The time has come. The fantasy teams have been drafted, and we are nearing that day. That day that every football fan across the globe lives for. Kickoff gives every fan that feeling. The feeling of a fresh start. Knowing that this year may very well be their year, and they hope for all the glory and gold to come their way. It is the time of year where tailgating starts, and so do the fantasy rivalries. It’s NFL Kickoff ladies and gentlemen, and we are closer than we’ve ever been.

I feel as if there isn’t any other team in the National Football League that we can start with first. It wouldn’t be right if we started with any team other than Cleveland Browns. Last season, number 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield started his career, and touched the surface of the NFL. 10 months later, the Browns might just be Super Bowl favorites, and have their eyes on the prize. It all started on March the 12th, 2019, when the Browns made a blockbuster trade that would bring top wideout in the league, Odell Beckham Jr., to Cleveland, in exchange for the 17th overall pick (Dexter Lawrence), a third round pick (Oshane Ximines), and safety Jabril Peppers. So now, with a top offense in the league, with Mayfield, Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, and young Tight End David Njoku, the Browns are looking to do a lot of damage. Obviously Peppers is a big loss for that young Browns defense, but they still have young guys, including Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, as well as more experienced guys such as Sheldon Richardson, and Oliver Vernon, who was included in that trade for Odell Beckham Jr. The Browns kick off their season in Cleveland against the Tennessee Titans on September 8th.

Another team that was very busy this past offseason was the team that had the second highest budget heading into free agency, while also holding the number 3 pick in the draft. The New York Jets are absolutely on the map, and in a division with defending champions, the New England Patriots, the Jets have a lot of work to do. The signed a lot of free agents, including C.J Mosley, Jamison Crowder, Brian Poole, Josh Bellamy, and most importantly, Le’veon Bell. Plus, with a new head coach, Adam Gase, new defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, the Jets could potentially do damage. Quinnen Williams, the number three overall pick, and arguably the best player in the draft, is looking to help out an already young team. Last year’s number three overall pick, Sam Darnold, is looking to have a great year this year, and prove that he belongs in the NFL. The Jets kick off their season in New York against the Buffalo Bills on September 8th.

The final team is the Dallas Cowboys, who face a lot of adversity. Top running back, Ezekiel Elliott is in a contract hold out right now, meaning that he wants more money than the Cowboys are offering him, and he will not play until he gets the contract he wants. A lot of players are going to do this in the future, considering it worked out for Le’veon Bell last season. Melvin Gordon of the Los Angeles Chargers is in a hold out right now, which is a real shame considering the Chargers are real favorites to make it to the Super Bowl. If Elliott comes back to the Cowboys, and plays this season, which at this point isn’t very realistic, the Cowboys will be favorites in a weak division where their only competition will be the Philadelphia Eagles. He wants to be the highest paid running back in the league, and I just feel like you can get that done at some point in time, but right now you have to focus on getting to the Super Bowl, and earning your spot as the best running back in the league.

That wraps up this year’s preview of the 2019 NFL football season. A lot of competition this year, and a lot of new talent gracing the league. New players, new coaches, new stars, and a new start for everyone The season will start on Thursday, September 5th, when the Chicago Bears take on the Green Bay Packers. The Bears took a heartbreaking loss in the playoffs last year, and the Packers failed to even make the playoffs last season. Both teams looking to bounce back this season, as do all teams.