The opening of NFL training camps this week calls for a lap around the league, A-to-Z style.

Quarterback Josh Allen has a chance to become the franchise鈥檚 first back-to-back MVP winner, starting with the Bills鈥 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 7.
A is for Allen: Bills quarterback Josh Allen will attempt to become the franchise鈥檚 first back-to-back MVP winner and lead the city and region to a first Super Bowl title. That鈥檚 it.
B is for Bengals: In quarterback Joe Burrow鈥檚 career, Cincinnati has started 0-2-1, 2-1, 0-2, 1-3 and 1-4. Coach Zac Taylor comes from the Sean McVay School of not playing starters in the preseason. Taylor should reconsider 鈥 or he鈥檒l be another team鈥檚 offensive coordinator in 2026.
C is for Chiefs: Kansas City fatigue is the only reason to believe that Denver buzz in the AFC West does exist. Whatever. The Chiefs still have that Patrick Mahomes guy at quarterback. Make it 10 straight division titles.
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D is for Daboll: Giants coach Brian Daboll, the pride of St. Francis High School here locally, has perhaps the hottest big-whistle seat in the league. He won NFL Coach of the Year in 2022 (9-7-1), but has gone a combined 9-25 and finished 30th and 31st in points scored.
E is for Eagles: Philadelphia will defend its Super Bowl title minus four defensive starters, including edge Josh Sweat and tackle Milton Williams. The Eagles can feel comfortable in maintaining a high level because they have the league鈥檚 best defensive coordinator (Vic Fangio).
F is for Flacco: I thought Joe Flacco was done after a neck injury while playing for Denver 鈥 in 2019! Now 40 years old, Flacco has started nine, eight, four, one, four, five and six games in the last seven years and is back in Cleveland to keep the seat warm for Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders.
G is for Goff: Detroit experienced a brain drain by losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is now Chicago鈥檚 coach. Quarterback Jared Goff has 67 touchdowns, 24 interceptions and a 27-7 record in the last two years. Can he click with new play-caller John Morton?
H is for HBO: For the first time since 2013 (Cincinnati), the network鈥檚 鈥淗ard Knocks鈥 program will feature a team coming off a playoff berth (Bills). A behind-the-scenes look 鈥 or at least how much the Bills will allow 鈥 should spice up the series.
I is for Indianapolis: The Colts took a swing in 2023 by drafting quarterback Anthony Richardson despite only 13 college starts at Florida. No shock it hasn鈥檛 worked out 鈥 Richardson has been injured (2023) and benched (2024), and now the Colts have Daniel Jones. Their best move should be giving rookie Riley Leonard a shot, too.
J is for Jeanty: Drafted sixth overall by Las Vegas, running back Ashton Jeanty starts camp as the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Jeanty rushed 374 times for 2,601 yards and 26 touchdowns last year for Boise State.
K is for Kincaid: A huge year for Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid, who has only four touchdown passes in two seasons. Injuries contributed to his production falling from 73 catches in 2023 to 44 last year.
L is for Lamar: Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson is a regular-season star (70-24 record, two MVPs), but playoff success continues to elude him 鈥 3-5 with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Compare that to Mahomes (17-4, 46 touchdowns and 10 interceptions) or even Allen (7-6, 25 touchdowns and four interceptions). Can Jackson outduel Allen or Mahomes to reach his first Super Bowl?
M is for McLaurin: Washington receiver Terry McLaurin skipped mandatory minicamp, wants a new contract (he鈥檚 in the final season of a three-year, $69.6 million deal) and expressed his frustration last week about the lack of talks. His 13 touchdown catches last year were second in the league, but he is 30 years old. If he reports to camp, he could be a refuse-to-practice candidate.
N is for Niners: San Francisco plummeted from Super Bowl runner-up to 6-11 last year. The 49ers always seem to be injury-plagued, but if they can stay somewhat healthy, the schedule sets up for an NFC West title. They have only four games against 2024 playoff teams.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to use rookie Travis Hunter at receiver and cornerback.
O is for Overuse: Jacksonville traded a package that included its 2026 first-round pick to Cleveland to select Colorado two-way star/Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. How the Jaguars use Hunter at receiver and cornerback to maintain his health over 17 games is a fascinating and unique storyline.
P is for Parsons: In four years, Dallas edge player Micah Parsons has 52陆 sacks and 256 tackles, but is without a new contract entering camp (he is playing on the fifth-year option). The Cowboys have slow-played recent disputes and ended up paying more. Expect them to make the same mistake with Parsons instead of being pro-active.
Q is for Quinnen: New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is one of the league鈥檚 best interior defenders (39 sacks in six years) and a big reason why Gang Green was third in fewest yards allowed last year. The Jets鈥 defense will at least give the team a puncher鈥檚 chance in some games this year.
R is for Rodgers: This is probably it for future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, who signed with Pittsburgh last month. If he beats Green Bay in Week 7, Rodgers will become the fifth quarterback to beat all 32 teams (Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Brett Favre).
S is for Saints: New Orleans has refused to hit the reset button even if meant short-term pain. Now is the year to do it. Play rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. See if teams have interest in any veteran player at the trade deadline. If Shough is great, cool. If he鈥檚 not, use the first overall pick in 2026 on a quarterback.
T is for Tampa Bay: From 1976-2020, the Buccaneers won six division titles; they enter this year with four consecutive NFC South crowns and are the overwhelming favorite to win again. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has a 1-2-3 receiver group of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and first-round pick Emeka Egbuka.
U is for Union: The NFLPA is in disarray after executive director Lloyd Howell resigned in disgrace last week after a year on the job.
V is for Von: Old friend Von Miller joined Washington last week after playing the last three years for the Bills. Miller has 129陆 sacks, good for 25th all-time, but is 36 years old. If this is it for The Vonster, he should be a Hall of Famer.
X is for Xavier: Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy averaged 10.8 yards on 59 catches (three touchdowns) in 17 regular-season games, but 15.1 yards on 19 catches (three touchdowns) in three playoff games. It took a bit, but they unlocked his playmaking ability in the postseason.
Y is for Yulee Bulldozer: We gave Derrick Henry that nickname when he was a high school senior in Yulee, Florida, and it has stuck. Enjoy one of the best running backs in NFL history as he chases the record book. He is 19th in career rushing yards (11,423), but only 3,495 from fifth place while tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns (106), needing only five to reach fifth.
Z is for Zack: Cowboys right guard Zack Martin retired in the offseason after seven All-Pro selections and Dallas used its first-round pick on Tyler Booker to replace him. Martin鈥檚 retirement flew under the radar, but he was a massive piece of the Dallas offense.