NFL The quest for superbowl glory begins

The 2007 National Football League season gets underway on Thursday with all 32 teams harbouring ambitions to represent their conference in Super Bowl XLII in Arizona on 3rd February 2008.

Sky Sports is the best place to see all the action live, from the opening kick-off in Indianapolis through to the Super Bowl. Sky Sports will bring you over 100 live games this season, including triple-headers every Sunday.

The NFL has endured a tumultuous off-season, from the Adam "Pacman" Jones and Chris Henry suspensions to the Michael Vick dog fighting saga.

But now the players can finally do their talking on the field, as the NFL regular season is back with a bang.

In the AFC, reigning Super Bowl champions the Indianapolis Colts bid for a successful defence of the Vince Lombardi trophy, but the New England Patriots have improved significantly this off-season and the San Diego Chargers remain the most talented team in the NFL.

Over in the NFC, the New Orleans Saints are looking strong, while the Chicago Bears, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks are all hoping to return to the Super Bowl in February.

AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets

AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

AFC WEST
Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St Louis Rams

so guys who do you think is gonna be the team to win this years superbowl😃

nug picks six teams and five players to watch out for in this years NFL season



The 2007/08 NFL season kicks off live on Sky Sports this Thursday when the defending champions, Indianapolis Colts, take on one of the teams of 2006/7, New Orleans Saints.

check out his six teams and five players to watch out for this season and don't forget to tune in to the NFL preview show.



AFC:


With the additions they have made in the off-season, we have to start with the New England Patriots as strong contenders from the AFC.


They have basically picked up the two best free agents available. Adding to the nucleus of a very strong team, on offense they have brought in wide receiver Randy Moss while defensive end Adalius Thomas has also been recruited.


They only fell at the final hurdle in the AFC Championship game last season, against Indianapolis Colts, when they let them get away. They have addressed some of their needs with those acquisitions and, with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, they still have plenty of experience.


They are not without their problems, though, with safety Rodney Harrison suspended and defensive lineman Richard Seymour out for what looks like a minimum of six weeks. So defensively they have a couple of problems.


You have to mention the Super Bowl champions, Indianapolis Colts, as contenders too. Their offense is going to be explosive again and, during the regular season, if you have a good offense you can go a long way.


It may take until later in the season for the defense to start to come around as there are a lot of new faces in there - some of them youngsters. We will see.


It would be harsh not to put San Diego Chargers in the mix, too. They are probably the most talented team, top to bottom, in the NFL. On their offense they have LaDainian Tomlinson, the best offensive player in the league, and maybe the best defensive player in the league in Shawne Merriman - he had 17 sacks and missed four games last year.



NFC:


In the NFC I'm starting in New Orleans. Can they move on from what they did last year?


Offensively they have added a few more guns to their arsenal, picking up tight end Eric Johnson and rookie receiver Robert Meacham. Reggie Bush is going to be another year better and works well in combination with Deuce McAllister. With Drew Brees they have a solid leader and quarterback.


The real question for the Saints will be if they have taken their defense to another level in the off-season. That's the key for them because offensively they are the one.


The other team in the NFC for me is Dallas Cowboys. Bill Parcells probably took them as far as he could with his mentality as a head coach. They have a new guy in there now, Wade Phillips, who has had experience as a head coach, so he is no rookie.


He was also the defensive co-ordinator of the Chargers last year - a top-rated defense - so they are brining a whole new persona and approach to the Cowboys, and it could be one that works for them.


The question for the Cowboys is whether new offensive co-ordinator, former Cowboys quarterback Jason Garrett, is up to the job. Defensively, since Jerry Jones and Parcells, they have built the core of a good defense but Garrett's first stab as the main man on offense will be an important factor in their season.


They have picked up some quality in recent seasons and I like Ken Hamlin coming in as a safety because he will compliment Roy Williams in the defensive backfield - an area in which they have had some problems.


With the ball, I love Terrell Owens. I don't have any problem with him and they have a nice corps of receivers with T.O., Terry Glenn and Pro Bowl-er tight end Jason Witten.


The final team I expect to see do well, and hope to see do well, are Philadelphia Eagles. I like Philly, they will always be one of my favourite teams and I like Donovan McNabb.


They have everything on offense with McNabb, and they have added Kevin Curtis to Reggie Brown in the wide receiver area. I like Brian Westbrook as running back and what Jim Johnson does as defensive co-ordinator. But from the NFC East, I think it might just be the Cowboys this year.



Five to watch in 2007/8


KC picks five players from the NFL for viewers to look out for.



LaDainian Tomlinson (running back San Diego Chargers):


"I think he's the best player in the league. He can run, catch, block and even pass. The Chargers have complete faith in him and he delivers every time. He's a terrific talent."



Steven Jackson (running back St Louis Rams)


"A Pro Bowl running back and the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. No other running back generated more yards from scrimmage last season and he should be devastating again this year."



Peyton Manning (quarterback Indianapolis Colts)


"The man that led the Colts to Super Bowl glory last season. His greatest asset is his preparation. He's a real student of the game who always seems one step ahead of opposition."



Terrell Owens (wide receiver Dallas Cowboys)


"'TO' writes his own headlines and the big ego seems happy in Dallas. He performed brilliantly for the Cowboys last season, leading the NFL in touchdown catches. Expect the same this year."



Ben Roethlisberger (quarterback Pittsburgh Steelers)


"Ben led the Steelers to their Super Bowl triumph in 2006, but he struggled last year after an off-season motorbike accident. He has the weapons and the receivers to do well again this year."

nug picks six teams and five players to watch out for in this years NFL season



The 2007/08 NFL season kicks off live on Sky Sports this Thursday when the defending champions, Indianapolis Colts, take on one of the teams of 2006/7, New Orleans Saints.

check out his six teams and five players to watch out for this season and don't forget to tune in to the NFL preview show.



AFC:


With the additions they have made in the off-season, we have to start with the New England Patriots as strong contenders from the AFC.


They have basically picked up the two best free agents available. Adding to the nucleus of a very strong team, on offense they have brought in wide receiver Randy Moss while defensive end Adalius Thomas has also been recruited.


They only fell at the final hurdle in the AFC Championship game last season, against Indianapolis Colts, when they let them get away. They have addressed some of their needs with those acquisitions and, with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, they still have plenty of experience.


They are not without their problems, though, with safety Rodney Harrison suspended and defensive lineman Richard Seymour out for what looks like a minimum of six weeks. So defensively they have a couple of problems.


You have to mention the Super Bowl champions, Indianapolis Colts, as contenders too. Their offense is going to be explosive again and, during the regular season, if you have a good offense you can go a long way.


It may take until later in the season for the defense to start to come around as there are a lot of new faces in there - some of them youngsters. We will see.


It would be harsh not to put San Diego Chargers in the mix, too. They are probably the most talented team, top to bottom, in the NFL. On their offense they have LaDainian Tomlinson, the best offensive player in the league, and maybe the best defensive player in the league in Shawne Merriman - he had 17 sacks and missed four games last year.



NFC:


In the NFC I'm starting in New Orleans. Can they move on from what they did last year?


Offensively they have added a few more guns to their arsenal, picking up tight end Eric Johnson and rookie receiver Robert Meacham. Reggie Bush is going to be another year better and works well in combination with Deuce McAllister. With Drew Brees they have a solid leader and quarterback.


The real question for the Saints will be if they have taken their defense to another level in the off-season. That's the key for them because offensively they are the one.


The other team in the NFC for me is Dallas Cowboys. Bill Parcells probably took them as far as he could with his mentality as a head coach. They have a new guy in there now, Wade Phillips, who has had experience as a head coach, so he is no rookie.


He was also the defensive co-ordinator of the Chargers last year - a top-rated defense - so they are brining a whole new persona and approach to the Cowboys, and it could be one that works for them.


The question for the Cowboys is whether new offensive co-ordinator, former Cowboys quarterback Jason Garrett, is up to the job. Defensively, since Jerry Jones and Parcells, they have built the core of a good defense but Garrett's first stab as the main man on offense will be an important factor in their season.


They have picked up some quality in recent seasons and I like Ken Hamlin coming in as a safety because he will compliment Roy Williams in the defensive backfield - an area in which they have had some problems.


With the ball, I love Terrell Owens. I don't have any problem with him and they have a nice corps of receivers with T.O., Terry Glenn and Pro Bowl-er tight end Jason Witten.


The final team I expect to see do well, and hope to see do well, are Philadelphia Eagles. I like Philly, they will always be one of my favourite teams and I like Donovan McNabb.


They have everything on offense with McNabb, and they have added Kevin Curtis to Reggie Brown in the wide receiver area. I like Brian Westbrook as running back and what Jim Johnson does as defensive co-ordinator. But from the NFC East, I think it might just be the Cowboys this year.



Five to watch in 2007/8


KC picks five players from the NFL for viewers to look out for.



LaDainian Tomlinson (running back San Diego Chargers):


"I think he's the best player in the league. He can run, catch, block and even pass. The Chargers have complete faith in him and he delivers every time. He's a terrific talent."



Steven Jackson (running back St Louis Rams)


"A Pro Bowl running back and the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. No other running back generated more yards from scrimmage last season and he should be devastating again this year."



Peyton Manning (quarterback Indianapolis Colts)


"The man that led the Colts to Super Bowl glory last season. His greatest asset is his preparation. He's a real student of the game who always seems one step ahead of opposition."



Terrell Owens (wide receiver Dallas Cowboys)


"'TO' writes his own headlines and the big ego seems happy in Dallas. He performed brilliantly for the Cowboys last season, leading the NFL in touchdown catches. Expect the same this year."



Ben Roethlisberger (quarterback Pittsburgh Steelers)


"Ben led the Steelers to their Super Bowl triumph in 2006, but he struggled last year after an off-season motorbike accident. He has the weapons and the receivers to do well again this year."