With what is perhaps the most popular sport in America kicking into full gear this week, what can we expect from this season? There are undoubtedly numerous headlines, some of which might be highlighted by will the New England Patriots repeat? Others might feature a fresh crop of new talent, names such as Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey and Deshaun Watson have all earned vital roles within their respective clubs. Last year saw rookie sensation Ezekiel Elliott take the league by storm, literally. Will he help or hurt the Cowboys’ somewhat shrouded future? With new headlines buzzing around the league, it’s hard not to think about who will be playing in February for the coveted, revered Lombardi Trophy. Let’s take a closer look at some of these stories.

There’s no doubt that Leonard Fournette is a ruthless runner. Punishing incoming defenders with a brutal stiff arm is not a rare sight, nor is rolling right over them with his steel shoulder. He’s just a good a running back as any in the NFL; his 6’1’’, 230-pound frame is as good as it gets. In three seasons at LSU Fournette amassed 3,830 yards and 40 touchdowns. With an improved offensive line and the durability, Fournette possesses, receiving or rushing, the Jaguars should expect big things from him, as should the rest of the league.

Staying on the topic of rookies, Deshaun Watson, the Clemson gunslinger, put in an impressive preseason. However, the Texans have already announced that Tom Savage will be their starting quarterback, for now at least. Watson possesses everything you want in a quarterback. He has the ability to stretch out plays with his legs. If the blocking breaks down, he can take off with his legs to the outside. Having said that, he needs to become accustomed to the pace of the NFL, as well as the size of its players. In the end, it may not be all that bad to have Watson sit and study a quarterback who’s been in the league for some time. More time for Watson to get acclimated wouldn’t be terrible, especially with such high expectations for a Houston squad this year.

Week one of the NFL season kicks off Thursday night with an AFC matchup between the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. The excitement and thrill of football is back. With many unanswered questions still around the league, and a lot of bold predictions, who knows what’ll happen. It’s a game of inches, right? The slick catches, the roar of the crowd, and of course, those shattering hits and tackles. That’s football, and it’s finally back.