he is right. There was a run game renaissance of sorts last season. But that doesn’t mean you don’t threaten defences through the air at all. Until Fields proves himself as a passer capable of operating in the rhythm of the offence, you can count on opposition teams keying in on the run and forcing the former first-round pick to beat them with his arm.

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Justin Fields is under pressure. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

How do they avoid a Super Bowl hangover?

Well, it starts with embracing the mentality that Australian left tackle Jordan Mailata had when speaking to reporters in training camp last month. “We’re not defending s***,” he said, and that seemed to be a common theme among the playing group in the lead-up to this season. Looking at the roster, the second cornerback spot is a question mark with Adoree Jackson and Kelee Ringo battling it out while the Eagles also have a new-look edge rusher group this season. Outside of that, the offence should still be among the league’s best and even if the rushing efficiency takes a step backwards they have a superstar receiver duo in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to step up and provide splash plays. As is the case in any sport, it is always harder to be the hunted but for the most part, Philadelphia is running it back with a roster that is capable of going back-to-back.

Can Jordan Mailata and the Eagles get back to the Super Bowl? (AP Photo/Doug Benc) Source: AP

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Can Aaron Rodgers avoid a disaster in his career swansong?

This isn’t in relation to how he will be viewed as a quarterback. He will go down as one of the best of all time and seems destined to be a first-ballot entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But the way things ended with the Jets has left a sour taste in the mouth and another poor season at Pittsburgh, especially if it proves to be his last in the NFL, could threaten to taint his legacy and the overall way he is remembered. Of course, no one can blame Rodgers for the torn Achilles that ruined his first season with the Jets but the second one, even if it is tough to judge a 41-year-old coming off a serious injury, was a serious indictment of just how far he had fallen. The Jets finished the season 5-12 and a divorce ensued before Rodgers predictably turned the free agency period into a media circus, seemingly waiting as long as he could before confirming what everyone already knew: that he would be signing with the Steelers. And now if this goes horribly wrong and Pittsburgh, an organisation that has constantly found a way to win despite its limitations on offence, finishes the season with a losing record it will be quite the way for Rodgers to go out.

How will Aaron Rodgers fare in Pittsburgh? Grant Halverson/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Was last year a case of injuries taking their toll?

And what ladder did they walk under to already be piling up this many injuries before a ball has even been snapped in the regular season? The running back and wide receiver rooms have been absolutely decimated, to the extent the 49ers have already been forced to make trades at both positions, and somehow Christian McCaffrey is the beacon of health and only existing back on the roster to remain unscathed. There is no understating just how important he will be to San Francisco’s offence this season. Brock Purdy did well without so many of his top weapons and was able to march the 49ers down the field but once they got into the red zone the offence continually stalled, and a lot of that had to do with not having the threat of McCaffrey on the field. The hope is that with the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year healthy, second-year receiver Ricky Pearsall ready to take a leap and the offensive line and superstar offensive tackle Trent Williams healthy, the 49ers will go back to being a Super Bowl contender. The defence is the major question mark but at least there aren’t the same injury concerns there – yet.

Brock Purdy stepped up last season. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Has Sam Darnold actually turned a corner?

To understand why this is a question you only have to look at way people are talking about J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota. McCarthy led a run-first offence at Michigan all the way to a National Championship and had his rookie season derailed by a meniscus injury and yet most experts seem to expect the former first-round pick to hit the ground running in his first season in the league, in large part due to the infrastructure around him. The same infrastructure that Darnold benefited from in his best season as a pro. A top wide receiver duo in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. A brilliant coach and play-caller in Kevin O’Connell. An offensive line which, while having its struggles later in the season, held up for the majority of the year. Now he goes to a situation in Seattle where the offensive line is a major question mark while beyond Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a declining Cooper Kupp and rookie Tory Horton. The run game will be the focus with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, which should ease the pressure on Darnold, but when the game is on the line it remains to be seen if he can consistently make the right play in a new environment.

Sam Darnold is coming off a career year. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Source: AP

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Could the offence take a surprise step backwards?

And would it even be a surprise at this point? The Buccaneers were one of the best offences in football last year, in large part due to offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who schemed up a brilliant screen game that ranked first in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per play. Of course, Baker Mayfield deserves plenty of credit too for executing the offence and making big-time throws but Coen’s departure leaves a massive hole and while Tampa Bay dealt with similar question marks after Dave Canales left for Carolina, there is still pressure on new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard to keep this passing game humming. He is an internal hire, so there should be at least be some level of consistency but injuries to left tackle Tristan Wirfs along with receiver duo Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan could see Tampa Bay struggle out of the gate.

The Bucs could struggle early. Joe Sargent/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

TENNESSEE TITANS

Can Cam Ward finally give the Titans a reason to believe?

Well, it won’t take much after the Will Levis experience. There will be the natural ups and downs of any rookie season, while the fact there wasn’t the same level of hype surrounding Ward as previous first overall picks means the pressure won’t be as extreme as what Bryce Young or Caleb Williams were under. Still, after a tough few seasons Titans fans will want at least some proof that Ward can be the long-term answer at quarterback and while the situation isn’t perfect, he does have a reliable top receiver in veteran Calvin Ridley to lean on while the offensive line looks much-improved based on pre-season play and should be even better with JC Latham playing next to the experienced Kevin Zeitler. Ward certainly isn’t afraid to take aggressive shots down the field and while it isn’t on the same level as Levis, he will still need to reign in some of the reckless plays in his game.

The Titans have a new quarterback. Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

How does Jayden Daniels avoid second-year syndrome?

Well, it doesn’t start with your top receiver holding out until he gets a new contract, that’s for sure. Terry McLaurin, as expected, got paid eventually which was the right decision considering the Commanders were one game away from a Super Bowl in Daniels’ first season in the league. So, what does a few extra millions mean if it is keeping your long-term franchise quarterback happy? Without McLaurin there wasn’t much there beyond Deebo Samuel, who showed signs of decline last year in San Francisco, and maybe rookie speedster Jaylin Lane? Sure, Zach Ertz is a nice safety valve too but without McLaurin there was no proven explosive element to this offence. But beyond that contract saga, the Commanders will just want to avoid putting Daniels in a similar position to the one C.J. Stroud found himself in after his rookie year. Washington’s offensive line exceeded expectations last season and adding Laremy Tunsil to play left tackle should make it an even better unit this season. To that extent, the Commanders have at least shown some signs that they are actively looking to safeguard Daniels from second-year regression. But until McLaurin signs on that dotted line, it will remain a question mark, especially with opposition defences getting all summer to study him. Although since Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback he will be able to somewhat counter all that extra attention.

The Commanders will need to back up their breakout season. Greg Fiume/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

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