NFL
By Monte Perez:
The NFL season starts Thursday, September 10th, 2020. The Houston Texans will travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in a primetime matchup. It has been a weird feeling with no pre-season games. Most sports fans have been focusing on the NBA bubble. It is time to shift gears to the NFL.
5 questions going into the NFL season:
5b) How many players will miss games because of COVID-19?
The NBA and NHL bubble have done a tremendous job of keeping all their players and coaches safe. They have not had 1 positive test since they moved into the bubble. The NFL players will be going home and out into their communities everyday . Players will get the virus and coaches will as well. It is inevitable.
5a) What happens to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers?
The Packers finished with a record of 13-3 under first year coach Matt LaFluer. They made it to the NFC Championship game before losing to the San Francisco 49ers, 37-20. The entire football world thought that Green Bay would draft a wide receiver in the first round. They drafted quarterback, Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick. Lafluer plans on going in a different direction rather quickly. How long before he implements Love into the offense? This team went 13-3 and the Packers brass decided to start rebuilding.
4) Are the Chiefs the next dynasty?
Kansas City is returning 19 out of their 22 starters returning from their Super Bowl winning roster. Quarterback, Patrick Mahomes signed the biggest contract in the history of pro sports. There is a big difference between being the hunter and the hunted. Every team will want to play their best against the Chiefs. They have enough talent to win 11-13 games.
3) Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the best team in the NFC South?
Tom Brady arrives in Tampa with a talented bunch of players. In 27 total games, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans had 153 receptions and 17 touchdown catches. Their defense improved drastically, the second half of the season, under defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Bruce Arians is known as the quarterback whisperer. He should do wonders for Brady and this offense.
2) Are the New England Patriots tanking?
The Patriots have lost 8 players this season. They have opted out because of COVID-19.
- Dont’a Hightower
- Patrick Chung
- LaCosse
- Marcus Cannon
- Najee Toran
- Marquise Lee
- Dan Vitale
- Brandon Bolden
For the first time since 2001, Brady will not be Bill Belichick’s quarterback. Belichick had a career record of 41-57 before Brady took over the reins in New England. Do not be surprised if the Patriots finish under .500 this season and draft Trevor Lawrence from Clemson next season. Belichick’s is thinking long-term. He is playing chess while most organizations play checkers.
Photo Credit: (ESPN.Com).
1) Do the Cleveland Browns have a breakout year?
On paper, the Browns have the best skill position players in the NFL
- Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry had 157 catches combined last year.
- Austin Hooper had 75 catches last season in Atlanta as the starting tight end.
- Nick Chubb rushed for 1,494 yards in 2o19. Kareem Hunt would start on most teams, He is Chubb’s backup.
The Browns defense should be much better and quarterback Baker Mayfield has all the tools around him to win 10 games.
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I really like the Browns but it all depends on Baker. I think they finish second in the AFC North. Tampa is still behind New Orleans and I don’t think it’s that close. I think Cam might ruin Bills plan to tank. The Chiefs win 13 games. Finally, I think the NFL keeps it figured out on the Covid-19 front.
All very good points!!!