National Football League

Week 1's most pressing questions

Published Sep. 8, 2011 2:55 p.m. ET

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Week 1 is when NFL teams are the most nervous, no matter how well they've prepared. The Green Bay Packers are defending champions, but no one else knows for certain what they can do. Only after Kickoff Weekend will all 32 clubs grasp their strengths and limitations and adapt — or realize they can't.

Kickoff Weekend can also set the tone for everything that follows — even the playoffs. Here are 10 of the big-picture questions around the NFL right before kickoff.

1. How big of a ripple will Peyton Manning's injury cause?

No other team relies on a single player more than Indy does with Manning. Without him — and the Colts have never played a game without Manning since they drafted him in 1998 — they could be a 5-to-7-win team this season. They've signed veteran Kerry Collins to be a fill-in for Manning in Week 1. Manning wanted Brett Favre's iron man record, but the four-time MVP had more neck surgery Thursday and will miss at least two months.

2. Will the Packers become a juggernaut?

Following the Broncos' first championship season under John Elway in 1997, they defeated the Patriots on Monday Night Football in Week 1 and rolled off 12 straight victories thereafter, cruising to back-to-back titles. The 2004 Patriots, fresh off a Super Bowl victory, held off Peyton Manning's Colts in prime time in the opener, then earned five more consecutive victories en route to claiming their third world title. Now the league awaits the Packers' encore.

3. Are the Eagles for real?

Poor Vince Young. The backup labeled the Eagles a "Dream Team" over the summer, so if the team falters, Philadelphia is going to rip him regardless if he even gets into a game. The team isn't perfect by any stretch — it has issues on the offensive line and at linebacker — but it's strong enough elsewhere to be one of the NFC's best teams. This is a team that can throw the ball, and they defend the pass as well as anyone. The Eagles travel in Week 1 to face up-and-coming St. Louis. Lose that one, and the Eagles become the wrong kind of national headline.

4. Just how good are the Lions?

Detroit had a nasty edge to it defensively in the preseason, and a Matthew Stafford-to-Calvin Johnson passing attack has the potential to be a good one. Are 10 wins and a wild card berth feasible? The Lions will find out right away if they're hungry enough — as they face another young, ambitious crew in Tampa Bay in Week 1. If Ndamukong Suh drops Bucs QB Josh Freeman a few times, teams and QBs around the NFL will take note of it.

5. Has the window closed for the New York Jets?

Last year, Rex Ryan's Jets had the look of a championship club. The right leaders were in place, LaDainian Tomlinson started out stronger than expected and the defense got after everyone. So, what's changed? Tomlinson is a year older, the offensive line has weak spots, they swapped Braylon Edwards for Plaxico Burress, 34, and didn't land Nnamdi Asomugha, a player they coveted. Ryan's squad plays with high emotion, but if they lose that edge in prime time on 9/11 against the Cowboys, it could mean trouble for the entire season.

6. What can Wade Phillips do with the Texans defense?

The Colts appear vulnerable with Peyton Manning ailing, and the Jaguars and Titans have the look of .500 teams. So, this could be the Texans' season in the AFC South, provided the defense plays better. Houston added corner Johnathan Joseph and safety Danieal Manning, and drafted defensive end J.J. Watt, who has already earned a starting job. Of course, the key to the turnaround is their new defensive coordinator, Phillips. We'll see how much of an impact his 3-4 scheme makes against Indy in the home opener.

7. Did all those losses doom the Giants?

Their locker room is full of the walking wounded. Osi Umenyiora is expected to miss the first two games, and rookie first-round cornerback Prince Amukamara likely the first four weeks. Still, at least that pair will return eventually — fellow corner Terrell Thomas is lost for the year. Losing middle linebacker Jonathan Goff is also a huge blow. Add that to the free-agent departures of Kevin Boss, Steve Smith and Barry Cofield, and this team seems considerably weakened from the 10-win club of a season ago. We'll see how much when New York faces rival Washington in Week 1.

8. Which rookie QB plays on opening day?

It's one of the great debates of developing a rookie quarterback: to start them right away or allow him to watch and learn. This season, six rookies came into camp with the potential to be opening day starters: Cam Newton (Panthers), Jake Locker (Titans), Blaine Gabbert (Jaguars), Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Andy Dalton (Bengals) and Christian Ponder (Vikings). Newton and Dalton will get the Week 1 call, but all of them could get a few snaps right away.

9. Can Jay Cutler salvage his reputation?

Cutler's body language and pout suggest he's a malcontent, but his arm and fearlessness in the pocket suggest a franchise player. Though the offensive line gave up a league-leading 56 sacks last season, and Cutler suffered a painful MCL tear in the NFC Championship Game, the quarterback is considered soft by many in Chicago. He needs to make a statement immediately and come out firing in 2011, beginning with the home opener against another motivated NFC club, the Falcons.

10. Does anyone want the NFC West title this season?

The key to the NFC West division should be the quality of quarterback play, or lack thereof. Sam Bradford shows promise in St. Louis, but it's still just his second season and he has no elite receivers. The Seahawks landed Tarvaris Jackson, and he is still an unknown. The Niners are completely lost at that spot. So, the Cardinals' Kevin Kolb could be the difference-maker here. He has the NFL's closest version of a gimme in Week 1 to build confidence — at home against Cam Newton's Panthers.