Biggest question for every NFL team ahead of 2020 season

Ahead of the 2020 NFL season opener Thursday between reigning Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans in a rematch of their playoff slugfest, theScore's football editors examine the most pressing on-field question for all 32 teams.

Arizona Cardinals

Will DeAndre Hopkins' arrival turn the offense into a juggernaut?

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Six months later and the decision to trade Hopkins is still just as perplexing. The Cardinals likely won't preoccupy themselves with how lucky they were to get the wideout, but rather focus on integrating him as fast as possible to create a dangerous passing attack. Kyler Murray flashed a star ceiling as a rookie, but it remains to be seen how he'll adapt to playing with a target monster like Hopkins. The Year 2 expectations for the "Kliff Kingsbury era Cardinals" - especially the offense - are high compared to 2019. Whether or not Hopkins can lead the unit from Day 1 is the key to a playoff push.

Atlanta Falcons

Will Matt Ryan get enough protection?

A team can have all the firepower in the world, but it doesn't matter if the quarterback is hounded every snap. That's what happened to the Falcons and Ryan in 2019. Despite Atlanta pouring assets into fixing the offensive line, the 2016 MVP was the league's third-most sacked QB (48). Ryan's poor protection wasted the prodigious talents of wideouts Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. The offense has to lead the way if the Falcons are to compete in the NFC South. That won't happen unless the line takes strides forward.

Baltimore Ravens

Is Marquise Brown ready to lead the passing attack?

The only weakness on a star-studded Ravens roster appears to be a receiving corps bereft of a 1,000-yard receiver last season. Brown led the team's wideouts with just 584 yards, though he added seven touchdowns. "Hollywood" packed on 23 pounds of muscle this offseason to better withstand the beating he'll take from top cover men. With opposing defenses keying in on the top-ranked running game, Brown will have to be a difference-maker.

Buffalo Bills

Can Josh Allen take a leap in efficiency as a passer?

Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

The Bills have done all they can to surround their young QB with the necessary pieces to go from playoff participants to title contenders. Allen is backed by a top-tier defense, a top-10 running game (to which Allen contributes much), and he now has a star receiver to pass to in Stefon Diggs. What's left is for the 24-year-old to improve his accuracy; his 58% completion percentage was the lowest mark among the 32 starting QBs last season.

Carolina Panthers

How will Matt Rhule deal with the leap from college to the NFL?

The Colts were mocked for interviewing Rhule in 2018 after being rebuffed by Josh McDaniels. At the time, Rhule was coming off a 1-11 season in his first year at Baylor. But 18 regular-season wins and a bowl victory later, Rhule was tapped as the ideal program-builder to turn Panthers owner David Tepper's vision into a reality. There are sure to be growing pains for Rhule, just like fellow ex-college coach Kingsbury experienced last year. While Carolina is thinking long term, Rhule still needs to show relatively quickly that the NFL stage isn't too big for him.

Chicago Bears

Will the latest gamble on Mitchell Trubisky pay off?

Matt Nagy has again hitched his wagon to Trubisky. Playing out the final year of his rookie contract, the 26-year-old will enter the season as the starting QB after beating out Nick Foles in camp. The Bears didn't miss the playoffs by much last season, and there's more opportunity to reach the postseason this time around with an expanded field. Still, much will be expected of Trubisky if he's to stick in Chicago and ward off the naysayers.

Cincinnati Bengals

Can A.J. Green still be the focal point of the offense?

Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Green looked like a top-10 receiver the last time we saw him. His 2018 was cut short by injury, but you get 1,234 yards and 11 touchdowns on 136 catches if you extrapolate his production from nine starts. But, at 32 and coming off a 21-month layoff, can Green still be a No. 1 weapon for Joe Burrow, or have injuries sapped too much of his athleticism? Cincinnati has running back Joe Mixon and a solid group of wideouts to rely on behind the Pro Bowler. Green was one of the rare game-changers in his prime; the Bengals need that version to return.

Cleveland Browns

Can Odell Beckham Jr. return to elite form?

Last season was a year to forget for the Cleveland Browns and Beckham. The superstar entered his first campaign with the Browns surrounded by huge expectations following a blockbuster trade; he and Baker Mayfield were supposed to be a guaranteed dynamic duo. Unfortunately, Mayfield had a serious case of the sophomore slumps, and the wideout rarely looked like the game-changer he was in New York. Beckham set a historically high bar in his first three seasons. If he can't recapture that form, it's hard to see this marriage lasting beyond 2020.

Dallas Cowboys

Is the move from Jason Garrett to Mike McCarthy a big enough upgrade?

Cowboys supporters have long professed that all Dallas needed was a change in leadership. We'll finally learn if that's the case as McCarthy, a proven winner, takes over for Garrett. The Cowboys have one of the most talented rosters in the league, and the team made few changes to the core this offseason. They'll be looking to rebound from a disappointing 8-8 season, hoping McCarthy's championship pedigree can put them over the top.

Denver Broncos

Can Drew Lock take advantage of a talent-rich offense?

Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / Getty

While most are pegging Murray as the breakout sophomore QB, Lock is entering 2020 with a lot of hype. The Broncos seem confident they've finally found their franchise player in Lock, who went 4-1 as a starter in 2019, after years of failing to replace Peyton Manning. John Elway found Lock's play so convincing he went all-in on the offense, adding running back Melvin Gordon and rookie receiver Jerry Jeudy to a crew that already boasted Courtland Sutton and Phillip Lindsay. Lock has all the help he needs, but he won't have any excuses if things go wrong.

Detroit Lions

Can the running game finally give Matthew Stafford the support he deserves?

The Lions attempt to kickstart their running game ever year, only to come up short each time. The biggest victim of this has been Stafford, who's been forced to carry the offense for too long. The overreliance on the QB was clear last season when he got injured. There's no guarantee of better help for Stafford in 2020, with the backfield containing a 35-year-old Adrian Peterson; Kerryon Johnson, who averaged 3.6 yards last year; and rookie D'Andre Swift.

Green Bay Packers

Does Aaron Rodgers have enough weapons?

One wouldn't fault Rodgers if he felt the Packers were purposely handicapping him. The front office neglected to add playmakers through the draft or free agency, then cut receiver Jake Kumerow - whom Rodgers vouched for - and didn't even opt to place him on the practice squad. Allen Lazard and his 36 career receptions are listed as the team's second receiver. Green Bay is again asking Rodgers to work his magic and banking on another career year from running back Aaron Jones.

Houston Texans

Will Bill O'Brien's dramatic makeover of the offense pay off?

Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Very few people would say O'Brien's trade of Hopkins was the best plan moving forward. Hopkins is a top-five receiver and developed great chemistry with Deshaun Watson. If there's an on-field explanation for the move that makes a lick of sense, it's that the Texans head coach saw the beginning of a decline after the wideout had 400 fewer yards in 2019 than the year prior, and decided to pivot to build the offense around speed and help Watson be less reliant on one weapon in key situations. Is O'Brien a mad genius or just plain mad? Time will tell.

Indianapolis Colts

Does Philip Rivers have anything left in the tank?

The Jacoby Brissett-led passing attack was one of the NFL's least intimidating in 2019, and the Colts had a middling season as a result. While Rivers is a far better fit in Frank Reich's offense, there's no guarantee he'll be a significant upgrade. On the one hand, Rivers played close to an MVP level in 2018 and now has the best offensive line of his career. On the other, it's hard to forget all the interceptions and how shot his arm looked at times in his final year with the Chargers.

Jacksonville Jaguars

How will the defense respond to mass turnover?

Is there a better example of the famous phrase "NFL means not for long" than the Jaguars defense that carried the team to the 2017 AFC title game? Jacksonville traded three key defensive pieces in Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, and A.J. Bouye this offseason, which leaves Myles Jack as the last remaining starter from the team that lost to the Patriots in the playoffs three years ago. The unit is now scarily short on talent, depth, and experience.

Kansas City Chiefs

Is Clyde Edwards-Helaire ready for the top role?

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It's hard to find many significant question marks when you look over the Chiefs' roster. The offense is certain to continue to be a monster. The difference between another top-five scoring finish and potentially challenging historic feats might come down to first-round running back Edwards-Helaire and if he's ready to take over Damien Williams' workload following the veteran's decision to opt out.

Las Vegas Raiders

Can the young secondary grow up fast enough?

The Raiders are undergoing a youth movement with their secondary in the team's first year in Las Vegas. Trayvon Mullen, a 2019 second-round pick, and rookie first-rounder Damon Arnette are set to start at outside cornerback. Johnathan Abram, a 2019 first-rounder who missed his rookie season due to injury, will start at strong safety. In a division containing Patrick Mahomes, the unit must grow up quickly in 2020.

Los Angeles Chargers

Can the defense lead the team without Derwin James?

With the offense in a state of transition with Rivers' and Gordon's departures, the Chargers need their defense to be the team's driving force if they want to challenge the Chiefs. The unit took a major blow when James was recently lost to a season-ending knee injury in training camp. L.A.'s defense ranked 10th in DVOA in James' standout 2018 rookie season, but it dropped to 25th when he was limited to five games the following year. The Chargers' unit is talented, but can the scheme work without the do-it-all safety?

Los Angeles Rams

Will the offense thrive without Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks?

Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Rams will field a new-look offense after cutting Gurley and trading Cooks. The two players were responsible for 3,103 yards and 27 touchdowns of L.A.'s production in 2018, but both players' roles were significantly reduced last season. Sean McVay wants a committee approach to his backfield moving forward, and the expectation is the Rams will move from three- and four-receiver sets to a more tight end heavy attack.

Miami Dolphins

When will Tua Tagovailoa see the field?

Tagovailoa is seemingly fully recovered from the hip injury that ended his final season at Alabama and threatened to tank his draft stock. With limited offseason and training camp work, the Dolphins opted to go with the experienced hand in Ryan Fitzpatrick over the rookie QB, at least initially. Fitzpatrick is such a streaky player it's almost certain he'll produce a performance that leaves Dolphins fans crying out for their new star. Will Brian Flores make a move in time for Miami to push for the AFC East title?

Minnesota Vikings

Can Justin Jefferson fill the void left by Stefon Diggs?

The Vikings took a big risk shipping off Diggs to the Bills. Sure, they got a good price, and the wideout wasn't happy in Minnesota, but it's beyond time for the "Kirk Cousins era Vikings" to make a deep playoff push. That goal will be much harder to achieve without Diggs. The club used its first-round pick on Jefferson, who will likely be the No. 3 receiver behind Adam Thielen and Bisi Johnson. While the Vikings will be a run-heavy team, there will come a time when the passing attack needs to catch fire. Will they regret trading a talent like Diggs then?

New England Patriots

Is Cam Newton past his prime?

Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Newton is one of the best physical specimens to ever step onto an NFL field. He's a better passer than most give him credit for, but his game is built around running the ball, extending plays, and using his size to finish drives in the red zone. But Newton's body has begun to fail him. The 31-year-old spent most of the last two seasons either playing hurt or on the sidelines. With only decent offensive talent, the Patriots can't succeed without Newton consistently creating magic outside of the team's structured plays.

New Orleans Saints

Is Emmanuel Sanders the final piece to the title puzzle?

There is no debate about how good the Saints are. New Orleans hasn't put everything together during the playoffs in recent years, and those minor faults have culminated in heartbreaking losses. With the Super Bowl window under Drew Brees closing, lining up Sanders in an already solid offensive unit may give the Saints the extra veteran presence needed to win big games. The wideout has played in the Super Bowl for three different teams, winning one title.

New York Giants

Can Daniel Jones fix his turnover issues?

There was a lot more to like about Jones' rookie season than most predicted when the Giants shockingly reached for the QB with the No. 6 pick in 2019. The biggest takeaway from Year 1 is that Jones won't develop into a solid starter without fixing his turnover issues, particularly his ball security. Jones fumbled an NFL-high 18 times. He lost 11 of those, and no one else lost more than seven. The young passer also threw 12 interceptions, tied for the 11th-most.

New York Jets

Can Le'Veon Bell and Adam Gase coexist?

Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Bell and Gase failed to match expectations in their debut campaigns with the Jets last year. The star runner produced career lows with 3.2 yards per carry and three rushing touchdowns, while the coach failed to save New York from logging its fourth straight losing season. After a second offseason together, this relationship is apparently better than ever off the field, despite rumors to the contrary. Whether that's enough for Gase to help Bell recapture his Steelers form - while saving himself from another year on the hot seat - remains to be seen.

Philadelphia Eagles

How will the offensive line answer after losing a couple of starters?

Carson Wentz's health has been a concern for the Eagles in recent years, and his protection suffered major hits in 2020 as Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks and 2019 first-round offensive tackle Andre Dillard will miss the season due to injuries. Jason Peters, who moved to guard when Dillard was expected to start at tackle, will return to his original position, but can he still protect Wentz's blind side effectively throughout the entire season at the age of 38? Is Matt Pryor - the likely replacement at right guard - ready to be a starter after playing in just 7% of the offensive snaps in 2019? Philly needs quick answers to those questions if they want to be competitive.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Can Ben Roethlisberger stay healthy?

One of the biggest "what-ifs" of the 2019 season was the Steelers. They had an elite defense but didn't have Roethlisberger - coming off a 2018 campaign where he set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns - for basically the entire season due to injury. The core of that defensive unit is back and possibly even better with another year of experience under its young standouts' belts. The main question in Pittsburgh is whether the future Hall of Fame signal-caller in Roethlisberger can overcome offseason surgery on his right elbow. If the answer is yes, the AFC playoff race should get another strong candidate.

San Francisco 49ers

Is Jimmy Garoppolo the long-term answer at quarterback?

MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / Getty

Helping the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance wasn't enough to convince people that Garoppolo is a difference-maker. A poor fourth quarter against the Chiefs, especially compared to a red-hot Mahomes, highlighted that for the whole NFL world to see. Garoppolo's job is secure for 2020 barring a total collapse in performance. Next season, however, the 49ers could move on from him with only a $2.8-million dead-money hit, so Garoppolo needs to prove he's worthy of another big financial investment.

Seattle Seahawks

Where will the pass rush come from?

The Seahawks failed to bring back Jadeveon Clowney and missed out on Everson Griffen and Yannick Ngakoue. Only the Dolphins had fewer sacks than Seattle's 28 last year, and little has been done to improve the area. Veterans Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa were signed, but the Seahawks appear to be betting big on a breakout year from either Rasheem Green, who had a team-high four sacks in 2019, or L.J. Collier.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

How will the crowded backfield play out?

In a normal season, the Bucs' backfield would already carry big question marks considering how mediocre it's been in recent years. The group is facing even more pressure in 2020 due to the presence of Tom Brady and the additions of high-profile names in the offseason. Ronald Jones is the team's starter entering the season, but how Bruce Arians uses Leonard Fournette - the runner with the highest ceiling on the depth chart - and LeSean McCoy - who had solid averages when touching the ball last season - can make this group the X-factor in a pass-first system.

Tennessee Titans

Can Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry build on their breakout campaigns?

Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Titans went all-in on Tannehill and Henry, the duo who sparked the team's surprisingly successful regular season and an even more surprisingly successful playoff run in 2019. Tannehill got $118 million over four years, while Henry received $50 million over four. Both players enjoyed career years in 2019. However, if even one of the two players regresses toward their former level of play, the Titans could struggle to replicate last year's progress.

Washington Football Team

Will Dwayne Haskins hold off Alex Smith?

The improbable happened when Smith completed his amazing return to football by making Washington's roster after suffering a life-threatening leg injury. The QB's comeback aims for an even more miraculous feat: taking back the starting role from Dwayne Haskins. Haskins has a lot to prove in his second campaign after posting a 2-5 record while completing just 58% of his pass attempts in nine appearances. The 2019 first-rounder improved late in the season - five touchdowns to one interception in the last three games - but his margin for error is now significantly smaller with Smith on the sidelines.

Copyright (C) 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.