NFL season preview: Who will win the Super Bowl?
Last updated on .From the section American football
The NFL season kicks off on Wednesday night in the United States (early Thursday morning in the UK) with fans of all 32 clubs hoping that this will be their year.
BBC Sport previews the season with some of the UK's best-known NFL experts and fans, including England cricketer Jonathan Trott.
Who is going to win the Super Bowl?
Darren Fletcher, BBC 5 live's NFL commentator (DF): I'm tipping the San Francisco 49ers because, as the old saying goes, defence wins championships. The 49ers have the best one in the NFL - they have retained last year's unit and I expect them to be even better this time around. Offensively, quarterback Alex Smith has added weapons in wide receivers Mario Manningham and Randy Moss.
Kevin Cadle, Sky Sports presenter (KC): I like the Philadelphia Eagles. It will be tough navigating the NFC East and keeping Michael Vick upright, but I like what the Eagles bring to the party on both sides of the ball.
Jonathan Trott, Warwickshire and England cricketer (JT): It's so tough to pick one team in a competitive league like the NFL. I think my team, the San Francisco 49ers, have a good shot although they won't be a surprise package this year and people will be gunning for them. But they look a more rounded team and they have confidence and continuity in the coaching staff. Quarterback Alex Smith is starting to get the fans believing in him.
Which team is going to surprise everybody?
DF: Carolina Panthers. I think the fact that quarterback Cam Newton has a year of experience under his belt make the Panthers genuine contenders to win their division this year. His relationship with Steve Smith will continue to produce and Brandon LeFell will be a nice complement at receiver. Head coach Ron Rivera is a defensive expert and he will make that unit much stronger in his second season in charge.
KC: Each year at least five different teams make the play-offs from the previous season. The Seattle Seahawks have a top-10 defence and a strong running game. They are led by a rookie QB in Russell Wilson - if he can just manage the game then the Seahawks could be play-off bound.
JT: I think it could be the Washington Redskins. As well as having drafted Robert Griffin III (aka RG3) at quarterback, they have outstanding wide receivers in Josh Morgan, Pierre Garcon and Santana Moss
Who is going to be the worst team this year?
DF: The Jacksonville Jaguars look like a team in the doldrums, lacking enough playmakers on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Blaine Gabbart disappointed as a rookie and must improve, while the likely absence of star running back Maurice Jones-Drew - who is holding out for an improved contract offer - will have a big impact offensively. They are in major rebuilding mode and this looks like a difficult year.
KC: Miami and/or Jacksonville. Things look dreary for teams in Florida. The Dolphins just don't have talent and the Jags better get Maurice Jones-Drew back with the team, all they have to do is pay him some more money!
JT: I don't know about being the worst team, but it could be another season of struggle for teams like the St Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs, who just don't seem to have found that winning formula.
Which players are catching your eye?
DF: Andrew Luck and Cam Newton. The NFL is a quarterback-driven league and in Luck and Newton we have two who could light up the scoreboard for years to come. Luck is rated as the best QB prospect to come out of college since John Elway in the early 80s, while Newton may revolutionise the position with his size allied to his ability to run and pass for touchdowns. Both will bring lots of excitement this season and could bring championships to their respective teams in coming years.
KC: Rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne will be a big boost for the Dallas Cowboys if he holds up. Veterans to watch include Houston running back Arian Foster and quarterback Peyton Manning, now at the Denver Broncos.
JT: As well as RG3 at Washington, I'm excited about watching Andrew Luck at the Colts. I saw a lot of him at Stanford University and he just looked like an NFL quarterback even in the college game. I expect him to have a big impact.
The opening game of the 2012 NFL season - Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants - will be broadcast live on BBC 5 live sports extra from 01:15 BST on Thursday 6 September
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Join the conversation
Who will win the Superbowl?
Baltimore Ravens
Who will be the surprise?
Seattle Seahawks
Who will be rubbish?
Jacksonville Jaguars
I chose the New England Patriots only because there was an episode of Family Guy about Peter playing for them.
So hope NE Patriots can go one better and win the superbowl this year!
I don't think so: in fact I will go as far to say they will win the AFC West. Offensively they get Jamaal Charles back, along with Peyton Hillis to make a strong 1-2 in the backfield. In Dwayne Bowe they have one of the more underrated wideouts in the league. Their defence is easily top 10 and they have great home advantage at Arrowhead.
I am not having a pop at NFL (I watch it myself). But it is not as popular as Football, Cricket, Rugby, Tennis, Golf in this country. Anyone who thinks it is as popular is deluded. Even if you look at the NFL viewing figures for Sky you can see that more people watch games like Swansea v Wigan on Sky than NFL.
As to the questions, being a Pats fan I would hope they go a step further this year and win it, but I think the Superbowl will be between Texans and Bears, with the Bears winning. Surprise team will be Buffalo who could get a wildcard spot in the AFC. And the worst team will be either the Browns or Dolphins.
Trott did not say they were the worst team. Just they will struggle. That is probably true.
Redskins look good to me - Garcon should have a good season this year. We all know that the QB is the most important player. I expect RG III and Luck to improve the fortunes of their teams this year - perhaps having more of an impact than Cam Newton did for the Panthers last season.
Surprise team? I like Cincinnati, a bit of luck in close games and they could make an impact.
Worst Team? Maybe not rock bottom, but I expect my beloved NY Jets (sob!) to do very badly. Their D is great but on Offence they play like buttercups, it's rubbish. And it has been for years, so no one to blame but themselves.
As always its hard to look past Patriots, Saints, Packers
Real men wear black. Go Raiders!
ok, gotcha - still sounds like a sky thing though. why would the bbc stop sky or whoever taking the 301 channel when they don't stop them having just the same content on the red button?
anyway, no issue for me, i can record it.
hope it works out for you - having it on a regular bbc channel would be great - might be asking a bit much though.
hope its on iplayer, which would be a big plus!
mate of mine watched snooker world champs this year on the bbc (red button) via his sky box..... have they stopped it since then?
pack and 49ers will be strong.
eagles are good enough but will find a way to mess it up,
ravens d might still have one good year left in them, flacco and their offense should improve this year.
giants might struggle - killer schedule and no run game.
saints will have a chip on their shoulder, watch out for them.
ravens packers superbowl.
virgin and sky disable the recording of the red button on their boxes? really? why?
if i was paying them the sort of money they charge i wouldn't be happy with that.
if u get your tv from a private company which disables the service, not sure why that's a bbc prob?