NFL Week 1: Key Storyline to Watch for Each Team

The 2015 NFL season kicks off on Thursday night and won't disappoint right out of the gate with its first matchup.

The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers in what begs to be a rainy—but entertaining—affair. With the offseason drama of Deflategate now on the backburner for the time being, we can finally enjoy the games that will actually be played on the field.

Before the opening kickoff on Thursday, each team in the league is as equal as the next—at least by record on paper. Everyone's dream of winning a Super Bowl championship is alive. Of course, as the season wears on, many of those hopes will be dashed. For now, as the saying goes, all the teams can do is "take things one game at a time."

The slides ahead will focus on the main storyline to watch in that first Week 1 game for every team in the league. For many teams, that storyline will rest with their quarterbacks. Some are new, some are old (no pun intended), but all will have a huge impact under center this season.

Some teams can handle a punch in the mouth with a Week 1 loss. For others, a defeat could send the season spiraling into disappointment.

To make things easier, this list is in the order of which teams have the best shot to win Super Bowl 50, as listed at Odds Shark on Thursday. Those odds will change throughout the season, as will the storylines for each team each week. But for now, here's what's most relevant for Week 1.

Tennessee Titans

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Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

How fitting that Marcus Mariota gets to face off against the man who was drafted one spot ahead of him in the NFL draft. Both he and Jameis Winston have a lot to prove this season, and it's fitting that they'll both be doing so under the same lights in Week 1.

Mariota faces a new challenge while making the transition to more of a pocket passer than he was at Oregon. He had a solid preseason if that's any consolation to fans, but Week 1 poses a much greater challenge.

After rifling through quarterbacks for much of last season, the Titans are hopeful that Mariota will be their franchise guy and can turn around a dismal 2-14 record from last season. It will be interesting to see what the rookie will be capable of in his debut game.

Jacksonville Jaguars

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Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter the season with upside on the offensive end that could be the start of some success.

Though originally expected to spend his rookie season on the bench, quarterback Blake Bortles got more than enough reps last season and will look to build on that in his sophomore season. The real storyline will be in his backfield, as rookie T.J. Yeldon is slated to make his NFL debut Sunday.

Yeldon played just one game in the preseason, though he did find the end zone with his 10 yards on eight carries. The Jags are high on their new running back, but the Panthers won't make for an easy go for both Bortles and Yeldon. However, if Jacksonville can steal one from Carolina, that confidence could go a long way for the younger players on the offensive end.

Washington Redskins

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Miami Dolphins at Washington Redskins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

With all the drama surrounding the Robert Griffin III saga this preseason, the Washington Redskins probably can't wait to just play football.

Heading that charge is quarterback Kirk Cousins, who faces the biggest storyline in Week 1 against the Dolphins. The Redskins can still run the ball, but Cousins needs to make a strong statement in the season opener to at least quiet the doubters for now. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Much like the Tennessee Titans, the hopeful-franchise quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will make his debut Sunday night.

Jameis Winston was long pegged as the most NFL-ready quarterback to come out of the draft, and he will try to prove as much against Marcus Mariota. Winston looked good at times and bad at times this preseason, but his knack for leading comeback wins in college showed that he can perform under the bright lights.

The lights will certainly be shining bright on Sunday, with the media most likely scrutinizing Winston's every decision. With Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans at the ready and Doug Martin healthy in the backfield, the young rookie has weapons available. The question is whether he'll be able to take advantage.

Cleveland Browns

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Cleveland Browns at New York Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Cleveland Browns fans don't have much to be excited about yet, but a win over the New York Jets on Sunday could quickly change that. 

Cleveland will start Josh McCown at quarterback, which just goes to show you where the Browns might be headed this season. What could help on the offensive end is the running game, which stands as a question mark entering Week 1.

With Duke Johnson coming back from a concussion, Isaiah Crowell is slated to receive the majority of the carries for now. The Browns would feel a lot better about their season if they can find an answer in the backfield; however, some veteran wide receivers could help McCown in the early going.

Unfortunately for Cleveland, the Jets defense is a tough opponent to try to figure things out against.

New York Jets

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Cleveland Browns at New York Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The New York Jets have hope at the start of the season, and against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, that hope could easily carry into Week 2.

The Jets are set on the defensive end after an overhaul of sorts and Darrelle Revis back at cornerback. The big storyline for Week 1 will be how Ryan Fitzpatrick performs in his now starting quarterback role in place of Geno Smith.

With former Denver Broncos Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker as targets, New York's offense has some potential through the air. Decker might be the key to a successful aerial attack on Sunday as the Jets try to give their fans something to smile about.

Oakland Raiders

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Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

The Oakland Raiders will look to turn some heads this season and have a decent shot to steal a game in Week 1 against the Bengals.

Youth will be the storyline on opening day, starting with Derek Carr under center for his sophomore season. One his favorite targets is slated to be rookie Amari Cooper, while Latavius Murray handles duties in the backfield in his second season as well.

Carr showed flashes of being great during last season's 3-13 campaign and could show significant improvement under a new head coach in Jack Del Rio. Cooper had been regarded as the best wide receiver to come out of the draft and will also have something to prove on Sunday.

Chicago Bears

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Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Here's a storyline for you: Who the hell is Jay Cutler going to throw the ball to on Sunday?

The Chicago Bears have some Week 1 problems, the biggest of which comes with their wide receiving corps. Alshon Jeffery is iffy about playing, per Bleacher Report's Jason Cole. Highly touted rookie Kevin White is out for a few games after needing shin surgery. Brandon Marshall now plays for the New York Jets.

Cutler's No. 1 option against the rival Packers is Eddie Royal, who has spent most of his NFL career as a third receiver and wasn't healthy for the preseason either. For someone fighting for his future with the Bears, Cutler certainly won't have an easy go in Week 1 while trying to keep up with Aaron Rodgers. 

St. Louis Rams

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Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The St. Louis Rams have quietly developed a solid defense that could make an opponent's night quite difficult. The offense, however, is a different story.

For the Rams, their offense is really an unknown as of yet, and it will most likely stay that way until Todd Gurley makes his debut. With Nick Foles making his debut in a St. Louis uniform, head coach Jeff Fisher is hopeful that the quarterback will have a season close to his rookie campaign.

All eyes will be on the Rams backfield, however. Tre Mason was slated to get most of the carries in Gurley's absence, but he's a game-time decision, which leaves Benny Cunningham and Isiah Pead waiting close behind. The Seattle defense is never a pushover, but the Rams can make matters easier for themselves if they can establish a running game to help out Foles.

San Francisco 49ers

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Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers, Monday, 10:15 p.m. ET

The San Francisco 49ers have more than enough to prove in their opener on Monday night. Having a new head coach (Jim Tomsula) and several new faces on the roster after losing 40 percent of the players who saw snaps last year tells you all you need to know.

The 49ers saw as many losses to their lineup as a high school squad does to graduation, but there's still a ray of hope. Colin Kaepernick is still under center, and the defense still has playmakers.

One of those playmakers who takes the Week 1 storyline is NaVorro Bowman, who missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL. The two-time Pro Bowler has put himself through hell and back to get back on the football field.

As Peter King reported for Sports Illustrated, Bowman said during preseason he needed about two hours of preparation to his knee just so he could practice. It will be great for the 49ers defense—and the league— to see Bowman back on the field Monday night. His veteran leadership could inspire the defense to surprise some people as the season wears on.

Houston Texans

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Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Fresh off their Hard Knocks debut on HBO, the Houston Texans are ready to show the world all that hard preseason work will pay off.

Though the bright lights were turned off for the preseason, they'll be turned back on this Sunday and focused on starting quarterback Brian Hoyer. He will have to be the main character in the new storyline of how Houston's offense can thrive until Arian Foster returns.

The veteran will get help from wideout DeAndre Hopkins, who is poised for another 1,000-yard season. Head coach Bill O'Brien also has a knack for improving his quarterbacks and probably has a few tricks up his sleeve on opening day to try to notch win No. 1 in 2015.

Carolina Panthers

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Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

All eyes point to Cam Newton when the Carolina Panthers take the field on Sunday. After losing his best wide receiver (Kelvin Benjamin) to a torn ACL, can Newton find a rhythm in the passing game?

Corey Brown, Devin Funchess, Greg Olsen and Ted Ginn Jr. are what Newton will have to work with. With the passing position a little thin, the Panthers could put some of the weight on Jonathan Stewart's shoulders but not too much—Carolina can't afford to have him hurt, too.

Cincinnati Bengals

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Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

The Cincinnati Bengals have made the playoffs for the past four seasons but have yet to win a postseason game during that time.

After losing Tyler Eifert and Marvin Jones for much of last season, Andy Dalton has all his weapons back in the passing game and will look to make a strong Week 1 statement against Jack Del Rio's defense. The running game will also be an interesting story, as Jeremy Hill has been pegged as the main running back to help the offensive attack.

Buffalo Bills

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Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The Buffalo Bills will have a great defense under Rex Ryan. The storyline coming into the season opener will be what the offense can accomplish.

Running back LeSean McCoy has done more yapping in the offseason than his head coach has—we'll see on Sunday whether or not he can put his money where his mouth is. Tyrod Taylor will get his first NFL start at quarterback against the Colts and could turn some heads if Indy is unable to pressure him in the pocket.

The Bills have been pegged as a team capable of dethroning the New England Patriots from their reign in the AFC East, and a crisp offensive game against the Colts could help make that prediction more plausible.

New York Giants

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New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET

The New York Giants haven't won a season opener since 2010 and haven't beaten the Dallas Cowboys in their last four tries. It'll be a tough hill to climb on Sunday night, and it will all start with the defense.

The Giants struggled mightily last season and are still a work in progress this year. Jason Pierre-Paul won't be playing, and New York's safety position has been in flux for much of the preseason. To make matters worse, Dez Bryant plays for the Cowboys.

It won't stop there, as Eli Manning will certainly be under pressure, as will the Giants offensive line. But the defense will be the main focus in this game, and things could get ugly rather quickly if New York doesn't make major adjustments.

San Diego Chargers

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Detroit Lions at San Diego Chargers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

Sometimes, the San Diego Chargers look like they could play in the Super Bowl. Other times, they look more like a disappointment.

With a new extension in hand, Philip Rivers is poised to finish out his career with the Chargers, Unfortunately, the 33-year-old is running out of time. His decline happened quickly in the second half of last season, helped by some injuries and a poor offensive line.

Because of that, many eyes will be on Rivers and an O-line that looked better in the preseason. Adding Melvin Gordon to the fold could also help develop a solid running attack for the offense against a Lions team that has some holes to fill defensively.

The potential is certainly there, and Rivers could help silence some doubters on Sunday with a solid showing.

New Orleans Saints

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New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

The New Orleans Saints seem to be entering the season with more questions than answers. With Drew Brees being one of the only remaining constants on the offensive end, the Saints will need to rely on a young offensive receiving corps that can't fall back on Jimmy Graham, who was traded to the Seahawks.

But the real storyline heading into Week 1 is the Saints defense. New Orleans is slated to start just four of 11 starters from last year's squad, which provides several opportunities for players to step up for a defense that ranked 31st in yards allowed per game in 2014.

Brees will be Brees, but the Saints are at their best when the running game is clicking too. If New Orleans faces a large deficit against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, it might be too difficult to ask Brees to come back against a great defense.

Detroit Lions

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Detroit Lions at San Diego Chargers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

Much like their opponent on Sunday, the Detroit Lions have come up short in reaching their full potential in recent seasons. The verdict is still out on whether or not Matthew Stafford can lead his team deep into the playoffs, but that won't be the focus on Sunday.

Detroit's defense is still strong after losing Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley—just how strong is yet to be seen, though. The defensive line now has a lot to prove and will have a tough test with Philip Rivers under center. It's hard to gauge what we'll see from the defense on Sunday based on the preseason, but Lions fans would love to see a strong showing nonetheless.

We've seen, at times, what the offense is capable of. Now it's time to see how big of a loss Suh truly is.

Atlanta Falcons

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Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons, Monday, 6:55 p.m. ET

The first of two Monday night games to kick off 2015 could see 953 points scored between both teams. That might be a little exaggerated, but the Atlanta Falcons should be happy to see what Matt Ryan and Julio Jones will be capable of this year.

Some question marks still remain in the running game, and a starting back has yet to be set in stone, but the real storyline on Monday night will be with Atlanta's defense. Can the Falcons find a way to slow down Chip Kelly's offense? And can they find a way to remain consistent all season?

The defense might be a little improved from last season, but it still has a long way ago. Stealing a game on Monday night, however, could give the Falcons a huge confidence boost in that regard.

Arizona Cardinals

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New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

Believe it or not, the Arizona Cardinals started last season with an NFL-best record of 9-2 after 12 weeks. Once Carson Palmer was removed from the equation, however, the season quickly became a disaster.

This year, Palmer is back and ready to take hold of the Cardinals offense once again. That offense will make up the main storyline against the Saints, as young wide receivers and a new-look offensive line try to get Arizona back to last year's success.

Kansas City Chiefs

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Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The Kansas City Chiefs don't have a passing game to write home about, but it will be a storyline in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.

The Chiefs defense should continue to remain solid and be fun to watch on Sunday. So, too, should Jamaal Charles in the backfield. What remains to be seen is whether quarterback Alex Smith will throw a touchdown pass to an actual wide receiver this season.

With the addition of Jeremy Maclin, that could definitely be a possibility. Unfortunately for Smith, J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney will have other ideas and make for a tough day for the Kansas City offense.

Minnesota Vikings

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Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers, Monday, 10:15 p.m. ET

He's back.

After missing almost all of the 2014 NFL season, Adrian Peterson returns to the Vikings with the motivation to be the best that he's ever been.

That's certainly saying something from a guy who fell nine yards short of Eric Dickerson's single-season record in 2012. As he told the team website (h/t NFL.com's Dan Hanzus), Peterson has already mentioned that his goal is to rush for 2,500 yards.

That might be setting the bar a little high, as AP would need to average about 157 yards per game over 16 weeks to reach that number. And at 30 years old, time will tell how much the former MVP will have left in his tank.

The question is whether or not Peterson's lengthy suspension will have any effect on his production. The Vikings managed to go 7-9 with Matt Asiata holding responsibilities in the backfield last year.

With a strong defense and Teddy Bridgewater under center for his sophomore season, an above-average Peterson could do wonders for the Vikings this season in the NFL North. One thing is for certain in Week 1: All eyes will be on All Day come Monday night.

Miami Dolphins

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Miami Dolphins at Washington Redskins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The Miami Dolphins should be fun to watch this season. Or, at least they have the potential to be.

With Ryan Tannehill expected to continue to grow in Miami's offense, change your focus for Week 1 to the Dolphins defense—specifically on Ndamukong Suh.

He is one of the few defensive tackles who can single-handedly have an impact on a game. He will be motivated to show the Dolphins he was worth every penny of his six-year, $114.375 million contract.

Baltimore Ravens

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Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Peyton Manning has had the Baltimore Ravens number, aside from the "Mile High Miracle" that propelled the Ravens to the Super Bowl. Quarterback Joe Flacco would like to see some more of that on Sunday.

Flacco won't have much to work with on opening day without rookie Breshad Perriman in the lineup and Torrey Smith no longer in Baltimore. The Ravens will now rely on 36-year-old Steve Smith Sr. and Kamar Aiken at wide receiver and Crockett Gillmore at tight end.  

The Ravens running game was reliable last season and will need to be in Week 1 to keep the Broncos defense on its toes. But with the Broncos scoring at least 34 points against Baltimore in their last three matchups, Flacco will have to find a way to keep up with Denver throughout the game.

Pittsburgh Steelers

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Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots, Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET

The biggest storyline for the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into Thursday night's game against the Super Bowl champions is how the offense will fare with several of its key pieces on the sidelines.

Pro Bowl running back Le'Veon Bell and wideout Martavis Bryant will miss the game because of suspensions, while Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey is out for the first half of the year with injury. That doesn't bode well for the offense.

Last year, Pouncey was pivotal in the success of the running game, which now rests on the shoulders of DeAngelo Williams. Ben Roethlisberger has the tough task of keeping up with Tom Brady and company without his second-best receiving threat while also dealing with potential downpours throughout the night, as reported by Brian Lada of AccuWeather.com. 

Big Ben will be up for the challenge, but the jury is still out if anyone else will join him.

Denver Broncos

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Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

When we last saw Peyton Manning, the future Hall of Famer looked to be nearing his final days in the NFL. Now, the 39-year-old remains motivated to win his second Super Bowl ring in his 18th season.

The biggest storyline for Week 1 will center on the Broncos' new offense under new head coach Gary Kubiak. When Denver faced the Ravens in the 2013 opener, Manning torched the defense for seven touchdowns en route to a 49-27 victory.

While that number begs to be a little lower this time around, it will be interesting to see what Denver's offense can do with an almost all-new offensive line and a major focus on the running game under Kubiak.

Dallas Cowboys

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New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET

The Dallas Cowboys couldn't ask for a better season from the running game or defense last year. Unfortunately, both have taken hits entering 2015.

Gone are DeMarco Murray and Orlando Scandrick, with the former accounting for a career season last year. The loss of Murray will put the storyline on the Cowboys running attack on Sunday night and how it will be able to fill that void.

If the offensive line is as good as Dallas fans claim it to be, the Cowboys running backs should have no problems making plays. Opening night against a division rival will be a good test to see what could be in store for the ground attack for the rest of the season.

New England Patriots

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Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots, Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET

No real surprises here regarding storylines. How will Tom Brady perform for the New England Patriots after his four-game suspension was overturned?

Luckily for the Patriots, Brady's preseason went as it typically would, minus the trips to the courtroom here and there. Though wide receiver Brandon LaFell and running back LeGarrette Blount are out, Brady will still have enough weapons for a successful opening night.

Why, do you ask? Robert Gronkowski.

New England went undefeated in the season after their first "-gate" scandal and has won 10 out its last 11 openers. Let's see if we're in for a similar result in 2015 after Thursday night's game.

Philadelphia Eagles

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Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons, Monday, 6:55 p.m. ET

Just what will Chip Kelly's Philadelphia Eagles be capable of? That's the question that we hope to get the answers to on Monday night.

The Eagles looked great in the preseason and will look to carry that over on Monday night. How will Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray look in Kelly's offense? Those questions will grow louder if Philly doesn't perform well in its opening game.

While the Eagles defense will most likely be what makes or breaks the team this year, all eyes will be on the new offense come Monday night and what some of the new pieces will do in Kelly's scheme.

Indianapolis Colts

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Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The Indianapolis Colts are slated to have quite the offense this season under the leadership of quarterback Andrew Luck. After all, adding Andre Johnson and Frank Gore—though they're no longer in their prime—will be quite the boon to the offense.

With the offense already improved, the defense needs to follow suit for the team to have any chance of making it to the Super Bowl. The defensive line will need to pressure the quarterback to help a rushing defense that ranked 18th last season.

The Bills will be a good test for Indianapolis in Week 1, as starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor makes his first NFL start. That's not to say that the defense can take him or the rest of Buffalo's offense lightly. If things look shaky on Sunday, it might not bode well for the rest of the season. Of course, if the offense puts up seven touchdowns, it might not make a difference.

Seattle Seahawks

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Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The Seattle Seahawks have a lot to prove in Week 1. Not only do they want to show the league that they're capable of getting back to the Super Bowl for the third straight year but that their loss to the St. Louis Rams last season was a fluke.

We know what Seattle's defense is capable of—it's the offense that has seemingly been missing one or two pieces to be great. Jimmy Graham is ready to be that missing piece and will make for a great storyline on Sunday.

What will Russell Wilson do on the goal line with Marshawn Lynch behind him and Graham ready for the pass? (Go ahead, insert a joke about not running the ball in the Super Bowl here.) Graham should bring coverage with him on passing downs and could also open some holes for Lynch on the ground.

Sunday will be a great test for Seattle, as the Rams defensive line is certainly no pushover. Expect an ugly, low-scoring game but potentially a fun one.

Green Bay Packers

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Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The main discussion following the Green Bay Packers around in recent weeks has been what the offense will do without wideout Jordy Nelson. On Sunday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will give us that answer.

Rodgers has the ability to make household names out of his receiving corps, and he will need to do so against the Chicago Bears without Nelson and an injured Randall Cobb. Fortunately, Rodgers has owned the Bears in the past to the tune of an 11-3 record. What is pegged as a rivalry just hasn't been one with Rodgers at the helm, and we'll see if he can continue that tradition in Week 1.