After orchestrating Operation: Get out of Denver in a a lot of accessible (and whiney) fashion, the strong-armed quarterback will be beneath a microscope. In Chicago, area achievement is bound begin and just as bound lost, the admirers are jumping on the Cutler appearance — assertive he will be the quarterback to bear the Bears aback to the Super Bowl. Not so fast my friend. Never in his academy or pro career has Cutler delivered any aggregation to the postseason. In fact, his almanac as a amateur in Denver was 17-20. Is that what will save the Bears? The beating on the aggregation — even during their 2006 Super Bowl run — has been their weakness at quarterback. Even admitting that isn’t the Bears’ botheration this analysis (aging defense), all eyes will be on Cutler.
Story Lines
1. Brett Favre in a Barney apparel ? Well, not quite. The Vikings are at Cleveland this weekend, which agency alley whites. Still, No. 4 allotment afterwards a long, uh … offseason … abroad from football. Is Favre absolutely authoritative a improvement if he never in fact misses any games? Regardless, his attendance turns the Vikings into appointment appellation contenders, provided, of course, that he has abundant gas larboard in the catchbasin to bang through the accomplished season. But there’s one affair that still irks us here. The Vikings are a active team. They can win 10 amateur this year artlessly by handing the brawl to Adrian Peterson all day. They charge a game-manager who can assure the ball, absolute mistakes and accumulate a aegis honest. Does Favre, the ultimate gunslinger, bang you as that affectionate of guy? We didn’t anticipate so.
2. T.O. toes the band ? Even admitting Terrell Owens joked on Twitter that the battlefront of Buffalo Bills abhorrent coordinator Turk Schonert was his fault, it couldn’t be accurate — Owens played absolutely one preseason alternation for his new aggregation due to a toe injury. Maybe that’s the best way for Owens to accumulate from getting a disruption (by the way, VH1 has best up a additional analysis of his absoluteness show). For now, arch drillmaster Dick Jauron has bigger problems with his no-huddle offense. But would anyone be afraid to see Owens get angled out of appearance if his aboriginal bold for the Bills is calmly overshadowed by New England QB Tom Brady’s return?
3. Out with the old, in with the new ? Afterwards amateur coaches Tony Sparano (Miami), Mike Smith (Atlanta), and John Harbaugh (Baltimore) collection their teams to the playoffs in 2008, the NFL went copycat. So this year, if a almanac 11 new coaches yield over, nine are in their aboriginal year. The youngest are 33-year-olds Josh McDaniels (Denver) and Raheem Morris (Tampa Bay). The added rookies are Steve Spagnuolo (St. Louis), Todd Haley (Kansas City), Rex Ryan (New York Jets), Tom Cable (Oakland), Jim Schwartz (Detroit), Jim Caldwell (Indianapolis), and, bringing up the rear, Mike Singletary (San Francisco). It will be absorbing to see how the new coaches book in Anniversary 1 if all, except Caldwell (the oldest of the accumulation at 54) are underdogs.
Upset Special
Browns over Vikings
The Brett Favre Era will get off to a bouldered alpha if the Vikings biking to Cleveland on Sunday. Brady Quinn was called the Browns starting quarterback and is allotment of a accumulation with a ton to prove afterwards endure year’s 4-12 disaster. New drillmaster Eric Mangini has installed a much-needed faculty of discipline. No, Cleveland isn’t headed to the playoffs. The Browns are just cutting for mediocre. But for one anniversary at atomic — as Favre and the Vikings get acclimated to anniversary added — they will cull off a 24-21 shocker.
Fantasy Watch
Five to Start
1. Matt Hasselbeck ? Starts improvement analysis with a new receiver, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and adjoin an abominable Rams team.
2. Ray Rice ? Active aback will get the majority of carries for run-heavy Ravens and should agency in the casual game.
3. Fred Jackson ? With Marshawn Lynch abeyant for three games, the Bills about-face to Jackson in the backfield.
4. Vincent Jackson ? Wide out had seven touchdowns endure year and Chargers accessible the year adjoin Oakland.
5. Josh Morgan ? Young 49ers playmaker will accomplish the best of Michael Crabtree’s adjudicator adjoin Arizona.
Five to Sit
1. Chris Johnson ? Titans aback won’t get abounding yards adjoin the Steelers and he’s not the ambition band guy.
2. Willie Parker ? The active bold will yield a hit on both abandon for the aperture Thursday night game.
3. Brett Favre ? Better get acclimated to handing the brawl off to Adrian Peterson and throwing 15-20 times.
4. Brandon Marshall ? Could play this week, but missing the preseason due to abeyance may could cause apathetic start.
5. Willis McGahee ? A big name, but he’s no best the amateur in a awash Baltimore backfield.
Game to Watch
Titans at Steelers, Thurs. 8:30 p.m., NBC
The arresting Super Bowl champs should be revved up: Remember two Titans (LenDale White and Keith Bullock) stomping on the Terrible Towel afterwards a win endure year? But both teams accept added to anguish about. Tennessee accept to appearance it can acreage a acceptable aegis bare ancient chargeless abettor arresting accouterment Albert Haynesworth. Of course, the Titans exhausted Pittsburgh after Haynesworth endure season, en avenue to a 13-3 almanac and home acreage advantage. The Steelers accept to be anxious about active aback Willie Parker, who absent three preseason amateur with a hamstring injury.
Examiner Power Rankings
No. Aggregation Comment
1. Steelers ? A accepted adventitious to echo as Super Bowl champs
2. Patriots ? Tom Brady is aback but Pats’ aegis is aging
3. Giants ? Big catechism mark at receiver, loaded everywhere else
4. Titans ? Does Kerry Collins accord them abundant bite at QB?
5. Eagles ? Vick + McNabb + Westbook + Jackson + Maclin = lots of points
6. Vikings ? If Brett Favre performs well, they cruise into playoffs
7. Falcons ? Haven’t had acceptable almanac two years in a row … ever
8. Chargers ? Let’s face it. Nine wins gets it done in AFC West
9. Colts ? Do Peyton Manning & Co. accept abundant for addition run?
10. Packers ? If they can play defense, they’ll claiming for North title
11. Ravens ? Joe Flacco, John Harbaugh attending to abstain green slumps
12. Bears ? Jay Cutler is aboriginal accepted Chicago QB in 20 years
13. Cardinals ? They’ll account points, but can they stop anyone?
14. Panthers ? They can run, but can Jake Delhomme abbreviate mistakes?
15. Saints ? Drew Brees ability be the NFL’s best QB
16. Seahawks ? Offseason upgrades will advice them attempt in anemic NFC West
17. Texans ? This is a analytical analysis for Matt Schaub
18. Dolphins ? Soft agenda helped a lot endure year; acclivous action this time
19. Cowboys ? Second-best aggregation in the accompaniment (don’t acquaint Jerry!)
20. Redskins ? Fourth-best aggregation in the analysis (don’t acquaint Danny!)
21. Jets ? They’ll adulation Mark Sanchez, but Jets still missing pieces
22. Bills ? Fired OC afore analysis even started; that’s a bad sign
23. 49ers ? Paging Michael Crabtree: The alternation is abrogation the station
24. Buccanneers ? See: Bills, Buffalo
25. Jaguars ? Maurice Jones-Drew will advance as primary back
26. Bengals ? We’re still cat-and-mouse for Caron Palmer to achieve Pro Bowl form
27. Browns ? They charge Braylon Edwards about 2007, not 2008
28. Broncos ? Had conceivably the strangest offseason we’ve anytime seen
29. Chiefs ? See: Buccanneers, Tampa Bay and Bills, Buffalo
30. Rams ? Steve Spagnuolo will ambition he was aback in New Jersey
31. Raiders ? Al Davis is acerbic into a two-word bite line
32. Lions ? Matthew Stafford and his blaster will struggle
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