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Since riding one of the best defenses in NFL history to a Super Bowl win in 2001, the Baltimore Ravens have been synonymous with bone-crushing defense. Although many of its standout players from the years since have come and gone, defense is still the Ravens’ hallmark, and there is enough left that the Ravens should still compete for a division title in 2011.

The soul of the Baltimore defense is linebacker Ray Lewis, entering his sixteenth NFL season. The brain of the defense is strong safety Ed Read the rest of this entry »

After a 2-14 season, the Carolina Panthers let go of the only coach that’s ever brought them to the Super Bowl, John Fox, and brought in head coaching rookie Ron Rivera. The team’s terrible record also gave it the top pick in the NFL draft, with which the Panthers selected Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton out of Auburn. Last year, Jimmy Clausen gave no indication that he’ll ever be a competent NFL starter, and the team also brought Read the rest of this entry »

Among residents of the football-crazy state of Florida, there is competition for bragging rights over which of the state’s three NFL teams is the best. Heading into 2011, the competition is close among the three, but hardly fierce. It’s not as if this is the state of Pennsylvania, where it looks as if both the Eagles and Steelers both have legitimate Super Bowl hopes. The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off an 8-8 year, and the Miami Dolphins are coming off Read the rest of this entry »

People doubted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they drafted Josh Freeman in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft with the 17th pick. He had all the physical skills to be a great NFL quarterback but people doubted his ability to be a leader and manage an NFL game. The Tampa Bay coaching staff saw something in him that others did not and that intuition has paid off for them in spades since then. He had his first start against the Green Bay Packers in Read the rest of this entry »