The NFL's 100th season is finally upon us after thousands of hours - and hundreds of thousands of minutes - without a competitive snap. After all the talk, the questions we over-thought during the off-season will finally get some answers.
So let's kick things off by looking at the state of each team.
Falcons
Bruce Arians and Jameis Winston. Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers. John DeFillippo and Nick Foles. Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray. Those new offensive head coach/ quarterback pairings bring a huge level of intrigue. But none of them have the experience like in Atlanta.
Dirk Koetter and Matt Ryan.
Koetter and Ryan are familiar with one another since Koetter served as Falcons offensive coordinator 2012 to 2014. Back in the role once more, Ryan will hope it will again take him to Pro Bowls.
And perhaps the weapons got better. Wide receiver Julio Jones is the league's best receiver - per his pay cheque, at least - and has stacked depth around him with Calvin Ridley flashing last year and speedster Mohammed Sanu opening up the field. Running back Devonta Freeman played just two games before hitting IR last year, but provides an X-factor in the backfield.
The O-Line saw huge draft investment with first round picks Chris Linstrom and Kaleb McGary. While high offensive linemen picks don't automatically dominate in their first year - Indianpolis's Quenton Nelson being a rare exception - Lindstrom enters as a pro ready guard that can contribute at an area of need.
And he'll be working under a guy that coached the best passing offense - in Tampa Bay - last year.
Deoin Jones plays an elite linebacker in head coach Dan Quinn's system. Jones is a good matchup in terms of running backs Alvin Kamara and Christain McCaffrey who reside in New Orleans and North Carolina respectively.
But a lot of what was doe on defense since the last snap was maintenance. Defensive tackle, Grady Jarrett, signed a big contract but that doesn't mean the team improved. While he and Jones will help stop the run, the pass coverage gave up a lot of yards after the catch last year. Safety Keanu Neal returns from injury and will help shore it up.
But with the kind of offenses in this division, that secondary has to take a huge step up if Atlanta is to keep up in football's most competitive division.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are a contender. They were a top offense (at 6-2) last year before quarterback Cam Newton got injured. The O-Line got some help in the off-season; most notably with Matt Paradis's addition along with a second round investment in left tackle Greg Little.
With new owner David Tepper coming in a year ago, the team might need to return to the same form they had in 2018's first half. If not, the hedge fund manager may opt for some coaching changes to really put a stamp on it being his team.
The first issue will be Newton's health. His style as a human battering ram saw him rise to fame in the league, but it's starting to catch up. How is his body going to cope if the team continues to use designed runs up the middle instead of getting him to the edges where he can avoid hits? The Panthers have weapons and would be wise to use them. Or risk losing Newton like the Colts lost Andrew Luck.
Wide receiver Curtis Samuel is a strong, athletic pass catcher poised to break out in his third year. Partner DJ Moore took some time to settle in during his rookie campaign but ended up with 788 yards on 55 catches while demonstrating his ability to get open. Running back Christian McCaffrey is already a Top 5 running back; and while tight end, Greg Olsen, is liable to exit with injury at any time, he helps when he's around.
The defensive line is trending up on the other side of the ball. Former Buccs rival, Gerald McCoy, was added to the edge along with Bruce Irvin, tackle Kawann Short and first round defensive end Brian Burns. While any of the first three names could regress, Burns looks like a phenomenal talent coming in from college.
If those guys can get a pass rush going, there's no telling how good linebacker. Luke Kuechly, can be again. Making his sixth All Pro team in seven years would go a long way in helping this team remain competitive in an incredibly strong division.
Overall, the NFC South could see any one come first and anyone - not named New Orleans - come bottom. It doesn't help Carolina that they will see the league's two most expensive wideouts, Julio Jones and Michael Thomas, four times a year, and play against some elite players outside of those.
But they have the talent to get by, or at least compete for a wildcard berth.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints were quite literally a Super Bowl caliber team last season except for a blown call. They took no step back since then, and look destined to go again in 2019.
This defense is as stacked as it ever has been under head coach Sean Payton. The secondary is super deep. Cornerback Marcus Lattimore is extremely gifted and will want to get back to his rookie-self, so he can deal with Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and that Buccs offense a few times a year. Lattimore can certainly be Top 10 player at the position, which would benefit co-star Eli Apple.
Defensive end Markus Davenport seems destined to break out as a second year player. After the team gave up two first and a fifth round pick to move up 13 spots for Davenport in 2018, the 23-year-old was named to the All-Rookie team. It's tough to argue giving up against moving up like that for a non-quarterback, but Davenport has a chance to put that to bed. Playing opposite All-Pro defensive end Cameron Jordan.
The time is ticking for quarterback, Drew Brees, on the other hand. Will a decline start to show, despite claims he'll retire after winning a home Super Bowl in five years? Brees looks after his body, so he could very well continue playing. Off-season quarterback challenges suggest that's paying off.
Ultimately, he has a collection of surrounding talent that could mask over even the worst quarterback. Wide receiver Michael Thomas' handsome off-season extension was a just reward for one of the league's best talents, while running back Alvin Kamara makes such an impact that he was the number 2 selection on Fantasy Football this year.
Just behind them, wide receiver Ted Ginn shows he can unlock the offense's potential. Despite being inefficient at actually handling the ball, the speedster's deep threat is enough to garner attention from the offense. He opens up the field, creating space for free agent signing tight end Jared Cook to show he's a mismatch.
The unit ranked third in points and eighth in total yards last season and should get back there considering how little. The trade up for center Erik McCoy - despite so few picks - shows New Orleans wanted quality over quantity in the draft, and got a pro-ready player to fill in for the retired Max Unger.
They're all in on another Super Bowl push.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers aren't just any old team with a quarterback question. They're a team with a quarterback question and a head coach known as a Quarterback Whisperer.
If that doesn't excite fans, I don't know what will.
Recent un-retiree Bruce Arians is bringing his "no risk it, no biscuit" offense to Tampa Bay, meaning quarterback Jameis Winston can get used to hyper aggressive play calls that suit his explosive style. There's great positional talent to compliment what BA needs - despite the loss of wide receiver Chris Godwin - so guys like Conor Godwin and Mike Evans could be useful Fantasy players.
The problem in Tampa could be the O-Line however. Arians scheme calls for his line to absorb tonnes of pressure and buy time. If they can do that, Winston could potentially look like an MVP candidate. If not, the team could look awful, and people will wonder why Peyton Barber was ever allowed to be called a starting running back.
But the offense struggling doesn't mean this team is doomed however. New defensive coordinator Todd Bowles puts an injection of excitement into defense. Bowles loves to blitz and he has a chance to do so - successfully - with the team's talent.
Defensive end Ndamukong Suh was added in the off-season, as the team decided he was more worthy of a pay cheque than stalwart Gerald McCoy -- who went one spot behind Suh (2nd overall) in the 2010 draft. While Suh doesn't necessarily add a ton more, being put alongside Vita Vea on the defensive line - if Vea's not banged up - sounds frightening.
First round pick Devin White will only add to Lavonte Davis' ferocious speed at the linebackers spot, allowing Bowles great options to scheme pressure. It will put pressure on the secondary, but the group is one that boasts great versatility.
A collection of cornerbacks like Vernon Hargreaves and Carlton Davis alongside Jordan Whitehead at safety can match up with all kinds of attackers. The group had a down year last year, so was bolstered with draftees cornerbacks Sean Bunting & Jamel Dean with Mike Edwards added at safety. The talent should be enough to allow Bowles to make the most of his scheme -- one that was consistently strong the last time he was a defensive coordinator.
All in all, the Buccs should be a fun watch. The team looks set up like a poor man's Kansas City Chiefs on offense BUT a defense the Chiefs would trade quarterback Patrick Mahomes for.
Or not.
