NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 16: Steelers vs Ravens

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The Baltimore Ravens travel to Pittsburgh to take on their division rival, the Steelers, on Sunday evening in a matchup full of playoff implications.

Pittsburgh (9-5) currently leads the AFC North division, taking that spot in the midst of a five-game winning streak, tied with the New England Patriots for the longest current streak. Baltimore (8-6) is just one game behind. A Baltimore win would put both teams at 9-6, with Baltimore holding the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage. If Pittsburgh were to win, they would claim the division crown and the #3 seed heading into the playoffs. In that scenario, Baltimore losing coupled with a Miami Dolphins win would eliminate the Ravens from the playoffs.

In their first meeting this season, in Baltimore, the Ravens prevailed 21-14. In that game, Baltimore took a 21-0 lead with a 95-yard receiving touchdown by Mike Wallace, two Justin Tucker field goals, and a blocked punt return for touchdown. In the last nine minutes of the game, Pittsburgh managed two scores to make the final look more reasonable, but Baltimore's defense controlled the Steeler offense most of the game.

Of Pittsburgh's 277 yards of offense, 205 of them came in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh had 12 possessions through the first three quarters and the start of the fourth. Eight of them ended in three-and-outs, one came at the end of the first half, one ended in an interception on the first play of the drive, and another resulted in the blocked punt. 

Fighting for their playoff lives, the Ravens will have to put up an equally-stellar defensive effort if they want to end the Steelers' winning streak. Pittsburgh's 4-2 record at home isn't notable exceptional, but for the fact that the two losses are to the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots, the two best teams in the league. 

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 15: Cowboys vs Buccaneers

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) will travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys (11-2) at AT&T Stadium on Sunday night. Dallas has already clinched a spot in the playoffs, but they still have to lock up the division, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Dallas has the best record in the NFC, and they’re tied with New England for the best record in the league.

Both of the Cowboys losses this season have come to the New York Giants. Last week, they were defeated by the Giants, 10-7. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has been fantastic all season long, but he’s struggled recently. Last week’s game was the first time Prescott threw multiple interceptions in the same game. The Mississippi State alum has failed to reach 200 passing yards in each of his last three games. Dallas has scored 24 points in their last two games.

The Cowboys backup is Tony Romo, but Head Coach Jason Garrett seems adamant about keeping Prescott in as the starter. The Cowboys magic number to secure the NFC’s number one seed is two with three games left. Under rookie Head Coach Dirk Koetter, Tampa has won five straight games. This is Tampa’s longest unbeaten streak since 2002. The resurgent Buccaneers are tied with Atlanta atop the NFC South. Tampa controls its own postseason destiny as they currently sit in the second wild-card spot. Tampa’s defense has gotten them to this point.

Tampa has given up a league-low 12.8 points per game since Week 10. The team has allowed the fewest touchdowns since Week 10 (6). The offense has struggled, as they’ve scored just six touchdowns in their last four games. Tampa defeated Dallas 10-6 last season in Tampa.

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 13: Saints vs Lions

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The Detroit Lions travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints in the Week 13 Game of the Week. Kickoff in the Louisiana Superdome is set for 1 p.m. ET.

Detroit (7-4) enters the game atop the NFC North division, one and a half games ahead of the Minnesota Vikings (6-6) and two games ahead of the Green Bay Packers (5-6). New Orleans (5-6) sits third in the NFC South, one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) and two games behind the Atlanta Falcons (7-4). The intensity that will be on display due to the playoff implications for both teams, plus the potential offensive firepower, make this game an entertaining option this Sunday.

New Orleans has one of the league's best offenses, with quarterback Drew Brees at the helm. He leads the league in passing completions (326), attempts (456), completion percentage (71.5) yards (3,587) and touchdowns (30) despite having just one receiver in the top 35 in receptions and none in the top ten in yards. Their defense, though, is one of the league's worst. They allow the sixth-most passing yards per game and the third-most points per game. Of their six home games, their opponents have scored at least 25 points four times, with the only exceptions being the mostly-inept Seattle Seahawks (20 points) and horribly inept Los Angeles Rams (21).

Detroit has had one of the most remarkable seasons in recent memory. The Lions have had a deficit in the fourth quarter of every game they have played this season. They have lost just four of them, and have come from behind to win in seven of them. Additionally, each one of their games have been decided by seven points or less. Essentially, watching a Lions game guarantees an exciting, close game.

The Saints want to earn a victory here because the Falcons have a solid chance of losing their matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Buccaneers play in San Diego against a potentially-dangerous Chargers team, so solid ground can be made up for them. The Lions can put some distance between themselves and Minnesota with a victory, giving them a two-game lead with just four weeks to go. A loss would increase the pressure on them the rest of the season.

The last five games in the New Orleans-Detroit matchup have all resulted in a victory by the home team, with the three contests played in New Orleans all combining for at least 48 points: 48, 72, and 77. Expect tons of offense, a thrilling ending, and a Saints victory this week in New Orleans.

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 12: Broncos vs Chiefs

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The Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) face the Denver Broncos (7-3) on Sunday Night Football at Mile High Stadium. This will be the 112th meeting between these two storied franchises, with the Chiefs leading the series, 57-53. However, the Broncos have won seven of the last eight meetings.

This will be the first time this season that the Chiefs and Broncos face off. They will meet again in Week 16 at Arrow Head Stadium. The Broncos and Chiefs trail the AFC West leading Oakland Raiders (8-2), which makes this a crucial game for both teams if they want to keep pace with the surging Raiders.

Keeping pace with Oakland is going to be a challenge for both the Broncos and Chiefs. Both teams have the toughest remaining strength of schedule in the AFC for the rest of this season. Their remaining opponents have a combined winning percentage of .607.

The Broncos need to open up their offense, but in order to do that, they need their defense to create more turnovers for fear their offense might do the same.

Despite the Chiefs 7-3 record, they've been slightly unimpressive. There were games where their defense shined, however, by forcing multiple turnovers and not allowing the opposing team any offensive touchdowns. The Chiefs offense and defense, though, are coming off a tough loss at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Making this an even bigger game for Kansas City given Denver's recent dominance over them. During the past 15 seasons, the Broncos are 20-12 versus their divisional rivals, and are 12-4 in games played at Mile High.

If the Chiefs defense can't keep the Broncos out of the endzone, then their offense which is led by quarterback Alex Smith, will have to score more than the 1.8 touchdowns they average on the season.

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 11: Cowboys vs Ravens

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The Dallas Cowboys host the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on Sunday afternoon. This is game is a matchup of #1 teams. 

The Cowboys have the #1 rushing offense led by none other than Ezekiel Elliot. The Ravens have the #1 rushing defense. One will have to give on Sunday afternoon.

Both have two great quarterbacks, as well. Dak Prescott has led the Cowboys to eight straight wins while Joe Flacco has led the Ravens to two consecutive wins.

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 10: Eagles vs Falcons

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A couple of weeks ago, this contest was looking a lot more appealing. Carson Wentz was looking like he had the 'Ginger Magic' and Matt Ryan had Atlanta looking like a Super Bowl contender.

The Falcons have been able to keep up their end of the bargain with an NFC South leading record of 6-3. However it looks like Wentz may be hitting the rookie wall and the Eagles have dropped four of their last five and are at the bottom of the NFC East.

All that being said when you look at the numbers this game appears to be one of the most even matched we've seen this year. Despite their struggles on offense Doug Pederson's defensive unit has remained consistent.

They rank in the top ten for both points and yards allowed. If that's not enough of a selling point according to the DVOA metric used at football-outsiders.com they have the best defense in the NFL.

The DVOA metric also has the Falcons ranked as the top offense and a lot of that has to be attributed to Matt Ryan's MVP season. As for the other side of the ball both teams are ranked #24 respectively.

The key matchup to watch is going to be If the Eagles secondary can contain Atlanta's passing attack. Ryan is leading the league in passing yard touchdowns while Julio Jones is the games top wideout.

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 9: Raiders vs Broncos

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The Oakland Raiders will host the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. The winner of this game will take the lead in the AFC West at 7-2. 

The Broncos are a great team once again after winning Super Bowl 50. The Raiders are exceeding expectations in 2016 and are looking like a serious contender for the Super Bowl, let alone the playoffs.

There's a lot on the line in this week's Sunday Night Football game. Hopefully, the game can live up to the hype. 

2016 NFL Game of the Week Preview, Week 8: Cowboys vs Eagles

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The Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) will travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys (5-1) at AT&T Stadium on Sunday night. These two NFC East rivals will meet for the first time this season. This divisional matchup usually always has playoff implications, and we can expect this prime-time game to impact the division and the playoff picture down the road.

 Dallas is coming off their bye week. Since 2003, they are 8-6 in the game after their bye week. Philadelphia enters this game having dominated the Minnesota Vikings 21-10 last week. Quarterback Carson Wentz, the second overall pick in last year’s draft, has the Eagles playing much better than most expected, as they are second in the NFC East behind the Cowboys. 

The North Dakota State alumni has thrown for 1,324 yards and eight touchdowns, and he’s thrown three interceptions. Wentz has been a large part of this Eagle’s turnaround, but Philadelphia’s defense has dramatically improved, which is the reason why they are in a favorable position at the mid-way point of the season. Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz’s defense has recorded 20 sacks this season. 

The defense is allowing 14.7 points per game, which is third best in the league behind Seattle and Minnesota. Philadelphia has forced 12 turnovers, which has led to their plus-6 turnover differential. Led by Head Coach Jason Garrett, the Cowboys have enjoyed success despite injuries to key players. Quarterback Tony Romo has been out since the preseason, and wide receiver Dez Bryant has been out for three games. Dallas has also been missing guard La’el Collins, linebacker Rolando McClain, and cornerback Orlando Scandrick. 

Dallas has reeled off five straight wins since losing to the New York Giants in Week 1. Two rookie on offense have contributed to this winning streak. Rookie and fourth round pick Dak Prescott has filled in brilliantly for Romo, which makes him an early candidate for MVP. Prescott has thrown for 1,486 yards and seven touchdowns while only throwing one interception. The Mississippi State alumni has been handing off to one of the NFL’s best running backs. 

Rookie and former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott has been running wild behind an offensive line that is one of the best in the league. Elliott has run the ball 137 times for 703 yards and five touchdowns. Elliott has rushed for an average of 5.1 yards per carry. Despite a plethora of injuries and suspensions, the Cowboys defense has been a pleasant surprise. Rod Marinelli’s unit has not allowed a 100-yard rusher or receiver, and the defense has forced nine turnovers. This game will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday night, and it will air on NBC.  

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 7: Eagles vs Vikings

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The Philadelphia Eagles host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in a highly-contested battle. The Eagles traded quarterback Sam Bradford to the Vikings after Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tore his ACL and dislocated his knee. So Sunday will be Bradford's return to Philadelphia.

The trade seemed to work out for Philadelphia, as well. Carson Wentz has been a sensation, despite the Eagles having lost two in a row after a 3-0 start. The Eagles, behind Wentz, could possibly knock off the Vikings, the lone undefeated team left in the NFL.

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 6: Seahawks vs Falcons

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After what happened with the Atlanta Falcons last year, no one would have thought they have been where they are now. No one would have thought that they would be a challenge to the dominant Seahawks team that's made the playoffs the last three years.

However, that is the case. The Falcons have a good shot at winning what would be a statement road game in Seattle this Sunday. However, the Seahawks still have that great team that they've had since 2012, when they drafted quarterback Russell Wilson.

The winner of this game is the team who's defense steps up in the final minute. 

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 5: Packers vs Giants

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Week five in the NFL is filled with must watch games, including the Green Bay Packers (2-1) who will be hosting the New York Giants (2-2) in Prime Time on Sunday Night Football at Lambeau Field. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Packers fans should be worried when the Eli Manning led Giants come to Wisconsin.  Eli Manning and the Giants broke the hearts of Packers fans back in 2007 when they defeated the Brett Favre led Packers in the NFC Championship game, 23-20, in overtime. Then they beat the Aaron Rodgers led Packers in 2011, 37-20. The 2011 Green Bay team was 15-1, and the top seeded team in the NFC. Both times the Eli Manning led Giants went on to win the Super Bowl.

Both teams head into their week five matchup with injuries to their secondary. For Green Bay, they'll be without their best cornerback, Sam Shields. As far as the Giants are concerned, they could be without Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Nat Berhe and rookie Eli Apple.

Not only have Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers each won a Super Bowl, but both run a similar offense. Given that both teams are a little weak in the secondary, expect a lot plays in the passing game. Especially with the New York Giants. Odell Beckham Jr. is looking to redeem himself after a very poor performance against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football where he had a career low 23-yards receiving on three catches.

The Packers do have the edge in the running game with Eddie Lacy, despite the Giants having a solid defensive line. New York will be without their top back out of the backfield in Shane Vereen, and the Packers have one of the best defenses against the run in this young NFL season so far.

The Packers will also be without tight end Jared Cook, who has a high ankle sprain. That means Richard Rodgers will need to step up and help out Aaron Rodgers by making some plays.

The Giants pass-rush will need to do a better job of getting pressure on the quarterback, and force Aaron Rodgers to get rid of the football quickly. Defensive end Olivier Vernon will be a tough test for Packers David Bakhtiari, while Bryan Bulaga will have to fend off Jason Pierre-Paul on the other side.

The Giants offensive line will have to do a much better job than they did last week against the Vikings. The left side of their line has two former first-round draft picks, but are still young. They're even weaker on the right side with former Packer Marshall Newhouse at tackle.

Look for Packers defensive coordinator, Dom Capers, to blitz Eli Manning by bringing linebackers from a number of angles and gaps. Blitzing has been a strength of the Packers defense thus far.

After winning their first two games of the season, the Giants have lost back-to-back games to the Washington Redskins and then to the Minnesota Vikings. With the Philadelphia Eagles sitting atop the NFC East at 3-0 heading into week five, along with the Dallas Cowboys right behind them at 3-1, this really is a must win game for New York.

The Packers are coming off a bye week, and should be well rested, despite being without Shields and Cooks. The Packers under head coach Mike McCarthy are 8-2 in games coming off a bye week. With the Vikings sitting atop the NFC North at 4-0, and facing a beatable Houston Texans team in Week 5 means this is a must win game for the Packers as well.

This game could come down to a shootout, and whichever team makes the most plays should win.

Panthers Release CB Bene Benwikere

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In a shocking move to shake up their struggling secondary, the Carolina Panthers announced they had released starting cornerback Bene Benwikere. Benwikere shadowed Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones last week, who compiled 300 yards and one 75-yard touchdown in one of the best performances by a receiver in NFL history. According to Pro Football Focus, Benwikere allowed Jones to have 220 yards.

 With Benwikere being released, Carolina promoted rookie Zach Sanchez to the active roster. Carolina (1-3) will battle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football at 8:30 p.m. ET. Head Coach Ron Rivera said he had discussions with his staff about the secondary and decided “it was time to move on.” “We’ve got a group of young guys that we’re looking to play and get them out on the football field,” Rivera said. “It’s something we feel we needed to do as we go forward.

Rookie James Bradberry will see increased playing time going forward, but a toe injury will keep him sidelined for Monday’s game. Carolina will start Robert McClain and rookie Daryl Worley at cornerback against Tampa Bay. The Panthers will also be starting Michael Griffin over Tre Boston at safety. Benwikere began training camp on the PUP list, but started all four regular season games at outside cornerback.

 Benwikere admitted his conditioning wasn’t at its best after Sunday’s loss to Atlanta. Rivera didn’t comment on whether Benwikere’s condition attributed to him getting released. A fifth-round pick in 2014, Benwikere started in 14 games for Carolina over three seasons. His 2015 season ended after he fractured his fibula against Atlanta. Benwikere recorded 76 tackles and two interceptions in 27 games for Carolina. Over the last year, Carolina has either lost or cut their top four corners from last year (Josh Norman, Charles Tillman, Cortland Finnegan, and Benwikere.) 

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 4: Vikings vs Giants

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The New York Giants (2-1) will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to take on the Vikings (3-0) at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday night. New York is coming off a 29-27 loss to the Washington Redskins, while the Vikings defeated the Carolina Panthers, 22-10. These two teams last met in Week 16 last year, and the Vikings crushed the Giants, 49-16. 

Minnesota has shocked the league, as they enter this game without their starting quarterback or running back. Teddy Bridgewater is out for the season, and Adrian Peterson was placed on IR last week. Minnesota acquired Sam Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles before the season started to be their quarterback, and that has worked out for Minnesota so far. Bradford has completed 67% of his passes, and he’s thrown for 457 yards and three touchdowns this season. 

With Peterson out, Minnesota will rely on Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon to lead their rushing attack. Bradford has made a seamless transition into Minnesota’s offense because he has a budding star at wide receiver. Stefon Diggs has caught 20 passes for 345 yards and one touchdown this season. The offense has been a nice surprise for Minnesota, but the reason they are undefeated is because of their defense. 

Their defense scored two touchdowns in Week 1 against Tennessee, limited the Green Bay Packers to 14 points in Week 2, and most surprising of all, they sacked reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton eight times last week. A defense that dominated New York last season, the Giants will have a tough task on Monday. With a high-powered offense, New York might be able to score enough points to beat Minnesota. New York is led by quarterback Eli Manning, who has thrown for 925 yards and four touchdowns this season. 

Running back Rashad Jennings is questionable, which means Orleans Darkwa and Paul Perkins will see more carries on Monday. Even with an unsettled rushing attack, Manning has a plethora of receivers that can make up for the rushing attack. It all starts with Odell Beckham Jr., who hasn’t caught a touchdown this season, but he’s caught 25 touchdowns in his young career. 

Another receiver Manning can look for is rookie Sterling Shepard, who’s caught 16 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. With Victor Cruz returning to full health, Minnesota will have their hands full. The game starts at 8:30 p.m., and will be broadcasted on ESPN.

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 3: Panthers vs Vikings

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Two weeks before the season opener, it looked like the Vikings season was over. Their starting Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a gruesome knee injury which will keep him off the field for at least a year about a week before opening day. No one could have expected Minnesota to head into Week 3 undefeated. The Vikings defense deserves a lot of the credit for this, they currently rank fifth in yards allowed, fourth in points allowed and second in takeaways. Players like Safety Andrew Sendejo and Linebacker Eric Kendricks have been giving uarterbacks and coordinators headaches throughout the young season.

On the other side of the ball Minnesota has been able to sustain production despite a limited contribution from the now sidelined Adrian Peterson. Both Shaun Hill and Matthew Stafford have been steady hands on the offensive controls during their respective starts. And they both have been able to move the ball thanks to the emergence of University of Maryland product Stephon Diggs as a superstar at the receiver position.

As they head to the Tar Heel State to take on the defending NFC Champions the enter the game 6 and a half point underdogs. That is a fair betting line; despite the fact that Minnesota has a better record the Panthers have played a harder schedule and have looked like last years squad. Cam Newton seems to be invigorated by the return of his #1 receiver Kelvin Benjamin and Fozie Whitiker is set to fill in for Jonathan Stewart at running back.

The key matchup in this game will be how Carolina's secondary matches up against Diggs. The 49ers scoring 27 points with Blaine Gabbert under center raised some eyebrows as Ron Rivera has a pair of rookies manning the edges of his defense. At the end of the say this should be a competitive game which should go to the home team late in the final frame.

Score Prediction: Carolina Panthers 20 – Minnesota Vikings 17

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 2: Steelers vs Bengals

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In a week of football slated with seven inter-divisional games, none looms larger than the Cincinnati Bengals traveling to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. One of the most intensely competitive matchups in the league over the last few years ratcheted up the hostility a couple notches.

In their first meeting in 2015, the Bengals headed into Pittsburgh with a 6-0 record, ready to take advantage of the fact that Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was playing his first game in four weeks due to an injury. The Steelers took a 10-6 lead into the the 4th quarter, but two interceptions by Big Ben in the final frame allowed Cincinnati to put 10 points on the board and earn the 16-10 victory, giving the Bengals their first 7-0 start ever, and dropping Pittsburgh to 4-4. During the game, Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict made an awkward tackle of Steeler star running back Leveon Bell, knocking Bell out of the game and ending his season.

In their second meeting, Pittsburgh (7-5) went to Cincinnati (10-2) to exact some revenge. And they got it. The Bengals previous two margins of defeat were by four points and three points. The 33-20 score in this game blew those out of the water. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton suffered a broken thumb in the first quarter, removing him from the game and forcing A.J. McCarron to step up in his absence. While McCarron wasn't dreadful (22 for 32, 280 yards and 2 TDs), his two interceptions helped seal Cincinnati's fate. Pittsburgh did plenty to help themselves, as Roethlisberger went 30 for 39 for 282 yards, and running back DeAngelo Williams ran for two scores. It was Pittsburgh's fifth-straight 30-point performance.

Their final meeting of 2015 was in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Having won the division, the Bengals were the home team. Under a deluge of rain, and with McCarron at the helm again, the Steelers were able to string together a few field goals and a somersaulting, between-the-legs catch by Martavis Bryant to take a 15-0 lead late in the 3rd quarter. The Bengals stormed back, putting up 16 straight points to take a 16-15 lead with two minutes left in the game. A flurry of play that involved a turnover by both teams, a 4th-down conversion, and 30 yards in penalties on a single play allowed Pittsburgh to get in field goal position and convert for the 18-16 victory.

Across those three games, some coaches got into it with players on the field, while other coaches pulled the hair of opposing players. Star players took big hits and were out for long stretches of the season, with unsportsmanlike conduct penalties flying left and right. Referees were forced to stand at midfield before the start of the playoff game to ensure nothing happened. Talk about a rivalry game!

That is the stage as the two teams prepare to face off on Sunday. Both teams enter Week 2 with 1-0 records; Pittsburgh with a 38-16 throttling of the Washington Redskins, while the Bengals managed 1-point victory over the New York Jets. Both teams will be pushing hard to upend the other to achieve the coveted 2-0 record.

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 1: Broncos vs Panthers

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Football is back, folks, and NFL fans will be given a treat in the very first game of the new season. The Carolina Panthers will travel to Denver, to take on the Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. This game is a rematch of Super Bowl 50, as the Broncos will celebrate their title on Thursday evening. Denver enters this game with a very different roster, with the biggest difference being at the quarterback position. Peyton Manning has retired, meaning he will hand the keys over to Trevor Siemian. Siemian won the job in the preseason over Mark Sanchez, who was cut, and he wound up signing with the Dallas Cowboys. 

Siemian was drafted by Denver in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and the Northwestern alum has only taken one regular season snap. Siemian threw for 5,391 yards and 27 touchdowns in his four seasons with the Wildcats. Siemian might be inexperienced, but he has a plethora of weapons to throw to. Demaryius Thomas caught 105 passes for 1,304 yards and six touchdowns, as he expects to be the number one wide receiver. Another viable weapon is Emmanuel Sanders, who had 1,135 yards and six touchdowns last season. Peyton Manning had the worst season of any starting quarterback in Super Bowl history, but he has a ring because of the Bronco’s defense, a unit that flustered Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. 

Denver’s stingy defense forced the NFL MVP into three turnovers in Super Bowl 50. The Broncos defense is led by Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller. Miller recorded 30 tackles and 11 sacks last season. Denver’s defense is similar to the defense that shut down the Panthers last year, but they lost key pieces in Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan to free agency. Despite the losses, the 2015 NFL MVP will have to be at his best in order to solve the Broncos defense. Newton threw for 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns last year, while also rushing for 10 touchdowns.

 It’s a scary thought that Newton had this phenomenal statistics without his best receiver, Kelvin Benjamin, who he’ll have for the 2016 season. Benjamin is returning from a torn ACL, and he clearly clicked with Newton in his rookie season. Benjamin had 1,008 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2014. 

Carolina lost two key members of their secondary, as Josh Norman left for Washington, while Charles Tillman retired. Bene Benwikere is expected to be the number one cornerback. Carolina still has a frightening defense, especially since they have Luke Keuchly hunting down quarterbacks. Kuechly recorded 76 tackles last year. This game will begin at 8:30 ET on NBC.  

NFL 2016 Season Preview

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The 2016 NFL season begins tomorrow night when the Denver Broncos host the Carolina Panthers in a rematch of Super Bowl 50. There are a lot of things to watch for during the 2016 NFL season.

- The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles will start their season with rookies at the helm. Dak Prescott will start in place of the injured Tony Romo for the first 8-10 weeks and Carson Wentz will start for the Eagles.

- Instead of Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looking to lead the team to another NFC North title, it will be Sam Bradford. Bridgewater tore his ACL in non-contact drill last week.

- the Broncos will be looking to repeat as Super Bowl champions under quarterback Trevor Siemian. Siemian has only one career NFL snap, so this will be a big test for him and the Broncos.

- the Texans will pay Brock Osweiler $72 million over the next four years because CJ Anderson led the Broncos to the Super Bowl last season. But he does have a great team around him. Can he and this great team make a playoff run?

- Tom Brady is suspended for the first four games of the season. The Patriots play the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Texans and Buffalo Bills over those four games.

All of this, plus so much more, will go down during the 2016 NFL season, the 96th season of the NFL (the league began play in 1920). At the end of the season, one team and one team alone will host the Vince Lombardi Trophy at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Feb. 5, 2017. 

Denver Broncos 2016 Season Preview

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The Denver Broncos are coming off of a win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. There is just one difference. Peyton Manning isn't their quarterback. 

The Broncos newest starting quarterback is Trevor Siemian. Siemian has played just one career NFL snap. Not even a start, but a snap. So no one knows what he is capable of.

The Broncos also lost key players on defense, including Malik Jackson, who joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. Still, Denver does have Demarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller, as well as Emmanuel Sanders and DeMarius Thomas on offense. Maybe the season isn't lost for Denver, after all. Perhaps they could be headed towards a second consecutive Lombardi trophy. 

Minnesota Vikings 2016 Season Preview

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The Minnesota Vikings season took a hard turn down the wrong road when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tore his ACL and dislocated his knee in non-contact drill at the end of August. Now, the team will rally around running back Adrian Peterson and newly acquired quarterback Sam Bradford.

While the Vikings season may look lost, it's not that lost. Yes, Bradford is the type of quarterback who won't get your team wins, but Peterson is the type of running back that will.

The Vikings may not win the NFC North, but they will be fighting for a playoff spot come Jan. 3, 2017, the final day of the regular season. 

Arizona Cardinals 2016 Season Preview

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The Arizona Cardinals were Super Bowl contenders last season, and are expected to be again this season. With that in mind, the Cardinals added Evan Mathis to an already great offensive line, while re-signing running back Chris Johnson to maintain their depth at the running back position. They also brought in safety Tyvon Branch to help sure up their secondary that has seen its share of injuries. The Cardinals did lose linebacker LaMarr Woodley and Sean Weatherspoon however. So in the off-season, they acquired pass-rusher Chandler Jones from the New England Patriots.

Arizona's quarterback, Carson Palmer, was simply outstanding last season, posting the highest QB rating of his 12-year career, as well as throwing career highs in touchdowns and passing yards. Palmer will turn 37-years-old before the season ends, and critics will be watching closely to see if there is any decline in his production. If the Cardinals star quarterback plays up to his production of last season, then they should be a handful for all their opponents.

Just like his quarterback, the 32-year-old Larry Fitzgerald seems to have gotten better with age. Fitzgerald had his first 100-reception season in his career, and the nine-time Pro Bowl will look to duplicate his performance of 2015. The Cardinals will, however, need to find a long-term replacement for Fitzgerald, but at least for now they can still count on him.

The Cardinals defense is definitely worth watching, even if it's to see if Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Peterson can come back healthy, and to see what kind of an impact their new linebacker, Jones will have. The x-factor on defense could be rookie Nkemdiche. If he can make an immediate impact, it'll help take some of the pressure off their linebackers and secondary.

Kansas City Chiefs 2016 Season Preview

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The AFC West appears to be the Kansas City Chiefs to lose in 2016.  However, the AFC West also appears to be a very tough division in the 2016 season. The Chiefs do have a three some might consider four head monster at running back though. Jamaal Charles is working his way back into the lineup after tearing his ACL in 2015. Former Seattle Seahawk Spencer Ware appears to be the starting running back to begin the season. Charcandrick West will also see playing time after having a solid 2015 season after Charles went down.  As of right now the Chiefs still have Knile Davis as their fourth string back who is considered capable to be the main back for many teams in the NFL as well.

Kansas City hopes to see receivers Chris Conley and Albert Wilson step up to give Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce some help. Pro Bowl Tight End Kelce had 875 yards receiving and five touchdowns. Jeremy Maclin became the first receiver to record over a 1,000 yards receiving with Alex Smith as his quarterback. The offensive line gets better after signing Mitchell Schwartz in the off-season. Schwartz helps out the left side of the offensive line and will cover Alex Smith's blindside.  This is important in a division that features Von Miller and Khalil Mack. Justin Houston who is also in that discussion but not necessary to mention since he is on the Chiefs.

The defense took a step back after losing inside linebacker Josh Mauga for the season and Sean Smith to the Oakland Raiders. However, they were able to lock up Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali for a couple more years. This is key to the defense because these players are both veteran leaders on the team.  Hali helps because it appears Justin Houston will be out for at least the first six games of the season and the Chiefs defense depends on a heavy pass rush.

Younger outside linebacker Dee Ford hasn't quite showed that he can fill the outside linebacker role that Hali would leave behind.  If Ford wants to prove himself this is the season to due so. Former Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters returns to help out the secondary but there are question marks about the other corner spot on defense. There is hope that Phillip Gaines will be able to fill that spot now that Sean Smith is gone. Gaines was effective in 2014 and started out strong in 2015 before spending the season on the IR.

The defense gets a boost with Eric Berry signing the franchise tag.  Berry beat cancer and is effective for the Chiefs to stop the run as well as the pass. The former Tennessee Volunteer is also a leader on defense and is very respected throughout the team. The team will all look towards veteran quarterback Alex Smith to lead the team far.  Some people question his style of play and that he doesn't throw many deep passes while just game managing the team to victory.  Every year Alex Smith has quarterbacked the Chiefs his numbers have improved. He is also a dual threat quarterback that can use his legs to burn defenses as well. 2016 could be the Chiefs year to shine and it all depends on Alex Smith.

Green Bay Packers 2016 Season Preview

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The Green Bay Packers had a terrible season, although many would call it a successful one. The team got off to a 6-0 start. Had they not succeeded on a Hail Mary in Detroit, they would have finished 3-7 in their final 10 games. Instead, they finished 4-6. 

They also fell behind 11-0 in their wild card game against the Washington Redskins and needed another Hail Mary to force overtime against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Packers can not repeat that kind of season in 2016. They have their star wide receiver in Jordy Nelson back after he tore his ACL last preseason. They will have a skinnier running back in Eddie Lacy, who dropped 30 pounds over the offseason.

There are no excuses for this team. They need to show that they are one of the top teams in the NFL this year or there could be changes occurring.  

Atlanta Falcons 2016 Season Preview

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The Atlanta Falcons enter the 2016 NFL season with the knowledge that they have the talent to keep up with some of the best teams in the league, in addition to the reality that it is really difficult to win week in and week out in the NFL. Opening 2015 with five straight victories, the Falcons were 6-1 heading into their Week 8 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After overcoming a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to send the game into overtime, Tampa Bay prevailed. The loss was the first of six in a row for Atlanta, spiraling them to 6-7 and an eventual 8-8 season record. From exceedingly hopeful to disappointingly heartbroken in the span of two months.

Atlanta still boasts playmakers all over the field. Offensively, quarterback Matt Ryan enters his ninth year as one of the major workhorses in the league, having missed just 2 out of 128 possible games in his career and finishing no worse than seventh in passes attempted in each of the last six seasons. Running back Devonta Freeman continues to be one of the most explosive playmakers in the league. During one five-week stretch last season, he gained 578 yards rushing, 247 yards receiving, and scored nine touchdowns. And wide receiver Julio Jones consistently leaves no doubt that he is one of the best pass catchers of our generation. He tied Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown in leading the league with 136 receptions, the second-highest total in league history, and he lead the league all by himself with 1,871 receiving yards, also the second-highest total in league history.

Defensively, second-year defensive end Vic Beasley shifts to the second level and looks to make an impact as a pass-rushing outside linebacker. Robert Alford and Desmond Trufant are consistent playmaking corners both entering just their fourth year in the league, with Trufant making a slightly larger impact having appeared in last season's Pro Bowl. Tyson Jackson and Adrian Clayborn are the headlining veterans on the defensive line.

If Atlanta hopes to have a good season, they'll have to get off to a fast start. Their first three games are against Tampa Bay, Oakland, and New Orleans, all of whom were below .500 last season. From there, four of the Falcons next five games are against the Panthers, Broncos (that's both Super Bowl teams from last season on consecutive weeks), Seahawks, and Packers. They then face Tampa Bay again and the Eagles before heading into their bye. That week off will be necessary before facing the recently-dominant and perennially playoff-bound Cardinals and Chiefs in back-to-back weeks. From there the Falcons' season ends with the Rams, 49ers, Panthers and Saints. With that schedule, a good season would wining all the games they're supposed to and stealing a couple from the top contenders, to finish at 9-7 or 10-6. They could very easily finish 6-10 or 5-11 if things don't go their way, though. They'll need to stay healthy and make some strides defensively to see the positive results they are hoping for.

Los Angeles Rams 2016 Season Preview

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The Los Angeles Rams have a glut of young talent that make them intriguing sleeper picks for the upcoming season. The Rams return to LA for the first time in 22 seasons, and they have a lot to showcase to the city of angels. Los Angeles plays in a very difficult division: the NFC West. The Rams have been staring up at the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals for the past couple of seasons, but Head Coach Jeff Fisher and company are confident because of the collection of young talent that they have.

Los Angeles has a relatively easy schedule to begin the season, as they’ll only play two playoff teams from last year (Cardinals and Seahawks), before they head into their Week 8 bye week. The back-end of the schedule gets tougher, as they’ll face off against four playoff teams from last year, including the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers. The Rams fate lies squarely on the shoulders of second-year running back Todd Gurley. Gurley racked up 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, which earned him the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. 

Los Angeles selected quarterback Jared Goff out of California with the first pick in last season’s NFL Draft, but he won’t even be the backup quarterback to start the season. Goff is expected to be behind Case Keenum and Sean Mannion to begin the season. Keenum’s season was shortened by injury last year, as he threw for 828 yards and four touchdowns in only six games played. Keenum will have an elite weapon to throw to, as Tavon Austin will be his number one target. 

Austin, who is only 5’9,” recently signed a four-year extension with the team. Austin is a threat in many ways, as he can score as a wide receiver, as a running back, or he could even wreak havoc on special teams. Austin caught 52 passes for 473 yards and five touchdowns last season. The Rams defense is anchored by their defensive line. 

Robert Quinn and William Hayes are both players that instill a lot of fear into the quarterback. Quinn has totaled 50 sacks and 146 tackles over his career thus far. Hayes recorded 5.5 sacks and 36 tackles last year in his best season as a Ram. Los Angeles has the talent to make it to the playoffs, but they’ll have to get past Seattle or Arizona in order to get to the playoffs.

New York Jets 2016 Season Preview

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After presumptive starter Geno Smith had his jaw broken by a teammate during the 2015 preseason, everyone thought that it was going to be another disastrous season for the Bombers. But career back-up Ryan Fitzpatrick surprised everyone by throwing for 3,905 yards and having the best year of his career. After missing the playoffs the previous three seasons Fitz had New York as the six seed heading into Week 17. Fitzpatrick came back to earth and they lost to the Bills.

The Jets are returning the core of their defense who ranked in the number ninth in points allowed and fourth in yards allowed. After stints in Tampa and New England, Darrelle Revis returned to the Big Apple and,  along with Marcus Williams, had 11 picks.

We can expect some regression in Revis production since he's on the wrong side of 30; but Williams should continue to develop as a shutdown corner in his third year. The front end of New York's defense should stay in the top part of the league thanks to pass-rushers like Muhammed Wilkerson.

Ultimately the Jets season will depend on their Quarterback play. The offense is loaded with weapons like thousand yard receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. And the offense will be balanced as they brought in former Pro Bowler Matt Forte to split carries with thousand yard rusher Chris Ivory. During the draft, Bowles staff made it clear that the Smith era is over, drafting Penn State's Christian Hackenberg in the third round. But right now, Fitzpatrick is set to be the starter.

Given his track record going 43-61-1 as a starter and the fact players don't turn the corner in their mid 30s last year was likely a fluke. This means that the Jets will probably finish third in the AFC East and their win total will be closer to eight than 10.

2017 NFL Draft to be Held in Philadelphia

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The 2017 NFL Draft will be held in Philadelphia, PA, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. League and city officials will be holding a press conference on Thursday to officially announce that the draft is coming to the City of Brotherly Love. Eagles legend Ron Jaworski will also be speaking at the press conference.

Philadelphia had been labeled the favorite for a long time, but now it appears the deal is official. The location and the date has not been released yet. Eagles fans won't be able to see their team make a selection in the first round, because they traded that pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the pick that became Carson Wentz.

If the league doesn't change the dates from last year, then the first round would be held on April 27. New York hosted the draft for 50 straight years from 1964-2014. Chicago has served as the host for the past two drafts.

Philadelphia, who used to be the headquarters for the league offices, last hosted the NFL Draft in 1961, when it was held at the Warwick Hotel. Philadelphia has hosted 16 NFL Drafts, which is second all-time behind New York for the most times a city has hosted the draft.

New York Giants 2016 Season Preview

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The New York Giants look to have it all together now. They have their future hall of fame quarterback in Eli Manning, three star wide receivers in Odell Beckham Jr, Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard, a running back with potential in rookie Paul Perkins, and a stellar defense. 

The only problem is that they are not the only powerhouse in the NFC East. The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins also have great teams. The Giants will need to limit the turnovers that they have committed over the years. They will also not want to lose leads late in the game, like they did at least twice in 2015. 

San Diego Chargers 2016 Season Preview

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The San Diego Chargers have had an interesting start to the 2016 season and the season hasn't even begun yet.  The Chargers drafted Joey Bosa out of Ohio State third overall but he still has yet to sign with the team. Things do not sound good either since he is still far away from agreeing to terms with the Chargers. They also lost Ladarius Green to the Pittsburgh Steelers but it sounds like he might take a while before he plays for Pittsburgh.  The Chargers will still rely on surefire Hall of Famer Antonio Gates this season as well while also hoping the rookie Hunter Henry can step up to fill the void that Green left and Gates will soon leave behind.

The Chargers did bring in Travis Benjamin to help out their receiving corps this season.  Stevie Johnson went down with a torn meniscus and will be out the entire 2016 season.  The Chargers went out and signed James Jones to help make up for the Johnson injury.

San Diego has a tough division if they want to get some wins this season.  The Oakland Raiders have improved this off-season and a lot of people are picking them as a sleeper pick.  The Denver Broncos just won the Super Bowl and lost Peyton Manning who might have been on the Broncos last season but was not the Manning that everyone was used to seeing.  The Kansas City Chiefs placed second in the AFC West last season and bring back most of their team as well so it will be tough for the Chargers to make a lot of noise in the AFC West.

Philip Rivers is still quarterback for San Diego so that will keep them in a few games but can this will probably be a rebuilding year for the team from Southern California.  There is a lot of outside stories surrounding the Chargers this season that will be locker room distractions as well.  There is a lot of rumors about the Chargers moving to Los Angeles and with the Bosa situation it might just be a tough year for the San Diego faithful.

Carolina Panthers 2016 NFL Season Preview

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The Panthers finished the 2015 season possibly one play from completing the second 16-0 season in NFL history. They wound up finishing 15-1 and cruised their way to Super Bowl 50. Unfortunately, they fell in the Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos.

Believe it or not, the Panthers are an even better team than the 15-1 team fans saw last season. They have the same talent coming back, including quarterback Cam Newton, but they'll also have an old flame back in wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

Benjamin tore his ACL in training camp and missed the entire 2015 NFL season. With him coming back, and with the same team coming back from their Super Bowl run, the Panthers are serious Super Bowl contenders. 

Cincinnati Bengals 2016 Season Preview

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2015 was one of the best Bengals seasons in recent memory, and if it wasn't for two games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati could have made the Super Bowl. Marvin Lewis's squad won the AFC North and had the second best defense in the league and looked primed to make a Super Bowl run. Andy Dalton was having the best season of his career before he broke his thumb in Week 14. While that could have been disastrous to most teams backup A.J. McCarron was able to steady the ship, going 2 – 1 as a starter.

After a historic meltdown in the AFC Wild Card game against the Steelers, Cincy looked to upgrade the roster enough to make the Super Bowl. The Bengals drafted Pittsburgh wideout Tyler Boyd, giving Dalton another deep target to go with All-Pro A.J. Green. As for their defense they were able to sign linebacker Karlos Dansby. Other additions came though the draft in first round pick Houston corner William Jackson III and third rounder out of Utah State, Nick Vigil.

As long as Dalton can continue to play at a Pro Bowl level the Bengals offense should continue to move the ball. He'll be assisted by the running back duo of Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill who ran for over 1,500 yards last season. As long as Vontaze Burfict and Adam Jones keep their cool and Geno Atkins continues to be an amazing defensive lineman, Cincy will have a top flight defense. With both sides of the ball solidified, the Bengals are the favorite to repeat as AFC North Champions and Super Bowl contenders.

Houston Texans 2016 Season Preview

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Last year the Houston Texans were very fortunate that they play in the AFC South, or else they were would be absolutely no chance for them to make it to the playoffs. Their many weaknesses were showcased in an embarrassing 30-0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wild Card Game. Houston finished the season with a 9-8 record, and that is mostly because they could never find consistency at quarterback. Head Coach Bill O’Brien made the decision to start Brian Hoyer, but multiple injuries would sideline him for most of the season. 

Houston’s quarterback situation was an absolute mess, as they would end up playing four different quarterbacks (Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, T.J. Yates, and Brandon Weeden). Those four quarterbacks didn’t really have a running back either, as Arian Foster tore his Achilles early in the season against the Miami Dolphins. Alfred Blue wound up becoming the starter, but he never gave the Texans much to get excited about. Knowing that they had major holes to fill on offense, the Texans went to work during free agency. General Manager Rick Smith made sure he got his quarterback, as they reeled in the biggest fish on the quarterback market. 

Houston signed former Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler, and they hope that he’ll become the franchise quarterback. Osweiler started for half of the season while Peyton Manning was nursing a series of injuries. Osweiler did his job, as he threw for 1,967 yards and 10 touchdowns, while completing 61% of his passes. Houston decided to waive Foster, so they were searching for a running back. Houston would end up swapping running backs with Miami, as Foster bolted for South Beach, and former Dolphins running back Lamar Miller decided to sign with the Texans. 

Despite injuries to the offensive line, Miller still turned in a rock solid season. Miller rushed for 872 yards and eight touchdowns, which tied a career-high for touchdowns scored. Even though the Texans didn’t have a reliable quarterback or running back, Houston had one weapon that kept them afloat. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had a career season in his third year in the league, as he caught 111 passes for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns, which were all career highs for the former Clemson receiver. 

Other than the weak competition in their division, Houston made the playoffs last year because of their defense. Houston only allowed 19 points per game, and they defense is anchored by J.J. Watt. Watt was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year last season, and that accolade most certainly belonged to Watt. Watt recorded 57 tackles and 17.5 sacks last year. Behind a strong defense, and a revamped offense, Houston should be in playoff contention, but the AFC South improved drastically, so a playoff appearance won’t come easy for Houston. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2016 Season Preview

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The Buccaneers are coming off a 6-10 season featuring 2015, first overall pick Jameis Winston’s rookie season. Now entering his second season, Winston and the Bucs look to build on successes from last season, and have attempted to sure up some holes.

The addition of Robert Ayers, Brent Grimes, and rookie Vernon Hargreaves III should help to stabilize a defense that gave up over 26 points per game last season, which was the seventh most in the league.

A resurgent Doug Martin hopes to continue to stay healthy and lead the young offense. Playing a full season for the first time since his rookie season, Martin finished with over 1400 rushing yards, second to only Adrian Peterson.

Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson continue to be Winston’s primary targets, however Tight End Austin Seferian-Jenkins showed flashes of brilliance in his limited time during the 2015 season. New head coach Kirk Koetter is looking for Seferian-Jenkins to take the next step, and use his athleticism to become an elite target for Winston.

Tampa opens the year with only two home games in their first seven contests, including trips to Arizona and Carolina. However, a three game home stand mid-season against Oakland, Atlanta and Chicago could prove to be a pivotal stretch for the Bucs to have a successful season.

Tampa then ends the season with three of their final four games against division rivals, with a trip to the Superdome in New Orleans week 16, and a game in Raymond James against the Panthers in their final game.