NFL Week One: Each Team's Weakest Positional Unit Thus Far

The 2012 NFL season has already led to many surprising moments, from the 49ers domination to the successful return of Peyton Manning.

Each team can take a positive mindset from week one regardless of the outcome. There are 15 games left in the season to correct the mistakes that need improvement.

What area does each NFL team need to improve on? Here is the weakest positional unit for each NFL team thus far.

1. Arizona Cardinals- Offensive Line

The Arizona Cardinals won a crucial week one divisional game against the Seahawks despite the erratic play at the quarterback position.

Although the quarterback situation is a difficult one to digest, the biggest concern for the Arizona Cardinals is an offensive line that will be effected by injuries down the line.

Despite only allowing one sack against the Seattle Seahawks, the Cardinals are not in better shape without tackle Levi Brown, who will miss the entire 2012 season.

John Skelton and Kevin Kolb have proven to be very prone to injury. It won't help that they will be supported by an offensive line that will wear down as the season unfolds.

2. Atlanta Falcons- Running Backs

It's a tough task finding a weak spot on this much improved Atlanta Falcons team. Matt Ryan enjoys the uptempo offense and is on pace for a career year with two talented receivers by his side. Under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, the defense has improved in every facet of the game.

A potential concern down the line is the running back situation as a whole. Michael Turner will hit the age of 30 and has lost his quickness against opposing defenses. Can Jacquizz Rodgers provide a different dynamic out of the backfield to keep the balanced offense afloat?

The running game is the quarterback's best friend, and will need to make an impact in order for the Falcons to compete for a championship.

3. Baltimore Ravens- Defensive Line

The Baltimore Ravens made a convincing opening performance in their dominating win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Heading into the upcoming weeks, a clear priority is for the Ravens to improve this veteran pass rush. Pernell McPhee and Paul Kruger have been given a large task to replace the production of Terrell Suggs.

It's crucial for the Ravens to establish a pass rush, which will allow less blitzing and better coverage against the top flight quarterbacks this defenses faces in 2012.

4. Buffalo Bills- Secondary

The Buffalo Bills were not fundamentally sound in any area in their embarrassing loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.

For now, the secondary is a major concern following week one and needs to improve significantly in order for the Bills to become a legitimate playoff team.

Mark Sanchez had a very successful day against the Bills, targeting Santonio Holmes and rookie Stephen Hill against a below average secondary.

After a week, it's difficult to imagine the Bills showing any signs of becoming a contender in 2012.

5. Carolina Panthers- Line Backers

The Carolina Panthers were flat on both sides of the football in their disappointing week one loss to divisional rival in Tampa Bay.

Clearly, the defense as a whole needs to be more focused and not being outperformed by the opposing offense.

Jon Beason performed well, but the rest of the line backers were non-existent against the Buccaneers running game.

Rookie Doug Martin ran for 95 yards, which allowed Josh Freeman to completely take advantage of a young Panthers secondary.

6. Chicago Bears- Offensive Line

The Chicago Bears offense lived up to the preseason hype in week one as a well orchestrated balanced attack proved to be no match for the Indianapolis Colts.

However, the offensive line is still a lingering concern and will be tested throughout the course of the season.

Jay Cutler faced plenty of pressure from a Colts defensive front that played without Dwight Freeney for the majority of the game due to injury. Robert Mathis managed to record two sacks of his own on Cutler.

The Bears offensive line will be the Achilles heal for this team, and will be the difference maker in deciding how far they make a run in the postseason. 

7. Cincinnati Bengals- Offensive Line

The Cincinnati Bengals imploded in the second half, leading to a blowout loss on the road against a divisional rival.

Andy Dalton was not fortunate to receive quality pass protection as he was sacked four times against a defense that was without All-Pro Terrell Suggs.

This offensive line is going through quite a transition with injuries and inexperience leading to this teams downfall.

8. Cleveland Browns- Quarterback

The Cleveland Browns came up short in their upset bid over the Philadelphia Eagles, and quarterback Brandon Weeden was a major contributor to the loss in week one.

Weeden does not appear to be the solution for this struggling offense, throwing four interceptions in his rookie debut.

Granted, it's only one game and there is room for improvement. However, at age 28, Weeden needs to make a positive impact on this team immediately and needs to prove he is the franchise quarterback moving forward.

9. Dallas Cowboys- Offensive Line

The Dallas Cowboys completed a fantastic opening victory against the defending champions on the road. There weren't any concerns after this first game, but the offensive line will remain a concern during the duration of the season.

Gambles are being taken on an offensive line already being impacted by injuries. Will Tyron Smith prove to be the answer at left tackle after playing on the right side his entire collegiate career?

Tony Romo is primed for a potential career year but will need improved pass protection moving forward.

10. Denver Broncos- Offensive Line

Peyton Manning proved to the entire league in week one that he can still play at an elite level despite undergoing procedures on his neck over the past year.

Will the offensive line sustain it's quality pass protection over 16 games? That is another story. Ryan Clady is one of the elite left tackles in the game, but there are concerns regarding the offensive line as a whole.

The Broncos benefited from an aging Steelers defensive line that played without James Harrison on Sunday.

11. Detroit Lions- Corner Backs

The Detroit Lions avoided a potentially devastating loss against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

Despite pulling out the victory, the corner back situation continues to be a problem in 2012.

This secondary will be relying heavily on veteran Drayton Florence to help improve a corner back unit that struggled against the elite NFL offenses.

Fortunately, the Lions faced a Rams offense that does not display any top wide receivers on offense. The road will become much more difficult when the Lions begin divisional play.

12. Green Bay Packers- Corner Backs

The Green Bay Packers begin the season with a difficult loss against NFC contender San Francisco 49ers. Despite the improvements made on the defense through the draft, the corner back situation is a concern for the Packers moving forward in the improved NFC North.

Charles Woodson has now moved to the safety position, which leaves a below average corner back unit even more vulnerable in 2012.

Alex Smith was efficient against the Packers secondary, throwing for 211 yards and connecting early with Randy Moss and Michael Crabtree, who had the advantage over the Packers corners on Sunday. 

13. Houston Texans- Kicking Game

There were not many glaring weaknesses for the Houston Texans heading into week one, and they showed their dominance against the Miami Dolphins in a convincing victory.

The question that remains is can the Texans count on Shayne Graham in crucial moments during the season? He hasn't proven to be a consistent threat from beyond 50 yards, and is not a kicker who has shined in close games over the course of his career.

With games that can be easily decided by a field goal, the Texans need to hope that Graham won't cost the team any crucial games down the stretch.

14. Indianapolis Colts- Offensive Line

Andrew Luck was completely overwhelmed against the Chicago Bears, who won by 20 points on their home turf.

Luck's main problem is that he didn't have confidence in his offensive line, a unit that is one of the youngest in the league.

He was phased by the variety of blitz packages that the Bears showed him in week one, leading to three interceptions as a whole.

This Colts team has plenty of glaring weaknesses, but the pass protection is the biggest concern during Luck's rookie season.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars- Corner Backs

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense was statistically one of the ten better defenses in the NFL last season.

However, they were very vulnerable against Christian Ponder and the Minnesota Vikings passing attack.

After taking the lead with less than a minute left in the game, the Jaguars corner backs could not slow down Percy Harvin and the young Vikings receivers.

It appeared to be a strength heading into the season, but the pass defense for the Jaguars needs to improve if they want to be competitive in every game this season.

16. Kansas City Chiefs- Corner Backs

The Kansas City Chiefs were the first victim of the up-tempo Atlanta Falcons offense. Despite playing without Brandon Flowers injury, the Chiefs corner back unit has regressed in large part due to the departure of Brandon Carr.

Teams will be focused on throwing the football away from Flowers and take advantage of the young corner backs on the opposite side.

Romeo Crennel will have to be creative on the defensive side to cover up for the weak corner back situation.

17. Miami Dolphins- Wide Receivers

The Miami Dolphins are preparing for a long season ahead with rookie starter Ryan Tannehill being thrown into the fire week one against a vaunted Texans defense.

However, he is working with no legitimate outside threat. Davone Bess and Brian Hartline don't exactly spell fear into opposing secondaries.

The Dolphins will miss Brandon Marshall dearly in 2012.

18. Minnesota Vikings- Corner Backs

The Minnesota Vikings biggest weakness is very similar to many NFL teams around the league.

Dating back to the days when Brett Favre was the quarterback, the corner back situation for the Vikings has been a position that continues to haunt them year after year.

A sign of change doesn't appear promising after a week one performance where Blaine Gabbert took control against the vulnerable Vikings secondary, passing for 260 yards and two touchdowns in the process.

19. New England Patriots- Offensive Line

The New England Patriots were fundamentally sound in most areas during their convincing opening win over the Tennessee Titans.

In week one, Tom Brady took some major hits against a Titans defensive front that is one of the least dynamic units in the NFL.

There has been plenty of change on the Patriots offensive line as Bill Belichick decides to replace experienced veterans with their plethora of young talent.

Although it may have a positive impact in the future, the question remains how the young offensive line will handle some of the more quality defensive lines in the NFL. They can't afford to leave Brady more vulnerable to injury in the process.

20. New Orleans Saints- Defensive Line

The New Orleans Saints defense was the first victim of Robert Griffin III in 2012. For the majority of the game, the pass rush was nonexistent against the former Heisman winner.

Will Smith is the only legitimate defensive lineman that is a threat to putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and he did not have the same dominant impact compared to previous years.

It doesn't get any easier for the Saints defense, who has to face three quality quarterbacks just in their own division, much less the rest of the NFC.

21. New York Giants- Secondary

The New York Giants are an exception in this article after horrific week one performance against the Dallas Cowboys.

Clearly, the entire secondary is a major concern for the Giants in the upcoming season. While the corner backs are plagued by injuries early on, the inexperience of the safeties will make the job much easier for opposing quarterbacks.

22. New York Jets- Running Backs

The New York Jets outplayed the Buffalo Bills in week one, leading to a surprising 48 outbursts against one of the more improving defenses in football.

Time will tell if the Jets offense can continue its current pace, but there are still concerns regarding Shonn Greene's ability to be a workhorse in the backfield.

Although there was plenty of success in week one, Greene will be facing bigger challenges on defense moving forward and will need to carry the load in order for this offense to have an impact each week.

23. Oakland Raiders- Corner Backs

The Oakland Raiders are attempting to be more disciplined under rookie head coach Dennis Allen, specifically on the defensive side.

However, the secondary struggled mightily against the variety of weapons on the San Diego Chargers offense.

Without Nnamdi Asomugha, the Raiders corner backs continue to make mental mistakes and are not capable of defending any top flight receivers. Tyvon Branch and Matt Giordano were clearly targeted by Philip Rivers during Monday's game.

24. Philadelphia Eagles- Offensive Line

I heavily considered the possibility that Michael Vick is the weakest link on this Philadelphia Eagles team. However, there aren't many quarterbacks who could succeed with the pass protection that Vick is receiving.

The offensive line has been an ongoing issue for the last few seasons. Without starting left tackle Jason Peters for the entire season, Vick will continue being challenged to perform at a high level from within the pocket.

Unfortunately, that didn't work so well against Cleveland despite surviving the potential upset against the Browns.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers- Offensive Line

Ben Roethlisberger continues to takes more unnecessary hits behind an offensive line that appears worse than the unit in 2011.

With David DeCastro's injury and the departure of Trai Essex, the Steelers managed to allow six sacks in week one against the Denver Broncos.

At this rate, the question becomes whether or not Roethlisberger can last the entire season with this offensive line.

26. St. Louis Rams- Wide Receiver

Despite the improvements made in the off season, the St. Louis Rams ignored to address improving the wide receivers around Sam Bradford.

Danny Amendola highlights a group of receivers who lack explosiveness and cannot make an impact down the field.

Bradford will never fully progress into a top flight quarterback until he has better talent around him.

27. San Diego Chargers- Offensive Line

The San Diego Chargers offensive line is already in flux after only one game against the Oakland Raiders.

Philip Rivers is very good at performing well when the pocket collapses, but his offensive line didn't help his cause against an aging Raiders defensive line.

Jared Gaither missed the season opener due to injury, and it's a concern that the Chargers are relying on him to be the left tackle for over a 16 game period.

28. San Francisco 49ers- Quarterback

The San Francisco 49ers make the case for being the most talented team in the NFL, and proved they are elite in 2012 after a convincing victory over the Green Bay Packers.

It's extremely difficult to find a weakness on this team. For now, the biggest potential concern could be the quarterback position with Alex Smith.

It has less to do with his talent, but rather how he is used in games. If he continues leading this balanced offense every game and avoids turnovers, his performance speaks for itself.

However, he could potentially be the 49ers downfall if Jim Harbaugh decides to make this a heavily based passing offense.

Keep an eye on Smith's role and see if it has a negative impact based on the way he could be used in the offense.

29. Seattle Seahawks- Wide Receiver

The Seattle Seahawks offense was very lackluster in its loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Russell Wilson's debut was subpar, but in his defense he isn't supported by the greatest receiving corps in the league.

Sidney Rice has not emerged as the top flight receiver the Seahawks expected when giving him that expensive long term contract. Doug Baldwin is still progressing and hasn't fully reached his potential so far in the league.

Fortunately, the defense is carrying its own weight and will have the opportunity of keeping the Seahawks competitive each week. Can Wilson make enough plays with these receivers to keep them in playoff contention?

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Defensive Line

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers exceeded expectations in Greg Schiano's first game as head coach by completely shutting down Cam Newton and the Panthers rushing attack.

However, there are still questions with the Buccaneers pass rush moving forward. Adrian Clayborn produces at a high level, but will Gerald McCoy be healthy enough to follow suit?

This defensive front is still trying to find a consistent pass rusher to replace Amobi Okoye, who was released by the team before the beginning of the regular season.

31. Tennessee Titans- Defensive Line

The young Titans defensive front lacked to provide much pass rush against Tom Brady and an inexperienced offensive line.

Will Derrick Morgan ever live up to the first round draft hype? Can Akeem Ayers emerge as the top pass rusher on this defense?

The secondary has taken a step back due to the departure of Cortland Finnegan, which is why an improvement from the defensive line is needed now more than ever.

32. Washington Redskins- Line Backers

The Washington Redskins were the biggest surprise of the weekend after scoring 40 points on the road against the New Orleans Saints.

Defensively, the Redskins hope for better performances from their line backers, who had trouble containing Jimmy Graham on Sunday.

As teams continue to utilize tight ends in the majority of their place, London Fletcher and the other veteran line backers will be the most glaring weakness that opposing offenses will attempt to exploit in the coming weeks.

Matt Miselis is a veteran NFL writer for BleacherReport who has been featured on ESPN.com, CBS Sports and the L.A Times. Follow him on twitter.