2015 NFL SEASON PREVIEW

2015 Teams listed by predicted finish CONFERENCE power 2014 regular-season record rankings EAST NORTH SOUTH WEST Scale of one to five, Patriots Bills Dolphins Jets Ravens Steelers Bengals Browns Colts Texans Titans Jaguars Broncos Chiefs Chargers Raiders with five 12-4 9-7 8-8 4-12 10-6 11-5 10-5-1 7-9 11-5 9-7 2-14 3-13 12-4 9-7 9-7 3-13 being the best ranking:

Offense O O O Defense D D D Coaching C C C Special ST ST ST teams

TOTAL 17 15 14 14 16 15 14 11 17 15 1211 15 15 13 12 (out of 20) Super NFL’s The Lots of Superbly Forget Anything Nice The Colts DE J.J. 2015 Third year Two LB Justin Is this the Is this the Bowl longest addition of offensive coached Steel less than defense, should Watt is Heisman of coach words why Houston last year in last year in champs string Ndamukong weapons team has Curtain, a win or not much run away the best winner Gus Denver has big San Diego Oakland not as without Suh makes but QB some Steelers two in else in with the all-around Marcus Bradley’s gets the money he for the for the good as making a solid questions have post- Cleveland; division player in Mariota is plan and edge in earned, Chargers Raiders they’ve playoffs Dolphins will miss to answer become season does and the NFL, intriguing Jags must tough now he before before been, but (15 years) defense early part on offensive could Johnny challenge but has prospect show sector: deserves heading heading good could end even of season offense in jugger- lead to Football for a mediocre who needs some Peyton more to Los to Los enough in under more with a a tough naut changes get a shot Super support time to improve- Manning plaudits Angeles? Angeles? division Rex Ryan dangerous broken jaw division instead in Cincy at QB? Bowl berth grow ment

Judge lets Brady play, rules against the NFL in ‘Deflategate’ Marquee matchups Some games worth tuning in to without reservation:

Airing grievances Steelers at Patriots Seven months. At least $3 million Week 1 • Sept. 10 Season opener between two spent on lawyers. Reports contenders; will and responses and be there? arbitration and appeals and even a college class Vikings at in New England called 49ers “Deflategate.” Week 1 • Sept. 14 Adrian Peterson returns to Vikings, And it’s not over yet. facing NFL’s most-depleted roster. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman erased Tom Brady’s Seahawks at four-game suspension, handing Packers Week 2 • Sept. 20 the four-time Super Bowl Rematch of superb NFC title game champion another win in a of January that Packers blew late. career full of them. The NFL promptly appealed. Patriots at So expect more talk about Colts deflated footballs and further Week 6 • Oct. 18 Rematch of AFC title rout – you know, fallout from Commissioner Roger the game with deflated footballs. Goodell’s botched attempt to punish the Pats and their Broncos at for using improperly Colts inflated footballs. Week 9 • Nov. 8 ’s final trip to Lucas Back on the gridiron, AP has Oil Stadium he helped get built? you covered as the season’s first weekend approaches. Bears at Packers Week 12 • Nov. 26 Thanksgiving night, and the Packers retire Brett Favre’s jersey. Illustration by Peter Hamlin

Steelers at Ravens 2014 LEAGUE LEADERS OFFENSE (Average per game) (Regular season) Week 16 • Dec. 27 SCORING(Points) PASSING (Yards) RUSHING (Yards) TOTAL OFFENSE Bitter rivals could decide tough AFC (Yards) North with this prime-time matchup. Packers 30.4 Colts 305.9 Seahawks 172.6 Saints 411.4 Broncos 30.1 Steelers 301.6 Cowboys 147.1 Steelers 411.1 Eagles 29.6 Saints 297.8 Jets 142.5 Colts 406.6 Seahawks at Cardinals DEFENSE POINTS ALLOWED SACKS TURNOVERS TOTAL DEFENSE (Yards) Week 17 • Jan. 3 Seahawks 15.9 Bills 54.0 Texans 34 Seahawks 267.1 This could be for NFC West title Chiefs 17.6 Ravens 49.0 Cowboys 31 Lions 300.9 AND conference’s best record. Lions 17.6 Eagles 49.0 Bills 30 Broncos 305.2

Ryan, Murray among coaches, players changing NFL addresses Some of the game’s biggest names head into the season plying their trade on new teams. Others return to old stomping grounds.

Rex Ryan John Fox DeMarco Ndamukong Haloti Jimmy Frank Gary Kubiak Darrelle Antonio Head Coach Murray Suh Ngata Graham Gore Head Coach Revis Cromartie Head Coach Bills Bears RB • Eagles DT • Dolphins DT • Lions TE • Seahawks RB • Colts Broncos CB • Jets • DB Raiders Has provided A mutual The NFL’s A $114 million, Five-time Pro The most Colts hoping Spent 11 years as Revis/Cromatrie combo Grew up in the a brash voice agreement leading rusher six-year deal Bowl DT fills significant the former an assistant coach will be patrolling second- Oakland area and swagger to with the is a huge makes him the the void for the change of Niner can with the Broncos ary for Gang Green. rooting for the a team that’s Broncos to coup for highest-paid Lions left by address. The finally get their before getting If the Jets hadn’t bid adieu Raiders. He never faded from leave Denver Eagles coach defensive the departure former Saints running game the head job in to that duo – Revis in 2013, played for nor relevance led to his Chip Kelly, player in NFL of Suh. Played tight end going. With his Houston. John Cromartie the next year – coached them – during a landing in who had been history. The in 135 games could be the addition, Indy Elway hired him Rex Ryan might still be until now. Has been 15-season Chicago, a under fire for three-time and made 445 key piece hopes its away from the coaching in the Meadow- defensive coordin- stretch of team in des- trading 2013 first-team tackles with to lift the backfield can Ravens, where lands. New coach Todd ator in Denver for missing the perate need rushing leader All-Pro DT 25.5 sacks Seahawks’ give QB Kubiak was Bowles will benefit from past three seasons, playoffs – the of a coach LeSean can transform during his nine offense closer Andrew Luck their returns, bolstering a helping them win NFL’s longest with a proven McCoy to the Fins into a seasons with to their the balance last season, defensive backfield that three straight active drought. resume. . contender. the Ravens. all-world D. he needs. to replace Fox. was awful last season. AFC West titles.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

EAST NORTH SOUTH WEST

Eagles Cowboys Giants Redskins Packers Vikings Lions Bears Panthers Saints Falcons Buccaneers Seahawks Cardinals Rams 49ers 10-6 12-4 6-10 4-12 12-4 7-9 11-5 5-11 7-8-1 7-9 6-10 2-14 12-4 11-5 6-10 8-8

Offense O O O Defense D D D Coaching C C C Special ST ST ST teams TOTAL 1514 14 11 16 15 1311 1412 1210 17 15 14 11 (out of 20) Some Loss The An RG3 Class The return The Good Still the Drew New QB Jameis The top Best- Terrific Every- wonder of RB offense resurgence of the of Adrian Lions luck, best of Brees coach Winston team in coached pass thing if coach DeMarco could be would be division, Peterson defense John Fox; a weak lost his Dan gets NFL adds squad rush, has fallen Chip Murray unstoppa- among the Packers and the took this is a group, best Quinn thrown star TE in the Rams apart Kelly is could be ble, NFL’s best should development some Monsters Panthers target in has a into the Jimmy league, will need for the mad; much but will stories of have of Teddy big hits of the go for Jimmy huge NFL fire; Graham but it can’t to win 49ers others bigger need to the 2015 been in Bridgewater and the Midway a third Graham task keep to afford low in the wonder than outscore season Super mean opening rebuilding straight and the rebuilding expecta- develop- another scoring offseason if he is Dallas opponents Bowl a improved schedule job crown defense Falcons’ tions low ing injury games brilliant lets on weekly year ago Vikings is brutal has holes defense offense wave

Team rankings compiled by AP Football Writer Barry Wilner

SOURCE: AP