\u2699\ufe0f The basics<\/h2>\n\nThe NFL\u2019s 32 teams are divided equally into two conferences: <\/strong>the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC), which are further split into four divisions each \u2014 North, South, East, and West.<\/p>\n\n- The regular season will run through January 10th, with teams playing 17 regular-season games over 18 weeks (each squad has one bye week<\/a>) and squaring off against each division rival twice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- And these rivalries run deep, especially considering each division winner automatically qualifies for the 14-team postseason, along with the three next best teams in each conference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The reason for the season is the Super Bowl, of course.<\/strong> And how can you not be romantic about football with Super Bowl LXI (aka 61) slated for Sunday, February 14th? The big game will be hosted at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, home of both the LA Rams and Chargers.<\/p>\n\n- No, the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday isn\u2019t a universal holiday just yet, so consider this your sign to ask for February 15th off work. Our way-too-early Valentine\u2019s Day gift to you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83e\uded6 Storylines to watch<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/ee92e6d4066a6ef8f9d09680c55c6bf559037c29-6043x4031.jpg?rect=0,2,6043,4029&w=600&h=400&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Ric Tapia\/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nWith the groundwork laid, it\u2019s time to spill this year\u2019s gridiron tea. <\/strong>Here are the major storylines we\u2019re keeping an eye on.<\/p>\n\ud83d\udc0f Are the Rams in a league of their own?: <\/strong>It sure feels like it. Last year\u2019s NFC finalists only got better this offseason, trading for reigning Defensive Player of the Year<\/a> (DPOY) Myles Garrett, convincing three-time DPOY Aaron Donald to come out of retirement<\/a> (though he isn\u2019t<\/em> making the trek Down Under<\/a>), and returning 10 of 11 starters from their 2025 top-ranked offense.<\/p>\n\n- From reigning MVP quarterback (QB) Matthew Stafford to that star-powered defense, this is one of the most talented rosters in NFL history. No wonder they\u2019re garnering Super Bowl\u2013sized hype.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u2708\ufe0f The movers and shakers: <\/strong>The defending AFC champion New England Patriots inked All-Pro wide receiver (WR) A.J. Brown, the perfect pairing<\/a> for QB Drake Maye\u2019s slingshot arm, while signal caller Kyler Murray\u2019s childhood dream<\/a> became reality \u2014 he\u2019s now QB1 for the Minnesota Vikings.<\/p>\n\ud83e\udd14 \u201cThis is it<\/a>\u201d for Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers: <\/strong>Or so he says. The 42-year-old\u2019s capping off his career with a full circle moment<\/a> after the Steel City hired Rodgers\u2019 former Green Bay Packers HC Mike McCarthy.<\/p>\n\u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83e\ude79 Injury updates: <\/strong>Superstar Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is back under center<\/a> after tearing his ACL in Week 15 last season. It was the first major surgery of the 30-year-old\u2019s illustrious career \u2014 time to turn that setback into a comeback.<\/p>\n\n- The San Francisco 49ers\u2019 substation injury plotline might have been debunked<\/a>, but they still have a pair of powerhouses on the injured reserve<\/a>: tight end (TE) George Kittle and defensive lineman Nick Bosa.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc23 The rookie class:<\/strong> The Las Vegas Raiders took Indiana sensation Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick<\/a> in this year\u2019s draft. And while the networking maestro<\/a> will start the season at QB2, he\u2019s taken some first-team snaps and seems to be coming for veteran Kirk Cousins\u2019 starting job.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe GIST\u2019s Week 1 Power Rankings<\/h2>\n\nThe best team in football on paper. Full stop.<\/p>\n
The defending champs look ready to run it back.<\/p>\n
A top-three defense and<\/em> a new deep threat<\/a> for QB Bo Nix? Scary times at Mile High.<\/p>\nQB Josh Allen\u2019s been knocking on the Super Bowl\u2019s door\u2026it just might open this season.<\/p>\n
This juggernaut defense is the stuff of QB nightmares.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u2b50 The superstars<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"data:image\/jpeg;base64,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\")
![\"The](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/46f6cae63f9aaf539fbcb268274b0c45ca9b1a13-2048x1365.jpg?w=600&h=400&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Terrance Williams\/AP Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\ud83d\udc2f Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: <\/strong>This year\u2019s Bengals roster is a lot like Burrow\u2019s historic 2019 LSU team<\/a>, including the elite chemistry with partner-in-touchdowns WR Ja’Marr Chase. Time to retire that emotional support water bottle<\/a> for good.<\/p>\n\n- Other QBs to watch: Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Justin Herbert (LA Chargers)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udd34 Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons: <\/strong>In this football economy, teams need RBs who do it all. Enter: all-purpose king Robinson. The 24-year-old\u2019s 2025 r\u00e9sum\u00e9 included 1,478 rushing yards and<\/em> 820 receiving yards. Expect him to put a little mustard on it<\/a>, and pick up right where he left off.<\/p>\n\n- Other RBs to watch: Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions), Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts), De\u2019Von Achane (Miami Dolphins)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc9a Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks:<\/strong> Arguably the best WR in football, JSN is also the NFL\u2019s highest paid receiver, and he\u2019s earned every penny<\/a> \u2014 just ask his league-leading 1,793 yards last season. If you looked up dynamic in the dictionary, Smith-Njigba would be looking back.<\/p>\n\n- Other WRs to watch: Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Jaylen Waddle (Denver Broncos), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u2620\ufe0f Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders: <\/strong>The 23-year-old has been the Raiders\u2019\u2019 go-to guy, putting up impressive numbers despite their revolving door of QBs. What happened in Vegas last season gave the franchise its cornerstone QB<\/a> \u2014 and no one will benefit more than Bowers.<\/p>\n\n- Other TEs to watch: Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals), Colston Loveland (Chicago Bears), Tyler Warren (Indianapolis Colts)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The NFL\u2019s 32 teams are divided equally into two conferences: <\/strong>the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC), which are further split into four divisions each \u2014 North, South, East, and West.<\/p>\n The reason for the season is the Super Bowl, of course.<\/strong> And how can you not be romantic about football with Super Bowl LXI (aka 61) slated for Sunday, February 14th? The big game will be hosted at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, home of both the LA Rams and Chargers.<\/p>\n Source: Ric Tapia\/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n With the groundwork laid, it\u2019s time to spill this year\u2019s gridiron tea. <\/strong>Here are the major storylines we\u2019re keeping an eye on.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc0f Are the Rams in a league of their own?: <\/strong>It sure feels like it. Last year\u2019s NFC finalists only got better this offseason, trading for reigning Defensive Player of the Year<\/a> (DPOY) Myles Garrett, convincing three-time DPOY Aaron Donald to come out of retirement<\/a> (though he isn\u2019t<\/em> making the trek Down Under<\/a>), and returning 10 of 11 starters from their 2025 top-ranked offense.<\/p>\n \u2708\ufe0f The movers and shakers: <\/strong>The defending AFC champion New England Patriots inked All-Pro wide receiver (WR) A.J. Brown, the perfect pairing<\/a> for QB Drake Maye\u2019s slingshot arm, while signal caller Kyler Murray\u2019s childhood dream<\/a> became reality \u2014 he\u2019s now QB1 for the Minnesota Vikings.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd14 \u201cThis is it<\/a>\u201d for Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers: <\/strong>Or so he says. The 42-year-old\u2019s capping off his career with a full circle moment<\/a> after the Steel City hired Rodgers\u2019 former Green Bay Packers HC Mike McCarthy.<\/p>\n \u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83e\ude79 Injury updates: <\/strong>Superstar Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is back under center<\/a> after tearing his ACL in Week 15 last season. It was the first major surgery of the 30-year-old\u2019s illustrious career \u2014 time to turn that setback into a comeback.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc23 The rookie class:<\/strong> The Las Vegas Raiders took Indiana sensation Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick<\/a> in this year\u2019s draft. And while the networking maestro<\/a> will start the season at QB2, he\u2019s taken some first-team snaps and seems to be coming for veteran Kirk Cousins\u2019 starting job.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The best team in football on paper. Full stop.<\/p>\n The defending champs look ready to run it back.<\/p>\n A top-three defense and<\/em> a new deep threat<\/a> for QB Bo Nix? Scary times at Mile High.<\/p>\n QB Josh Allen\u2019s been knocking on the Super Bowl\u2019s door\u2026it just might open this season.<\/p>\n This juggernaut defense is the stuff of QB nightmares.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Source: Terrance Williams\/AP Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \ud83d\udc2f Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: <\/strong>This year\u2019s Bengals roster is a lot like Burrow\u2019s historic 2019 LSU team<\/a>, including the elite chemistry with partner-in-touchdowns WR Ja’Marr Chase. Time to retire that emotional support water bottle<\/a> for good.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd34 Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons: <\/strong>In this football economy, teams need RBs who do it all. Enter: all-purpose king Robinson. The 24-year-old\u2019s 2025 r\u00e9sum\u00e9 included 1,478 rushing yards and<\/em> 820 receiving yards. Expect him to put a little mustard on it<\/a>, and pick up right where he left off.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc9a Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks:<\/strong> Arguably the best WR in football, JSN is also the NFL\u2019s highest paid receiver, and he\u2019s earned every penny<\/a> \u2014 just ask his league-leading 1,793 yards last season. If you looked up dynamic in the dictionary, Smith-Njigba would be looking back.<\/p>\n \u2620\ufe0f Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders: <\/strong>The 23-year-old has been the Raiders\u2019\u2019 go-to guy, putting up impressive numbers despite their revolving door of QBs. What happened in Vegas last season gave the franchise its cornerstone QB<\/a> \u2014 and no one will benefit more than Bowers.<\/p>\n\n
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\ud83e\uded6 Storylines to watch<\/h2>\n
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The GIST\u2019s Week 1 Power Rankings<\/h2>\n
\u2b50 The superstars<\/h2>\n
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