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Today, the National Football League is asight to behold. A many-headed sporting beast with 32 franchised teams spread across the United States, over 1,600 active players at any one time and a divisional setup that culminates in one of the biggest sports spectacles in the world: the Super Bowl. The league has come a long way, too – from humble beginnings in the 1920s to the grand unification in 1960, the sport of gridiron has also grown, adapted and revolutionised itself over those 90 years. Every corner of the sport has been overhauled or tweaked as fans, officials and teams edge it forward towards its perfect self – ball sizes, equipment types, rule infringements, stadium sizes – everything has been reborn at one point or another. It’s not just a…

For years the rest of the world has pointedout, with much glee, that Americans are the only sports fans on Earth to crown the winners of their national competitions as ‘world champions’. Baseball’s winner-takes-all grand finale, the World Series, is another prime example. But, with football at least, that joke doesn’t really ring true any more. By the close of the 2023 season, 43 NFL regular season games have been played under the ‘International Series’ banner around the world, with more scheduled for seasons to come. In addition to the International Series games, regular and pre-season matches have taken place in Canada, along with dozens of exhibition games in Japan, the UK, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Ireland and Australia. Such is the optimism around the sport in the UK that Premier…

“ Winning the Super Bowl quickly became the ‘be all and end all’ for a team” Ever since Super Bowl I on 15 January1967, the showpiece game of the football season has gone from strength to strength. Proving itself to be one of the most popular sporting events on the planet, the ongoing battle between the champions of the NFC and AFC is one that will undoubtedly rage for years to come. The world just wouldn’t have it any other way. From the NFL’s inception in 1920, it faced constant threats from other leagues wanting to rise up and take its place. With the sport still in its relative infancy, other organisations had ambitions to become the dominant power as its popularity started to increase, but no one was successful…

The last hurdle on the Chiefs’ road towards dynasty status was a formidable one – San Francisco were desperate to add to their five Super Bowl victories, having lost in their last two appearances. Kansas City had looked vulnerable at times during the 2023 season (eight teams finished with equal or better regular season records), and the game started in ominous fashion, with Brock Purdy pushing the 49ers downfield with ease. A promising opening drive had covered 36 yards before Christian McCaffrey’s fumble handed the ball over. The Chiefs could only manage three, four, five and three plays on their first four possessions, while San Francisco got into their stride with 10- and eight-play scoring drives. After a 55-yard Jake Moody field goal, Jauan Jennings caught a lateral pass from…

And so the Bill Belichick era ended inNew England, not with a bang but with a whimper. Belichick is – and will almost certainly remain – the most successful coach in NFL history, at least when it comes to championships. But the Patriots dynasty has been over since the departure of Tom Brady in 2020, and after 24 glittering years, New England’s 4-13 record in 2023 was the worst ever for a Belichick-coached team. It was time to move on. In steps Jerod Mayo to fill the biggest head coaching shoes in the NFL, graduating from the Patriots linebacker coach position to the big chair. Mayo takes the reins with strong pedigree, having been with the organisation on and off for sixteen years, and a full in-tray. First order of…

Every Bengals fan’s worst nightmare cametrue in week 11 last year, when Joe Burrow fractured his wrist and missed the remainder of the season. It was a death blow to a campaign where the Bengals failed to really hit their stride, never winning more than three games in a row and lurching out of the starting blocks with a 1-3 record in their first four games. The team has been trying to beef up the protection in front of their fresh-faced quarterback for years now, and the process continues once more with the drafting of tackle Amarius Mims. At 6-7 and 340 pounds, Mims is big enough to blot out the sun, but Burrow will be happy if can just block pass-rushers. Mims is expected to open the season as…

The Texans were way ahead of schedule last season, making the playoffs in C.J. Stroud’s first season. The rookie exceeded all expectations and has the team dreaming big. Two defeats to open the season had the doubters out in full voice, but Stroud then went on a 6-2 tear to establish the Texans as contenders. He then bounced back after missing two games to lead Houston to their first playoff victory since 2019. However, although Stroud seems to have the offense going in the right direction (especially with the addition of Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon), much will depend on a revamped defense. The team’s star pass-rusher, Jonathan Greenard, parlayed his breakout 12.5-sack season into a monster contract with the Vikings in free agency. The Texans filled the gap by…

There was an unpleasant sense of déjà vu in Tennessee last season – it seems like the team’s woes have been recognised for a long time (a dismal line stymies the whole offense), but none of the attempted solutions seem to make any difference. Last year’s top draft pick, Peter Skoronski, did well after switching to left guard, but the rest of the line was still a mess. Head coach Mike Vrable won’t get any more chances to right the ship. He is gone and Brian Callahan is in, after five years at the helm of the Cincinnati Bengals offense. Calahan’s first job will be to replace some departing talent (most notably running back Derrick Henry and defensive tackle Denico Autry) and bed in some talented free agents. The loss…

Going into last season, the feeling was that head coach Josh McDaniels was on the hotseat. That proved to be the case, as he was fired on Halloween night, following a team meeting where players told the coach exactly how unhappy they were with him. Former linebackers coach Antonio Pierce took over and earned the job full-time after posting a 5-4 mark in the second half of the season. Pierce will have his work cut out this year, as the Raiders have arguably the worst quarterback situation in the league. Jimmy Garoppolo was uninspiring before he got hurt and then left for the Rams. The future appears to be second-year man Aidan O’Connell, who shrugged off seven sacks in his NFL debut to post steady numbers. Only journeyman Gardner Minshew…

Last year, the Giants opted to stick with Daniel Jones, and it didn’t exactly pan out. Jones was poor even before injuries cut his season short, and the consensus was that the team would bring in a new quarterback in the draft. Surprisingly (perhaps bafflingly) in a draft where six quarterbacks were taken in the first round (three of them after the Giants made their first-round selection) the G-Men have opted to stick with Jones again. Jones averaged a miserable 151.5 yards per game last season, and the Giants were uncompetitive in five of his six starts. To make matters worse, his ACL injury may remove the rushing threat he used to bring to the game. Tommy DeVito became a fan favourite last year, orchestrating a three-game winning streak at…

There was progress in Matt Eberflus’second season at the helm, with the team adding four wins over their 2022 total, but this was still a flat year – the Bears were out of it by the midpoint of the season, and that has precipitated changes, the biggest of which is under center, where patience with Justin Fields has run out. New offensive and defensive coordinators are also in, with Shane Waldron and Eric Washington stepping into the offensive and defensive roles. Both men have plenty to work with this season. Most importantly, Caleb Williams arrives to both reset the team’s quarterback clock and reinstate hope in the franchise. Williams has a remarkable skillset and is a pass-first player while still posing a rushing threat. He is the first FBS quarterback…

Six years ago, the Vikings brought in Kirk Cousins, believing he could be their franchise quarterback. He delivered 50 wins in 88 starts, throwing for 23,265 yards and 171 touchdowns, against just 55 interceptions. Those are good numbers. However, he only got them into the playoffs twice, and only managed one win. It put the Vikes in a difficult situation this past offseason – they liked their quarterback, but wanted to plan for the future, so a short-term deal was all they were willing to offer. Cousins duly bolted to Atlanta for a four-year deal worth $180 million (and who can blame him), but it leaves Minnesota in a state of flux. And it isn’t just Cousins who has gone. Top pass-rusher Danielle Hunter, useful linebacker D.J. Wonnum and leading…

The Saints posted a winning record lastyear, and it was almost enough to take the division, but they found themselves outside looking in when the postseason rolled around. The first year of the Derek Carr era was disappointing, as he was seldom better than decent and had six games where he failed to pass for 200 yards. The lack of a supporting cast, outside of the mercurial Chris Olave, was a big reason, and the team has given up on Michael Thomas, after another injury cut short another season. There are no big names riding to the rescue either, so the onus is on existing players to step up, none more so that Rashid Shaheed. There is also hope that new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (a passing game specialist) might…

Today the NFL is a mega-brand; anincredibly lucrative product. Not just America’s biggest sports league but one which is recognisable in almost every country. But in 1920 professional football lived in the shadow of not only baseball, then indisputably the nation’s favourite sport, but also that of college football. Without a strong league structure, as was enjoyed by baseball, pro football wilted as its few independently-owned organisations – mainly in the Midwest and New York state – struggled to turn a profit. On the night of 17 September, in Canton, Ohio, the same town that the game’s hall of fame now calls home, representatives from the 11 pro teams from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and New York gathered in a Jordan and Hupmobile car dealership belonging to the owner of the…

The National Football League draft exists to inject new life into football before a new season begins. While on paper, to someone unfamiliar with its inner workings, it seems like an overly complicated puzzle, it is in fact a fantastic system to ensure that you never know quite what to expect from a team. A single draft pick has the potential to boost an entire roster, meaning that everyone involved competes from the very first round to the very last. Evolving with each passing year, the key has always been to try and maintain a fair draft. Unlike other sports where the most successful teams can usually swallow up the best talent, the NFL’s aim is to always keep both fans and players guessing. A struggling side from the previous…

AUDIBLE Before a play begins, the quarterback will survey the defense’s formation. If he decides to change the play, a new play – an audible – will be communicated to his team through pre-determined code words. BACKFIELD The area behind the line of scrimmage where the quarterback and any running backs line up before the play commences. A team’s unit of running backs may also be referred to as a ‘the backfield’. BLITZ A defense will split between attempting to put pressure on the quarterback and covering his pass. Players running at the quarterback are called blitzers and a play with more of them is called a blitz. BLOCKING Blocking is a crucial part of the football game. Linemen, or sometimes wide receivers, will stop the tacklers from getting to…

The NFL season is the shortest of all major North American professional sports – for most teams it is over after 17 games, yet there is still time for ebbs and flows and shifts in momentum. Did we say it could be over after 17 games? The Jets were contemplating the 2024 season just four plays into 2023, after their anointed saviour, Aaron Rodgers, tore his Achilles tendon on the first drive of his first game in New York. Every other team kept up the fight for at least a bit longer, although by the end of week nine it was clear that the Patriots, Giants, Bears, Panthers and Cardinals were out of the running. The Eagles, on the other hand, stood at 8-1 (on their way to a 10-1…

To succeed in a gruelling sport likefootball requires a fistful of traits that can’t be coached. Athletic ability and/or a frame that can stop a locomotive in its tracks are a given, but beyond that the sport requires guile, mental strength and the ability to get inside the head of your opponents and mess with their minds. Needless to say, the sport has thrown up many great players over the years that have these skills in abundance, and here we showcase some of the greatest individuals to ever grace the gridiron field. From laser-guided ball throwers to rapier-like runners, immovable linebackers to unflappable receivers, there is no shortage of legends to take up any position on the pitch. And while there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of players worthy of…

As late as December 2023, the Bills lookedlike they were in trouble. An overtime loss to the Eagles in Week 12 left Buffalo at 6-6 and in real danger of missing the playoffs, let alone retaining the AFC East. But after a bye week reset, the team returned in formidable style, winning five straight (including knocking off the Chiefs, Cowboys and Dolphins) to clinch their fourth consecutive divisional title. And then, as in 2021 and 2022, came a gut-wrenching loss to the Chiefs in the playoffs. This time it was a Tyler Bass kick sailing wide right that broke Bills hearts, but the feeling was all too familiar. Following that defeat, Bills GM Brandon Beane has been hard at work reshaping the roster to set the Bills up for future…

Four snaps. That’s how long it took for theNew York Jets’ 2023 season to implode. A team that went into the campaign with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations saw those hopes go up in smoke as star QB acquisition Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tendon on the first drive of the season opener against the Bills. The shell-shocked Jets actually managed to pull the win out of the bag in that game, with Zach Wilson coming in under centre and Xavier Gipson scoring a dramatic punt return TD in overtime, but Rodgers’ season was quickly determined to be over – and with it any real hope of Jets success. What followed was a rerun of the 2022 season, down to the 7-10 record. The Jets were elite defensively, giving up…

In two seasons, the Browns have got 12 starts out of Deshaun Watson, having given up a haul of picks including three first-rounders. TLast year it was a shoulder injury that cut his season short and it was a crying shame, because the Browns were ready to compete. On the back of a tremendous defense, boasting the best defensive line and best pass-rush in the game, the Browns were a tall order for anyone, and they seemed to be getting better and better as the season rolled on – their wins started to come in bunches after a slow start, with two-, three- and then four-game winning streaks setting them up for the postseason. Against a rookie quarterback, the Browns defense was expected to feast in the wild-card game, but…

The Colts came close to landing a playoff berth in the first year of the Anthony Richardson era, which is encouraging. Less encouraging is the fact that Gardner Minshew was their quarterback for most of the season after Richardson went down to a season-ending shoulder injury (he had already suffered a concussion in another game) in week five. There are concerns that Richardson might be injury-prone. He did not finish three of the four games he started and missed a fifth with the concussion, and there are already rumblings about another franchise QB the Colts could not keep healthy – Andrew Luck. In the offseason, the Colts focused on keeping their defensive talent in-house, re-signing defensive tackle Grover Stewart, corner Kenny Moore and defensive end Tyquan Lewis. The first round…

Denver’s season began and ended in miserable fashion. Losing five of their first six games put them in a big hole, and losing four of their last six made sure they could not climb out of it. The Russell Wilson era ended faster than anyone had predicted, as he was released after two uninspired seasons and now plays in Pittsburgh. Sandwiched between the dismal six-game bookends was an encouraging five-game winning streak, and Broncos fans will look to that for hope. There is some stability on the team, with the three most important coaching positions returning, and it is always exciting when a quarterback is drafted in the first round. Oregon’s Bo Nix is likely to be thrown into the fire in week one, but the team (hamstrung by the…

The Chargers looked like a good bet for a deep playoff run last season, but instead they found themselves mired in a season that ended the tenures of head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. The Chargers aren’t known for in-season firings, but when you lose 63-21 in front of a prime-time TV audience, and against your bitterest rival, heads are likely to role. The 2023 Chargers were always less than the sum of their parts. Running back Austin Ekeler slogged his way to a 3.5 yards-per-carry average, while Keenan Allen was the only reliable target at wide receiver. Justin Herbert was good but not great and despite having two pass-rushing demons, the team ranked 28th in the league on defense after they surrendered 6,170 yards to their…

What on earth happened to the Eagles last year? Riding high with a 10-1 record, they folded, eventually limping into the playoffs at 11-6. It was a collapse reminiscent of the 1986 Jets, who went from 10-1 to 10-6. Suddenly, there is heat on head coach Nick Sirianni, but for now, the Eagles have contented themselves with removing both offensive and defensive coordinators. Brian Johnson and Sean Desai (who was demoted during the season after two blowout losses, only to see Matt Patricia do even worse in the role) are out, while Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio are in. Once more there have been some key defections in free agency – running back D’Andre Swift was one-and-done after posting a thousand-yard campaign, and pass-rushing ace Haason Reddick was traded to…

The Lions are for real, and after what looks like a stellar offseason, they will enter the new campaign as one of the favourites in the NFC. Last year, their made improvements on both offense and defense, which was enough to vault them to the top of the NFC North. Riding a two-headed monster in the backfield (David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs) and the increasing maturity of Jared Goff at quarterback (who improved his numbers in total yardage, completion percentage and touchdown passes), the Lions’ offense was a lethal weapon. Defensively, big strides were made. The team slashed almost 1,000 yards off its total allowed and trimmed its points allowed by 32. It was mark of how porous the defense had been in 2022 that these improvements still left the…

There is a worrying sense that the Falcons are stuck in some kind of time-loop. ANot only have they repeated their 7-10 record for three straight seasons, they also fixed their quarterback problem twice in the offseason. Atlanta’s drafting of Michael Penix with the eight pick in the draft ranks as one of the most baffling selections of all time. It’s not that Penix wasn’t an intriguing prospect, it was more to do with the fact that the team had just handed out a $180 million contract to Kirk Cousins. Cousins will solidify the Falcons quarterback position, bringing them a standard of play below the elite level, but more than good enough to return them to relevance. A new target for him, or maybe some desperately needed pass-rush help (the…

When a team has a combined record of 17-17 over two seasons, you don’t expect that to translate into a pair of divisional titles, but that’s exactly what the Bucs managed after following 2022’s 8-9 record with a 9-8 mark in 2023. Last year was a Jekyll and Hyde performance. There was a four-game losing streak that set the tone for a 4-7 start, and then a four-game winning streak that paved the way for a recovery to 9-8. Encouragingly, Baker Mayfield looked like a solid quarterback and may finally have settled after a tour that took in three other NFL cities. He has a strong offensive line in front of him, a top receiving duo in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and an excellent dual-threat running back in Rachaad…

It was a bounce-back year for the Rams, as they improved from 5-12 to 10-7 and were back in the playoffs after a one-year absence. A significant player overhaul now sees the Rams team at a crossroads – how quickly will they be able to shrug off the departures and absorb the new faces? Some losses are obviously more impactful than others. The trade of Cam Akers, after playing just one game last season, saw a liked and respected contributor depart from the team, but the retirement of defensive tackle Aaron Donald was on a whole different level – you don’t lose one of the best defensive players in the history of the game without missing a beat. Defensive backs Ahkello Witherspoon and Jordan Fuller, who led the team in…

Pete Carroll’s last season in charge of the Seahawks was a frustrating one. Arguably a missed field goal away from making the playoffs (Jason Myers had a 55-yarder that would have beaten the Rams in week 11 and pushed their record to 7-3), it is equally true that they won a few squeakers and might have been lucky to finish with a winning record. Geno Smith proved that 2022 was not a flash in the pan, but a weak offensive line hampered the entire offense. On the other side of the ball, it was an inability to stop the run that was most worrying. Opposing teams opted to run the ball 515 times, and Seattle finished 31st in rushing yards allowed, on their way to an overall 30th ranking for…

Football is a lot like a game of chess: two teams strategically trying to pick the other apart, each looking to find and exploit weaknesses in their opponent. Although on paper some may dismiss it as nothing more than a group of human beings hurling themselves at each other, it is in fact a thinking man’s sport. Inspired by the likes of rugby and association football, it was the latter that established the initial set of rules in 1869. Fast-forward to the mid-1870s, however, and colleges still playing association football followed in the footsteps of rugby union, mainly because doing so allowed the ball to be carried. It wasn’t until 1880 until the laws we’re used to today started to establish themselves. Drawn up by Walter Camp – who’s often…

Whilesome sports and professional leagues around the world have been resistant to change and wary of new technologies, the same can’t be said for the NFL. Throughout its history, the league has consistently been on the cutting edge of sporting innovation, a practice that continues to this day. An instant replay system was first introduced to the NFL all the way back in 1986, while the current version of the tech was implemented in 1999 – allowing teams to challenge on-field rulings with video evidence should they choose. The technology available to players on the field has evolved significantly in recent years as well. While in the early days of the NFL, players would converse on the touchline with their coaching staff before carrying out plays, now the advent of…

LEVIS GIVETH, AND LEVIS TAKETH AWAY ★ Titans quarterback Will Levis tidied up his own mess after tossing an interception against the Colts. Perhaps feeling aggrieved at the initial turnover (he was hit just as he let go of the ball), he hustled downfield and when Julian Blackmon tried to get up and return the interception, he fumbled the ball, allowing Levis to recover. A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS ★ The Cardinals were on their way to another loss, against the Ravens in week eight, when Trey McBride showed there was no quit in the team. After catching a third-and-15 pass around the two-yard-line, he stayed on his feet until teammates arrived to push him over the line for the touchdown – a full seven seconds after making the…

There’s a reason the NFL is one of the world’s most watched sporting leagues. Showcasing an athletic spectacle that manages to capture the imagination of even the most casual fan, it has been responsible for some truly memorable moments since its inception in 1920. Year after year in the NFL, heroes are born and legends are made, and the actions of both individuals and teams have contributed to some truly stunning contests. From records being broken to underdogs upsetting the odds, the NFL has played host to some spectacular games down the years. They’re milestones of the sporting world that deserve recognition, not only because of the outstanding skill on display, but because of the emotional resonance that these sporting achievements hold for so many people. With all that in…

Watching the Dolphins in 2023 was rarely dull. In his second year as head coach, Mike McDaniel turbocharged what was already a potent offense, as Miami led the NFL in total offense with 6,822 yards and racked up some memorable wins.. The Broncos, Panthers, Jets (twice) and Commanders were all beaten by 20+ points, Tyreek Hill and Raheem Mostert led the league in receiving and rushing touchdowns respectively, and the Dolphins made the playoffs for the second season running for the first time since 2001. Scarily, there’s room for improvement too. When healthy, rookie De’Von Achane added even more speed to an offense that sometimes resembled a track team. Add in Odell Beckham Jr and Jonnu Smith, both acquired in the offseason, and the Dolphins have the potential to be…

The Ravens are a difficult team to assessgoing into the new year. Will they be the same offensive juggernaut they were last season, or will the loss of three-fifths of their offensive line bring them back down to earth? Lamar Jackson answered a lot of questions, bouncing back from two injury-marred years to lead the team in rushing as well as excelling as a passer. His touchdown-interception ratio was better than 3:1 and he completed 67.2 per cent of his throws, making him one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the game. This year he will be helped by the arrival of Derrick Henry, who will join a talented backfield that already boasts the speedy Keaton Mitchell and the versatile Justice Hill. The receiving corps was ageing last season and…

It was a fascinating offseason in Pittsburgh, coming off a return to the playoffs in 2023. Last year, the Steelers became only the fourth franchise to win 770 games, and also set an AFC record with their 20th consecutive non-losing season (there were four 8-8 seasons tucked away in there). Recognising that their weakness was under center, where Kenny Pickett failed to pick up the pace after a decent rookie campaign (he threw just six touchdowns in 12 starts), the Steelers brought in not one, but two intriguing options. Russell Wilson, who bombed in Denver after starring in Seattle, will be hoping to resurrect his career, while former Bears No.1 draft pick Justin Fields will be ready to grab his chance if Wilson falters. Most teams try to avoid a…

Hopes were high in Jacksonville afterthey made the playoffs (and enjoyed a stunning come-from-behind victory in the wild card game) in 2022. Many people overlooked the fact that the Jags were ahead of schedule with their second-year quarterback and last year, they came back down to earth. Nobody would have expected that when the team was sitting at 8-3 and contemplating another push into the postseason, but a 1-5 finish saw them narrowly miss out on the playoffs. Now they are reloading for another push, bringing in several high-profile (and high-priced) free agents. It is notable that out of the top six free agents brought in, three of them are over 30 years of age – the Jags might be trying to open a short-term window before they have to…

The Chiefs’ Super Bowl repeat was no cakewalk. Aside from an impressive six-game winning streak after their opening-day loss, they were up and down all year, finishing on just enough of a high to ensure another AFC West title. Now the hunt for the elusive ‘threepeat’ begins. Once in the postseason, nobody knows how to do it better than the Chiefs under Patrick Mahomes – the best quarterback in the league has a 15-3 record in the playoffs – but the regular season was pedestrian by his standards. Mahomes was efficient, but not explosive. Yes, he completed more than 67 per cent of his passes, but he amassed only 4,183 yards, more than a thousand fewer than he managed in 2022. He will face challenges this season as he tries…

Few people expected Mike McCarthy to survive another embarrassing playoff defeat. After falling into a 27-point hole in the wildcard match-up with Green Bay, the heat under McCarthy’s seat reached boiling point, but owner Jerry Jones surprised everyone by sticking with his coach for the last campaign of his five-year contract. Jones is not best known for his patience, but McCarthy has taken the Cowboys to 12 wins in each of his last three seasons at the controls, and last year they won a surprising NFC East title. There is talent throughout the roster – and we are talking big-time talent. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons are among the brightest stars in the game. The temptation to switch coaches in an attempt to cash in on this talent…

So much has changed in Washington, it’s asurprise not to see them unveiling a new stadium as well. A new general manager (Adam Peters) and an entirely new coaching staff (head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt) are looking to rebuild a woeful franchise. This is the kind of thing that will happen after a 4-13 campaign. The Commanders have now gone seven seasons since they last posted a winning record (the uninspiring 8-7-1 mark of 2016, under Jay Gruden), and they are clearly ready to throw everything out and start again. Does this mean they’ve thrown the baby out with the bathwater, in the form of quarterback Sam Howell? He had some success last year, passing for almost 4,000 yards, but he led…

Have the Packers done it again? While many NFL teams struggle to find a franchise quarterback, the Packers simply go from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers and now to Jordan Love. Both Rodgers and Love had to bide their time before taking over from established legends (a lesson to all those who think you should just draft a QB and throw him in at the deep end) and in both cases they were worth waiting for. With Love igniting the offense, the Packers surged back into the playoffs and buried the Cowboys in the wild card round. There is so much youth on this team it looks like this could be the start of an extended run. There’s a new defensive coordinator in town, as Jeff Hafley takes over from…

Frank Reich has now suffered the indignityof being fired mid-season in consecutive years. A bad relationship with the team owner is always likely to land you in trouble, but so is opening a season with a 1-10 record. Including interim appointments, the Panthers are now on their seventh head coach since 2019, and they are riding a six-year run of losing seasons. New head coach Dave Canales is the man being trusted to change the course of a rudderless franchise. It will not be easy, as the strength of the team, the defense, has been undermined by player defections. The Panthers ranked fourth in the NFL in yards allowed last year, but a miserable 29th in points allowed as the offense often left them with a short field to defend.…

It was a forgettable season for theCardinals, who endured the expected growing pains in the first year of a new regime. A roster overhaul was always likely to result in short-term pain, but honeymoon periods end quickly in the NFL, and improvement will be expected this year. The biggest question is quarterback Kyler Murray. He worked hard to come back from his torn ACL and played decent football in his eight starts, but his contract demands better than decent football. To be fair to Murray, the Cards’ season was over when he returned to the field (they stood at 1-8), after Joshua Dobbs was ineffective as a stand-in. Arizona will be hoping that after more time to fully recover, Murray will rediscover his MVP-worthy level of play from 2021, but…

It used to be that the 49ers didn’t knowhow to lose a Super Bowl. AFrom 1981 to 1994 they won the big game five times on five attempts. Now it seems they don’t know how to win one, having lost three times since 2012. They came agonisingly close in January, taking a 10-0 lead over the Chiefs, then taking the lead again with less than two minutes to play before finally nudging ahead in overtime – but each time, Kansas City found a response. The Niners enter a new season with hopes and expectations high again. Some teams are slanted towards one side of the ball or the other, but the 49ers ranked third in both points allowed and points scored last year. For the most part, they are running…