The Baltimore D without its Sizzle could face trouble knockin opposing quarterbacks down (Creative Commons/Keith Allison).

Arizona Cardinals

The quarterbacks vying for the starting job are Kevin Kolb and John Skelton. That does not bode well for the rest of the season.

Atlanta Falcons

The team failed to make any big personnel improvements, so very much of the same core players that went 9-7 last year remain.

Baltimore Ravens

Without Terrell Suggs, last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, for most of the year, where will the Baltimore pass rush come from? It remains to be seen.

Buffalo Bills

Is this the first ever case of having someone from Harvard (Ryan Fitzpatrick) in an essential position (quarterback) considered a detriment?

Carolina Panthers

Calling the Panthers’ run defense porous last year would be appropriate if not benevolent. Fixing that hole will take more than a year’s worth of roster changes.

Chicago Bears

With Brandon Marshall in town, that bumps the Bears’ list of capable receivers up to one and a half (counting tailback Matt Forté as the half). Their offense is not very diverse.

Cincinnati Bengals

The backfield is unproven save off-season acquisition BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Also, their offensive line does not inspire much confidence.

Cleveland Browns

Twenty-eight-year-old rookie Brandon Weeden has been named the starter, presumably ending the Colt McCoy era. Plus, the Browns are still in Cleveland.

So much talent, so many poor decisions (Creative Commons/AJ Guel Photography).

The Dez Bryant saga will be a shadow over the season until drastic action is taken by either him or the organization. This will not end well.

Denver Broncos

The defensive line is still undermanned, basically adding just Derek Wolfe from the draft. Losing D. J. Williams for six games to failed drug tests leaves a hole in the linebacking corps.

Detroit Lions

This must have happened quietly: "The Lions Move to San Quentin."

Green Bay Packers

The way to beat the Packers is to smartly apply pressure to Aaron Rodgers and to stop their one-dimensional pass-rush. Can Green Bay change its ways in 2012?

Houston Texans

Outside of Andre Johnson and maybe Owen Daniels, there aren’t many great targets for Matt Schaub to look for. On defense, sure, Mario Williams missed most of last season, and it was still very good. But they have some unproven guys to fill his spot. J. J. Watt might have been a one-year wonder.

Indianapolis Colts

This team is so stripped down that anything past four wins has to be a surprise. Sure, Andrew Luck is in place. But outside of Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, the defense needs work.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Where does one start…

Kansas City Chiefs

The division is so closely stacked, that if the Chiefs have an above average to good season, they may miss January football.

Miami Dolphins

The Ryan Tannehill era is not off to good start as he’s reportedly the third quarterback on the Phins’ depth chart. Oh, and CHILD PLEASE.

Minnesota Vikings

Adrian Peterson tore his ACL late December. It’s unfair to expect AD to be his old self until 2011. Expect lots more Toby Gerhart. Does he have a nickname? Is “The Avalanche” too easy?

New England Patriots

Sure, the Pats picked up some new defenders. But rookie defenders cannot be relied on to make giant, immediate impacts, which that D needs.

New Orleans Saints

This guy will be sorely missed.

New York Giants

Victor Cruz won’t be coming out of nowhere. After one great year, Cruz could very easily have a comparatively poor season.

"How am I supposed to compete with Timmy? He has a GIANT fan club!" (Creative Commons/Ed Yourdon)

The inevitable season-long Mark Sanchez-Tim Tebow storyline will draw ire from not only Jets fans, but also any sensible football-loving human being.

Oakland Raiders

Someone needs to inform Raider management that no team can succeed changing the guard every season. For their sake, head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie better be around for a few years.

Philadelphia Eagles

Another season, another year of being worried that Michael Vick will be knocked out any play. This marks another year of mind-blowingly poor clock-management decisions from head honcho Andy Reid. (In all seriousness, condolences to him and his family for the death of his son, Garrett.)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Wallace’s holdout is sketchy. He could refuse to play up to ten games this season. He’s a very talented receiver, yes. But he’s not worth Larry Fitzgerald money right now. His absence could damper the Steelers’ passing game.

San Diego Chargers

How on Earth is Norv Turner still employed? He has overstayed his welcome more than “Whitney” has on primetime TV. And this is the sixth season of Norv, not the second.

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners’ biggest concern remains from last year: quarterback play. The Giants rattled Alex Smith in last year’s NFC Championship Game. He threw a ridiculously low amount of interceptions in 2011. That trend will not continue in 2012.

Will Sidney Rice show up this year in Seattle (Creative Commons/Joint Base Lewis McChord).

Outside of Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks are lacking in the playmaker department. Someone, like Sidney Rice, will have to step up. Golden Tate? Or maybe 38-year-old Terrell Owens?

St. Louis Rams

The 2011 version of the Rams’ offense redefined inept. Expecting a marked improvement may be too demanding.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

You know what the Tampa secondary needed? Another dose of Ronde Barber with minimal high-quality young legs joining the fray.

Tennessee Titans

Kenny Britt has all the talent in the world. But he needs to get his head straight and stay out of the trainer’s room. Good luck with that, Nashville.

Washington Redskins

Dan Snyder's track record is not particularly good. It's always good to bet against him and his team until proven otherwise.

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