Five-step process for a complete NFL preview
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Jim Reineking / FOXSports.com
Posted: 14 minutes ago
Want a quick-hit preview for the entire NFL? Well here's one
1. Colts at Ravens, Sept. 11 — The season opens with a showdown of the league's most potent offense (Colts) against arguably its best defense (Ravens).
2. Eagles at Falcons, Sept. 12 — A little more than 24 hours after the first big game, the Eagles and Falcons play in a rematch of the NFC title game. Vick, McNabb, T.O. ... the star power is blinding.
3. Patriots at Steelers, Sept. 25 — These two teams met twice last season with decidedly different results. In the regular season, the Steelers thumped the Patriots. When it mattered most, the Patriots throttled the Steelers. The two meet again in a rematch of the AFC title game, in which the Patriots put rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a funk that cost the host team the game.
4. Colts at Patriots, Nov. 7 — Have the Colts closed the gap that so obviously existed between them and the Patriots? This game should be a good indication, especially since it will be played in Foxboro, where the Colts have experienced no success at all in recent years.
5. Panthers at Falcons, Jan. 1 — The season finale could prove to be the deciding game for the NFC South division title. The Falcons figure to be headed to the playoffs again, while the Panthers have been the focus of a lot of Super Bowl buzz this preseason. Figure in those two factors, and hope that the two teams can maintain a level of excellence over the course of an entire NFL season, and that could make this showdown the game of the year.
Five teams guaranteed to make the playoffs
1. Patriots — New England lost coordinators Charlie Weis (Notre Dame) and Romeo Crennel (Browns), and its emotional leader on defense (Tedy Bruschi), yet this team figures to remain a fixture in the NFL postseason until the triumvirate of owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady go in three different directions.
2. Colts — Combine the league's best offense with an improving defense, and this could finally be the year that Indianapolis finally conquers New England and reaches that elusive Super Bowl. The power trio of Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison may not have the bling of the Cowboys' famed 1990s tandem of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, but when all is said and done, each trio may have the same amount of players inducted in Canton.
3. Eagles — Quarterback Donovan McNabb and receiver Terrell Owens may not be the best of friends, but even that doesn't seem likely to derail their success. And the rest of the NFC East still hasn't caught up with the Eagles, which means there will be another division title to celebrate in Philadelphia.
4. Falcons — The postseason party wouldn't be as much fun without the transcendent talents of Michael Vick. However, this year's road to January joy may not be as easy as it was in 2004. The improved Panthers and inspired Saints figure into the mix as well.
5. Jets — Chad Pennington is healthy, Laveranues Coles is back and Curtis Martin can still move the ball. Take that into consideration and throw in the key acquisition of former Patriots cornerback Ty Law and the Jets might be ready to challenge mighty New England in the AFC East.
Steve Smith's return will give the Panthers offense a boost. (Grant Halverson / Getty Images)
Five sleeper teams
1. Panthers — Optimism in Carolina hit a climax in recent weeks as many pro football gurus jumped on the Panthers' bandwagon and selected the 2003 Super Bowl runners-up as this year's NFC favorite. The pieces appear in place, what with receiver/kick returner Steve Smith back from missing pretty much all of 2004 with a broken leg, defensive obstruction Kris Jenkins returning from an injury, and the other-worldly talents of defensive end Julius Peppers.
2. Chiefs — Kansas City continues to feature any offense that can score plenty of points, and now the defense has received a much-needed extreme makeover. The selection of linebacker Derrick Johnson will have the biggest long-term impact on the fortunes of the Chiefs.
3. Ravens — Baltimore has not one, but two former NFL defensive players of the year on a unit that will strike fear into any opponent. The defense alone can't win games, however, and much pressure has been put on the shoulders of third-year quarterback Kyle Boller. Unfortunately, if the preseason is any indication, this could be a long season for Boller.
4. Bills — Sporting a defense that isn't quite Baltimore's equal, but close enough, the situation is the same up in Buffalo, where the team's hopes ride on the right arm of second-year quarterback J.P. Losman. Like Boller, Losman's preseason hasn't exactly been up to snuff. His latest exhibition effort featured a two-interception, one-fumble meltdown that doesn't exactly promise great things for 2005. Nonetheless, like Boller (who has Jamal Lewis), Losman can rely on a strong running back (Willis McGahee) to help shoulder the load until the passing game comes around.
5. Cowboys — With young talent on offense and defense, the wild card in Dallas' hopes for 2005 is old-man Drew Bledsoe. Well, he's not that old — at least not when compared to Vinny Testaverde — and Cowboys fans will hope Bledsoe has found a fountain of youth in reuniting with coach Bill Parcells.
Five teams primed for a fall
1. Packers — Brett Favre's final pro football season could be the first losing one in Green Bay since 1991 (which is the longest such streak running in the NFL). Instead of focusing on a defense in dire need of serious help, the Packers went with Aaron Rodgers — too tempting to pass on at Green Bay's position in the draft — to become Favre's successor. Problem is, Rodgers isn't very good and could go down as the latest first-round quarterback bust. Maybe Green Bay would have been better served waiting for Kyle Orton in the fourth round, or another year to draft a quarterback in a class that could feature Matt Leinart of USC, Vince Young of Texas, Chris Leak of Florida and Omar Jacobs of Bowling Green (among others).
2. Chargers — San Diego came out of virtually nowhere to win the AFC West last season, and it was a great story, what with the emergence of Drew Brees in the aftermath of the Philip Rivers draft selection. Throw in the sudden stardom of tight end Antonio Gates for extra credit, and it was a fun year for the Chargers. Only, the year ended with bitter disappointment in the playoffs. While San Diego figures to be in the playoff chase, it's hard to imagine this team keeping up the 12-4 pace of 2004.
3. Steelers — This is a team fully capable of defending its AFC North division title, but a 15-1 season will be nearly impossible to match. Unfortunately for Steelers fans, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger — who hit the NFL scene running as a rookie — appears primed for a sophomore slump, and the situation at running back appears uncertain (Willie Parker is slated as the team's opening-game starter). This chain of events — and throw in the efforts of strong challengers in Baltimore and Cincinnati — will make defense of the division title even more difficult.
4. Broncos — Lately, the Broncos have been a regular in the NFL's postseason party, but this year a stronger AFC West figures to be this team's playoff party pooper. Instead of attempting to acquire players who can help Denver beat Indianapolis when it matters most, the Broncos went out this off-season and signed a bunch of has-beens (Jerry Rice) and never-will-bes (Ron Dayne, Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren).
5. Seahawks — Seattle has enjoyed a nice little run of playoff appearances, but that success could come to an end this season. Unfortunately, this team simply can't beat the Rams. That's bad.
Five don't-believe-the-hype teams
1. Cardinals — Arizona got a lot of preseason hype after an off-season of dynamic change, but the Rams are still the class of the NFC West until proven otherwise. And the Cardinals may have radical new uniforms, but the "kick me" sign still appears on the back. Perception is the only reality until the Cardinals overcome the team's history of complete failure.
Joey Harrington holds the keys to an offense that could light up scoreboards. (Tom Pidgeon / Getty Images)
2. Lions — There are a number of young quarterbacks who face make-or-break years, and the Lions' Joey Harrington is one of them. Unfortunately for Detroit, its veteran backup insurance plan (Jeff Garcia) broke its leg in the final preseason game. Still, the Lions could possess an offense that one day could rival that of Indianapolis. Kevin Jones is a talented running back. Roy Williams, Mike Williams and Charles Rogers (if healthy) may someday form one of the most fearsome receiving tandems in NFL history. The only ingredient missing is a consistent Harrington.
3. Raiders — The team trades for sometimes problematic, often game-changing, receiver Randy Moss and suddenly the team's fortunes will be reversed? With Jerry Porter still in the fold, Kerry Collins could throw for 4,000-plus yards this season, but the defense will doom Oakland.
4. Texans — This team has made a gradual improvement in each of its three seasons of existence. Another such improvement in 2005 could net the Texans their first playoff appearance. That next step, however, will be daunting. The Colts remain the standard-bearers, while Jacksonville hopes to figure into the playoff picture more prominently this season. That would leave the young Texans as the odd team out.
5. Buccaneers — Fans still believe in coach Jon Gruden, but this Buccaneers outfit is a far cry from the one that won the Super Bowl three seasons ago. Gone are a number of the team's key contributors from Tampa's glory days, and what remains is a team sorely lacking in depth at a number of key positions.
Five teams that'll be just awful
1. 49ers — The team was ready to make the first overall pick in this year's draft, Alex Smith, its starting quarterback. That is, until the guy who the 49ers were looking to replace clearly outplayed Smith in the preseason. Now, Smith will have to learn from the sidelines, which isn't an ideal place for a team clearly in rebuilding mode. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are NFL teams. There's a long way to go to repair this once-proud franchise.
2. Dolphins — Given the opportunity to select the best quarterback in the draft besides Alex Smith, Miami opted to pick a running back. With Ricky Williams returning from his bizarre off-season of finding himself (smoking cannabis) and holistic healing, the Dolphins now seem to have an embarrassment of riches at running back. Well, that'll only be the case when Williams is done serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. When Williams comes back, the Dolphins could be 0-4. This is because of the team's complete lack of quality at the quarterback position. Miami continues to struggle to fill that spot with anybody good since the retirement of Dan Marino.
3. Browns — Much of this team's hope vanished when Kellen Winslow went joy-riding on a motorcycle. Romeo Crennel is on board as the new head coach, but it's going to take some time for him to eliminate the garbage that contributed to this team's 4-12 debacle of a year ago. In reality, the Browns are essentially starting over for the third time in the team's new seven-year history. That's a lot of transition, and Browns fans are crossing their fingers hoping that Crennel and Cleveland is the combination that will finally work out.
4. Titans — The days of Tennessee-as-playoff regular are long over. Steve McNair is still chucking passes, but this team has little hope in the loaded AFC South. Unfortunately, the glory days of 1999-2003 have caught up to the Titans, and the team gave into its salary cap woes and came to terms with the league's money management system. This team has clearly entered the dreaded "rebuilding" mode.
5. Redskins — The NFL Joe Gibbs returned to last season is very different from the NFL he left after the 1992 season. Safety Sean Taylor couldn't stay out of trouble and linebacker Lavar Arrington can't stay healthy. Those two are Washington's best players. Elsewhere, Redskins fans long for a day when starting quarterback Patrick Ramsey is carrying a clipboard.
Demarcus Ware should fit into Dallas' 3-4 defense quite nicely. (Otto Greule Jr. / Getty Images)
Five draft gems
1. Demarcus Ware — It's hard to place a player who went No. 11 overall in the NFL draft as a "draft gem," but Ware is from Troy and rarely do players from Troy get selected in the NFL draft, much less in the first round. Fact of the matter is, Ware probably should have gone earlier. Ware fits in the defensive end-linebacker hybrid mold so eloquently played by former Parcells players Lawrence Taylor (Hall of Famer) and Willie McGinest (Hall of Famer?).
2. Kyle Orton — Turns out Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers were totally overrated and Orton was really the best quarterback of the 2005 draft class. If it weren't for a couple bad games in his final year at Purdue, Orton may have been the Heisman Trophy winner and hands-down favorite to be selected No. 1 by the 49ers. Instead, those rough outings on the collegiate gridiron hurt his draft stature and sent the pass-happy quarterback to the fourth round. Think Rex Grossman is the Bears' quarterback of the future? Think again. Since Grossman can't stay healthy, Chicago will likely pin its hopes on Orton.
3. Will Whitticker — Replacing departed guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle will be no easy task, but this seventh-round, 246th-overall draft pick has been penciled in as the Packers' starting right guard for the season opener in Detroit. This just goes to show you how quickly things can change in the life of an NFL player. One day you're a seventh-round pick just trying to make a team, then you suddenly find yourself helping protect one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.
4. Darren Sproles — Keeping LaDainian Tomlinson healthy and fresh throughout the course of an entire 16-game regular season will be easier with Sproles in the fold helping spell the multi-talented back by displaying his own highlight-reel knack.
5. Chad Owens — The Jaguars are hoping to make the next step from playoff contender to playoff participant and Owens — the star of Jacksonville's preseason — may just be the needed addition. Owens, a sixth-round pick, was originally drafted to fill a role on the team's special teams unit as a return man, but the 5-foot-7 dynamo has also displayed an ability to catch the football when it is thrown in his general direction.
Five players who if they got hurt, their teams would be crushed
1. Peyton Manning — As in the previous couple seasons, the Colts are entertaining thoughts of reaching the Super Bowl. The big reason is because the future Hall of Famer Manning is operating the team's score-points-in-bundles offense. One quick look at the Colts' depth chart reveals a startling revelation ... Manning's backup is Jim Sorgi. At the moment, Sorgi is Manning's only backup because third-stringer Travis Brown is on injured reserve. When called upon, Sorgi hasn't been bad; he completed 17 of 29 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns in garbage time last season.
2. Brett Favre — The only reason the Packers have hopes of reaching the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season (or 11th time in Favre's 14 seasons with the team), is because of ol' No. 4. While the team does possess some noteworthy offensive stars (receivers Donald Driver and Javon Walker, tight end Bubba Franks and running back Ahman Green), Favre makes the whole thing click. If Favre goes down, then Craig Nall gets the call. Not that Nall isn't capable of handling the offense, but a day without Favre is a day most Packers fans have dreaded for a very long time.
3. Donovan McNabb — Four straight NFC title game appearances (one victory) don't happen by accident. McNabb has firmly developed a nice reputation as one of the NFL's best players. Even with Terrell Owens running wild in opposing secondaries and a healthy Brian Westbrook, it would be hard to imagine Koy Detmer running Philly's offense with the same amount of success.
4. LaDainian Tomlinson — Firmly planted atop most fantasy football league's drafts is the Chargers' dynamic back. In four NFL seasons, Tomlinson has rushed for 5,899 yards. That's a lot of production for the likes of Sproles and Michael "the Burner" Turner to recreate.
5. Daunte Culpepper — If it weren't for Manning's 2004 season for the ages, everybody would be talking about Culpepper's 4,717-yard, 39-touchdown blockbuster. Culpepper is the reason why the Vikings should be just fine and dandy without Randy Moss. Brad Johnson is the backup, and that's pretty good insurance given that Johnson has a Super Bowl ring and Culpepper doesn't. But, there's no way Johnson matches Culpepper's effect on football games.
Five players who will thrive in new environments
1. Ty Law — Allowing a former player to sign with a team inside the division is never a good thing to do. Allowing said player to sign with your best competition inside the division is even worse. The Patriots have been there before (remember Lawyer Milloy to the Bills in 2003?), and then went on to win a Super Bowl anyway. Law is going to make the Jets' secondary even better, thus making it more difficult for Tom Brady to complete passes when the Jets and Patriots renew their heated rivalry on Dec. 4 and again Dec. 26.
Cardinals fans are hoping Kurt Warner's talents haven't eroded too much. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)
2. Kurt Warner — Warner was a human punching bag in the pocket in his final days in St. Louis and again last season in New York, but Arizona is hoping the former MVP will be the missing ingredient on an offense already loaded with young, aspiring Pro Bowlers. In Arizona, Warner inherits a talented trio of receivers (Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson) and has an up-and-coming running back (J.J. Arrington) to hand the ball off to. The pieces appear in place for a revival much like the one football fans witnessed in St. Louis in 1999. Can an older, yet wiser, Warner rediscover that magic?
3. Rod Gardner — After Muhsin Muhammad opted to play for the Bears in the off-season, Carolina was lucky to get Gardner in a trade with the Redskins. When teamed with Steve Smith, Gardner should be a more-than-adequate complimentary receiver.
4. Tim Dwight — The Patriots are deep at wide receiver, but Dwight's biggest contributions will likely come on special teams. Dwight remains one of the fastest players in the NFL and is explosive on returns. He's also a threat on end-around plays, which should be a fun addition to the Patriots' already extensive arsenal.
5. Anthony Henry — The Cowboys spent more than $32 million in signing bonuses in free agency this off-season, some of that went to the former Browns cornerback who will be counted on to fill a very important role in the Cowboys' defense. The Cowboys were already set at one cornerback position with Terence Newman, but filling the other has been a real bugaboo. Pete Hunter didn't exactly fit the bill last season, hence the quick snagging of Henry in free agency. Henry has the ability to make big plays (he had 10 interceptions in 2001 and four more in 2004).
Five emerging stars (non-rookies)
1. Julius Jones — Jones is carrying on the tradition of great Cowboys running backs. From the days of Dan Reeves and Walt Garrison to the league's all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, Dallas has enjoyed a plethora of talented running backs. Jones is aiming for 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. That's a lofty goal, but one Jones might actually reach.
2. Steven Jackson — You know have something special when a future Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk steps aside so that a second-year player can take over the reins. In Jackson, the Rams get a seamless transition from Faulk to the team's future at running back.
3. Roy Williams — The Lions' second-year man appears to be an other-worldly freak (we mean that in a good way), and expect to see his one-handed, highlight-reel catches for many years to come. Williams, along with Charles Rogers, Mike Williams and Kevin Johnson, should help make Joey Harrington look real good if he can get them the ball.
4. Lee Evans — Evans, who had in five receptions of 50 yards or more, was Buffalo's most productive rookie receiver since Andre Reed in 1985 (843 yards, nine touchdowns). Bills fans are hoping Evans doesn't miss a beat with J.P. Losman chucking balls his way, rather than the departed Drew Bledsoe.
5. Chris Gamble — Gamble, along with Ken Lucas and Ricky Manning Jr., give the Panthers as talented a group of cornerbacks as the team has had in its 11-year history. Gamble tied with Lucas for the NFC lead in interceptions last season (six). Now in his second season, Gamble brings a more polished game and figures to be a major player in the Panthers' quest for a return trip to the Super Bowl.
Lambeau Field is pro football's finest stadium. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)
Five best stadiums
1. Lambeau Field — A football shrine got a $295 million makeover from 2001-2003 and came out looking better than before. As long as Green Bay doesn't throw artificial turf into its ode to football stadiums, this place will always be the NFL's crown jewel.
2. Heinz Field — An open-end view not gives fans a great view of Pittsburgh bridges, plus the fabled confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. The only thing Heinz Field is missing over its predecessor — Three Rivers Stadium — is history.
3. Raymond James Stadium — Any stadium with pirate ships in an end zone that fire off cannons when the home team scores is cool in our book. Toss in the fact that Raymond James Stadium is now a fixture in the Super Bowl rotation, and that makes Tampa Bay's football landmark one of the NFL's finest.
4. Cleveland Browns Stadium — Cleveland replaced its "Mistake by the lake" with a dazzling 73,000-plus seat spectacle. Cleveland Browns Stadium features the largest and most video capable screens of any NFL stadium. That's pretty cool.
5. Reliant Stadium — Rarely are domes cool, but this is a retractable-roof dome, capable of letting in the sunlight on autumn Sundays and then close when it gets too hot. This trend-setting stadium already has hosted one Super Bowl, and many more will be played at Houston's new wonder.
Five worst stadiums
1. Metrodome — The Vikings once possessed a home-field advantage enjoyed by no other team when it called old Metropolitan Stadium home. The Vikings played in four Super Bowls while playing at the Met. Since it moved into the garbage-bag-roofed Metrodome, the Vikings haven't made it out of the NFC. The Vikings are smart by wanting to build a new stadium that will be open-air and glorious when the elements can wreck havoc on teams from warmer parts of the country.
2. Georgia Dome — The place often looks like it needs more lights and the roof looks bizarre at best. Unfortunately, the NFL has already hosted two Super Bowls in this dome, which is situated in a city that has a climate that doesn't really require a domed stadium.
3. RCA Dome — If you can't guess, we don't like domes. Football was meant for the outdoors. So was baseball, but that's a completely different rant. In this case, the climate-controlled environment of a dome actually works in the home team's favor. The Colts' fast-break offense probably wouldn't work as well in the late-December cold and/or snow.
4. McAfee Coliseum — This is the former Network Associates Coliseum, which is still better known as the Oakland Coliseum. Some time in the mid-1990s when Oakland lured the Raiders back from Los Angeles, the stadium added a monstrosity of a section in the outfield area known affectionately as "Mt. Davis." It's ugly. The stadium's only redeeming quality (besides its rowdy fans and delightful cheerleading squad) is that it remains one of only four NFL stadiums that still have baseball infield dirt cutouts during the early portion of the NFL schedule.
5. Ralph Wilson Stadium — This is an outdoor stadium, yet it has artificial turf? What's up with that? At least Ralph Wilson Stadium no longer has crappy AstroTurf, making a good call by replacing it with FieldTurf, which looks more like grass. Still, FieldTurf is great for domes incapable of growing real grass, not for outdoor stadiums exposed to the elements.
The Raiderettes are a real crowd pleaser in Oakland. (Scott Halleran / Getty Images)
Five best cheerleading outfits
1. Raiders — Raider Nation features silver and black clad sideshows such as those fellas with spikes coming out of their shoulders, Darth Vader and, the real stars in Oakland, the Raiderettes.
2. Cowboys — Like the Bears, Browns and Packers, the Cowboys cheerleaders have maintained the same, classic look that speaks volumes.
3. Dolphins — Teal is a horrible color to sport if you're attempting to be a respectable pro football team, but the color is great on the outfits of the league's sideline eye candy. While the product on the field in Miami figures to be horrible at best this season, the fans can still enjoy this team's lone redeeming quality, its cheerleaders.
4. Eagles — Bonus points go out to the Eagles cheerleaders, whose official website includes a "this area contains age-appropriate content" warning.
5. Texans — While the Cowboys cheerleaders get all the publicity, the Texans cheerleaders are actually of a higher caliber. But, don't take my word for it, decide for yourself (Cowboys, Texans).
Jim Reineking is an editor for FOXSports.com.
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The Redskins being awful..?
What the heck are these people smoking..I mean the Redskins Defense was 3rd overall lastyear, first in the NFC.. And with the addition with Patten and Moss, Jansen and Rabach.. If Ramsey can pull his head out of his butt, and stop making careless mistakes this team can surprize alot of teams.. And they say that there are 5 guaranteed teams to make the playoffs..? There are no guarantees in the NFL..
.all i can say is we will have to wait and see,and these are my predictions. we have as good a shot as anybody else does so right now everybody is 0-0.and the skins will be better than last years team.there now i feel much better now. 
