Whether it’s the aerated lawns across the country, the knowledge that the end of summer is near, or the notifications fans get of their approaching fantasy football draft, football fans anticipate another season in the National Football League. After the NFL draft and free agency, there will be new faces in new places. These changes will present new challenges, expectations, and storylines for fans and NFL franchises.
By taking account of the roster moves each team has made throughout the off-season, via the draft, or free agency after the Superbowl, most teams will have certain expectations this season, and I want to highlight the top seven storylines heading into this NFL season.
Improving the quarterback play from last season is imperative for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers finished the 2023- 24 season with a 10-7 record and squeaked into the playoffs last season. The Steelers quarterbacks throw 13 touchdowns compared to their opponent’s 23 touchdowns, while their offense finished with 30th ranking in the NFL last year. Therefore, they signed a Super Bowl winning in Russell Wilson and a young quarterback in Justin Fields to push Wilson.
The Steelers acquired Wilson after the Broncos released the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner. The Broncos essentially gave up on the Wilson era and admitted their failures of sending three players and five draft picks, two first-round picks, and two second-round draft picks to the Seahawks for the nine-time pro bowler. The Steelers acquired Fields when the Chicago Bears chose to move on from Fields, the 11th pick of the 2021 draft, to select the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner.
It will be interesting to see how this situation transpires. Will Willson regain his Pro Bowl form, or will the Fields thrive under new coaching and the mentorship of long-time Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin? I’m not sure anyone outside of Pittsburgh is more curious about these results.
The New York Jets were ill-prepared for a season without the three-time league Most Valuable Player when Aaron Rodgers’ season ended after only four snaps. As expected the Jets were not able to rebound from losing Rodgers to a Torn Achilles last season. With some of the worst quarterback play of the season last year, Jets fans are eager to see if Rodgers can return to his former MVP form of 2019.
The Jets’ defense ranked second in yards allowed and fourth in touchdowns allowed last season. By pairing that formidable defense with an unquestionable first ballot hall of fame quarterback, there is reason for optimism for Jets fans in Gotham this season. But is it realistic to expect a 40-year-old quarterback to return to the pick of his game? Should the Jets fans expect their defense to play to the level they did last season? It seems like a lot to ask of an aging quarterback and a defense that won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season.
In that same division, the Miami Dolphins made their quarterback the fifth highest-paid quarterback in the league. Paying him an average of $55 million per year is a record salary for them and the league. Though Tua Tagovailoa’s 4624 yards passing led the NFL last season, the Dolphins only won one out of six games against teams with a winning record with him under center.
Not only do the Dolphins need to prove they can beat teams with a winning record this season, but they have some pressure on them this season, as next season, Tagovailoa’s salary cap number balloons from $9,525,000 and 3.75% of their cap space to $39,446,000 and 15.3% of their cap space. The Dolphins, as a team, have something to prove to themselves and the league this season.
The Detroit Lions are one of the four teams that have never played in an NFL Super Bowl. Though they have won four Professional Football Championships, as they’ve been playing since 1930, those championships were all before 1957. Since 1957, they only have had eight seasons where they have won double-digit games.
After starting 3-13 as a head coach, Dan Campbell has led the Lions to their first consecutive winning seasons since the 1994 and 1995 seasons, where they also made back-to-back playoff appearances. Coming off their only Conference Championship game since 1991, there is optimism for the Lions and their fans.
There is a legitimate reason for Lions fans to be excited about this upcoming season. They have a solid offensive line and a Pro Bowl receiver, and for everyone who doesn’t want to believe in Jared Goff, he has played in a Super Bowl and led his team to multiple NFC Championship games. Meaning there is a real reason for optimism.
Goff has proven to excel in ideal conditions. With the Lions playing in a dome, in addition to playing in a dome in 13 of their 17 games this season, Goff should able to build upon one of his best seasons in the NFL. Last season, he completed the most passes in his career, threw for the third most yards, and threw for the most touchdowns to guide the Lions to the NFC Championship game. Some might also say, if not for some questionable coaching calls, they made it to the Super Bowl last season to play the eventual Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs, who they did beat in last season’s opener.
The Lions, season ended with a heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game, and this would be back-to-back NFC Championship games for the 49ers and back-to-back NFC Championship games for their young quarterback. A quarterback that each team in the league overlooked multiple times in the 2022 NFL draft.
Having played in the NFC Championship game in each of the past three seasons, there’s no argument that the 49ers are stacked. They have arguably the best all-around running back in the league today in 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Christian McCaffrey. They have two of the most explosive wide receivers in the league, with All-Pro Wide Receiver Deebo Samuels and Brandon Aiyuk. Their intimidating defense is led by three-time All-Pro linebacker Fred Warren and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Edge Rusher Nick Bosa.
However, much of their success hinges on the play of the guy the league has already underestimated. Though Brock Purdy has led the 49ers to consecutive NFC Championship games, he will have to be at the top of his game for the 49ers to get over the hump. Where his demeanor or arm strength won’t scare many teams in the league, it’s his poise and ability to make plays and be a game manager that teams should be wary of.
Evidence of his efficiency can be seen in his game and better explained when doing a deep dive into his numbers. In only his second season in the NFL, he led the league in touchdown percentage (7.0), yards gained per pass attempt (9.6), yards gained per pass completion (13.9), QBR (72.8), and passer rating (113.0).
For comparison’s sake, former 49er and Hall of Famer Joe Montana had a Passer Rating of 87.8 in his second season as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Fellow Hall of Famer Steve Young led the league in passer rating in six of his nine years as quarterback of the 49ers and didn’t eclipse Purdy’s (113.0) rating. Legendary Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino had the best sophomore season in NFL history as a quarterback. Marino’s (8.5) touchdown percentage outpaced Purdy’s sophomore numbers, though his yards gained per pass attempt (9.0) and Passer Rating (108.9) fell short.
The NFL should be concerned about the 49ers and where Purdy could lead them. For these same reasons, there should be some pressure on Kyle Shannahan and his coaching staff. Having this talent on the team and getting this historical play from the quarterback position, the 49ers need to show they can cash in these chips to win the first championship for the franchise since the Steve Young era 30 years ago.
Purdy’s play has provided cover for the 49ers brass as they traded three number-one draft picks to get a player in the NFL draft they felt would change the trajectory of their franchise. Teams are looking for such a player in each draft there’s no difference this season. An example is the Chicago Bears trading away Justin Fields to make room for the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and the number one draft pick quarterback Caleb Williams.
The Bears have made multiple additions to their roster to assist Wiliams with having a breakout rookie season. This off-season, they brought in six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen, and shifty Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift. They also drafted big body Rome Odunze with the number nine draft pick at wide receiver for Williams to grow with.
Not often are Heisman Trophy winners drafted into ideal situations. This is the case for the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels. The Washington Commanders drafted Daniels with the second pick of the 2024 NFL Draft to lead their recovery from a 4-13 record in 2023. With a new coaching staff and many moving parts, the Commanders are coming off 11 consecutive losing seasons, a name change, and potentially another. Fans are counting on Daniels to pull this franchise out of their recent doldrums.
With the third pick of the recent NFL draft, the Cardinals drafted a wide receiver with the pedigree of a Hall of Famer. Though Marvin Harrison Sr. and his precision route running came into the NFL with very little fanfare, it has been the opposite for his namesake. Harrison Jr. was a Heisman Trophy finalist in his final season at Ohio State and was projected to be the first wide receiver taken in this season’s past draft. The Arizona Cardinals are counting on him to bring that same certainty of expectations to their team.
Five years ago, in his rookie season, was the last time Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray had someone the opposing defense had to pay special attention to. The size, speed, and craftiness of Harrison Jr will be a welcome addition to the Cardinals offense, which is something Cardinals fans haven’t seen since the future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald caught passes from Murray.
Every week, NFL fans have a chance to see history made. This season promises to be no different. While 11 teams have made it to back-to-back Super Bowls, only a few have made it to a trio of consecutive Super Bowls. The Miami Dolphins lost Super Bowl VI to the Dallas Cowboys, then won Super Bowls VII and VIII. Though they did not win either Super Bowl, the Buffalo Bills became the only team in NFL history to remarkably go to four Super Bowls XXV, XXIV, XXVII, and XXVIII in the early nineties. The latest team to achieve this feat was the New England Patriots, who had a record-setting comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. The Patriots would lose the Super Bowl the next season to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII and then beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
After beating the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, the Chiefs were not supposed to win the Super Bowl this past season, yet their defense elevated its play to match the greatness of Patrick Mahomes, and they beat the 49ers in LVIII. This season, led by arguably the best quarterback the game has seen, Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have an opportunity to become the first team in league history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
Winning the Super Bowl this season will add the lure of Mahomes and cement the Chiefs as one of the best teams in league history. Each of these storylines will make this season one of the most intriguing seasons in the league’s history and one that we won’t soon forget. How do you guys think this season will transpire, and what storyline are you looking forward to seeing play out the most?
