Previewing the 2011 NFL season
Columnist By Davidde Corran, 7 Sep 2011 Davidde Corran is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- American Football, fantasy football drafts, NFL
On Friday morning at 10:30am AEST the NFL season that almost wasn’t will kick off. Nearly seven months after talks between the NFL players union and the clubs over a new collective bargaining agreement moved from the meeting room to the courtroom, the 92nd season of the NFL will start.
“You can commence your fantasy football drafts now” gleefully declared TIME magazine in early August when it was announced that the lockout was finally over.
As amusing as that quip might be, herein lies the essence of American football and what makes the NFL so special.
A complex, detailed and tactical game in which the “right way” to play can be interpreted differently, the money rich NFL is a league with no shortage of glamour.
Oh, and it’s also a sport which is as ideal for playing fantasy football as it is to enjoy beer while watching (in fact most do both).
As the finishing touches are put on the one-yard line markings at 31 different venues around the US, this season, even taking into account the disrupted pre-season, looks set to be a fascinating one.
In fact, the lockout adds another dimension to the competition. The question will be who has handled a set of rather unique circumstances the best?
What it should mean on the park is a lot of offenses will only begin to find their feet after the season is well under way. Therefore, teams with an offense and defence that has mostly remained unchanged from last season should dominate the opening weeks.
In terms of who will challenge for the Superbowl, many are tipping last season’s champions the Green Bay Packers to be up there once again.
Coming out of a relatively middle-ground NFC they’re certainly a strong chance, with only the New Orleans Saints also looking to have enough championship quality to win the Conference.
The AFC on the other hand looks much more competitive with elite quarter back Tom Brady and the New England Patriots leading the way ahead of a group that includes the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens.
Meanwhile bubbling away just below the surface is a crop of dark horses including the San Diego Chargers and the Detriot Lions.
As ever, the biggest fish of them all the Dallas Cowboys.
Oh yes, pre-season is over, the rosters have been cut to 53-men (with Aussie punter Ben Graham now a free agent after being released by the Arizona Cardinals) and the NFL is back.
Predictions:
Superbowl: Patriots over the Saints
NFL MVP: Tom Brady – All the talk is about the Packers Superbowl winning quarter back Aaron Rodgers but this has only served to paint a target on the back of the 27-year-old’s head. You just know a consistent champion quarter back like Brady will be plotting to take back his crown.
Best offense: New Orleans Saints – With Drew Brees pulling the strings in the hole and an improved running game, the Saints will be back to their best this time around.
Best defence: Green Bay Packers – They’ll give up yards but getting through the Packers redzone will be no easy task.
Surprise packets: Detroit Lions – With Matthew Stafford leading the charge on offence and a serious defensive unit, after a torrid few years the Lions’ passionate fan base look set to have a rewarding season.
Toughest division: NFC North – Containing the Superbowl champions, contenders Chicago and a resurgent Detroit, NFC North will be one heck of a dog fight. Throw in a couple of the hardest away trips in the NFL (Detroit and Greeny Bay) and you’ve got a very tough division.
Weakest division: AFC West – Any division that is going toe to toe with the NFC West must have serious depth issues. San Diego is the only bright light in a division riddled with question marks.
One to watch: After jumping ship from the Bengals in the off-season, will controversial wide receiver Chad Ochocinco cause the Patriots dressing room to implode on itself?
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The Crowd Says (11) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- American Football, fantasy football drafts, NFL
September 7th 2011 @ 9:38am
GoWalla! said | September 7th 2011 @ 9:38am | Report comment
As my moniker suggests, not the biggest NFL fan but always keen on the new season. Looks like ONE HD will be showing a few games too.
I’m a Kansas City Chiefs fan after living with some mid-westerners for a few years, and have been a perennial contender without really stepping up. New team this year though, so, we’ll see.
Nice preview.
September 7th 2011 @ 4:27pm
Davidde Corran said | September 7th 2011 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
Not sure about Kansas this time around. Obviously anytime you have turnover in some key positions things can go either way. At the very least this season you should be able to further cement a foundation for future success.
September 7th 2011 @ 11:12am
Devo said | September 7th 2011 @ 11:12am | Report comment
So does this mean that ONEHD will be showing the NFL???? I haven’t seen any program guide for it and no mention other than this about the upcoming season on the whole OneHD site. So what’s going on???
September 7th 2011 @ 11:34am
Tristan Rayner said | September 7th 2011 @ 11:34am | Report comment
Devo, on August 8th ONE announced they would be showing NFL games.
A quick check of the TV Guide shows they will show:
NFL 2011 Season Week 1: New Orleans Saints vs Green Bay Packers (LIVE) 10:30am-1:30pm and a number of other games.
September 7th 2011 @ 2:22pm
M1tch said | September 7th 2011 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
The Ravens must step up this season, Flacco has had 2 goes at it now and needs to take his team to the next level. If Stafford can stay healthy the Lions can do something, but a 6-10 will probably be considered not too bad for them. I am interested to see how the Jets go, talked themselves up last year and got done early.
Patriots have the rosters to do it and I hope they can.
September 7th 2011 @ 4:28pm
Davidde Corran said | September 7th 2011 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
M1tch, I rate the Jets highly and enjoy the Ryan brothers as real characters. If you haven’t seen it check out HBO’s documentary following the team through pre-season last year. Excellent viewing.
September 7th 2011 @ 2:46pm
Nathan of Perth said | September 7th 2011 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
C’moooon Browns!
/hopeless cause
September 7th 2011 @ 10:34pm
AlfredC said | September 7th 2011 @ 10:34pm | Report comment
Great article Davidde.
I’m expecting a lot from Detroit this year with Stafford having a super pre-season and apparently injury free. Detroit would have been shocked to see Nick Fairley still available when they did. I’m tipping Suh, Fairley and Vanden Bosh to get 25 sacks between them. They should surpass Chicargo and be a wildcard chance.
Im not all that convinced with the Saints offense. Yes, Drew Brees can carry an offense but they’re running game is just too mediocre. Not sure what they expect Darren Sproles to do for them but he sure as hell isn’t a 1000 yard rusher. I like the Falcons for offense followed by Philly.
Would love to see the Cardinals make a playoffs run, but I suspect they will limp in with 9-7 slightly ahead of the Rams who have the worst schedule in the league.
September 9th 2011 @ 8:33am
mushi said | September 9th 2011 @ 8:33am | Report comment
I think Sproles is just a change of pace guy – remember they are replacing the Reggie Bush experiment with Mark Engram behind one of the better run blocking lines in football.
September 8th 2011 @ 2:59am
Ben said | September 8th 2011 @ 2:59am | Report comment
Wooohoooo… NFL is back ! And an NFL GamePass is a must to see all games and more.. it’s awesome!
September 8th 2011 @ 7:33am
MikeWon said | September 8th 2011 @ 7:33am | Report comment
The level of difficulty to find the ONE schedule of NFL Games is shameful. After three hours of searching & finding some of the most ridiculous results for gridiron NFL football broadcast schedules, it’s still unclear which games will be broadcast tomorrow & throughout the week. Who ever is in charge of diseminating information deserves a swift hard kick!