Just under a month ago, on Sept. 10, the 2015 NFL season kicked off with the 2015 Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots, facing off against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In this competitive start to the 96th NFL season, the New England Patriots took home a win, scoring 28-21. Some major players contributing to this Patriot win included Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. Brady, back in the swing of things after the 2014 Deflategate controversy, set a franchise record with 19 consecutive completions in his 23rd game with four plus touchdown passes. Brady appears to be playing some of the best football of his career, and the Patriots started the season declaring their dominance as the best team of the NFL.
Going into the season fans already have huge expectations for some top rookies and sophomores. Derek Carr, drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2014, is a top up-and-coming quarterback. Carr and rookie Amari Cooper make a tremendous pair. Cooper has the potential to become the strongest NFL wide receiver in the next few seasons. Moreover, Cooper and Carr together will be capable of tearing up the NFL.
Another strong player to look out for is Atlanta Falcon’s wide receiver, Julio Jones. This season and the past season have cemented Jones as the best wide receiver; he is head-and-shoulders above the rest.
Looking back on the start of the NFL season, the first four weeks of practices and games have highlighted some important team dynamics that may influence future season games. Injuries might set back the Indianapolis Colts, specifically quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck received an injury to his right shoulder, which is his throwing arm, and has been sitting out of practices. Matt Hasselbeck filled in for Luck in Week 4, but the Colts are relying on Luck’s quick return in weeks to come.
This season, multiple teams have learned that it is necessary to play aggressively throughout all four quarters of a game, never dropping their intensity. The New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens have learned the hard way that they cannot get overly confident early on in a game.
Every team is fighting for the two coveted spots at Super Bowl 50, Feb. 6, 2016, at Levi’s Stadium in California. But before teams can travel out west, some of them have to travel across the pond and play in the NFL’s version of international football. These games will take place at Wembley Stadium in London.
The first match at Wembley will happen on Oct. 4, when the New York Jets face off against the Miami Dolphins. Though taking place in London, this will be considered a home game for the Dolphins. The word on the street is that the Dolphins gave up this lucrative home game against a division rival to gain rights to a Super Bowl in future years.
In preparation for this oversees battle, both teams are training hard. The Jets have even enlisted a sleep specialist so that both players and coaches can perform at their best and overcome the challenges of jet lag. Other big matchups at Wembley this year will happen Oct. 25, when the Buffalo Bills play the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Nov. 1, when the Detroit Lions play the Kansas City Chiefs.
The NFL season has just started, with only four out of 17 weeks of scheduled in-season games having been completed. Fans watch eagerly to see how rookies will perform and how injuries will change team dynamics. At this point in the season, it is still too early to predict who will advance to the 2016 Super Bowl, and more importantly who will take home the ring. •
