What We've Learned About Every NFL Team So Far This Preseason

After OTAs, minicamps and weeks of training camp, real, actual NFL games are finally upon us. Players from opposing teams donned full pads, helmets and those high-tech Nike uniforms for the very first time and smacked into one another in anger.

After free-agency gains and losses, draft picks "stolen" and "wasted" and all the reports from training bubbles and D-II campuses across the country, the football-loving world finally got to lay its eyes on the real deal—and compare what they saw with everything they'd heard.

So, with a full week of preseason all but in the books, what have we learned? Which teams' and players' hype was justified, and which were undersold? Who picked up right where they left off, and who looks like an entirely different player? How are the crucial position battles shaking out?

For every team in the NFL, here's what the first week of preseason has taught us.

The Arizona Cardinals Do Not Have a Quarterback

Despite signing Kevin Kolb to a $65 million contract and grooming 2010 fifth-round draft pick John Skelton, the Arizona Cardinals still don't have a effective starting quarterback. Kolb had a brutal 1-of-5 day, struggling in the face of the Chiefs' pass rush. Skelton was calm and competent, until he thew an interception.

Unless one or the other has a dramatic turnaround, the Cardinals will struggle to make it back to .500.

There's Nothing Wrong with the Atlanta Falcons' Passing Game

The Falcons lost their first preseason game 31-17, but Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are playing at a championship level. Jones nabbed six passes for 109 yards and a score in a little over one quarter of preseason work. Those are ridiculous numbers.

The Baltimore Ravens Still Have Questionable Offensive Efficiency

After a lot of talk last season about whether or not Joe Flacco will ever compete with the Tom Bradys of the world, Flacco met Brady in the 2012 AFC Championship Game and completely outclassed him: Both quarterbacks went 22-of-36, but Flacco threw for 306 yards, two touchdowns and one interception compared to Brady's 239 yards, zero touchdowns and two picks.

But in their first preseason game of 2012, Flacco and the Ravens went three-and-out in their first three drives against the Falcons' starting defense. Flacco will have to be much more consistently effective for the Ravens to get back to the playoffs, let alone move on to the Super Bowl.

The Buffalo Bills Can't Count on C.J. Spiller

The Bills have gotten very streaky quarterback play from Ryan Fitzpatrick over the past three seasons, but even when he's "on," he needs help from the running game (few quarterbacks don't!).

C.J. Spiller was drafted with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2010 draft, but in two seasons of spot duty as a runner and returner, he's been inconsistently effective and fumbled seven times. In very limited duty against the Washington Redskins, Spiller had a drop and was flagged for a penalty that wiped a touchdown off the board.

He seems unable to stay focused or protect the football; that's unacceptable from a starting tailback.

The Carolina Panthers Hit the Jackpot with Luke Kuechly

Ever since retired Carolina Panthers MLB Dan Morgan hung 'em up prematurely due to injury, Panthers fans have waited for a hard-nosed playmaker in the heart of the defense.

Morgan's cleats will be hard to fill, but Kuechly seems up to the task. After lighting up training camp, as ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas reported, Kuechly had two solo tackles, two assists and a forced fumble in his first live action.

Jay Cutler and Matt Forte Are Still the Chicago Bears' Entire Offense

In 2011, the Chicago Bears lost Jay Cutler and Matt Forte to injury. Afterwards, their offense wasn't even a shadow of its former self.

In their first preseason game of 2012, Cutler was out due to the recent birth of his first child, and Forte was given the night off as well. As a result, the Bears were shut out—until a field goal with 11:29 left in the fourth quarter—by a Broncos defense that ranked 24th in scoring defense in 2011.

The Cincinnati Bengals Defense Is an Elite Unit, If Healthy

The Cincinnati Bengals defense was quietly a top-10 unit in 2011; the Bengals ranked ninth in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed. Judging by the way they shut down the New York Jets, they'll be just as tough, if not tougher, in 2012.

But first-round draft pick (and presumed starting cornerback) Dre Kirkpatrick has missed much of training camp with a "minor" knee injury, as Marvin Lewis characterized it to WLW Radio, and three other defensive starters went down during the Jets game for varying lengths of time.

If the Bengals' D can get healthy, look out.

The Cleveland Browns Are Still a One-Unit Team

The Cleveland Browns went 4-12 last season. That's the kind of mark usually put up by teams that are struggling badly on both sides of the ball—but the Browns defense was actually the fifth-best scoring D in the NFL last season.

They showed they still have it against the Detroit Lions' vaunted aerial attack, shutting the Lions out on their first three drives and intercepting Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.

However, the Browns offense still struggled to score under first-round rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden. Weeden went 3-of-9 while throwing for 62 yards and an interception; he also fumbled. Reserve QBs Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace made things happen against Detroit's defensive bench, but the Browns are clearly still a one-unit team.

The Dallas Cowboys Need to Get Healthy

Dallas Cowboys first-round pick Maurice Claiborne has barely been able to practice during training camp, and a laundry list of key players have gone down in recent days.

Quarterback Tony Romo, receivers Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, center Phil Costa, linebacker Jason Hatcher and defensive end Anthony Spencer will all be watching their Monday night opening preseason contest from the sidelines, according to Jesus Flores of rantsports.com.

Once Peyton Manning Warms Up, Look Out for the Denver Broncos

The world was waiting with bated breath for Peyton Manning's Bronco debut. He looked like an NFL quarterback, answering one very big question. But he just looked like "an NFL quarterback" and not like Peyton Manning, leaving the other big question up in the air.

Though the Chicago Bears rested many key starters, the Broncos' defense and running game turned in an excellent four-quarter performance: They held the Bears to a single field goal and rushed for 156 yards at a 4.2 yards-per-carry clip. If Manning turns in a typical Manning year, the Broncos could be scary good.

The Detroit Lions' Running Game Is in Fine Shape

With No. 1 running back Jahvid Best still not healed from last season's major concussion and Mikel Leshoure sitting due to a hamstring tweak, the Lions were down to prodigal tailback Kevin Smith as a starter.

Smith opened the 2012 preseason with a nine-yard gain, and he, Keiland Williams, Stefan Logan and newcomer Joique Bell combined to gain 198 yards on the ground. They did it in just 33 carries, meaning the Lions' offensive line and tailbacks were gashing the Browns for an average of 6.0 yards per carry.

The Green Bay Packers Need to Shake off the Rust

The Green Bay Packers have been the best team in the NFL over the past two seasons. With 25 regular-season wins, an NFC North division crown and a Super Bowl championship to their name, no team has been better or more consistent.

But with a bumper crop of bumps and bruises and shaky play from star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have to shake off the rust and get running at full speed, fast.

The Houston Texans Are Going to Be Scary Good

Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub didn't have a perfect first game back. He went 3-of-6 for 52 yards and threw a pick but no touchdowns. Still, he moved around in the pocket, threw the ball and moved the chains.

Between that good news, the 1.5-sack performance of rookie Whitney Mercilus and the 90-yard return touchdown from Trindon Holliday, the Texans looked great in all three phases of the game. If Schaub hits the ground running, the Texans could be as good as anyone in the NFL in 2012.

The Indianapolis Colts Made the Right Choice with Andrew Luck

The Indianapolis Colts could have kept Peyton Manning. The Colts could have drafted Robert Griffin III. The Colts could have traded the first overall pick for a veteran starter and some more value. They let Manning walk, they avoided the RGIII temptation and they stood pat and took Andrew Luck.

Lucky them.

Luck was nothing short of a revelation in his first preseason game, using his athleticism to avoid the constant pressure his leaky offensive line let through and completing 10 of 16 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns (including this stunner to Austin Collie) and no interceptions.

Blaine Gabbert Could Be the Answer for the Jacksonville Jaguars After All

Blaine Gabbert took an awful lot of heat last season after the Jaguars shockingly cut veteran starter David Garrard and turned the reins over to Gabbert in Week 2. Gabbert somewhat deserved the heat; he didn't play well, regardless of whether he was set up to fail.

But from Gabbert's first play of 2012 on, he looked like a legitimate NFL quarterback—a critical first step for the beleaguered sophomore.

The Kansas City Chiefs Have a Balanced, Effective Offense

In the Chiefs' first outing of 2012, they proved two things: that Matt Cassel is still a very effective starting quarterback, and that the Chiefs are as good running the ball as they are passing.

Cassel went 5-of-6 for 67 yards and a score. Peyton Hillis ran four times for 41 yards and added an 11-yard reception. Sixth-round draft pick Cyrus Gray added 65 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Jamaal Charles also proved he's well and truly back, picking up 12 yards on three carries.

Ryan Tannehill Could Be the Answer for the Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins' selection of quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft was met with raised eyebrows and rampant skepticism. But in his first outing, Tannehill looked poised and effective: He completed 14 of 21 pass attempts for 167 yards and a touchdown.

Tannehill wasn't playing with the starters, nor against the Buccaneers' starting defense. Still, he's already looked better than some thought he ever would.

The Minnesota Vikings Offense Is Making Strides

Christian Ponder, sophomore quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, has a lot to prove this season—so much so, some wondered if the Vikings might move up in the draft to replace him with Luck or Griffin, or down for Tannehill.

Ponder's first pass went for 52 yards.

He completed three more of his eight attempts for another 28 yards—nothing earth-shattering. But having the confidence and accuracy to attack a defense downfield is crucial for a young quarterback's development.

The New England Patriots Must Protect Tom Brady

Against the New Orleans Saints, Tom Brady and the Patriots couldn't score more than a single third-quarter touchdown. Brady went 4-of-7 for just 30 yards and got crunched for a sack-fumble by Saints stalwart DE Will Smith.

Second-year left tackle Nate Solder is going to have to do a much better job of keeping Brady clean, or backups Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer will see plenty of regular-season action, not just preseason reps.

The New Orleans Saints May Miss Sean Payton Terribly

The Saints' recent success has been based almost entirely on the coach/quarterback duo of Sean Payton and Drew Brees.

Brees' first Saints outing without Payton on the sidelines resulted in a miserable 1-of-4 for four yards stat line. The Saints scored just two field goals all game and were shut out in the second and third quarters. Unless Brees & Co. can figure out how to exploit defenses like their team architect, and soon, this Saints season could rapidly swirl down the drain.

The 2011 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants May Be Better in 2012

It seems impossible to improve on winning the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl champions.

But in 2011, the Giants were a 9-7 team, winning their division by default as much as anything else. Yes, they won the Super Bowl, but they weren't without flaws.

This season, they seem to have fewer flaws. Starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw, second-year man D.J. Ware, third-year tailback Andre Brown and rookie David Wilson combined to rush for 110 net yards at an excellent rate of 4.78 yards per carry.

The New York Jets Have Two Quarterbacks, but Don't Have One

Of course, Mark Sanchez is the starting quarterback of the New York Jets. But the Jets traded for Tim Tebow for a reason, and that reason was not to sit on the bench and never play. Their typical, mixed performances against the stiff Bengals defense didn't help push the needle one way or the other.

No matter who gets the call to start in 2011, though, neither Sanchez nor Tebow is the right player to take the Jets to the promised land.

The Oakland Raiders' Quarterback Depth Chart Is Fascinating

Former Bengals franchise cornerstone and former USC stud Carson Palmer is the starter. Former USC standout and Arizona Cardinals washout Matt Leinart is fighting for the No. 2 spot. Rounding out the trio? Terrelle Pryor, he of the college scandal and tantalizing physical ability.

The Philadelphia Eagles Defense May Still Need Work

The Philadelphia Eagles had plenty of weapons on offense last season, but while the defensive line brought great pressure, the back seven couldn't seem to cover like their paychecks implied or tackle anybody at all.

Against the Steelers, the Eagles allowed a 16-play scoring drive on the first possession, and Pittsburgh continued to complete passes almost at will. The pass rush was fierce as ever, sacking the Steelers seven times for minus-57 yards. But the rushing defense was only okay, allowing 131 yards at an average of 3.4 per carry.

The Eagles' D is going to have to do better if Michael Vick's big talk is going to get backed up with postseason success.

The Pittsburgh Steelers Offense Is Doing Just Fine

Meanwhile, the Steelers' quarterbacks completed 13 of 19 passes for 156 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions against the Philadelphia secondary.

Pittsburgh also released a herd of runners against the Eagles, pounding the line with tailback Baron Batch and gashing them for long gains with Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman.

The San Diego Chargers May Need Help at Running Back

The San Diego Chargers pinned their rushing hopes on tailback Ryan Mathews, who immediately broke his clavicle in the first preseason game.

While he's out for four to six weeks, the Chargers will need better than the 2.3 average rushing yards per play they got from Curtis Brinkley, Ronnie Brown and company if they don't want to start the season with a multiple-game losing streak.

The San Francisco 49ers Are Picking Up Where They Left off

The 49ers are picking up right where they left off. Alex Smith was clinical, completing all three attempts for 16 yards and a touchdown, and reserves Colin Kaepernick and Scott Tolzien were extremely efficient as well.

Oh, and the quarterbacks and tailbacks rushed for 260 yards, even with workhorse Frank Gore sitting it out.

The Seattle Seahawks Still Don't Know Their Quarterback

The Seattle Seahawks entered the season with a theoretical quarterback controversy. Free-agent signee Matt Flynn was much better paid and (presumably) much more talented than holdover journeyman Tarvaris Jackson. Third-round draftee Russell Wilson was seen as an interesting project.

After the first preseason game, the Seahawks have an actual quarterback controversy. Flynn completed 11 of 13 passes, but for only 5.5 yards per attempt, no scores and an interception. Wilson was just as efficient, completing 12 of 16—but he gained 124 yards at a much healthier 7.75 yards per attempt. He also threw a touchdown (and an interception) and added 59 yards (and a crucial touchdown) with his legs.

Flynn may end up the starter, but the Seahawks may be inclined to give the exciting, playmaking Wilson a lot of chances to knock Flynn off.

The St. Louis Rams May Be in for Another Brutal Season

The St. Louis Rams have a lot of reasons to be excited for the future: They have a young quarterback with a lot of promise in Sam Bradford and a great one-two tailback punch in veteran Steven Jackson and rookie Isaiah Pead. They have some great young pieces on defense and one of the game's best defensive minds, Jeff Fisher, taking over as head coach.

But 2011's worst team, the Colts, just took a rookie quarterback and defense playing its first game in a 3-4 alignment and whupped the Rams 38-3.

It could be a very, very, very long season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Fair and Balanced

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers failed to gel their young offensive or defensive pieces into a cohesive whole in 2011. But in the system of new head coach Greg Schiano, fourth-year quarterback Josh Freeman, third-year tailback LeGarrette Blount and rookie tailback Doug Martin mounted a balanced, effective attack on the Miami Dolphins defense.

After weathering an early Ryan Tannehill storm, the Bucs defense settled in too. If they can continue to play well with and against both the run and the pass, the Buccaneers will look much more like the promising 10-win team of 2010 than the disastrous four-win team of 2011.

The Jake Locker Era of the Tennessee Titans Franchise May Be Upon Us

Jake Locker was drafted with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2011 draft; much like 2012's No. 8, Ryan Tannehill, Locker was drafted more for what he might become than what he definitely was.

Decorated veteran Matt Hasselbeck had a quietly effective, efficient year—but Locker showed a flair for attack in the limited reps he got, throwing for an excellent 8.2 yards per attempt, four touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Locker went 7-of-13 for 80 yards against the Seahawks, while Hasselbeck went 5-of-9 for 45 yards and two interceptions.

Hasselbeck got the nod more often last year on the old "gives us the best chance to win" theory, but so far this season it looks like Locker may soon be the quarterback the Titans were waiting for him to become.

Robert Griffin III Is Already the Washington Redskins' Best Quarterback

Standing atop a mountain of breathless hype, it seems silly to pronounce RGIII the Redskins' best quarterback, as if he might be anything else. But with veteran Rex Grossman already on the roster and a fellow rookie signal-caller (with much more signal-calling experience) in Kirk Cousins joining him, the jury was out as to how much hype would translate to reality.

Well, three drives, 4-of-6 passing, 70 yards and the game's only touchdown blew Grossman's and Cousins' performances out of the water. Besides the stats, RGIII did everything the few skeptics thought he might struggle with: being polished under center, poised in the pocket and patient in finding his second and third reads.

RGIII is the Redskins' present and future, if there was any doubt.