Coaching Special teams Defense Offense D C ST O EAST 2016 power rankings Scale of one to five, with five being the best ranking: 2015 regular-season records D C ST O D C ST O D C ST O Doug Pederson brings back Andy Reid school of coaching Capable of repeat- ing here, but need to be stingier on defense Best team in perhaps weakest division in the league If Tony Romo gets hurt again, this is a last-place team Return of WR Jordy Nelson could be the differ- ence maker in tight race John Fox’s teams usually improve in his second coaching season If Adrian Peterson is a 2,000-yard runner again, the Vikings squeeze past the Pack “Mega- tron’s” departure a game changer in the Motor City NFL MVP Cam Newton and Coach of Year Ron Rivera a great combina- tion Expecting improve- ment from Bucs’ defense and from QB Jameis Winston The Falcons final season in the Georgia Dome won’t be memorable Drew Brees can lift the Saints higher than talent level warrants Only team in the NFL capable of a 5 rating in the first three catego- ries Relocation to LA should provide a boost, but the Rams aren’t title contenders Want to see Chip Kelly’s true offense? Try the Oregon Ducks QB Carson Palmer’s meltdown in the NFC champion- ship game raises some doubts TOTAL (out of 20) 12 12 12 11 14 11 11 15 11 16 15 10 13 11 11 14 Coaching Special teams Defense Offense A M E R I C A N F O O T B A L L C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 1 6 N F L S E A S O N P R E V I E W WEST NORTH SOUTH EAST WEST NORTH SOUTH N A T I O N A L F O O T B A L L C O N F E R E N C E Patriots 12-4 Jets 10-6 Dolphins 6-10 Bills 8-8 Steelers 10-6 Ravens 5-11 Bengals 12-4 Browns 3-13 Titans 3-13 Colts 8-8 Texans 9-7 Jaguars 5-11 Chargers 4-12 Broncos 12-4 Raiders 7-9 Chiefs 11-5 D C ST O D C ST O TOTAL (out of 20) 14 12 12 16 15 15 17 10 12 11 10 11 14 14 10 15 Season could hinge on record during Tom Brady’s four- game suspension If the running game comes through, the Jets could be a wild- card team The question is will Ndamukong Suh show up and earn his money this season? Injuries and turmoil in the preseason don’t bode well for the Buffalo Bills WR Antonio Brown is the best offensive player in NFL, and the defense is stronger Bengals’ problem isn‘t making playoffs, it’s winning the post- season game If, unlike last year, the Ravens can stay healthy, they can contend Hue Jackson is quality coach, but Browns might have NFL’s worst roster If they can stay healthy, the Chiefs are a Super Bowl contender Too many defec- tions, retire- ments and injuries to repeat No playoffs since 2002, Raiders could be ready to go back to post- season Like the Browns, the Chargers are good choice for last place Houston won division with mediocre QBs; Brock Osweiler should be improve- ment Like that Gus Bradley has gotten time to build Jags, who must produce now Rebuilding season; at least Titans have their franchise QB in Marcus Mariota Healthy Andrew Luck helps, but there are just too many questions here Eagles 7-9 Giants 6-10 Cowboys 4-12 Redskins 9-7 Bears 6-10 Packers 10-6 Vikings 11-5 Lions 7-9 Panthers 15-1 Falcons 8-8 Buccaneers 6-10 Saints 7-9 Rams 7-9 Cardinals 13-3 49ers 5-11 Seahawks 10-6 Team rankings compiled by AP Football Writer Barry Wilner AP Football Writer Dennis Waszak Ed DeGasero/AP SOURCE: National Football League Adam Gase • 38 Miami Dolphins First NFL head coaching job Hue Jackson • 50 Cleveland Browns 8-8 (Raiders, 2011) Ben McAdoo • 39 New York Giants First NFL head coaching job Doug Pederson • 48 Philadelphia Eagles First NFL head coaching job Dirk Koetter • 57 Tampa Bay Buccaneers First NFL head coaching job Chip Kelly • 52 San Francisco 49ers (26-22, inc. 0-1 in playoffs, Eagles 2013-15) Mike Mularkey • 54 Tennessee Titans 18-39 (Bills, 2004-05; Jaguars, 2012; Titans, 2015) The NFL’s youngest head coach saw his stock rise during the last few years as an assistant. His work with Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ O the last few years opened some eyes. Bears’ offensive coordinator last season. His ability to develop QB Ryan Tannehill will go a long way in determining his success in Miami. After three sometimes- tumultuous seasons with the Eagles, Kelly takes over a 49ers team that went from Super Bowl contender three years ago to a 5-11 mark and uncertainty in 2015. Trying to turn quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s career around will be near the top of Kelly’s list. Has previous college head coaching experience, having led Boise State (1998- 2000) and Arizona State (2001-06), but his work as an offensive coordinator with Jacksonville, Atlanta and Tampa Bay over the last 10 years made him a prime NFL candidate. The long-time NFL assistant spent last six seasons with Bengals, including last two as offensive coordinator. Has been well- respected for years in league circles, and now is tasked with trying to turn around a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs since the 2002 season. Steps into the job held the last 12 seasons by Tom Coughlin, who led the franchise to two Super Bowl titles. Under McAdoo’s tutelage as the Giants’ offensive coordinator the past two seasons, Eli Manning threw for 65 TDs, the most in any two-season stretch of his career. Once the backup to Brett Favre in Green Bay. Chiefs’ offensive coordinator under Andy Reid the last three seasons. His work with QBs such as Michael Vick, Nick Foles and Alex Smith had him highly regarded. He’ll get to develop QB Carson Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in April. Titans removed interim tag from his name this offseason after he replaced fired Ken Whisenhunt last November. Titans went 2-7 with Mularkey. Has an exciting young QB in Marcus Mariota, but will be charged with trying to turn around a franchise that has had one winning season since last reaching the playoffs in 2008. A look at the new head coaches – and some old coaches in new places – in the NFL this season: New men in charge DEFENSE OFFENSE 2015 LEAGUE LEADERS Panthers Cardinals Patriots Saints Cardinals Steelers Bills Panthers Seahawks Cardinals Saints Steelers Seahawks Bengals Chiefs Broncos Patriots Steelers Panthers Cardinals Jets/Steelers Broncos Seahawks Texans 31.2 30.6 29.1 310.6 288.5 287.7 152.0 142.6 138.2 408.3 403.8 395.4 17.3 17.4 17.9 52.0 49.0 48.0 39 33 30 283.1 291.8 310.2 TOTAL DEFENSE (Yards) TURNOVERS POINTS ALLOWED SACKS SCORING PASSING RUSHING (Points) (Yards) (Yards) TOTAL OFFENSE (Yards) Some games worth tuning in to before Thanksgiving without reservation: Marquee matchups Seahawks at Rams Falcons at Saints Patriots at Browns Raiders at Jaguars Cardinals at Panthers Steelers at Ravens Week 2 • Sun., Sept. 18 Pro football returns to Los Angeles, first regular-season game there in 22 years. Week 3 • Mon., Sept. 26 A decade ago, these teams met in a emotion-packed first game at the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina. Week 5 • Sun., Oct. 9 Pity the Browns: Tom Brady returns from four-game suspension for this. Week 7 • Sun., Oct. 23 Two teams expected to rise in standings in 2016. Will they still be relevant here? Week 8 • Sun., Oct. 30 Cardinals return to scene of NFC title debacle. Week 9 • Sun., Nov. 6 Resumption of the nastiest rivalry in the league. Blue and gold come home after 22 years ... (Average per game) (Regular season) Going ‘Hollywood’ (Age, team and record) Texans at Raiders Week 11 • Mon., Nov. 21 “Bienvenidos a Mexico,” NFL heads South of the Border again. Panthers at Broncos Week 1 • Thurs., Sept. 8 Rematch of 2016 Super Bowl, minus Peyton Manning. Illustration by Peter Hamlin Los Angeles’ 22-year span without an NFL team is coming to an end this season as the Rams return to the city after playing in St. Louis since 1995. Until their new estimated $2.6 billion stadium complex is finished in 2019 – at the site of the old Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood, about 10 miles from downtown L.A. – the Rams will play their home games at the Los Angeles Coliseum. But this is the NFL and it’s not all just West Coast dreamin’. Tom Brady is suspended for the first four games of the season, which could open things up for the other teams in the AFC East to make a move on the division. The league also loses a number of stars this season, most noteworthy, Peyton Manning. A rule change for the season could make things interesting on kickoffs. A touchback will now bring the ball out to the 25-yard line instead of the 20, giving teams an extra 5 yards to work with. The rule was designed to limit the number of returns and injuries, and could make teams ask their kicker to pooch kicks higher and shorter to prevent touchbacks.
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CoachingSpecialteams
DefenseOffense
DC
ST
O
E A S T
2016 power rankings
Scale of one to five, with five being the best ranking:
2015 regular-season records
DC
ST
ODC
ST
ODC
ST
O
Doug Pederson
brings back Andy
Reid school of coaching
Capable of repeat-
ing here, but need
to be stingier
on defense
Best team in perhaps weakest division in the league
If Tony Romo
gets hurt again,
this is a last-place
team
Return of WR Jordy
Nelson could be
the differ-ence
maker in tight race
John Fox’s teams usually improve
in his second
coaching season
If Adrian Peterson
is a2,000-yard
runner again, the
Vikings squeeze past the
Pack
“Mega-tron’s”
departure a game changer
in the Motor City
NFL MVP Cam
Newton and Coach
of Year Ron
Rivera a great
combina-tion
Expecting improve-
ment from Bucs’
defense and from
QB Jameis Winston
The Falcons
final season in the
Georgia Dome
won’t be memorable
Drew Brees can lift
the Saints higher than talent level
warrants
Only team in the NFL capable of a 5
rating in the first three
catego-ries
Relocation to LA
should provide a boost, but the Rams
aren’t title contenders
Want to see Chip Kelly’s
true offense? Try the Oregon Ducks
QB Carson Palmer’s meltdown
in the NFC
champion-ship game
raises some
doubts
TOTAL (out of 20)
1212 12 11 14 1111 15 11 16 15 1013111114
CoachingSpecialteams
DefenseOffense
A M E R I C A N F O O T B A L L C O N F E R E N C E
2 0 1 6 N F L S E A S O N P R E V I E W
W E S TN O R T H S O U T H
E A S T W E S TN O R T H S O U T H
N A T I O N A L F O O T B A L L C O N F E R E N C E
Patriots12-4
Jets10-6
Dolphins6-10
Bills8-8
Steelers10-6
Ravens5-11
Bengals12-4
Browns3-13
Titans3-13
Colts8-8
Texans9-7
Jaguars5-11
Chargers4-12
Broncos12-4
Raiders7-9
Chiefs11-5
DC
ST
ODC
ST
O
TOTAL (out of 20)
14 12 1216 151517 10 12 11 1011 14 14 1015Season could
hinge on record during Tom
Brady’s four-game
suspension
If the running game comes
through, the Jets could be a wild-card team
The question
is will Ndamukong Suh show
up and earn his money
this season?
Injuries and
turmoil in the
preseason don’t bode
well for the
BuffaloBills
WR Antonio Brown is the best offensive
player in NFL, and the
defense is stronger
Bengals’ problem
isn‘t making playoffs,
it’s winning the post-season game
If, unlike last year,
the Ravens can stay healthy, they can contend
Hue Jackson is quality
coach, but Browns might have NFL’s worst roster
If they can stay healthy,
the Chiefs are a Super Bowl
contender
Too many defec-tions, retire-ments and
injuries to repeat
No playoffs since 2002,
Raiders could be ready to go back to post-season
Like the Browns,
the Chargers are good choice for last place
Houston won
division with
mediocre QBs; Brock
Osweiler should be improve-
ment
Like that Gus
Bradley has gotten
time to build
Jags, who must
produce now
Rebuilding season; at least Titans
have their franchise
QB in Marcus Mariota
Healthy Andrew
Luck helps, but there are just too many
questions here
Eagles7-9
Giants6-10
Cowboys4-12
Redskins9-7
Bears6-10
Packers10-6
Vikings11-5
Lions7-9
Panthers15-1
Falcons8-8
Buccaneers6-10
Saints7-9
Rams7-9
Cardinals13-3
49ers5-11
Seahawks10-6
Team rankings compiled by AP Football Writer Barry Wilner
AP Football Writer Dennis Waszak
Ed DeGasero/APSOURCE: National Football League
Adam Gase • 38Miami DolphinsFirst NFL head
coaching job
Hue Jackson • 50Cleveland Browns
8-8 (Raiders, 2011)
Ben McAdoo • 39New York Giants First NFL head
coaching job
Doug Pederson • 48Philadelphia Eagles
First NFL head coaching job
Dirk Koetter • 57Tampa Bay Buccaneers
First NFL head coaching job
Chip Kelly • 52San Francisco 49ers
(26-22, inc. 0-1 in playoffs, Eagles 2013-15)
Mike Mularkey • 54Tennessee Titans
18-39 (Bills, 2004-05; Jaguars, 2012; Titans, 2015)
The NFL’s youngest head coach saw his stock rise during the last few years as an assistant. His work with Peyton Manning and
the Broncos’ O the last few years opened some eyes. Bears’ offensive
coordinator last season. His ability to develop QB Ryan Tannehill will go a long way in determining his success in Miami.
After three sometimes-tumultuous seasons
with the Eagles, Kelly takes over a 49ers team
that went from Super Bowl contender three years ago to a 5-11
mark and uncertainty in 2015. Trying to turn
quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s career around will be near
the top of Kelly’s list.
Has previous college head coaching
experience, having led Boise State (1998-2000) and Arizona
State (2001-06), but his work as an
offensive coordinator with Jacksonville,
Atlanta and Tampa Bay over the last 10 years
made him a prime NFL candidate.
The long-time NFL assistant spent last six seasons with Bengals, including last two as offensive coordinator.
Has been well-respected for years in
league circles, and now is tasked with
trying to turn around a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs
since the 2002 season.
Steps into the job held the last 12 seasons
by Tom Coughlin, who led the franchise to
two Super Bowl titles. Under McAdoo’s tutelage as the
Giants’ offensive coordinator the past two seasons, Eli Manning threw for 65 TDs, the
most in any two-season stretch of his career.
Once the backup to Brett Favre in Green Bay. Chiefs’ offensive
coordinator under Andy Reid the last three
seasons. His work with QBs such as Michael Vick, Nick Foles and Alex Smith had him
highly regarded. He’ll get to develop QB
Carson Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in April.
Titans removed interim tag from his name this
offseason after he replaced fired Ken Whisenhunt last
November. Titans went 2-7 with Mularkey. Has an exciting young QB in Marcus Mariota, but will be charged with trying to turn around a franchise
that has had one winning season since last reaching
the playoffs in 2008.
A look at the new head coaches – and some old coaches in new places – in the NFL this season:New men in charge
DEFENSE
OFFENSE 2015 LEAGUE LEADERS
PanthersCardinals
Patriots
SaintsCardinalsSteelers
BillsPanthers
Seahawks
CardinalsSaints
Steelers
SeahawksBengals
Chiefs
BroncosPatriots
Steelers
PanthersCardinals
Jets/Steelers
BroncosSeahawks
Texans
31.230.629.1
310.6288.5287.7
152.0142.6138.2
408.3403.8395.4
17.317.417.9
52.049.048.0
393330
283.1291.8310.2
TOTAL DEFENSE (Yards)TURNOVERSPOINTS ALLOWED SACKS
SCORING PASSING RUSHING(Points) (Yards) (Yards) TOTAL OFFENSE (Yards)
Some games worth tuning in to before Thanksgiving without reservation:
Marquee matchups
Seahawks at Rams
Falcons at Saints
Patriots at Browns
Raiders at Jaguars
Cardinals at Panthers
Steelers at Ravens
Week 2 • Sun., Sept. 18Pro football returns to Los Angeles, first regular-season game there in
22 years.
Week 3 • Mon., Sept. 26A decade ago, these teams met in a emotion-packed first game at the
Superdome since Hurricane Katrina.
Week 5 • Sun., Oct. 9Pity the Browns: Tom Brady returns from four-game suspension for this.
Week 7 • Sun., Oct. 23Two teams expected to rise in
standings in 2016. Will they still be relevant here?
Week 8 • Sun., Oct. 30Cardinals return to scene of NFC
title debacle.
Week 9 • Sun., Nov. 6Resumption of the nastiest
rivalry in the league.
Blue and gold come home after 22 years ...
(Average per game) (Regular season)
Going ‘Hollywood’
(Age, team and record)
Texans at Raiders
Week 11 • Mon., Nov. 21“Bienvenidos a Mexico,” NFL heads South of the Border again.
Panthers at Broncos
Week 1 • Thurs., Sept. 8Rematch of 2016 Super Bowl,
minus Peyton Manning.
Illustration by Peter Hamlin
Los Angeles’ 22-year span without an NFL team is coming to an end this season as the Rams return to the city after playing in St. Louis since 1995.Until their new estimated $2.6 billion stadium complex is finished in 2019 – at the site of the old Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood, about 10 miles from downtown L.A. – the Rams will play their home games at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
But this is the NFL and it’s not all just West Coast dreamin’. Tom Brady is suspended for the first four games of the season, which could open things up for the other teams in the AFC East to make a move on the division. The league also loses a number of stars this season, most noteworthy, Peyton Manning.
A rule change for the season could make things interesting on kickoffs. A touchback will now bring the ball out to the 25-yard line instead of the 20, giving teams an extra 5 yards to work with. The rule was designed to limit the number of returns and injuries, and could make teams ask their kicker to pooch kicks higher and shorter to prevent touchbacks.
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