AFC preseason lessons: What we know and what we don't about each team

AFC preseason lessons: What we apperceive and what we don't about anniversary team, FOX Sports Senior NFL Writer Alex Marvez provides an assay of what we apperceive and what we don’t about all 16 AFC teams. afterwards endure weekend’s “dress rehearsal” contests in alertness for the approved season. His NFC breakdown can be begin here.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

What we know: Baltimore’s breach has angry the bend in aggravating to adept new coordinator Marc Trestman’s system. In the accident to Washington, quarterback Joe Flacco rebounded from a two-interception airing the antecedent anniversary adjoin Philadelphia by commutual 8 of 13 passes for 137 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers.

What we don’t: Timmy Jernigan’s cachet for the regular-season opener at Denver afterwards the second-year arresting accouterment aching his knee adjoin Washington. Jernigan, who has a history of knee problems, is getting counted on by the Ravens to alter the ancient Haloti Ngata (Detroit). Jernigan’s abrasion is the latest accession to a connected preseason account that includes assurance Matt Elam, arresting end Brent Urban and avant-garde receiver Breshad Perriman, the team’s 2015 first-round pick.

BUFFALO BILLS

What we know: The aegis will accept a accepted attempt at breaking the franchise’s single-season sack almanac of 57 set in 2013. The foreground four (Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and Jerry Hughes) is absolute awful and new arch drillmaster Rex Ryan is one of the best in award artistic means to blitz the quarterback.

What we don’t: How able-bodied Tyrod Taylor will do now that he was called Buffalo's starting quarterback (FOX Sports' Jay Glazer bankrupt the news). Taylor looked bigger than Matt Cassel and E.J. Manuel in the three-man QB antagonism but he aswell has never started or played abundantly in a regular-season game. That will change in Anniversary 1 adjoin Indianapolis.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

What we know: Doubts amble about quarterback Andy Dalton because of his game-to-game inconsistency, but the hasty advance appears rock-solid acknowledgment to Jeremy Hill and a appalling abhorrent line. Hill ran for 46 yards and a touchdown in a preseason achievement over Chicago. The Bengals aswell apparent their new-look colossal amalgamation with amateur accouterment Jake Fisher authoritative his NFL admission as a sixth abhorrent lineman.

What we don’t: The calendar for alfresco linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s on-field acknowledgment from microfracture knee surgery. One of the league’s a lot of advantageous tacklers, Burfict hasn’t accomplished this preseason and seems acceptable to absorb the aboriginal six amateur on the physically clumsy to accomplish (PUP) list. On the ablaze side, Cincinnati does accept superior abyss at the position with Vincent Rey and able amateur P.J. Dawson.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

What we know: Browns drillmaster Mike Pettine has said throughout the preseason that Josh McCown will be his starting quarterback. That charcoal the case entering the approved division as the amateur who could accept pushed for the job -- Johnny Manziel -- is alone because of a abscessed throwing arm. The Browns, though, should feel encouraged that Manziel has apparent amazing on-field advance afterward a adverse amateur campaign.

What we don’t: Will alive aback apropos alert the Browns to accord Ray Rice the adventitious for an NFL comeback? An injury-plagued preseason connected for amateur Duke Johnson if he suffered a abstract in the preseason bold adjoin Tampa Bay. Pettine hasn’t absolved the achievability of signing Rice, who has been out of football aback the 2013 division afterward a well-publicized arrest for calm violence.

DENVER BRONCOS

What we know: The NFL’s No. 3 aegis from endure division could be even bigger beneath new coordinator Wade Phillips. The unit’s able preseason assuming connected during the win over San Francisco. The Broncos sacked Colin Kaepernick for a assurance (DeMarcus Ware did the honors) and kept the 49ers quarterback from registering a aboriginal down until backward in the aboriginal half.

What we don’t: Exactly if the breach will adept Gary Kubiak’s new West Coast-style system. In particular, the abhorrent band charcoal a plan in advance as apparent by quarterback Peyton Manning constant three first-half sacks by the 49ers. “We’re still actual abundant accession out who we are and what we’re traveling to be as far as things we can absolutely adhere our hat on,” Manning said in his postgame account conference.

HOUSTON TEXANS

What we know: Brian Hoyer will accessible the approved division adjoin Kansas City as the starting quarterback afterwards besting Ryan Mallett. Hoyer had his best airing of the preseason in the 27-13 win over New Orleans. He aswell has already congenital able allure with DeAndre Hopkins, who is now the team’s absolute No. 1 avant-garde receiver afterward the offseason absolution of Andre Johnson.

What we don’t: How finer the Texans can run the football with Arian Foster apparently alone for at atomic a ages afterward beam surgery. Alfred Blue will get the starting nod with the achievement that the second-year alive aback can bigger his 3.1-yard boilerplate from 2014.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

What we know: The Jaguars shouldn't be fielding the NFL's a lot of bloodless breach again. Blake Bortles has looked far added adequate entering his additional division even while aggravating to adept a altered breach beneath new coordinator Greg Olsen. The accepting band will get a big accession if bound end Julius Thomas allotment from a duke abrasion for the regular-season opener adjoin Carolina.

What we don't: Whether the Jaguars can acreage an impactful canyon blitz with injuries accepting decimated the team's LEO position. Already accepting absent admired amateur Dante Fowler Jr. (knee) for the season, the Jaguars suffered accession abstract endure Friday if Andre Branch sprained his MCL vs. Detroit. The Jaguars are acquisitive a advancement like Chris Smith or Ryan Davis can advice aces up the baggy until Branch can return.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

What we know: The NFL's 2013 sack baton may be aback on the acreage faster than Colts buyer Jim Irsay had projected. Robert Mathis, who didn’t play endure division because of a torn Achilles tendon, alternate to convenance beforehand this month. Although his cachet for the season-opener adjoin Buffalo charcoal uncertain, Indianapolis expects Mathis to play afore Anniversary 7 or he would accept landed on the physically clumsy to accomplish (PUP) list.

What we don’t: Can the Colts abundantly assure quarterback Andrew Luck and advance defensively adjoin the run afterwards getting gouged alert endure year by New England? The closing assemblage was maligned afresh endure anniversary if Indianapolis’ top arresting lineman (Arthur Jones) suffered an abate abrasion that could accumulate him on the sidelines for a spell.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

What we know: The aegis is announcement the earmarks of getting one of the NFL’s best. The backbone charcoal the canyon rush, area 2014 first-round aces Dee Ford appears assertive to anatomy a abominable three-man circling with adolescent alfresco linebackers Justin Houston (the NFL’s ascendant sack leader) and Tamba Hali.

What we don’t: How the abhorrent band will attending already larboard accouterment Eric Fisher (ankle) and appropriate bouncer Jeff Allen (knee) acknowledgment from preseason injuries. So far through the preseason, Kansas City is accomplishment the allowances of accepting bolstered the unit’s abyss through chargeless agency, the abstract and a acute barter for larboard bouncer Ben Grubbs. Whoever the starting 5 is accept to do a bigger job than endure division aperture holes for alive aback Jamaal Charles and attention quarterback Alex Smith, who was sacked a career-high 45 times in 2014.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

What we know: Miami’s canyon blitz has the adequacy of something appropriate acknowledgment to the free-agent accession of arresting accouterment Ndamukong Suh. The autogenous burden activated by Suh and the underrated Earl Mitchell this preseason has played appropriate into the easily of Miami’s arresting end bike of Cam Wake and Olivier Vernon.

What we don’t: Can the abhorrent band authority up able-bodied abundant to assure quarterback Ryan Tannehill and accomplish an able hasty attack? Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner will be first-time starters at bouncer and larboard accouterment Branden Albert (knee) may not be accessible for the alpha of the approved season. The Dolphins are acquisitive that a knee abrasion suffered by centermost Mike Pouncey adjoin Tampa Bay isn’t serious.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

What we know: Admitting the offseason departures of standout cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, it may not be doom and anguish in New England’s accessory afterwards all. Malcolm Butler appears accessible to body on his Super Bowl 49 avowal and two bargain adept signings (Tarell Brown and Bradley Fletcher) arise able of accomplishing their jobs for arch drillmaster Bill Belichick.

What we don’t: Now that the catechism of quarterback Tom Brady's abeyance is solved, the Patriots can get aback to added banal concerns, such as whether LeGarrette Blount and Jonas Gray can accept the amount at alive back.

NEW YORK JETS

What we know: Ryan Fitzpatrick will access the approved division as the starting quarterback and has every adventitious to accumulate that position even afterwards Geno Smith recovers from a torn jaw. Fitzpatrick’s abundance akin from accepting ahead played in abhorrent coordinator Chan Gailey’s arrangement was axiomatic in the win adjoin the New York Giants.

What we don’t: Smith’s NFL future. Afterwards two alive seasons, Smith had apparent abundant abeyant that New York’s new coaching/front-office administration was accommodating to accord him the starting nod in 2015. Smith, though, showed an alarming abridgement of adeptness and administration if abnegation to balance a above assistant $600 in biking costs for declining to arise at his summer alms event. It’s cogent that few of Smith’s teammates bidding abuse about IK Enemkpali punching him in the face.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

What we know: Raiders accepted administrator Reggie McKenzie did a nice job this offseason acclamation one of the team’s better weaknesses – avant-garde receiver. First-round aces Amari Cooper has NFL Abhorrent Amateur of the Year abeyant and Michael Crabtree is ambulatory afterwards abrogation San Francisco as a chargeless agent. The Raiders are acquisitive Rod Streater can abstain injuries and become a solid advantage as the team’s third wideout for second-year quarterback Derek Carr.

What we don’t: How alive the Raiders will be in aggravating to add cornerback help. Oakland’s abyss is alarmingly attenuate abaft T.J. Carrie, Keith McGill and black 2013 first-round aces D.J. Hayden. The Raiders are currently fourth on the waiver-wire pecking adjustment afterward endure year’s 3-13 record.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

What we know: Pittsburgh’s activating breach is adverse some aboriginal division challenges. As appear by FOX Sports’ Ross Jones, avant-garde receiver Martavis Bryant (four games) will accompany alive aback Le’Veon Bell (two) on the amusement while both serve NFL biologic suspensions. Pro Bowl centermost Maurkice Pouncey is out indefinitely afterwards adeptness anaplasty for a lower leg abrasion suffered in Anniversary 2 of the preseason adjoin Green Bay. Plus, new advancement quarterback Mike Vick accept to get up to acceleration afterwards getting active endure anniversary to alter the afflicted Bruce Gradkowski.

What we don’t: How connected it will yield for Pittsburgh’s aegis to cobweb beneath first-year coordinator Keith Butler. While preseason after-effects should be taken with a atom of salt, an already doubtable accessory didn’t affect if disconnected in a accident to Buffalo.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

What we know: Alfresco linebacker Melvin Ingram is assuredly searching like the pass-rushing demon San Diego had hoped if authoritative him the 18th all-embracing aces in the 2012 draft. Accepting afford 20 pounds through offseason training, Ingram was a confusing attendance in San Diego’s endure two preseason amateur adjoin Arizona and Seattle.

What we don’t: How connected it will yield amateur alive aback Melvin Gordon to accomplish an impact. The 2015 first-round aces has looked acting at times in two of San Diego’s three preseason amateur (Gordon absent the Cardinals bold to blow a abscessed ankle). The acceptable account for San Diego is that the Chargers accept abundant superior abyss at the position to aftermath on the arena until Gordon finds his abundance level.

TENNESSEE TITANS

What we know: Marcus Mariota is assuming aboriginal earmarks of acceptable a authorization quarterback. The No. 2 all-embracing alternative in this year’s draft, Mariota has apparent resiliency by airy from asperous aboriginal starts at Atlanta and Kansas City. Even admitting there was a boundless pre-draft acceptance that Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston would be the added “pro-ready” quarterback, Mariota appears added advanced.

What we don’t: The superior of the acknowledging casting surrounding Mariota. Bishop Sankey, the aboriginal alive aback taken all-embracing in the 2014 draft, has yet to appearance bendability as a rusher. A reconfigured abhorrent band will charge time to jell. And admitting accepting the concrete adeptness to become Mariota’s top targets, above questions abide about how abundant WRs Justin Hunter and amateur Dorial Green-Beckham will contribute.
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