NFL Week 1: Jimmy Garoppolo, Dak Prescott take center stage

With the NFL regular season finally here, FanSided insider Matt Williamson breaks down what to expect Week 1.

The preseason is now behind us. It is unwise to put too much stock on what we see on the field for those preseason games, as coaches are not spending countless hours over the week game planning against their upcoming opponent. Additionally, we don’t see the top players in the game playing every snap. However, if you were paying close attention, there is much we can learn as we approach Week 1.

Below are some items to keep your eye on during the opening slate of games.

Broncos enjoy home field advantage

To open the NFL season, we get to watch a Super Bowl rematch between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. Going into the Super Bowl champion’s house in primetime to open the season is a very difficult chore for any team any season. But doing so in Denver, in that altitude, so early in the season when no one on the Panthers’ roster has yet to play a full 60 minutes of football is a massive advantage for the Broncos.

Adrenaline will be racing and Carolina’s players will have revenge on the mind, but don’t be surprised if Denver, on the strength of their running game and great defense, begins to pull away in the second half with a lot of gassed Panthers struggling to keep up…even with Trevor Siemian as the Broncos quarterback.

Dak Prescott faces Giant challenge

Maybe the top story of the preseason was the Dallas Cowboys quarterback situation and how well Dak Prescott played in a fairly large preseason sample size. Of course, opposing defenses were not scheming around Prescott’s strengths and weaknesses, but his poise, ability to operate under center, playmaking skills, confidence in his receivers and pure accuracy cannot be denied.

Prescott has the huge advantage of being able to throw to Dez Bryant and Jason Witten as well as handing it to Ezekiel Elliott behind the NFL’s best offensive line – by a wide margin. Yet what he sees in Week 1 against the New York Giants will be far different than the preseason. It should be noted that Dallas’ fantastic rushing attack might only get better if/when they incorporate Prescott’s legs into the equation with some zone-read principles.

However, New York’s defense looks to be vastly improved from a year ago with a fierce edge pass-rush and three man coverage cornerbacks that could wreak havoc with Prescott’s timing and anticipation. There is no doubt that Prescott will see coverage disguises and blitz pressures that he has never faced in live action, but at least he will be home instead of dealing with New York’s crowd noise for his maiden voyage.

Garoppolo lines ’em up in Arizona

The Patriots travel to Arizona for a primetime matchup and possible Super Bowl preview. Tom Brady is suspended, which leaves the starting quarterback duties to Jimmy Garoppolo. What is interesting – and something we never could decipher from Bill Belichick – is how will New England’s offense try to attack the Cardinals?

Belichick and Co. have been preparing for this game all summer and did nothing in the preseason to show their hand. Of course, Garoppolo can’t compete with Brady at the line of scrimmage before the play, deciphering the defense post-snap or getting the ball out of his hands to miraculously quick to the right receiver accurately. No one expects Garoppolo to be Brady, but he is a far better athlete and maybe the Patriots get him on the move with much more movement than we usually see from New England.

But the fact is that Garoppolo really has not been impressive during the preseason whatsoever. However, maybe more than any defense in the league, Arizona likes to play with lighter faster personnel with a lot of defensive backs on the field.

Don’t be surprised if the Patriots employ a lot of 12 Personnel with LeGarrette Blount in the backfield and their two king-sized tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Michael Bennett, and just try to pummel Arizona’s lighter defense, which also could help keep Carson Palmer and the offense away from the field. Then again, predicting what Belichick will do is most likely an exercise in futility. It certainly will be interesting though and surely Belichick has been planning for this contest all summer long.

Saints turn sinners up front?

The Saints offensive line looked like it would be a strength of this team in 2016, as would the entire offense. New Orleans was historically terrible on the other side of the ball last year, but could remain competitive this year if Drew Brees plays at his usual level and the Saints score loads of points.

The potential problem here is that New Orleans’ offensive line really struggled throughout the preseason despite having good players in place, particularly at left tackle and center. If that level of poor play isn’t corrected quickly, the Saints could be in for a very long season. This is especially concerning when evaluating how strong Oakland now looks on their defensive front. Khalil Mack could get his Defensive Player of the Year campaign underway in the Big Easy Week 1 if the Saints line doesn’t improve from their preseason outings.