Last week the NFL released its schedule and until the regular season kicks off on September 5 at 8:20 when the Chiefs host the Ravens, all 32 teams are tied for first. For the moment, hope springs eternal. Expectations can and do soar.
But with each new season comes surprises. Some teams, expected to be postseason participants, will fail. Maybe injuries grip their rosters. Maybe they just couldn’t handle the hype. The 2023 Jacksonville Jaguars come to mind.
And then there are other teams that will rise. The plans put in place a couple of years prior, begin to take shape.