The wait is over….at least for those not boycotting the NFL for its unfair black balling Colin Kaepernick. The season offers the possibility of many headlines and highlights as the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs kick off the season tonight. Will this be the final rodeo for Prodigal Son quarterback Tom Brady or will the Dallas Cowboys build on the success and promise of last season to finally take the Lombardi Trophy after a 22 year hiatus?
The BSO staff offers their perspectives on what to expect this season and gives their picks for who will take the field in Minneapolis come February 4.
My Pick – (W) Green Bay vs New England
With Julian Edelman out, expect the Patriots to pick up the slack with an unexpected source. This could very well be the swan song for Tom Brady, especially with wife Giselle inadvertently dropping the bombshell news that the 5-time Super Bowl Champion quarterback played through “several concussions” last season. However, if any team can shake things up and send Brady out with an L, it’s Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
A storyline that I will definitely be keeping an eye on this season is Cam Newton and the hopefully resurgent Carolina Panthers. Newton has gingerly worked on his return since having surgery in March on his rotator cuff. He is expected to be at full strength with no limitations when the team opens up against the 49ers this Sunday. With the addition of speedy, shifty running back Christian McCaffrey joining vet Jonathan Stewart, there is less pressure on Newton to be a runner; however don’t expect him to become a pocket quarterback. Behind a new offensive line, it will be interesting to see how this offense can develop. Additionally, the secondary is an area to watch. After being torched by Matt Ryan (503 yds passing) and Julio Jones (300 receiving yds) it was clear there was work to be done in that unit. Vets Mike Adams and Captain Munnerlyn were added in the offseason but injury has left the unit somewhat skimpy.
Rob Littal – Patriots 28 vs. Packers 27
The most interesting storyline of the season to me is what happens with the Dallas Cowboys. High expectations and a lot of drama for a very young team. Will they collapse or be more like the 90s Cowboys which thrived under pressure.
Stephen F. – (W) Oakland over Seattle.
Under the radar, we are witnessing a changing of the guard at the Quarterback position from the likes of Brady, Roethlisberger and Brees to several younger, unproven players. Last years draft featured 3 Quarterbacks selected in the first round. Two of them, Pat Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, are on playoff caliber teams in the AFC. Alex Smith and Tom Savage aren’t the answer to any Super Bowl winning formula. We’ll see both Mahomes and Watson doing battle on Wildcard Saturday in Houston. Derek Carr profiles as my ‘most likely to make the leap guy’ this season.
Jarod H. – (W) Green Bay v New England
The storyline I’m most interested in is, will Cam Newton return to MVP form? He was injured a lot of last year. The year before he carried that pitiful offense to the Super Bowl. Will the line be able to protect him and can his skill position players step up. If so, Cam could be the single most dangerous offensive player in the league.
Christopher K. – New England Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers.
Is Dak Prescott going to keep it going! After a tough loss to Green Bay last year in the divisional playoffs… Stay tuned for his second year, and with the team he’s surrounded by, sky’s the limit!
Glen E. – Steelers 35 Giants 28
Steelers, not Patriots, can be the AFC favorites in 2017
Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Ben Roethlisberger will play together for the first time in 22 months. When healthy and playing together for a long stretch, the Steelers are nearly unstoppable. The last time the foursome was together for a stretch, the Steelers averaged 31.2 points per game in the 10 games they played together that season. They scored 30 point or more five times in those 10 games, factor in that In 2016, the line ranked second in run blocking fourth in pass protection, according to http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol and you have a recipe for upending the New England Patriots if they can stay healthy, get stops on defense and secure home field advantage.
Zack W. – Raiders will take Super Bowl 52
The small storyline I’ll be watching (besides Kap getting back on the field), will be the resurgence of Adrian Peterson in New Orleans. I feel like his first time in an offense he isn’t the focal point will provide him many opportunities to get back to form and even be better than his last couple years. Looking for a big year from him.
Dalio F. – (W) Green Bay vs New England Patriots
Storyline to watch = Marshawn Lynch’s NFL return may just surprise many and given the news about the Raiders relocating to Las Vegas. This season will be about making his hometown Oakland Raiders proud; that extra motivation will perhaps help them make it into the AFC Finals where they will narrowly go down to Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Flip through the pages for the NFC East preview.