ESPN: Biggest Week 1 NFL questions, stats and predictions

[jobberone]

Biggest Week 1 NFL questions, stats and predictions
6:28 PM ET

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  Sheil KapadiaESPN Writer

The biggest questions going into Sunday
What will the New England Patriots look like with Jimmy Garoppolo?

While Garoppolo has been spending his time preparing for the Arizona Cardinals, Tom Brady is getting a taste of an alternate universe where he has to do common-man things like pick his kids up from school.

The Patriots are without Brady for four games. And Rob Ninkovich too. They traded away their best pass rusher from a year ago in Chandler Jones. Yet going into the season, Vegas has them as Super Bowl favorites at 6 to 1.

Can Dak Prescott save the Dallas Cowboys' season?

Tony Romo's most recent injury has taken Jerry Jones to a strange place.

AND....

Numbers that matter
26.6: The average rank of Steve Spagnuolo's defenses the last five times he's been a head coach or a defensive coordinator, per Football Outsiders' DVOA rankings. He's back for another season with the New York Giants, and the team spent $105.3 million in guaranteed money on cornerback Janoris Jenkins, defensive lineman Olivier Vernon and defensive tackle Damon Harrison. Spagnuolo's defense finished 30th in DVOA last season, but the decision-makers clearly felt the issue was talent, not coaching. For the Giants to win the NFC East, Spagnuolo will have to prove them right.



http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/...st-week-1-nfl-questions-stats-and-predictions

 

[jobberone]

Bit of a teaser on Romo but its been hashed and rehashed. Conversation stirrer on Dak.....again.....but it's a legit question.

I think Dak will do well enough and the game will ride more on TO Diff, big plays, defense and STs. They must pressure Eli or he will pick us apart esp underneath and slants some of which will turn into big plays.

Word....defense.

 

[VACowboy]

I think the two big questions are 1) how will our crappy pass rush fare against their crappy pass protection, and 2) how will the best offensive line in football fare against the Giants' vaunted collection of free agent defensive linemen? To me, the answers are 1) it depends how well our improved secondary covers the short throws and whether guys like McClain/Thornton/the Crawfords come through, and 2) other than the obvious question of their pass rushers versus our pass protectors, I think our elite road graders and Elliot/Morris against their crappy LBs is the issue. I think the latter is where the mismatch lies and where this game will be determined.

 

[DFWJC]

They must have the starting year wrong when they said "since 2006, the Cowboys are 1-13 without Tony Romo".
Maybe since 2013?

They won a few with Kitna in 2010. I realize that's a very long time ago,but still..

 

[percyhoward]

Since Romo became the starter, when he doesn't play at least 3 quarters, and the defense doesn't get at least 3 takeaways, Dallas is 4-24.

The 4 wins were Weeden in relief last year in Philly, and as starters Brad Johnson against the Bucs in 2008, Kitna against the Lions in 2010, and Cassell in Washington last year. The opponent averaged less than 14 points in each of those games, while Dallas' offense averaged 18.3 points.

 

[Zekeats]

Tom Brady is getting a taste of an alternate universe where he has to do common-man things like pick his kids up from school.

I'm sure he is