It’s that wonderful time of year when NFL teams begin reporting to training camp.
That can only mean the NFL season is right around the corner.
After a season where fan participation was nonexistent, until limited fans during the playoffs, me and everyone else that loves this game are excited to see the pigskin tossed around on Thursday, Sunday and Monday.
As we enter in a new season here are some storylines that might be worth following for the 2021-22 season:
1. Will Aaron Rodgers show in Green Bay?
The Packers superstar QB and the franchise haven’t seen eye-to-eye since their NFC Title game loss to the Bucs where they took the football out of his hands with the season hanging in the balance.
It’s so bad they even offered him an extension which would’ve made him the highest paid player in the entire league.
He declined the offer and after his success as the guest host of popular gameshow “Jeopardy” he has a chance to get the gig permanently. Wouldn’t it be crazy if he retired and became a gameshow host? Stay tuned.
2. How will the Kansas City Chiefs respond after being humbled by the Bucs in the Super Bowl?
Going into the game the familiarity of having seen one another a few weeks prior really paid dividends for the Bucs.
That and a patchwork Chiefs offensive line that couldn’t block me. Mahomes scrambled for 498 yards that night and was battered and beaten thoroughly.
Their offensive line upgrades include Orlando Brown Jr in trade with the Ravens, Kyle Long (out of retirement), Joe Thuney (free agency) and getting Laurent Duvernay- Tarnif back after he sat out last season to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic abroad in Canada.
Mike Remmers is the only holdover from last year’s offensive line that just wasn’t very good at protecting their franchise QB.
3. Can the Dallas Cowboys be any worse on defense?
Following a historically bad season on the defense side of the ball the Cowboys and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan parted ways after just one season.
They then hired Dan Quinn the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks. He can’t do any worse than last year’s effort and they’ve added linebacker Micah Parsons, the arguably best linebacker prospect in the draft.
But it’s gonna take much more than adding him to fix the abundance of issues they have on that side of the ball. The hope is a healthy Dak Prescott can help with this.
4. What team is best suited to dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC?
Some say it’s the Titans, others say the Bills, and the there are some who believe the Ravens, Browns, along with the Steelers and Colts to a lesser extent have a shot.
I believe it’s the Titans, Browns and Bills with the best chance but we will see.
5. Does the Matthew Stafford addition make the Rams the most formidable opponent for the Bucs?
He helps keep them in the convo and he’s an upgrade over Jared Goff, along with their downright dominant defense.
Also can’t forget the Packers if ARod does decide to return. Also teams like Arizona, Seattle, Washington, NYG, San Fran, Dallas and New Orleans won’t be pushovers.
6. How will season-ending injuries to key players effect certain teams?
Not wishing this on any player or team but it’s inevitable that it will happen.
7. How will teams handle the vaccination as it pertains to losing players who test positive for COVID-19?
This one here is interesting because many players are adamant that they won’t get vaccinated, while many others have already received it.
Which in turn could divide a locker room in what is known as the ultimate team sport.
