5 big ifs entering the NFL seasons

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Here are five big "Ifs" entering the 2010 NFL season.

1. What if the Jets can back up all of Rex Ryan's talk?

The New York Jets are the new bad boys of the NFL. Everyone had a chance to see their brash coach up close in the HBO series Hard Knocks this preseason. Ryan is aiming the Jets squarely at the Super Bowl and he's going to tell everyone about it along the way.

And if you don't like, well, [expletive].

After dropping a late-season game to the Atlanta Falcons in 2009, the Jets went on a roll to reach the AFC championship game. Their formula was simple: run the football, run the football and then run the football. On defense, they simply sent the opponent's best receiver for a visit to (Darrelle) Revis Island, a kind of black hole for receivers.

They already had the NFL's No. 1 defense and the No. 1 rushing attack before they added defensive end/linebacker Jason Taylor, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, cornerback Antonio Cromartie and drafted Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson.

The key for the Jets will be the continued development of second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez into a solid passer.

2. What if Drew Brees has another mega season?

Over the last decade, the NFL has been littered with defending Super Bowl champions. Five of the last 10 champs have missed the playoffs all together, the 2008 Steelers the latest victims.

Over the last 11 seasons, only one team has been able to repeat as Super Bowl champions: the 2004 New England Patriots.

Brees, fresh off setting the NFL record for completion percentage (70.6), is back to see if he can turn in another mega-season and help the Saints defend their title. Until last season, the Saints had won only two postseason games in their 43-year history.

The Saints needed to improve their run defense, which gave up 122.2 yards per game and ranked 21st in the NFL. They'll get a stiff test early when they face Minnesota's Adrian Peterson to open up the season.

3. What if Aaron Rodgers gets some blocking and a running game?

Some want to know what all the fuss is about over the Green Bay Packers. There seems to be a premature rush to anoint them Super Bowl contenders based on some flimsy evidence.

Rodgers has flawlessly taken over for Brett Favre, but is still only 17-15 as a starter. The offensive line hasn't proven that it can protect him. The special teams are shoddy. The running game is inconsistent. Top-flight opposing quarterbacks torched the secondary last season.

The Packers also have a very difficult schedule in the second half of the season, when they face Dallas, Minnesota, Atlanta and New England.

Over the last four seasons, the Packers have managed to rebuild their roster. For four straight seasons they were youngest team in the NFL.

Some are projecting that that they've grown up and time has come for them to dish out some punishment. But has it?

4. What if Brett Favre is actually getting better and not older?

The Minnesota Vikings were literally seconds away from their fifth Super Bowl last season and Favre was spectacular, throwing 33 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions.

But that ill-advised pass back into traffic in the NFC championship game helped the Saints march on to the Super Bowl.

Favre will not open the season with his favorite target, Sidney Rice (hip). It might not be fair to expect Favre to have such great passing season at age 40, when he's already receiving injections for his surgically repaired ankle.

The Vikings did address Rice's absence by adding wide receiver Greg Camarillo in a trade with Miami. But they must stabilize their offensive line if they plan to keep Favre upright.

Center John Sullivan has been slowed by a calf injury, right guard Anthony Herrera may have to open the season at center and rookie Chris DeGeare could start at right guard.

5. What if the Cowboys are Super Bowl material?

Dallas ended its streak of 12 straight seasons without winning a playoff game last season. Now with that is out of the way, the Cowboys want to return to the Super Bowl, which is set to be play in their home stadium this season.

But the Cowboys were so inept in the preseason that some are starting to wonder about this year's team. Quarterback Tony Romo completed 26 of 46 passes for 287 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and a 64.3 passer rating in the preseason.

Romo said his unit was ready to go, based on how it was performing in practice.

The Cowboys hope to get rookie receiver Dez Bryant back to full speed from his high ankle sprain. They also believe Bryant and last season's breakout player, Miles Austin, can be a special duo.