Two high-profile quarterbacks make their return to the NFL, while a third is making a habit of coming out of retirement more times than aging rock bands.
This year’s NFL season could be labelled the year of the comeback. Two high-profile quarterbacks make their return to the game, while a third is making a habit of coming out of retirement more times than aging rock bands.
In New England, Tom Brady, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the team’s opener last year, attempts to return to his 2007 form, a season where he threw for a record 50 touchdown passes.
The Eagles shocked the football world when they signed controversial quarterback Michael Vick to a contract. Vick spent nearly two years in prison for financing a dogfighting operation, and it will be interesting to see if he still has the skills that made him the most exciting player in football.
Brett Favre resembles more of a soap actor these days than an NFL QB. The off-season was littered with Favre unretirment stories until the grizzled veteran finally agreed to join the Minnesota Vikings, giving him one last shot at Super Bowl glory.
All will be gunning for the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that only lost one starter.
Here’s a look at the teams that could be vying for this year’s Vince Lombardi Trophy:
AFC Contenders
New England
Brady is back and so are the Pats. With the franchise quarterback under centre again, New England regains its familiar role as one of the Super Bowl favourites. Now Brady will lead a New England attack that produced the greatest offensive output in NFL history only two seasons ago. He will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, including receivers Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and off-season addition Joey Galloway. On defence, New England hope its vulnerable secondary has been upgraded with the additions of Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs ? if he can stay healthy. Defensive rookie of the year linebacker Jared Mayo should also emerge as a top player at his position.
Obstacle: Keeping Brady upright will be paramount for an offensive line that’s been struggling with pass protection since Super Bowl XLII. This unit allowed a whopping 48 sacks last year, something that needs to change if the Patriots are going to win a fourth title.
2008 record: 11-5
Pittsburgh
The Steelers have won a record six Super Bowl titles ? all led by a dominant defence. This year will be no different as the champs return virtually the same unit, which ranked first in total defence last season. Pittsburgh is blessed with fielding one of the best NFL safeties in Troy Polamalu, and 2008 defensive player of the year James Harrison, who ? along with his memorable TD interception in the Super Bowl ? registered 16 sacks in the regular season. The Steelers were also fortunate to escape a major loss in pre-season when offensive tackle Max Starks accidentally stepped on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s right foot. Fortunately, Big Ben only suffered a minor injury to his Achilles tendon. Expect second-year RB Rashard Mendenhall and Super MVP WR Santonio Holmes to have bigger roles in the offence.
Obstacle: While the Steelers have few weaknesses, Roethlisberger was running for his life on most Sundays in 2008. The offensive line simply allowed its franchise pivot to take to many shots, a bad sign considering Roethlisberger’s injury history.
2008 record: 12-4
San Diego
Rewarded with a new six-year contract worth $92-million US, quarterback Philip Rivers is clearly the man in San Diego. Rivers led the NFL with a 105 passer rating, supplanting RB LaDainian Tomlinson as the team’s MVP. It won’t take long to find out whether Tomlinson has lost a step or has simply been slowed by injuries. The 30-year-old rushed for a career-worst 1,100 yards in 2008. True, the offensive line failed to open many holes, but Tomlinson didn’t display his trademark burst that’s allowed him to dominate for so long. Regardless, the Chargers should have little problems winning the AFC West, a division they’ve dominated the last three years.
Obstacle: Sack master Shawne Merriman, who missed 15 games last season with a knee injury, became more of a distraction for the team after his arrest Sunday on a domestic violence charge. If the Chargers’ secondary, ranked 31st in passing defence, is to improve, the team will need Merriman to terrorize quarterbacks like he did prior to his injury.
2008 record: 8-8
Rising
Baltimore
After years of searching, the Ravens finally found their quarterback answer. Joe Flacco wasn’t even supposed to start in 2008, yet became the first rookie pivot in NFL history to win two playoff games. Baltimore also returns a unit that ranked only behind its division foes from Pittsburgh in total defence. Linebacker Ray Lewis may be the heart and soul of the group, but ball-hawking safety Ed Reed, who led the league in interceptions with nine, remains the best playmaking defender in the game.
Obstacles: Although the Ravens are set at the most important position, Flacco simply doesn’t have the offensive weapons that his divisional counterpart, Roethlisberger, possesses. The running game should be solid, but receivers Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and Demetrius Byrd don’t exactly provoke fear into opposing secondaries.
2008 record: 11-5
Sliding
Miami
The Dolphins will have a better team than the one that shocked the football world en route to the AFC East title last season, but it won’t show up in the win column. That’s because the schedule includes first-place opponents like Pittsburgh, San Diego and Tennessee – Miami’s reward for winning the division.
Obstacle: As the Ravens proved during last year’s playoffs, Miami’s wildcat offence can be severely disrupted when the formation is blitzed. You can bet future opponents made a special note of that game.
2008 record: 11-5
Intriguing
Indianapolis
The Colts lost their grip on the AFC South, finishing second to the Titans. However, the team has made the playoffs for the last seven seasons and with Peyton Manning at the helm, Indianapolis will be looking for its seventh straight 12-win season. Longtime receiver Marvin Harrison is gone, but Manning has plenty of weapons on the roster, including Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez.
Obstacle: The Colts need to stay healthy on the defensive side, especially in the secondary where corners Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson, along with safety Bob Sanders, missed a combined 25 games last season. Most importantly, Sanders, the 2007 defensive player of the year, needs to be at full strength as the Colt’s run defence gets gashed when he’s not on the field.
2008 record: 12-4
NFC Contenders
New York Giants
The Super Bowl XLII champs have reloaded on defence, adding defensive end Chris Canty, tackle Rocky Bernard and linebacker Michael Boley. In addition, the Giants will see the return of pass rusher extraordinaire Osi Umenyiora, who missed the entire 2008 season with a torn knee. Expect New York to boast one of the best rushing attacks once again, led by Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.
Obstacle: As the Giants found out during their title defence last season, finding a playmaking receiver replacement for the soon-to-be incarcerated Plaxico Burress won’t be easy. Quarterback Eli Manning has to hope either Steve Smith or Domenik Hixon can step up, although they failed miserably in their divisional playoff contest against the Eagles.
2008 record: 12-4
Atlanta
Sophomore quarterback Matt Ryan will lead a potent, if not more balanced, offensive attack. Aside from running back Michael Turner and receiver Roddy White, Ryan has a new toy at his disposal – tight end Tony Gonzalez. The veteran was acquired during an off-season trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, and still remains an elite pass receiver. Ryan, who quickly make Atlanta fans forgets about Vick, was magnificent as a rookie, showing poise and smarts beyond his years.
Obstacle: While the sack total (34) wasn’t bad, defensive co-ordinator Brian VanGorder would love to see more production from his line in an effort to make the secondary stronger. Unfortunately, only the often-injured John Abraham provides that type of pressure.
2008 record: 11-5
Minnesota
No longer can opposing defences stack the line of scrimmage to stop all-world running back Adrian Peterson. The strategy will simply not work as the Vikings coaxed Favre back to the game. With Favre in the fold, Peterson, a 1,760-yard rusher from a season ago, could threaten to break the 2,000-yard barrier this season. The Vikings also drafted Percy Harvin, a flashy receiver with the ability to jumpstart an under-achieving unit.
Obstacle: With defensive tackled Pat and Kevin Williams, the Vikings were nearly impossible to run against up the middle. However, both could miss the first four games ? their suspensions are under court appeal, after testing positive for banned substances.
2008 record: 10-6
Rising
Philadelphia
Despite a highly publicized benching during Week 11, quarterback Donovan McNabb led a late-season rally to guide the Eagles to the NFC Championship game. Never one to rest on their laurels, the Philly brass, with McNabb’s blessing, caught most NFL observers off guard by signing Vick. Teams will now have to focus on a backfield that could consist of Vick, McNabb and Westbrook, which will surelly keep defensive coaches up at night. Although the Eagles suffered a crushing loss when defensive co-ordinator Jim Johnson died of cancer in the off-season, his blitz-happy packages will stay intact.
Obstacle: The offence has relied too much on McNabb and Westbrook over the years. For Philadelphia to truly take the next step, second-year wide out DeSean Jackson has to emerge as McNabb’s go-to guy.
2008 record: 9-6-1
Sliding
Arizona
It’s easy to forget that the Cardinals had a mediocre regular season rescued only by a surprising playoff surge that sent led them all the way to the Super Bowl. Even with Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin returning on offence, Arizona won’t catch teams off-guard this year. The saving grace for the Cards is their division remains one of the weakest in the NFL. Nevertheless, don’t expect a return to the Super Bowl.
Obstacle: The Cardinals ranked dead last in rushing offense, a problem coach Ken Whisenhunt will attempt to solve by using second-year runner Tim Hightower and rookie Chris Wells.
2008 record: 9-7
Intriguing
Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers didn’t just take the place of Favre, he thrived by leading the Packers to the eighth-best passing attack in the NFL. In his second full year as a starter, Rodgers, a 4,000-plus passer last season, can expect his number to continue to climb with Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and second-year Jordy Nelson making up an impressive receiving unit. The defence, an albatross for the Packers a year ago, is switching to a 3-4 alignment under the guidance of long-time co-ordinator Dom Capers. Mamouth rookie B.J. Raji should improve the overall line and allow the outside linebackers to flourish as pass rushers.
Obstacle: Green Bay’s rushing attack dropped to 17th in 2008 in part because tailback Ryan Grant only averaged 3.9 yards per carry. A more effective running game this season will keep the offence balanced and keep the defensive unit fresher.
2008 record: 6-10
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