Between a cleat being one measurement too huge and the league’s latest worldwide tour, Week 1 within the NFL is already eventful.
Now comes Sunday, when rookie quarterbacks debut, as do head coaches and different new faces in new locations. Dak Prescott’s contract nonetheless looms over the Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford makes one other return to Detroit.
What extra might unfold this week? The Athletic’s NFL writers Mike Sando, Zak Keefer and Jeff Howe break down probably the most fascinating storylines.
Which non-Caleb Williams rookie QB debut are you most trying ahead to Sunday? Are the Patriots making the fitting determination in beginning Jacoby Brissett over Drake Maye?
Sando: Jayden Daniels as a result of he’s a dynamic dual-threat quarterback and the ceiling is larger than the ceiling is for Bo Nix. If Nix performs nicely, the Denver offense may run effectively. If Daniels performs nicely, there might be highlights.
Howe: Daniels is electrical, and I’d count on him to make some big-time improvisational performs as a result of I’m undecided how a lot assist he’s received round him. I’m undecided in regards to the Maye determination. I might’ve began him as a result of I feel he would’ve ultimately proven that he was prepared for the possibility. But when the offensive line proves as worrisome as all of us consider, there’s worth within the longer runway for Maye. At this level, the choice has been made, so now it’s time for the Patriots teaching workers to determine one of the simplest ways to get Maye — and the gamers round him — prepared for his debut as quickly because it is sensible.
Keefer: Sean Payton’s wager on Nix fascinates me — he’s clearly seen one thing within the rookie that provides him confidence to throw him in from the leap, which runs counter to the pondering across the league, at the very least earlier than this season, that Payton strongly prefers a veteran quarterback. But when I’m being completely sincere, I can’t wait to see what Williams does in Chicago, particularly with a reasonably mild early season schedule. The Bears will see solely two playoff groups from 2023 throughout their first 9 video games. In New England, I just like the strategy of sitting Maye to start out the season. That roster isn’t any good, particularly on offense, and throwing in a rookie quarterback could be setting him as much as battle.
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Why is not Patriots QB Drake Maye beginning Week 1? Endurance was at all times a part of the plan
Which head-coaching debut pursuits you probably the most Sunday and why?
Sando: Jim Harbaugh’s return to the NFL sideline is most intriguing. I’m excited by seeing what the Chargers offense seems to be like and what Harbaugh’s messaging is after the sport. This can be a man whose Michigan groups misplaced three video games over the previous three seasons. The Chargers might lose three video games in September.
Howe: I’m cut up between Raheem Morris and Mike Macdonald, however I’ll go along with Morris as a result of the Falcons are internet hosting the Steelers with an opportunity to make an actual assertion. There might be a extremely good NFC South race between the Falcons and Buccaneers, so if the Falcons show issues are as completely different this season as they really feel by knocking off a top quality opponent, put together for the hype prepare.
Keefer: Let’s go along with Dave Canales in Carolina, not as a result of I count on the Panthers to be contenders this season, however as a result of the vibe across the staff is that Bryce Younger has seemed noticeably completely different this preseason. If Canales, who’s constructed his fame on reviving quarterback careers, can carry Younger from his horrendous rookie season — and get him enjoying like a No. 1 decide — a company mired in disappointment over the previous couple of seasons will lastly have some hope.
Cowboys-Browns is a marquee recreation Sunday. How do you see Dak Prescott’s contract negotiations ending? What would you wish to see from Deshaun Watson in his first recreation motion since Week 10 final season?
Sando: It actually relies upon upon what Prescott desires as a result of he’s in management. The Cowboys can’t put a franchise tag on him. Whereas current experiences counsel a deal might be close to, I’ve felt by way of a lot of the offseason that there’s a very good probability he’ll play it out and reassess as soon as he is aware of the place the Cowboys are headed, together with on the teaching entrance. For Watson, making it by way of Week 1 wholesome looks as if a very good aim.
Howe: The Cowboys acknowledge there’s an actual hazard in letting Prescott hit the open market, in order that they’re attempting to keep away from that state of affairs. However financially, it’s such a problem to hold over that $26 million in lifeless cash from the earlier restructure into one other contract cycle. It’s not an unimaginable hurdle by any stretch, however it’s made this as sophisticated of a negotiation as there’s been in current reminiscence. As a lot as logic tells me Prescott will get to free company, I can’t shake the concept that the Cowboys virtually at all times deal with their stars. For Watson, the Browns need to hope he shortly seems to be like Joe Flacco down the stretch. Yeah, Flacco in all probability caught lightning in a bottle, however it shouldn’t be an excessive amount of to count on the quarterback with probably the most assured cash in historical past to play at a top-five stage on the place. The issue is Watson hasn’t proven to be wherever close to that stage since 2020, which is a lifetime in the past in QB years.
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Cleveland Browns season predictions: Garrett’s DPOY repeat, Watson expectations
Keefer: I extremely doubt the Cowboys lock up Prescott earlier than the season begins, partly because of the causes Jeff outlined above, however I’m additionally skeptical he hits the open market within the spring as some of the extremely coveted free brokers the league’s had in current reminiscence. Dallas will get this achieved, a lot, a lot later than it ought to have, if solely as a result of Jerry Jones gained’t permit his staff to fall into irrelevance. As for Watson, it looks like that is the season that’ll outline what the remainder of his profession seems to be like. The bar isn’t all that prime — match Flacco’s play from down the stretch final yr — however to this point, he hasn’t been in a position to persistently attain that stage in Cleveland. Don’t underestimate him going through a hungry Dallas protection that was completely embarrassed the final time it took the sector in that playoff loss to the Packers.
Lions-Rams is the “Sunday Evening Soccer” matchup in what might be a wide-open NFC in 2024. Who’s your decide to win the convention and why?
Sando: I went chalk on the AFC facet (Kansas Metropolis) and rolled the cube a little bit with Inexperienced Bay’s younger expertise on the NFC facet. The Packers have inquiries to reply on protection and we haven’t seen Jordan Love play persistently nicely for even a full season, so this can be a attain. I do like the place the staff appears headed and the vibe I get from Love.
Howe: I’ll take the Lions. They’ve been constructing towards this and took a vital step final season by attending to the convention championship, which is sufficient proof for me to consider they’ve realized how one can win huge video games. This rise has been no fluke. That stated, I’m excited in regards to the NFC this season. The convention is considerably higher than it was a yr in the past.
Keefer: I wouldn’t have picked the 49ers earlier than Monday, however with Trent Williams again within the fold, that is nonetheless a tough staff to wager towards. Possibly the fatigue of three straight NFC Championship Video games and a Tremendous Bowl look catches as much as them, however don’t neglect: That is the very best roster within the league, and it’s led by the second-best coach within the league (behind Andy Reid). Brock Purdy is just going to get higher, and he’s surrounded by the very best arsenal of weapons within the recreation. Till somebody unseats them, San Francisco stays the staff to beat within the NFC.
Matthew Stafford (9) leads the Los Angeles Rams towards Jared Goff (16) and the Detroit Lions on Sunday evening. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Photos)
After an Achilles tear robbed his 2023 season, we get our first true have a look at Aaron Rodgers as a Jet on Monday evening. In the meantime, the 49ers have had a tumultuous summer time with the Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams holdouts and the taking pictures of rookie large receiver Ricky Pearsall throughout a theft try. What are you looking ahead to in Jets-49ers?
Sando: I’ll be watching to see how nicely Rodgers strikes, how nicely he takes contact, how nicely his safety holds up, what his physique language is telling us, what sort of rapport he has along with his receivers, how he interacts with coaches — all these issues and extra.
Howe: Wanting accidents, there’s nothing that would concern me Monday with the 49ers. They need to be high-quality it doesn’t matter what. So I’m curious how the Jets deal with this stage. They’ve received lots to love on paper, however they didn’t deal with adversity nicely in any respect final season. Are they prepared, from the highest of the group to the underside of the roster, to win persistently at this stage? If they’ll overcome in-game adversity — a gradual begin, a second-half comeback, no matter — and beat probably the greatest rosters within the league, that ought to say lots in regards to the Jets’ skill to contend.
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What I am seeing from the New York Jets: Each throw of Aaron Rodgers’ return to this point
Keefer: For me it’s Rodgers, full cease. This recreation feels prefer it’s two years within the making. The Rodgers off-field expertise has grow to be exhausting — the darkness retreats, the conspiracy theories, the chaos inside Jets headquarters, Rodgers lacking minicamp so he might trip. Lastly, soccer. I wouldn’t be shocked if he reminds everybody why he’s a future Corridor of Famer and one of many purest throwers of the soccer we’ve ever seen. However I’m nonetheless not shopping for the Jets are able to climb into the Tremendous Bowl dialog. Possibly Monday evening modifications that.
(High photograph of Dak Prescott: Ron Jenkins / Getty Photos)
