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“NFL PREVIEW”
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The NFL-new faces-new places-new challengers to get to the Super Bowl.
Here’s a look at who finishes where in the NFL races.
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AFC-EAST:

MIAMI..It’s Tua-Tyreek time with the Dolphins.  A loaded offense now adds Odell Beckham.  But they let do-everything DT-Christian Wilkens leave in free agency.

JETS..Aaron Rodgers is the difference maker, and they added around him, including longtime Cowboys LT-Tyron Smith and WR-Mike Williams.  The defense has always been good and if they get Hassan Reddick on the same page, they will be good.

BUFFALO..A big drop off here..The window may be closing on them, with Stephon Diggs departing, along with Tre White and another injury to Matt Milano…Josh Allen has to carry a bigger workload.

PATRIOTS..Drake Maye is the future at quarterback and should be starting…Not a strong roster around the quarterback…Jared Mayo’s defense will be good-but not enough players.  They are (29-38) since Tom Brady left…and now there is no Bill Belichick.

AFC-NORTH

RAVENS..It’s more than just QB-Lamar Jackson.  Now it’s Derek Henry, a group of speed receivers, and the key is the return to health of its secondary.

CLEVELAND..Huge question mark on the durability of QB-Deshaun Watson, and how quickly Nick Chubb comes back from another knee surgery.  But they are good everywhere else thanks to Myles Garrett and that defense.

BENGALS…Do they have enough around Joe Burrow, or how long till Burrow gets hurt again because they don’t have enough around him?  Just not enough firepower.  This is a Bengals organizational problem.

STEELERS..Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season in 17-years-but it might be this year.  Rent a QB season ahead, so we see how much gas Russell Wilson has left or if they can harness the wildness of young QB-Justin Fields.  Skill people at wide receiver are not there.  Tough season coming.

AFC-SOUTH:

HOUSTON..They have been building towards this, and now it’s time they arrived..QB-CJ Stroud adds veteran WR-Stephon Diggs and RB-Joe Mixon to a dynamic offense…They have drafted so well on defense and now a 2nd year for explosive LB-Will Anderson.  What a job DeMeco Ryans has done.

JAGUARS..It’s time for Trevor Lawrence to earn his money, and adding Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay and DT-Arik Armstead will make a difference.

COLTS…They must keep QB-Anthony Richardson on the field and not have him run so much…Do they have enough depth at RB around Jonathon Taylor, and can they keep the WR group healthy?

TITANS…A pretty aggressive off season of veteran players could change the personality of the team around QB-Will Levis, coming off a good rookie season, but they need time to jell.

AFC-WEST:

CHIEFS…Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes, quite a combo as they go for their 3rd straight Super Bowl ring.  8-other teams won back to backs but could not do it a third season in a row.  They have had to re-do the WR group.  The young offensive line jelled last year.  They seem thin at RB.  And they let go 3-veterans on defense, led by CB-LeJarius Sneed.  But until you beat Andy-Patrick, they are kings.

CHARGERS…The combo of Jim Harbaugh-Justin Herbert should be dynamic, but they have lots of questions.  Replacing the key veterans Keenan Allen-Mike Williams-Austin Eckler.  They have to replace 3-defensive tackles, but they have 7-linebackers for Jesse Minter’s new blitz packages.  Attack down the field.  Attack the opposing quarterback.

RAIDERS..Gardner Minshew can make plays and makes mistakes throwing the ball.  Josh Jacobs is gone at running back.  The skill people, from Davante Adams to rookie Brock Bowers will be spectacular.  The arrival of big DT-Christain Wilkens makes their defensive front look tough, and the linebacking is good, but the secondary is thin.

DENVER…Sean Payton-Bo Nix will be fun to watch.  The key will be can they keep the running backs and wide receivers healthy, because that has been a problem three years in a row.  The defense grew last year.  But this year is about Nix making plays.
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NFC-EAST:

EAGLES…Last year was a bad memory, an awful finish, a coaching staff shakeup.  Nick Sirianni could be on the hot seat.  He imports Kellen Mooire as his new offensive play caller.  They signed Saquon Barkley at running back.  They return the top receivers.  And the defense added secondary help.  Have to win or Sirianni could be gone.

COWBOYS…They have Dak and Cee Dee, a rebuilt offensive line, but the key addition could be ex Vikings heavy duty running back Dalvin Cook.  There are some injury problems upfront on defense but they have athletes who can run.  But they don’t have enough to chase down the Eagles

GIANTS..Poor Daniel Jones, injury after injury at QB, now he loses Saquon Barkley.  They added WR-Malik Nabers and traded for DT-Brian Burns, but that staff could be in trouble if it is not a good season.

WASHINGTON…Dan Quinn comes in as coach.  Jayden Daniels is his QB and will play as a rookie.  Austin Ekeler arrives from the Chargers but they don’t seem to have much else.  A long season in store with the kid QB.

NFC-NORTH:

DETROIT..The Lions will roar and they could be a Super Bowl team.  What a job done by Dan Campbell as coach, with QB-Jared Goff,  They also went out and added help for WR-Amor St-Brown and picked up defensive front help.  It’s their year.

BEARS…They have not had a QB with this talent level ever in Chicago, and Caleb Williams will have help, throwing to Keenan Allen and DJ Moore plus two TEs and they are 3-deep at running back.  Going to be a good season.   People say Williams is the next coming of Mahomes.

PACKERS…A really strong first season as a starter for Jordan Love.  Now they have added RB-Josh Jacobs.  Have to keep their young WR group healthy.  And they have new leadership on defense.  Good team-hard division.

VIKINGS…Losing JJ McCarthy hurts.  Losing veterans because of cap problems hurts even more.  Tough year ahead for Coach Kevin O’Connell.

NFC-WEST:

49ers…They have won 25-games in two years and seem primed to be a Super Bowl team with Brock Purdy, and the cadre of skill guys, McCaffrey-Aiyuk-Samuel-Kittle.  The defense is led by Nick Bosa but there may be depth problems there.

RAMS…Sean McVay faces a big challenge because of injuries, the Aaron Donald retirement and the controversial trade of star LB-Ernest Jones.  Will be very young on defense, though top picks DE-Jared Verse and DT-Brandon Fiske can make a difference immediately.  Matthew Stafford has tons of firepower around him, but they need to get people healthy.

SEATTLE…Life after Pete Carroll begins, with some offense led by Geno Smith, but some questions about the defense.  But DK Metcalf leads a 3-WR group, and Ken McIntosh is poised to be heavy duty at RB.  Lots of new pieces on defense though.

ARIZONA..Kyler Murray, James Conner and the arrival of 1st round pick Marvin Harrison will be exciting offense.  Do they have enough around them on offense line?  Can the defense carry them?  Can Murray stay healthy?  Lots of questions, waiting for answers.  Will Jonathon Gannon’s second year as coach make them better?

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