Jacoby Jones runs back a 108-yard kickoff return for the Baltimore Ravens at the Super Bowl. Source: AFP
NFL is back for another pulsating season, and we're here to help you get a head start before the journey to the Super Bowl gets under way.
Former Collingwood star Sav Rocca is the lone Aussie flying the flag this season – he will be punting for the Washington Redskins – with Hayden Smith, Mat McBriar and Brad Wing cut by the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles and Jesse Williams (Seattle Seahawks) injured. But don't let that spoil the mood.
The world's most-attended sport – it boasts larger average crowds than the Premier League and AFL combined – is set for its biggest season yet, starting with Friday morning's season opener Broncos-Ravens. And for for those of you who don't know your Peytons from your Elis, or the difference between the Lions and Titans and Bears (oh my!), then our NFL Mug's Guide is for you.
WHEN DOES IT START?
It all begins with 'Kickoff', the aptly named season opener, on Friday at 10.30am AEST when last season's champions Baltimore take on this season's favourites Denver.
The Baltimore Ravens were surprise Super Bowl victors in February, taking shock scalps all the way to the Vince Lombardi trophy. One of those scalps was the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Playoff (read quarter-final), and they are this season's early favourites to go all the way.
WHAT'S THE STORY OF THIS SEASON?
The 2012 season was the year of the rookie quarterback. Youngsters fresh out of college like Russell Wilson, Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck and pseudo-rookie Colin Kaepernick tore up opposition defences all season long.
This year is all about whether the young signal callers can back it up, and potentially replace the old guard of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees, who have five championships between them but a combined age of 107.
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However it's not just a battle of old versus new, it's a battle of philosophies.
Wilson, Griffin and Kaepernick took teams by surprise with their unorthodox running games, and will be under pressure to prove they weren't one-season flukes. Their exciting, varied style contrasts the gunslinging, pocket passing and often plodding veterans (I'm looking at you Tom Brady).
But this time defensive coaches have had seven months to adapt and prepare to the rookies, so this season will determine whether fast and nimble has truly replaced ice cool and accurate.
WHAT HAPPENED IN PRE-SEASON?
It's been a forgettable few months for the NFL's Australian contingent.
Hayden Smith – a product of western Sydney who has previously been contracted by the Sydney Kings in the NBL and Saracens in English rugby – was cut by the Jets after a promising debut season in 2012. Controversial college star Brad Wing and fellow punter Mat McBriar were both axed by the Eagles, while Jesse Williams went down injured in what was supposed to be his debut season for the Seahawks after a brilliant college career with Alabama.
Dubbed 'Monstar', the Aussie man mountain – he weighs in 147kg and stands at 191cm – has been tipped for big things after being drafted by Seattle, but knee issues have seen him effectively deregistered for this year.
WHO'S GONNA STAR THIS YEAR?
The aforementioned quarterback brigade will steal most of the headlines as usual, but it's hard to argue it won't be another stellar year for Adrian 'Purple Jesus' Peterson.
The Minnesota Vikings running back is top of the class at the moment by a country mile, despite playing in an era where his position if full of talent such as Arian Foster and Marshawn Lynch. Not to mention his star turn in Bad Lip Reading's NFL tribute last season. Seriously, it's above, and it's a must watch.
But the real unsung heroes are the defences, and it's tipped to be a big year for them. Watch out for the Texans' JJ Watt, 49ers' Aldon Smith and the Broncos' Von Miller making some massive hits in the coming months. There's a reason these guys need to wear pads.
WHO'S GONNA WIN?
The TAB has installed veteran quarterback Peyton Manning's Broncos as $8 favourites to take out this year's Super Bowl after they were beaten by eventual champions Baltimore in the Divisional Playoffs (two games short of the Super Bowl) last year.
But we like the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks' second-year rookie quarterback Russell Wilson is set to explode this year and build on last season's 11-5 record, and they've already picked apart four teams in the pre-season, as much as that's worth.
Seattle won seven of their last eight regular season games, including a thumping victory over the Super Bowl-bound San Fran 49ers, before Atlanta stopped them 30-28 in the Divisional Playoffs.
The team put up some massive scores late in the season, but it's their defensive line that should see them take the next step, with a secondary rated as one of the best, if not the No.1 backfield in the NFL.
THREE 'CAN'T MISS' GAMES IN THE FIRST MONTH
1. Baltimore Ravens @ Denver Broncos
10.30am AEST, Friday, September 6 - ESPN
It doesn't get much bigger than the NFL season-opener, particularly when it's last season's Super Bowl winners and this year's title favourites facing off.
2. Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers
6.25am AEST, Monday, September 10
Last season's Super Bowl losers San Francisco have had a long off-season to wonder what might have been, and they face a punishing first-up assignment against the Packers and 2011 NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.
3. New England Patriots @ Atlanta Falcons
10.30am AEST, Tuesday, September 30
Tom Brady's Patriots are the team everyone either loves to love or loves to hate, and in week four they'll take on the team with the best record last year - Atlanta.
WHY NFL PLAYERS HAVE THE BEST NAMES
If you want to realise your own NFL dream, looking the part with an NFL-sounding name is a good first step.
You've got a few options.
1 - Your best bet is to put "De" or "Da" in front of just about any already completely acceptable name to give it NFL star power. Among the NFL rosters this year (and every year) are blokes named DaJohn, DeJon, Demaryius and Dashon.
2 - Nothing screams NFL like a random apostrophe. J'Marcus? Ja'Gared? Youbetcha.
3 - It's got to have Shawn/Shaun/Sean in there somewhere. Any prefix will do.
4 - Double points for combinations of the above rules, like DeMarcus (Ware, from the Dallas Cowboys).
Of course, there are names that just sound freaking sweet, like Robert Griffin III, Rob Gronkowski, Wes Welker and Anquan Boldin.
OK, I'M IN – HELP ME PICK A TEAM TO SUPPORT
If it's your first foray into the bleary-eyed NFL Aussie fandom, you're going to want highlights, and lots of them.
A team that runs the ball is mostly going to bore you stiff, so your best bet is a team like the Green Bay Packers, who are so ordinary at running the pigskin that they'll gladly throw the thing all day. And they're usually a lock for playoff action.
If green and yellow aren't your thing, get on the Broncos. Peyton Manning and his 37-year-old will give you plenty to cheer for.
Whatever you do, steer clear of the New York Jets.
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