With the NFL season just a few days from kicking off, several teams head to the playing field shrouded by question marks that might define their seasons.
Sports bettors and oddsmakers alike are just as curious as the clubs to find out the answers.
Although the pre-season provided no shortage of story lines, the regular season is where the final chapters will be written.
Here is a rundown of the Top 5 biggest questions to be answered in the upcoming NFL season:
Will Tom Brady return to his pre-injury form?
Brady’s health and effectiveness is going to be the biggest factor in determining the fate of the New England Patriots, the balance of power in the AFC and the result for future bettors who are backing the chalk (+400 at most sports books) to win the Super Bowl.
At 32, Brady is nearing the twilight of his physical prime. Although he hasn’t taken the beating that many quarterbacks endure over their careers, the severe knee injury he suffered in Week1 last year (a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament) has spelled the beginning of the end for many NFL players.
Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals hasn’t been the same since suffering a similar injury. Although Brady never has been known for his mobility, he always has been just agile enough to stay out of harm’s way. If he can no longer do so, his career and the Patriots are in trouble.
Will Brett Favre be the difference-maker for the Minnesota Vikings?
There’s little doubt that Favre is the best option at quarterback on the Vikings’ roster. Whether his on-field play can offset the damage done during the process to sign him remains to be seen. Several Vikings players reportedly were turned off by Favre’s infamous waffling regarding his return, and they resented his absence during training camp.
Coach Brad Childress seems to have lost credibility by misleading his team regarding the franchise’s pursuit of Favre. If the coach and quarterback fail to receive the full support of the locker room, the Vikings could take a step backward.
Several oddsmakers have told Covers.com that Favre is worth a half-point to one point at most for the Vikings on the point spread. One oddsmaker who is a successful former handicapper said he believes Favre doesn’t help them at all.
Will the Michael Vick experiment work for the Philadelphia Eagles?
The Philadelphia Eagles appear to be an odd match for the return of the troubled quarterback. While the veteran coaching staff seems to be a good fit and the city seems to just judge Vick based primarily on his performance, you still have to wonder whether the signing is a good long-term fit.
In other words, the last time we checked, Philadelphia already had a mobile, athletic signal-caller behind center.
Controversy-magnet Donovan McNabb seems to have attracted another headline. Although many sources reported that McNabb endorsed the move, you have to wonder why he’d give himself another reason to look over his shoulder.
Will the Detroit Lions win a football game?
If you are a Lions fan, may Jim Schwartz with be with you. This moribund franchise, which collapsed at the feet of former general manager Matt Millen, can’t possibly do worse than last year’s historic 0-16 mark. The new regime is counting on its new coach, Schwartz, and an overhauled roster to change the team’s fortunes.
The season win total for the Lions is 4.5 at most sports books. The over seems a lofty goal at this point. No. 1 draft pick Matthew Stafford appears too inexperienced and erratic to be tossed into the starting lineup. The alternative is injury-prone journeyman Daunte Culpepper, who appears to have his best years behind him. If the Lions grab the money for over bettors, Schwartz deserves an extension.
Will Raiders coach Tom Cable have a job by the end of October?
If you were setting odds for the first NFL coach to earn a pink slip this season, Cable would have to be the odds-on favorite. This might be the only bet you’ll find this year in which the Raiders are a prohibitive chalk.
Forget for a moment that Cable allegedly clocked an assistant coach and might be facing legal charges as a result. If nothing else, the incident might have earned him a little more street cred with owner Al Davis.
The Swiss-cheese defense and lopsided losses will cost Cable his job. The Raiders defense has done its best to impersonate an 11-man crew of friendly ghosts disguised in silver and black and third-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell has failed to emerge as the franchise player the club coveted when they drafted him No. 1 overall.
Davis was hesitant to give Cable the permanent coaching job – it’s unlikely he’ll have any such apprehensions about taking it away.