The official start to fall is still a few weeks off, but for millions of NFL fans across the country, the unofficial beginning of autumn starts when the Chicago Bears face off against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 5.
And I, for one, cannot wait.
Every offseason brings its own surprising storylines and developments that add to the preseason buzz, and it all starts with the final whistle of the Super Bowl. Following the New England Patriots' victory over the Los Angeles Rams, 32 teams were given a clean slate, an opportunity to change the course of their team, their city and their fan base.
A new season brings new hope for franchises and fans across the country. Since 2000, the NFL has had a roughly 50 % playoff-turnover ratio. This past year, this figure increased to 66% as eight new teams entered the bracket. If history prevails, we can expect at least six new teams to play for the coveted Lombardi Trophy in January.
The NFL offseason saw superstar running back Le’Veon Bell choose the New York Jets as his preferred landing spot after a full year away from the field. Jets fans, like myself, are hoping that Bell will be able to replicate his 2017 campaign when he amassed 1291 yards rushing with nine touchdowns, adding 655 yards and two scores in the passing game.
Bell is a dynamic player when he takes the field, but will a full year away from the field help or hinder him? For a Jets team that ranked 26th in total rushing yards and 29th in yards per rush attempt, even 80% of Bell’s season totals from 2017 would be a vast improvement over their running backs’ production from a year ago.
Super Bowl MVP quarterback and Philadelphia hero, Nick Foles relocated to Jacksonville on a four-year, $88 million deal after being left without a starting job to a now healthy Carson Wentz.
The New York Giants traded fan-favorite wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns for former first-round draft choice Jabrill Peppers and a few draft picks.
Beckham Jr., known for his circus catches and sideline antics, has been one of the premier wide receivers in the league when healthy. He now joins a revamped Browns offense featuring quarterback Baker Mayfield and playmakers Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb and David Njoku.
I highlight these teams, particularly the Browns and Jets, because they both have a chance to break into the playoffs this year. They are teams that have been through several forgettable seasons but seem poised to make a run for the playoffs this year. Both teams made significant, tangible improvements on both sides of the ball that have given their fans reason to be hopeful.
The Jets making the playoffs is contingent upon the success of Bell and Sam Darnold. Darnold has the highest ceiling of any quarterback drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Jets smartly paired these two with offensive guru and new head coach Adam Gase. With Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement a few days ago, the path to the sixth-seed in the AFC is wide open. And I sure hope the Jets are in a position to snag it.
While Darnold may have more potential in my eyes, the case can be made that Mayfield is the better of the two quarterbacks. These two will always be connected as the top two quarterbacks drafted in 2018, and we may be looking at the beginning of a Tom Brady, Peyton Manning type rivalry.
Baker was electric last season, or as he would say, “dangerous.” The Browns have playmakers all across the field. Luckily for them, the AFC North division is not what it once was. The Steelers have gotten a little older and a lot worse, and I am still skeptical about Lamar Jackson’s quarterback play in Baltimore. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it seems like the AFC North is Cleveland’s division to lose.
We stand just one week away from the start of the season. Only week four of the NFL preseason stands between us and meaningful football. Only a week and a half of classes separate us from spending our Sundays plopped in front of our couches watching football with our closest friends and a bag of chips.
Hope springs eternal. Football is back.
