NFL
7 Major Storylines to Watch in the 2020 NFL Season
Learn about 7 major storylines that will impact how the 2020 NFL Season will be perceived
Clutchpoints
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the 2020 NFL season. Due to the continued threat of the coronavirus, questions remain about if this season will be able to conclude correctly, but the league is still pushing forward. Outside of the football world, the NBA season is ongoing thanks to a bubble that has been set up for players and key officials in Orlando at the Disney World Resort.
It’s possible that the NFL could operate in a similar bubble come playoff time if the coronavirus doesn’t let up but this is far from confirmed. Regardless, it’s worth exploring the current position of some different teams that are looking to make an impression this season as some of the major storylines to watch this season.
Unfortunately, the Buccaneers have had a difficult road the past couple of seasons. This is largely due to Jameis Winston throwing away countless opportunities due to a record amount of interceptions. It was obvious that the team needed a change at the QB position and now they have the ultimate ace in the hole with Tom Brady. Brady is going to use this opportunity to show that he can thrive even without the support of Bill Belichick. He’s certainly going to have a strong team of talent to help him along the way.
Indeed, insiders believe that Tampa Bay will have one of the strongest offenses in 2020 with this large collection of high-quality players. It’s been a while since the Buccaneers have made the playoffs; 13 years to be exact. With Brady in their corner, this could definitely be about to change as Brady enters Tampa Bay with as many Super Bowl wins (6) as the Bucs franchise has playoff victories (6). The next few years will likely involve TB among the NFL’s best teams. If you’re currently researching how to bet on football, then you might want to make the Buccaneers your first bet.
Of course, the Buccaneers aren’t the only ones with a strong chance of making the playoffs this year. The Cleveland Browns could also be in a prime position considering the roster they have in place. Long-time fans of this team are likely struggling to keep their hopes up and that’s understandable. It seems every year there’s a lot of buzz and hype surrounding the team from Cleveland, only for it all to be for nothing in the end.
The good news is that the team certainly has a lot of talent on their roster. They have stars on both sides of the ball with Odell Beckham Jr., Myles Garrett, Nick Chubb, Denzel Ward, and Baker Mayfield to name a few. It’s just a question of bringing it all together which can be quite difficult at the best of times. However, there’s a strong chance that this team could still be the wild card in the playoffs, now that seven teams make the cut in each conference and if that’s the case, who knows what might happen in January for this loaded roster.
Tom Brady has already been mentioned once on this post but his move to Tampa causes ripple effects for a lot of different teams, including the Bills. Buffalo had been completely annihilated for several years, before the last few seasons of a couple playoff berths. However, with Brady gone, there’s a real chance for this team to shine and breakthrough a historic 25-year drought of no playoff victories.
That’s certainly true with new additions such as WR Stefon Diggs, EDGE Mario Addison, DL Vernon Butler, etc. The Bills are even facing a less competitive schedule this season too, so there’s certainly a lot of opportunities on the field for the Bills to win just the second AFC East division title, besides the Patriots, in the last 17 years.
The Rams took a massive shot at a Super Bowl with numerous short-term acquisitions, and unfortunately came up short. Now, they need to make sure that they correct their O-Line issues and get back on track. However, the team still isn’t in a position to do so with Noteboom, Blythe, and Corbett not putting the type of play on tape that warrants a starting OL spot this year.
LA is moving away from both Brandin Cooks and Todd Gurley while also trying to switch up their offensive line in the first season playing in the confines of SoFi stadium (but with no fans, at least to begin). Fixing the Rams atrocious O-Line from 2019 will go a long way in helping Jared Goff re-establish himself as one of the NFL’s best Quarterbacks. There’s a great defense too under new DC Brandon Staley, so this is all likely going to lead to a stronger team heading into 2020.
The Titans had an impossible 2019 playoff run to predict after beating the Patriots AND Ravens, before falling to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship. It even took the bookies and experts by surprise while Ryan Tannehill completed a glorious comeback in 2019 after starting the season on the bench. Unfortunately, things may not be quite as rosy in 2020. Tennessee’s defense lacks many elite-level players and they won’t have the element of surprise this time around. Ultimately, the Titans could be entering a season full of regression as its reigning rushing King is unlikely to repeat as a weekly history maker.
2020 is going to mark the first year that the Chargers are on the field without Phillip Rivers since 2005. What does this mean for the team? Well, they fortunately have a capable replacement in Tyrod Taylor to take the reins this season. Though many insiders doubt Taylor has what it takes to win a Championship, he certainly seems to have the confidence of his HC Anthony Lynn to win regular season football games. Even if the new starting QB does struggle, Justin Herbert is waiting in the wings poised to soon become this team’s QB1 sooner or later. There is a large question mark over the offense in LA, however a strong defense could help them reach new heights throughout this season.
Gardner Minshew has currently taken over as the face of the franchise and he has already made some satisfying strides stemming from his impressive rookie campaign. However, experts suggest that while Minshew might be better than what people expect, the rest of the team will enter every matchup with the talent disadvantage. While Jacksonville’s offense is intriguing with some unique pieces in the arsenal, there are definitely some warning signs in terms of defense after a fire sale this offseason.
Former standouts in Duvall have departed like EDGE Calais Campbell, EDGE Yannick Ngakoue, CB A.J. Bouye, and S Ronnie Harrison. The coaching staff also hasn’t proven much since their AFC Championship appearance a few years ago that looks more like a fluke every year. The Jaguars might not be in the best position to succeed in 2020, but they’re in a great spot to thrive in the future as an awful season would earn a golden ticket to one of the greatest QB prospects the NFL has ever seen in Trevor Lawrence (Clemson).
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