2010 NFL: 50 Burning Questions For the Rest of the NFL Season
Before the season even starts, experts and pundits everywhere start trying to predict, "Who will win the Super Bowl?"
This one question has no easy answer, and the question itself spawns endless other questions in the quest to find an answer before Super Bowl Sunday.
We're not here to answer that question, though, we're here to look at the wide range of questions that need to be answered before the big day.
What are the questions that will need to be answered as the rest of the season unfolds?
Click on to find out.
50. Will LaDainian Tomlinson Finally Get His Super Bowl Ring?
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LT has all the talent any coach could ever ask for to help bring a team to the Super Bowl. He never was able to get that ring in San Diego.
With San Diego currently struggling and the New York Jets cruising, will this be the year for the elite running back?
Chances are, no. The Jets are good, but they're not a Super Bowl team yet.
49. Will the Dallas Cowboys Even Make the Playoffs?
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The Cowboys seem to be running through this season with no direction from the sideline, and with a quarterback who keeps showing flashes of greatness before throwing the big interception.
At 1-4 at the time of this writing, the Cowboys playoff hopes are already riding away into the sunset.
The Cowboys won't make the playoffs with a coaching staff that has no direction and a quarterback who still has the tendency to choke in high-pressure situations.
48. Will Chris Johnson Reach His Goal of 2,500 Yards This Season
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While reaching 2,500 yards in the regular season means nothing in the postseason, the fact is, if Chris Johnson does reach his goal, it almost certainly will guarantee the Titans a postseason berth and a real chance of winning the Super Bowl.
Johnson won't reach 2,500 yards, but he'll have more than 1,500 and the Titans will be in the playoffs.
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47. Who Will Be the First Player Suspended by the NFL's New HtH Policy?
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It's going to happen, probably this Sunday.
Some player, somewhere, is going to launch himself, helmet first, at another player and be the first player suspended by the league for a helmet-to-helmet hit.
Will it be James Harrison, Brandon Meriweather or some yet-to-be determined player?
Harrison is the most likely candidate given his comments this week and refusal to admit his hits against the Browns last week were illegal despite the video evidence.
46. Can Brett Favre's Elbow Survive the Season? How about His Love Life?
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The unending drama that surrounds Brett Favre will not stop until Favre finally decides to stick to this retirement thing.
But what will end his season first? Too many losses? The elbow? The Jenn Sterger controversy? The Rickets?
Too many losses is the best guess because Favre is the Energizer Bunny of quarterbacks, and off-field issues just don't seem to greatly affect his play.
45. What's Wrong with the New Orleans Saints Offense?
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The New Orleans Saints are the defending Super Bowl champions, but they barely beat the San Francisco 49ers, and almost lost to the Carolina Panthers.
The Saints offense, statistically, is good, but something about it just looks off. If the Saints want to repeat, they're going to have to get their offense back in sync.
They'll have a good chance this week versus the Browns, whose secondary is one of the softest in the league. But they follow that up with a game versus one of the best defenses in the league in the Steelers.
44. Does Bill Parcells' Exit from Miami Mean He'll Show Up Elsewhere?
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It was revealed recently that Bill Parcells has "stepped back" from the Dolphins organization and that he even has "left the facility."
Given all the connections Parcells has to the coaches in Kansas City, it's not outside the realm of possibility that the Chiefs may try and woo Parcells into a front office role.
If that happens, and it can with the easy outs in his contract with Miami, that certainly would shake things up.
The chances of this seem small, though, and the reality is Parcells probably will wait until after the season is over before he decides if he's staying with Miami or jumping on to his next challenge.
43. Who Will Have the Last Laugh? Randy Moss Or Tom Brady/Bill Belichick?
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No matter what was said publicly, Randy Moss was unhappy with his situation in New England. Given Moss' history of taking plays off when he's not happy, it's not surprising Bill Belichick decided to move on without him while still getting something for him.
Now the question is, will one or the other be hoisting a Lombardi Trophy this February to rub the other side's nose in it?
42. Which Coach Gets Fired First? John Fox, Wade Phillips or Mike Singletary?
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John Fox is on the hot seat as coach of a winless team. Mike Singletary has been told his job is safe, but that statement is about as reliable as an '82 Chevy Chevette with bad head gaskets.
Jerry Jones is being gentle with Wade Phillips and the Cowboys, but how long does anyone expect that to last?
We still haven't mentioned Al Davis or Tom Cable.
The Panthers most likely are going to let the season play out and go from there. San Francisco may pull the trigger on a move, but that depends on how much more losing the Niners do.
Jerry Jones isn't likely to let continued losing go unpunished, especially in the year he wanted his team to have homefield advantage in the Super Bowl.
Wade Phillips will be the first to go if the Cowboys don't turn things around.
41. Which Team in the League Is the Most Physical? The Ravens, Jets or Steelers?
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You know when any team plays the Ravens, Jets or Steelers that there are going to be some serious bruises coming out of that game at a minimum.
With two of the aforementioned teams in the same division, will toughness win out?
With the league's new enforcement policy on helmet-to-helmet hits, it's likely the Steelers attitude will result in more suspensions and, therefore, a greater possibility of losing games they otherwise would've won.
The Ravens have been known as a tough team without the concussions the Steelers have caused, but the Jets are no slouch either.
Expect the Ravens to come out on top in this battle as the Steelers will be stubborn and be slow to adapt to the new enforcement.
40. Who Finishes at QB for the Eagles: Michael Vick Or Kevin Kolb?
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The Eagles have a good problem—the two quarterbacks at the top of their depth chart are both very good.
The question of who finishes the season may come down to who spends time on the injury list, but if it doesn't, the answer to that question could determine whether Philadelphia gets to celebrate another team in a postseason dance.
My prediction is Vick will win out, and not because Kevin Kolb is on the sidelines with an injury. Andy Reid saw something he really liked in Vick early this season, and he's not going to let that "something" sit on the sideline.
39. Who's the Biggest Breakout Performer in the NFL?
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Sometimes, it's the quiet ones who make all the difference by suddenly becoming loud.
Arian Foster certainly has made his presence known in the NFL over the last few weeks, and if his breakout runs continue, he could lead the Texans to a postseason berth.
At this point in the season, Foster is the breakout player of the year. It's still early enough for him to lose that crown, but he won't go down without a fight.
38. Will the Marshawn Lynch Trade Be Viewed as a Success Come January?
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If the Seahawks make the playoffs, and Marshawn Lynch is cited as one of the main reasons for their success, then the trade will be deemed successful.
If the Seahawks miss the playoffs, then this point becomes debatable.
However, Lynch now is the No. 1 running back on the Seahawks' depth chart, and he should have the opportunities he needs to prove his acquisition was a smart move by the end of the year.
37. Will the Redskins Ride Donovan McNabb to the Playoffs?
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The Redskins made a bold move bringing in Donovan McNabb, who is one of the league's best quarterbacks in the regular season. However, McNabb has earned a reputation for choking in the playoffs.
This reputation isn't entirely undeserved, but it's a stigma now attached to the veteran QB. Can he overcome it in 2010 and finally get his ring?
No. McNabb now is becoming an aging quarterback and there's only so much head coach Mike Shanahan can do this year. While next year is an unknown, McNabb never has been able to hold it together through a playoff schedule, even the year the Eagles went to the Super Bowl.
It's going to be another disappointing year for the Redskins.
36. Who Will Be This Year's Biggest Bust?
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One aspect of the game that will determine the Super Bowl winner is which teams don't make the playoffs because of underperforming players.
Is Beanie Wells a bust? In his second year, through five games, he only has 129 yards on 39 carries.
Shonn Greene? Somebody else?
While we could sit here all day and pick players, 129 yards on 39 carries from a former first-round pick is not good, especially in his second year.
There's still time to turn it around, but Wells is on track to have a very bad year.
35. Will the Bills Hit the 0-16 Jackpot?
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The Bills have 0-16 potential, that's just the way it is. If the Bills do go 0-16, or even 0-6 in the division, that certainly muddies the playoff picture waters as the Bills losses mean more wins for the rest of the AFC East.
Divisional wins will be worth their weight in gold if the Bills pull a Detroit Lions this year.
That being said, the Bills most likely will pull out at least one, if not two, wins before the year is over. The Bills play the Lions and the Browns, both of which are "winnable" games for this team.
34. Which Rookie QB Will Finish with the Most Productive Season?
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Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy—all three rookie quarterbacks now have at least one NFL start under their belts.
Barring injury, Bradford is a lock to finish the season, McCoy is making a case to stay on the field, and Clausen just got benched.
Bradford is on track to win this race and already has led the Rams to three victories.
With Bradford having the chance for the most starts, he's the likely winner in this category unless McCoy really lights it up for the Browns.
Clausen is probably done for the year as a starter unless Matt Moore gets injured, so he's out of this race.
33. Will Tim Tebow Get an NFL Start This Season?
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With the rest of the big rookie quarterbacks accounted for, what about little Timmy Tebow?
In all seriousness, Tebow is the backup quarterback in Denver, which means he's just one play away from being the Broncos starting quarterback, especially in this age of one hard hit knocking a quarterback out of the game with a concussion.
The likelihood of Tebow getting a start is high, whether or not it makes a difference for Denver and their Super Bowl aspirations remains to be seen, but Tebow will get his start.
32. Which Team's Super Bowl Hopes Are Hurt the Most by Injury?
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The Indianapolis Colts are down a running back, a wide receiver and a tight end. If you play fantasy football, you probably are looking at some major changes.
How can Peyton Manning lead an offense that is rapidly running out of playmakers?
What about the Chargers' leading receiver, Antonio Gates?
The Jets' Darrelle Revis?
The Colts are the winners in this category because of how many of their offensive weapons, Joseph Addai, Austin Collie, and Reggie Wayne, are nursing injuries.
The Chargers are going to get healthy sooner and Revis is playing through his injury.
31. Who Will Win the AFC East?
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Do you want to make a prediction and put money on it as things stand just before Week 7?
The Patriots, Jets and Dolphins all have pretty good teams, and only the Bills are out of it.
With the AFC North almost guaranteed to produce two playoff teams, chances are the other wild-card team for the AFC will come out of this division, but the Patriots will reclaim their crown with a late season surge while the Jets fade out.
30. Who Will Win the AFC North?
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The AFC North features the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, meaning there really is no room for the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cleveland Browns aren't even worth mentioning in conjunction with the word "playoffs" this year.
With one wildcard team sure to come out of the AFC East, the other wildcard team should come out of this division.
The Steelers, unless the defense gets suspended for helmet-to-helmet hits, should lock up this division with a week or two to spare. The defense is just too good, and Ben Roethlisberger can score points no matter how weak his offensive line is.
29. Who Will Win the AFC South?
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At this point, the AFC South becomes synonomous with the term "wide open."
The Colts, despite the depth of their injury list, are still a huge threat as long as Peyton Manning is the quarterback.
The Texans with Matt Schaub at the helm and Arian Foster running up and down the field are a huge threat to the Colts' past dominance, and the Tennessee Titans can score no matter who is behind center, especially with Chris Johnson running the ball.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have Maurice Jones-Drew, but they just don't seem to have enough to climb to the top of the division, even if they keep in the race.
This year's Colts don't have that aura they used to have and I think the Texans will be the dark horse team of the AFC, winning the division through sheer force of will.
28. Who Will Win the AFC West?
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Even though the Broncos are scuffling right now, under head coach Josh McDaniels, this team already has rung up six wins in a row during his tenure and Kyle Orton has put up some staggering numbers.
Now the Chiefs, despite losing two in a row, look like they've turned the proverbial corner and could make things interesting in the division.
The Chargers' record defies reason given the talent on the team and now they will be getting Vincent Jackson back to catch the ball from Philip Rivers.
Oakland is Oakland at this point, and even if they're improved from last year, they're not contending for the division yet.
This is the Broncos division to lose, despite their below-.500 record at the moment. The Chiefs have to prove they're the 3-0 team that started the season, not the 0-2 team that showed up after the bye.
The Chargers will continue to tease everyone, but there's just too many issues on that team for them to claim anything more than a Wildcard.
27. Who Will Win the NFC East?
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Eli Manning and the Giants appear to be putting it all together after stumbling out of the gates and their defense now is ranked second in the league.
The Eagles have two quarterbacks who can win games, and the Redskins now have McNabb.
Then there are the Cowboys. The less said, the better.
The Giants look to have the most complete team at the moment despite offensive problems and should win this division.
26. Who Will Win the NFC North?
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This Division has a lot going for it right now because the Bears have won games they were counted out of, and the Packers have lost games they had well in hand.
The Lions definitely have more talent than they did last year, but they won't be a playoff threat until next year at the earliest.
The Vikings are the wild card in this division with Brett Favre, Randy Moss and Adrian Peterson. If these guys play up to their talent level, the Vikings should shake off the early losses and challenge the Packers for the division win.
The Packers need to get healthy and quit beating themselves late in the game, which I predict will happen. The Packers will find a way to bring it all together and take the NFC North.
25. Who Will Win the NFC South?
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The Carolina Panthers are in the NFC South. That will conclude the discussion on if the Panthers can win the NFC South.
The Saints are the defending Super Bowl champs, but haven't quite looked the part so far this season. They're getting better though, so there's still a good chance the Saints will be in the postseason to defend their title.
Hot on their heels are the Atlanta Falcons, who like the Saints, haven't looked quite as good as everyone feels they should have coming into the 2010 season.
Then there are the upstart Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who definitely are a team on the rise, but still have to answer a lot of questions before season's end when it comes to consistent play and the ability to overcome mistakes.
The Saints are going to keep improving after an out-of-sync start and the Falcons will come up just short, leaving the Saints on top to defend their Super Bowl title.
24. Who Will Win the NFC West? Does It Matter?
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Is there a more screwed up division in the NFL than the NFC West?
The Seahawks look like a good team, but they're not consistent.
The Cardinals are starting an undrafted rookie at quarterback, yet lead the division at the moment.
The St. Louis Rams are coming out of nowhere with Sam Bradford at the helm, but there's not much else there to make anyone think the Rams still will be in the race by the end of the season.
Then there are the San Francisco 49ers, who have one win and a coach and starting quarterback whose jobs could be week-to-week right now.
The Cardinals have this kind of charm about them, though, and they always seem to succeed under Ken Whisenhunt even when it seems they shouldn't. The Cardinals will somehow find a way to be the champions of the NFC West again.
23. Is Max Hall the Quarterback of the Future in Arizona?
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The Cardinals decided Matt Leinart was no longer worth keeping and that Derek Anderson wasn't the answer.
Despite drafting John Skelton in the fifth round this year, the Cardinals turned to undrafted rookie Max Hall to be their field general.
Hall didn't lose the game for the Cardinals in his first start, but he didn't go out and throw for three touchdowns either.
If Hall develops, head coach Ken Whisenhunt will be elevated to the rank of "genius" in the NFL for discovering the guy every other team passed up on.
Whisenhunt must have seen something in Hall to give him the keys to the car, so even though he had a forgettable first NFL start, I'm not going to pass judgment until I've seen more and rely on Whisenhunt's evaluation.
Hall will be the quarterback of the future for Arizona until proven different.
22. Will Colt McCoy Make a Difference in Cleveland?
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While it may not mean much for the Browns playoff chances, increasingly better play by Colt McCoy may thwart the playoff hopes of another AFC North team.
If Colt McCoy turns out to be everything Browns fans hope to be, the Browns just may end up knocking another AFC North team out of the playoffs like they did to the Steelers last year.
In addition, good play by McCoy will negate the need for Cleveland to draft a quarterback in next year's draft.
One game doesn't make a career, but the fact McCoy looked poised in the face of the Steelers defense says all the right things. McCoy will make a difference, and it will be a positive thing.
21. Will Alex Smith Lose His Job?
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Alex Smith's job currently is week-to-week, according to Mike Singletary.
If Singletary thinks Smith's play could mean the end of his time in San Francisco, don't think for a moment he won't bench him.
Smith is auditioning for a job every week now, and that kind of motivation can be a good thing.
Sometimes, though, it isn't. See: Leinart, Matt.
There's too many obstacles in Smith's path for him to not lose his job at some point. Not saying he won't get it back, but there will come a week where Singletary tells him to sit down. There just seems to be an air of inevitability about it.
20. Will Brett Favre Reach 300 Consecutive Starts?
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The ability of Brett Favre to reach 300 consecutive starts will have a huge bearing on whether or not the Vikings reach the playoffs.
Unless he's hit by an in-game injury that does sideline him, Favre will make that 300th start, you can take that one to the bank.
19. Which First-Round Pick Will Have the Most Successful Season?
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Even if the team does bad, which first-round pick will have the best season?
Will Bradford become the story? Will Ndamukong Suh just destroy everything in sight?
Maybe Tim Tebow gets an opportunity to start and shuts all his critics up.
By leading the Rams to three wins this season, Bradford already is the biggest success story of the season. The Rams are not regretting this pick, or the money spent on him at this point.
18. Which First-Round Pick Will Have the Worst Season?
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Which first-round draft pick will end up with the most questions at the end of the year?
C.J. Spiller hasn't had a lot of opportunity at Buffalo, but the whole team needs improvement.
Are the many linemen drafted this year in the first-round living up to their potential? Is it too early to even accurately judge this category?
Whether or not it's too early, the early returns don't favor Spiller, who hasn't done much for the Buffalo offense. That could change, but as of right now, Spiller has a lot of work to do.
17. How Many More Concussions Will We See?
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Concussions no longer are about taking a few plays off to clear the cobwebs. Now they take a player out for the rest of the game and possibly longer.
With the league declaring that they will step up enforcement of helmet-to-helmet hits, how will that affect coverages and how many more players will go down with the head injury?
This will affect many teams, and it will affect the playoff race.
Concussions will go down, but you're still going to see a few per week, it's just inevitable. However, the bone-jarring, concussion-inducing super hits definitely are going to decrease.
16. Which Team Is the Most Overrated?
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Which team is the most overrated so far this year?
Is it the Bears, who won two games by no fault of their own? Is it the Seahawks, who still have a lot of questions to answer with Pete Carroll now behind the helm?
It's the Bears, who won one game by benefitting from a horrible call on the last play of the game and another one because the Packers couldn't stop committing penalties.
The Bears have let Jay Cutler get sacked about 500 times this year already and are nowhere near as good as their 4-2 record might indicate.
15. Which Team Is the Most Underrated?
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Which team is getting lost in the shuffle six weeks into the year?
Is it the Dolphins, who are in the same division as the New York Jets and New England Patriots?
Is it the Houston Texans, who have beaten the Colts but still don't seem to be getting a lot of attention for their play?
It's the Dolphins, who have played very well, and except for the special teams debacle against New England, have shown they're no longer the bottom-dwelling team they were a few weeks ago.
14. Who Is the Biggest Surprise This Year?
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Which team has surprised everyone so far this year?
Hands down the 3-0 start by the Kansas City Chiefs was about as unexpected as it gets, but after losing two in a row, can they continue to be the surprise of the 2010 season?
I think they can. They have one of the best coaching staffs in the league, and about as solid a front office as any fan could hope to have. It's a winning organization that will transfer its experience to the Kansas City organization.
13. Which Head Coach Will Prove His Detractors Wrong?
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Eric Mangini hasn't won many games during his tenure in Cleveland, but there's no doubt the team has improved. The lack of numbers in the "win" column, though, have upset a lot of people and the question now is, can he survive another double-digit loss season?
How about Wade Phillips, who works for the guy who fired Jimmy Johnson?
Mike Singletary has all the passion you want from a head coach, but not enough of the winning 49ers fans wish he had to go along with that passion.
Mangini turned things around in Cleveland the last four games of last year, and so far this season, even though the record doesn't show it, his team has hung in every game, leading most of them at halftime.
The team's achilles heal has been its inability to score in the second half, but with Colt McCoy now under center, that could change very quickly.
12. Will DeSean Jackson's Absence Negatively Affect the Eagles?
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With DeSean Jackson most likely sidelined with a concussion for at least this week, how will the Eagles offense respond?
Michael Vick is the more versatile quarterback when it comes to playing without receivers, but Kevin Kolb has shown he can extend plays.
There's also LeSean McCoy running the ball, so it's going to be interesting to see how the Eagles offense looks without Jackson.
It should look fine as McCoy still can run and Kolb can still find Jeremy Maclin.
11. Can Ben Roethlisberger Shake Off the Controversies?
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The off-field issues of Ben Roethlisberger probably won't go away. Just ask any woman what they think of Big Ben and most Steelers fans wouldn't like the answer.
Roethlisberger has shaken off the controversies before, and he played well against Cleveland Sunday, but not every team the Steelers face from here on out will have as soft a secondary as the Browns.
Still, no one extends a play like Roethlisberger, and he and the Steelers should be fine.
10. Will Julius Peppers Be Seen as the Best Free Agent Acquisition?
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If the Bears can continue to win games while Jay Cutler is destroyed on a routine basis, one of the reasons for those wins will be the play of Julius Peppers.
Peppers already has 13 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
While the Bears may have problems on their offensive line, Peppers has been making sure he isn't one of the reasons Lovie Smith has to worry before game time.
This was the best free agent acquisition of the offseason as Peppers really has raised the talent level on that unit.
9. Who Is the Most Overrated Coach in the League?
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Between Rex Ryan's incredibly media-friendly personality and the HBO Show "Hard Knocks," is Ryan really as good as he thinks he is?
Or are the Jets just playing well right now because of good talent and good play?
That's what the rest of the season will determine, but Ryan only will be as good as his last win, and he's showing a lot of bluster for a guy whose team backed into the playoffs last year.
Ryan is overrated, but right now he looks like a genius. Ask Eric Mangini how long that lasts.
8. Who Is the Most Underrated Coach in the League?
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Everyone spends so much time talking about Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis, it's sometimes easy to forget Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.
If the Chiefs continue to surprise the NFL this season, everyone will remember his name come January.
You can make a case for Tony Sparano, who always has been overshadowed by Bill Parcells, but Haley is the winner here.
7. Who Will Be the League's Top Offensive Player?
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Can Peyton Manning keep up his MVP-ish numbers on offense despite losing most of his weapons in the last few weeks?
Will another quarterback take the crown from Manning?
Maybe Chris Johnson gets his 2,500 yards?
Peyton still is too good to lose this category, even with his reduced numbers so far this year. I would be surprised if he didn't get offensive player of the year at this point.
6. Who Will Be the League's Top Defensive Player?
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Clay Matthews already has 8.5 sacks. Will he overcome his injury and continue to dominate?
Will LaRon Landry tackle so many people it will be impossible to not give him an award?
Will Charles Godfrey continue to make quarterbacks' lives miserable by making more interceptions?
Matthews is the winner here. This is a guy who leaves everything on the field and plays like a man possessed. Every team wishes they had a guy like Matthews, and that will be proven again and again this year.
5. Who Will Be the MVP?
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There are too many players to name as candidates right now, but just take the top five performers in every category and then go from there.
Tom Brady is playing like a guy with something to prove, even though he has three Super Bowl rings.
Peyton Manning always is a threat, and so is Drew Brees.
See, we could be here all day just talking about quarterbacks.
That being said, if Chris Johnson gets his 2,500 yards, then he's the winner.
My prediction is it will come down to Johnson and a quarterback with Johnson squeaking out the win.
4. Will Darrelle Revis Overcome His Injury?
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Darrelle Revis has been playing through an injured hamstring, but how long can he continue to do it if the hamstring doesn't improve?
Revis is an impact player in every sense, and if he does become 100 percent healthy, the Jets defense will just be that much better.
Considering how well Revis played last week with the injury and the bye week coming up, Revis will overcome his hamstring injury and continue to terrorize opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers.
3. Can The Chargers Figure Out What's Wrong?
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Vincent Jackson returns to the Chargers next week, but he's still not happy and now Antonio Gates is nursing an injury.
The Chargers are 2-4 when most thought the record would look the exact opposite now at worst.
Despite putting a lot of points on the board, the Chargers have not played well enough to win a lot of their games.
Head Coach Norv Turner has taken responsibility in the press, but whether that means changes are coming on the field has yet to be seen.
Chances are the Chargers will pull it together because they've faced similar situations in the past. Jackson's return will bring a spark, and the Chargers will start winning again.
2. Can Carson Palmer Lead The Bengals To The Playoffs?
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While the Bengals offense features Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco as wide receivers, the Bengals only rank 20th in the league in points scored even though they're seventh in passing yardage.
Palmer's QB rating only is 78.3 on the year, and the Bengals are in very real danger of falling too far behind the Ravens and the Steelers to make a legit playoff run.
The Bengals have to put all the pieces together, or the 2009 season could be seen as a "fluke," which it will as the Bengals find it's not easy to win the AFC North two years in a row.
1. How Will The New Helmet-To-Helmet Hit Enforcement Affect The Playoff Races?
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The League has decided to step up enforcement of the no helmet-to-helmet contact rule, and as a result, there will be changes in how defenders make their tackles.
There also will be an adjustment period, and players are going to get suspended.
Those suspensions could have significant affect on playoff races and the teams in those races.
This is the biggest question going forward in 2010 and there is no good answer for it at this time. The refs probably are going to over-react the first few weeks before settling down into a happy medium.
The Steelers, Ravens, Jets, and Patriots all could be significantly affected by this as many of their players will be firmly in the league's crosshairs when it comes to determining violations and punishments.
All these questions, though, lead up to the big, burning question. Click on to find out what it is . . .
The Big Question: Who Will Win The Superbowl?
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have the best chance of winning the Super Bowl as we sit here in late October.
Their defense is as tough and unbreakable as it gets, and even the new rules don't change the fact they flat out shut down the run and Troy Polamalu can disrupt a passing game like nobody's business.
Now that Ben Roethlisberger is back, the offense should start scoring points, and unless something significant happens to the personnel on that team, I have a difficult time seeing any other team beating Pittsburgh in the playoffs.
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