Fifty-three NFL things to watch on the road to Super Bowl LIII Published: Sep 03, 2018 at 04:53 AM Senior National Columnist As preseasons go, this was a relatively straightforward one, largely devoid of off-field drama and with few devastating injuries. When the most constant conversation is about a rules change, the NFL will take it — even if nobody is exactly sure how the new edict against using the helmet to initiate contact will look when the season kicks off. The 2018 season has quite a bit to live up to, though. It will end with the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest upsets in sports history — and the game that, more than any other, launched the NFL into the popular consciousne s. III remains the ‘ only championship, and Joe Namath one of American sports’ most iconic figures. While guarantees now litter the sporting landscape, no one can quite match Namath’s brio combined with his most important gift: the ability to deliver the goods. It seems fitting, though, that Gang Green is imagining a return to glory this season, with Namath’s latest heir, rookie quarterback , just one of Cameron Reynolds Jersey 53 things to watch in the NFL on the way to LIII in Atlanta. APPOINTMENT VIEWING 1) : The NFL Kickoff Game features the last two NFC champions and will give us an early look at whether the have righted their offense and whether the ‘ preseason somnolence leaks into the regular season with . 2) : Eventually, has to lose a game as a starter, doesn’t he? In the first game of his first full season as a starter, Jimmy G faces a defense that yielded the fewest yards points in 2017. 3) : The return of against the team that absorbed . 4) : The ‘ star-studded defense provides as good an early test as you could imagine for and the ‘ rebuilt offensive line. 5) : A late addition to the list, but when introduces himself to new division mate , it could set the stage for an eventual transfer of power. 6) : A very early litmus test for the title-contending , and for Jon Gruden’s Khalil Mack-le s vision of the . 7) : Thanasis Antetokounmpo Jersey The might never hear the end of leading by 10 in the fourth quarter of before the roared back. How much differently will the approach it if a similar situation arises in this game? 8) : A huge barometer game for against Frank Reich’s former team. 9) : was brought to Minneapolis to win this kind of game, a rematch of the drubbing the took in last season. 10) : Good midseason check-in game for teams that should be ramping up for a deep playoff run. 11) : It probably can’t match last season’s playoff dramatics, but — again — this is why they got Cousins in Minnesota, to try to stay with an offense that is built to play indoors. 12) : Brady vs. Rodgers for just the second (and, barring a meeting, likely last) time in their careers. Wish there had been many more. 13) : The potential for on ? Thank you, football gods. 14) : They produced the best game of the 2017 regular season and, yes, if the rules were as they are now. Let’s just a sume the outcome here will play a big role in AFC home-field advantage. 15) : A blockbuster between the defending champs and the team that has gone all-in to try to beat them. To say nothing of vs. or the big-name defensive coordinators — Wade Phillips and Jim Schwartz — who will try to outwit them. All with potentially enormous NFC playoff implications. RELOCATION SITUATION 16) We know the expect to move to Las Vegas in 2020. We don’t yet know for certain where they’ll be in 2019, though. The team has been negotiating to extend its lease for another year at the Oakland Coliseum. But with nothing finalized, there is the weird long-shot po sibility that this could be the ‘ farewell season at their home and we don’t even know it. RULES RE-EDUCATION 17) Let’s try this again: for a catch to count, the receiver doesn’t have to go to the ground anymore. But he must have two feet or any other part of his body touching the ground inbounds and he must make a football move. Movement of the ball does not automatically mean lo s of control. Yes, . 18) The kickoff will look much different: no running start for the kicking team, no wedge blocking for the receiving team. Coaches believe they’ll use smaller players, and this will lead to fewer big collisions and more long returns. 19) The biggest culture-change rule since defensele s player protections were put in is the helmet rule. No player anywhere on the field is allowed to lower his head and initiate contact with his helmet. Expect it to be called mostly on players out in space — and, if the preseason is any indication, more on defensive than offensive players — and very few calls to go against linemen because of how difficult it will be for officials to see it in such close quarters. But the preseason freak-out was overwrought. The ‘ might have summed up the mixed reaction to the rule best. “As a player sitting at home hearing about it, you think it’s BS,” Jackson said. “It’s just another rule to soften us up as defensive players, another rule for defense to be looked at negatively. But when you come out here and see guys getting hurt, it correlates. Guys are losing their careers over this. I think it’s good for us. It’s going to be hard because some guys have been taught since birth to hit like that. As long as teams don’t start fining us, we’ll be alright.” 20) The officiating headquarters in New York can instruct on-field officials to eject a player for a flagrant non-football act — but only when that act has already been flagged on the field. Think: egregious late hits after a play is dead. THE TREND REPORT 21) Last season, scoring dropped to its lowest level since 2009 and the number of touchdowns scored was at its lowest since 2006. That is not the direction the league wants play going. Will the wave of young coaches and the George Hill Jersey influx of new quarterbacks reverse the trend or will their inexperience — and, in the quarterbacks’ case, lack of preparation — feed into it? 22) Running back renai sance: In each of the last two seasons, a rookie has led the NFL in rushing yards: Dallas’s in 2016 and Kansas City’s in 2017. Three running backs — (Giants), (Seattle) and (New England) — were selected in the first round this year. 23) The dual-threat back: Six running backs rushed for at least 1,000 yards and had at least 50 receptions last season: Hunt, , , , and . Six running backs had at least 500 receiving yards: , Gurley, Jr., Bell, and . 24) Have and have-nots on the offensive line: Five of the six teams that allowed fewer than 25 sacks finished with winning records and four of them went to the playoffs. The and , who each have three offensive linemen, are the only two teams to allow fewer than 25 sacks in each of the last two seasons. 25) The golden age of kicking: Last season, 107 field goals of at least 50 yards were succe sful, the most in a season in NFL history. 26) And of quarterbacking: ‘ 72.0 percent completion rate in 2017 was the best in league history. had 19 fourth-quarter touchdown pa ses, also a historic high. THE PEOPLE AND PERFORMANCES TO WATCH 27) Coach Jon Gruden, The Sequel — what, exactly, is your plan? 28) Getting right to the point: Which game will the finally win? 29) And should we be paying more attention to Eric Bledsoe Jersey than ? 30) What is the state of the relationship between and Bill Belichick? 31) Can Brady still cover up for the departure of , the suspension of and a retooled offensive line? He needs 21 touchdown pa ses to move past Peyton Manning for the most career scoring strikes (regular season and postseason). Manning finished with 579. 32) Potentially huge year for Drew Brees: He needs 1,496 pa sing yards to pa s Manning for most in history. And he needs 79 completions to pa s Brett Favre for the all-time lead. 33) Does ‘s holdout — — lead to a repeat of last year’s slow start, and will that change anything about his highly anticipated free agency? 34) vs. Jr. Ramsey vs. . Ramsey vs. . 35) What is ‘s future in New Orleans? 36) Is finally — — the ‘ next great quarterback? 37) Will have such an impact that the won’t regret pa sing on a quarterback? 38) Will there be a more inspiring story than ? 39) How many highlight-reel throws will make and will it be enough to keep the atop the AFC West? 40) Is actually an upgrade in Washington over ? 41) And does Cousins pay immediate dividends in Minnesota? 42) Was the ‘ spree to add , , and enough to get to the top in a loaded NFC? 43) With to be the ‘ backup, what will we see of ? 44) hasn’t played a full season since 2015, when he had 17.5 sacks. After back surgeries and a broken leg, can he be that player again? 45) Without Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, can bounce back from a down season? Or will a full season of make up for the attrition? 46) And whither Dez? 47) Is the answer to John Elway’s post-Peyton blues? 48) With a struggling offensive line and a quarterback jumble, are the in for a big step back after finally breaking their postseason drought? 49) When can we stop cringing every time , , and get hit? 50) Can there be any question that is the greatest kicker in NFL history? He needs Khris Middleton Jersey 58 points to surpa s Morten Andersen (2,544) for the most points scored in NFL history. 51) Is the ‘ the next ? 52) Does ‘s three-game suspension doom the Bucs’ season and his long-term future in Tampa? 53) Where do player protests go from here? Is there a policy that will please both players and owners — and get players out of the political cro shairs — as the nation heads into the midterm elections? 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