Pick Six: Andrew Luck’s absence, Cleveland’s awakening, and more 2019 NFL story lines to watch
The NFL season kicks off on Thursday, September 5 since the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers.
The 2019 effort promises to be exciting and open, with as many as a dozen teams harbouring Super Bowl ambitions.
Here are six important talking points and items to look out for in the upcoming year…
Everybody keeps waiting for the downturn in the New England Patriots team who has reached the last three Super Bowls. There’s been lots of change during the offseason, most notably the retirement of celebrity tight end Rob Gronkowski.
But as long as 42-year-old quarterback Tom Brady has been maintain Father Time at bay along with head coach Bill Belichick is in charge, the Patriots have a chance to win everything. That pairing has produced six Super Bowl victories and also this group knows what it takes to win.The loss of center David Andrews for its entire year to blood clots will truly hurt, but the odds are New England will be in the mix once again at 2019.
Four-time Pro Bowl all-star Andrew Luck shocked the soccer world – and his team – by retiring two weeks prior to the first Sunday of the effort.
Luck was. But a plague of injuries in the past seasons wore down him and walked away from a group that made the playoffs.
The Colts turn into Jacoby Brissett, who is 5-12 as a NFL starter. Head coach Frank Reich insists that the Colts are”in good hands” with Brissett in the helm and general manager Chris Ballard hailed him as a”uncommon, rare human being” If Brissett will preserve good quarterback play to support what has come to be a strong roster, only time will tell.
The Cleveland Browns have been many an NFL joke’s punchline by using their arena being dubbed’Sadness’ Factory.’ The Browns haven’t made the playoffs and haven’t enjoyed a winning season as 2007. However, after going winless the Browns showed signs of life by winning seven matches.
Superstar recipient Odell Beckham Jr’s offseason addition includes the ardent fans dreaming of Super Bowl glory of Cleveland. Succeed or fail, the Browns will be one of the 2019 season’s biggest stories. On paperthey have the ability but the handling of expectations is going to be crucial this term.
Each NFL offseason sees players move groups but 2019 was off the charts concerning trades that are big-name.
The Pittsburgh Steelers parted company with superstars and running back. How will those celebrities fare in environment and will the Steelers live without them?
Super Bowl-winning quarterback Nick Foles has proceeded from the Philadelphia Eagles into the Jacksonville Jaguars, while the aforementioned Odell Beckham Jr. was traded in the New York Giants into the Cleveland Browns in a gorgeous offseason.
There were moves being made late in the preseason as offensive speech Laremy Tunsil transferred from Miami although the Texans shipped star defender Jadeveon Clowney into Seattle.
The most exciting player in the NFL now remains Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Even the 2018 NFL Most Valuable Player is going to be keen to show the world that his first complete season as a starter was no fluke. Last duration threw for 50 touchdowns and 5,097 yards and we expect the repeat operation.
Mahomes is special and will do it all. Guided by the of head coach Andy Reid, one year ago after falling at the Super Bowl stage Mahomes and the volatile Chiefs will look to go into 2019.
Whether the group gets it all the way to the Super Bowl remains to be seen, however it is a safe bet.
I have abandoned this one before last because events go from the NFL and star running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Melvin Gordon might have ended their holdouts by the time you read this report. For today though, the two rushers appear dug in and far from close to deals with Los Angeles and the Dallas Cowboys Chargers.
Elliott has a situation to develop into the highest-paid running in the NFL given he has averaged 101.2 rushing yards per game since entering the league at 2016. However, Dallas saw big money is thrown by the Los Angeles Rams at Todd Gurley only to watch him create a knee injury that was stressing. So they’re being cautious.
The Chargers have advised Gordon no contract extension will happen between today and the season’s end. The participant – who is a star but maybe not in Elliott’s league – needs a transaction. He sit out the whole year to induce a superior thing that is lasting and can follow the example of Bell from 2018. See this space.
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