Why each team will or will not win the Super Bowl

Why they will: New head coach Steve Wilks has already added a spark in training camp, and the offense is set to bounce back with the return of David Johnson. There also is quarterback depth with veteran Sam Bradford and first-round rookie Josh Rosen. The defense quietly played at a high level in 2017, ranking sixth overall.

Why they won't: It's expected that there will be growing pains in the offense with the new quarterback, whether it be Bradford or Rosen. The Cardinals also are counting on Larry Fitzgerald even more than ever, which is risky as he heads into his age 35 season.

Why they will: The Falcons defense has finally come around, ranking ninth overall last season and allowing only 19.7 points per game, eighth best in the NFL. The offense struggled last season but still has intact most of the talent that put together a historic campaign in 2016, leading the team to Super Bowl LI.

Why they won't: Matt Ryan struggled to get on track in new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian's offense last season, and his 2016 MVP season stats look like a fluke relative to his history. There are also questions about star wideout Julio Jones, who was disgruntled about his contract in the offseason.

Why they will: Joe Flacco reportedly looks reinvigorated in training camp with the challenge of first-round pick Lamar Jackson on his tail, and the receiving weapons have been addressed with the additions of Michael Crabtree, Willie Snead, John Brown and Hayden Hurst. The defense returns most of the unit that allowed the sixth fewest points in the league last season.

Why they won't: It's one thing for Flacco to perform well in practice, but it remains to be seen if he will deliver when the regular season starts. The quarterback is just 20-22 as a starter over the last three seasons with 52/40 TD/INT. Also, the AFC North looks even tougher this season with the Browns making notable personnel additions.

Why they will: Buffalo was a surprise wild card team last season in head coach Sean McDermott's first year, and the unit now has a year under its belts in the defensive system. The passing game also looks potentially more explosive with a full year of Kelvin Benjamin, the addition of former Browns first-round pick Corey Coleman and the quarterback battle between AJ McCarron and first-round pick Josh Allen. The running game remains on good footing with LeSean McCoy despite his advanced age (30).

Why they won't: For all of former starter Tyrod Taylor's blemishes, he took care of the ball. That's a major concern with the current quarterback arrangement. McCoy also faced recent off-field concerns. The defense ranked just 26th overall last season, and there are major questions along the offensive line after some key losses.

Why they will: New offensive coordinator Norv Turner is a proven play-caller and could add a boost after Cam Newton slumped over the last two seasons. First-round wideout D.J. Moore should add more explosiveness, along with a healthy Greg Olsen, and running back Christian McCaffrey is expected to see more work in his second season. The Panthers defense ranked seventh best in 2017, as well.

Why they won't: Carolina has lost its second defensive coordinator in as many seasons to a head coaching position, and it remains to be seen if the Panthers can withstand the significant hits to their coaching staff. Newton had a sub-50 QBR in consecutive seasons, and he is approaching age 30. At this point, his 2015 MVP season still looks like a massive fluke. The NFC South also is arguably the toughest division in football, with New Orleans and Atlanta to contend with.

Why they will: The Bears were busy in the offseason, hiring former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy as head coach and giving him serious weapons to work with in Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller and Trey Burton. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio stuck around, reintroducing a unit that allowed the ninth fewest points in football during 2017 and adds first-round rookie linebacker Roquan Smith.

Why they won't: Mitchell Trubisky showed flashes but mostly performed like a rookie last year, and there are questions about his NFL ability. He could be overloaded in a new offense with brand new weapons. His progress will ultimately determine how much the Bears can improve this year.

Why they will: Cincinnati surprisingly retained head coach Marvin Lewis after last season and addressed the offensive line, the team's biggest weakness in recent seasons. Andy Dalton has regressed recently, but it remains to be seen how much of that decline was due to his lack of time in the pocket.

Why they won't: Along with the offensive line, the Bengals defense has sputtered recently. It finished in the middle of the pack in points allowed last year, but the hope is that former Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin can revitalize the unit. There will also be pressure on Dalton to improve after completing less than 60 percent of his passes last year for the first time since his rookie season.

Why they will: The Browns front office has delivered this offseason, making a long list of notable additions including Tyrod Taylor, Jarvis Landry, Carlos Hyde, E.J. Gaines, Travis Carrie and a strong draft class that includes Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward and Austin Corbett. Optimism has certainly been boosted in training camp.

Why they won't: Simply put, the Browns have one win over the last two seasons, and there is a long way to go. With all the new faces, there certainly will be some growing pains, and it remains to be seen if head coach Hue Jackson is the right man for the job given his recent struggles.

Why they will: The Cowboys are 19-6 over the last two seasons when star running back Ezekiel Elliott is on the field. He makes the entire team better, from quarterback Dak Prescott to the defense, and has more than 100 rushing yards per game during his career. The offensive line has lost some talent in recent years but remains dominant, led by All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith.

Why they won't: Prescott already came back down to earth last season, and his weapons are bleak this season after losing Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. The defense is replacing linebacker Anthony Hitchens with a rookie and also could be without David Irving for the foreseeable future. This season could finally be do-or-die for head coach Jason Garrett.

Why they will: Finally, the Broncos have addressed the quarterback position by signing Case Keenum. Last year's quarterback play was arguably the worst in football, averaging only 6.5 yards per attempt with more interceptions than touchdown passes. The Super Bowl 50 defense has lost some talent since then but still ranked third overall in football last season.

Why they won't: The offensive line was part of the reason Denver struggled so much last year, and it remains to be seen if those issues have been adequately addressed. Keenum was barely a starter before last season, so it's also unclear if he's really a significant improvement. His offensive weapons don't look as exciting as what he had last year in Minnesota, with Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders struggling last year, and there are major question marks at running back after Denver moved on from C.J. Anderson.

Why they will: New head coach Matt Patricia brings The Patriot Way to Detroit, hoping to toughen up a Lions team that has struggled to run the ball and play consistent defense in recent seasons. The key components of the offense remain intact with the return of offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, along with Matthew Stafford, Golden Tate, Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay, and the team added running back Kerryon Johnson in the draft.

Why they won't: With a defense that ranked 27th last year, Patricia has a long way to go to make this unit acceptable. The Lions were also dead last in yards per carry last season (3.4), and it remains to be seen if a rookie will solve that problem. Of course, there's still the issue of the brutal NFC North, with Green Bay and Minnesota looking like legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

Why they will: Aaron Rodgers is back and healthy. The two-time MVP missed most of last season with a collarbone injury but has produced a winning record as a starter every season since 2009 and has some interesting weapons with the addition of Jimmy Graham and a bevy of rookie wideouts. The defense is also hopeful for improvement after replacing longtime defensive coordinator Dom Capers with Mike Pettine.

Why they won't: How much can the defensive coordinator do for a defense that ranked 22nd last season? The Packers have added some talent with Muhammad Wilkerson and Tramon Williams, but the secondary is inexperienced. Now 35, Rodgers' durability can also be called into question, especially with an offensive line that has seemed shaky recently.

Why they will: Two words: Deshaun Watson. The 2017 first-round pick was nothing short of spectacular when he found the field last season, throwing for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns in six-plus contests. The defense also should be able to get back on track after a letdown last year if J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus can stay healthy.

Why they won't: The offensive line was a serious issue last season, and big questions remain with three new starters. That could be a red flag with Watson returning from ACL surgery. The defensive secondary didn't play well last season, though it remains to be seen if that was due to lack of pass rush or the loss of cornerback A.J. Bouye in free agency.

Why they will: Andrew Luck is optimistic that his shoulder is healthy, and the Colts finally  addressed the offensive line by drafting Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith. That should help the oft-injured Luck remain on the field, and makes the young running back trio of Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins more intriguing. New head coach Frank Reich brings a refreshing change to the Colts vanilla offensive scheme.

Why they won't: Even though Luck's return sounds promising, it would be surprising if he hasn't lost a step and some arm strength after a year off. The defense was also one of the league's worst last season (30th ranked and third most points allowed), and continues to lack star power. Despite the addition of Reich, he wasn't able to choose much of his own coaching staff after the Josh McDaniels debacle. That could create an uncomfortable situation if things go south early.

Why they will: The Jaguars were last year's most improved team and were just a few plays from beating the Patriots in the AFC Championship. Their years of high draft choices and stashing cap space allowed them to create a truly elite defense that ranked second in the NFL last season, and their run-heavy attack ran over defenses with the most rushing yards in the league.

Why they won't: Blake Bortles. At times, the former first-round pick looked very good last season, but the team rarely put much responsibility on his shoulders. Bortles threw only 21 touchdown passes during the regular season, and there are big questions as to whether he's able to lead the team late in games, especially after losing receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns in free agency.

Why they will: The Chiefs have put together arguably the most talented offensive weapons in football with free agent Sammy Watkins added to Kareem Hunt, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Fans are also excited to see second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes get his chance to start, with a gunslinger style that is the opposite of former starter Alex Smith.

Why they won't: Mahomes looks like a potential superstar but will almost certainly throw more interceptions than the conservative Alex Smith. That's significant for a team that has landed on the positive end of the turnover battle. The defense could also struggle for takeaways after losing Marcus Peters and Derrick Johnson, which would be bad news for a unit that was already ranked 28th last year. If nothing else, the return of Eric Berry from an Achilles injury leads to some optimism.

Why they will: After starting last season in their new digs 0-4, the Chargers finished out the year 9-3 and allowed the third fewest points in football. Philip Rivers looked revitalized and has an excellent collection of weapons that includes Keenan Allen, Tyrell Williams, Mike Williams and Melvin Gordon.

Why they won't: We've seen this song and dance before. The Chargers seemingly disappoint on a yearly basis and are already suffering from the injury bug after losing Hunter Henry and Jason Verrett. For all Rivers' upside, he's led the league in interceptions two of the last four seasons and is entering his age 37 season.

Why they will: The Rams improved to claim the NFC West last season and certainly won the offseason. Their notable additions included Brandin Cooks, Ndamukong Suh, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. Opposing offenses will have their hands full with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' impressive personnel.

Why they won't: Jared Goff made strides in his second season, but there are still questions about his ability to lead the offense. His success involved a lot of hand-holding from head coach Sean McVay, and Todd Gurley played at an MVP level. Goff looked truly awful in the playoffs vs. Atlanta, and it remains to be seen if he can lead the offense if Gurley ever isn't his best self. Another holdout from star defensive lineman Aaron Donald could also disrupt their Super Bowl plans.

Why they will: Head coach Adam Gase has made the personnel his own in his third season, getting rid of Jay Ajayi, Jarvis Landry and Ndamukong Suh, among others, in favor of veterans Frank Gore, Danny Amendola and Robert Quinn. The team has undergone an attitude adjustment and hopes to also get a boost with Ryan Tannehill returning from a knee injury.

Why they won't: Miami's defense allowed the fourth most points in football last season, and it still has major questions. While Tannehill has shown flashes, he's coming off a lost year and threw for less than 3,000 yards in 13 games in 2016 under Gase. He will need to show vast improvement for the Dolphins to take a step forward.

Why they will: Perhaps the league's most talented team, the Vikings had a quarterback merry-go-round last season after Sam Bradford was injured. Case Keenum played well for most of the season but really sputtered in the NFC Championship. Enter Kirk Cousins, who has been highly productive over the last three seasons in Washington and enters a similar West Coast offense. The Vikes allowed a league-best 15.8 points per game last year, and running back Dalvin Cook will be returning from injury.

Why they won't: The Vikings are primed to compete, but the NFC is absolutely loaded this season with at least the Rams and Eagles also looking elite, on paper, not to mention the division-rival Packers. The loss of offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is lessened by the addition of experienced play-caller John DeFilippo, but there still could be some time needed for adjustment.

Why they will: Since 2001, the combo of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have won five Super Bowls, eight AFC Championships and 15 division titles. Even with their time together winding down, the team just fell short of another Super Bowl win in February.

Why they won't: Brady is now 41 and has to slow down soon, right? The team also has lost significant talent at wide receiver, the offensive line and in the secondary, not to mention defensive coordinator Matt Patricia going to Detroit.

Why they will: The Saints defense was finally acceptable last season after a strong draft and the development of an elite running game. The team has added more help on defense with first-round pick Marcus Davenport and was just one play short of advancing to the NFC Championship last year.

Why they won't: Drew Brees has started to slow down as he enters his age 39 season. He has plenty of ability to lose as an elite quarterback since joining the Saints, but the loss of arm strength is definitely a concern. The team is also in a difficult NFC South division, and there's some risk of regression from the defense after such a substantial step forward in 2017.

Why they will: The Giants addressed several key areas, adding an experienced head coach in Pat Shurmur, exciting rookie running back Saquon Barkley, and spending big on the offensive line in free agency and the draft. The offensive weapons look impressive, adding Barkley to Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram.

Why they won't: Eli Manning's play has really slipped in recent seasons, to the point that he had only 19 touchdown passes last year, albeit with an injured set of receivers. Beckham still isn't happy with his contract situation, and the defense lost a key player in Jason Pierre-Paul. The defense went from 10th in 2016 to 31st last season.

Why they will: After years of trying to find an answer, the Jets have finally addressed quarterback drafting Sam Darnold. He showed flashes of brilliance at USC, and has some interesting weapons to work with, including Robby Anderson. The team also focused on its secondary by signing cornerback Trumaine Johnson.

Why they won't: Whether the starter is Darnold or veteran Josh McCown, the Jets offense probably isn't ready to be near the upper echelon yet with an offensive line that has struggled recently. Ranked 25th in defense last year, that side of the ball also has a lot of ground to cover. It's no wonder the team is still one of the favorites for the first overall draft choice in 2019.

Why they will: Oakland was one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl last year. After a terribly disappointing year, especially from the offense, the team paid Jon Gruden to come out of retirement. The former Super Bowl winner could be the right man to get Derek Carr and Amari Cooper back on track after a huge 2016 season.

Why they won't: Gruden's offseason moves have rightfully been questioned, as he's seemed to prioritize age and experience, adding players like Doug Martin and Jordy Nelson who are well past their primes. Khalil Mack's contract situation is a major issue, and last year's 23rd ranked defense absolutely can't afford to play without their star.

Why they will: There's a strong argument that the defending Super Bowl champs have only gotten better this offseason. Carson Wentz is back from knee surgery, Mike Wallace replaced Torrey Smith as the No. 3 wideout, and Michael Bennett makes one of the league's most ferocious defensive lines even more imposing.

Why they won't: No team has repeated as Super Bowl champs since the Patriots in 2004 won their second in a row, and that's for good reason in the battle of attrition that is the NFL. The Eagles have plenty of talent, but they've lost both their offensive coordinator and quarterback coach from last season. There also could be an injury hangover for Wentz, who tore his ACL in Week 14. Even if the offense doesn't miss a beat, the NFC looks stacked, with teams like the Rams, Vikings and Falcons standing in Philadelphia's way.

Why they will: The big three of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell returns this season, now with a new offensive coordinator after Todd Haley went to Cleveland. The offense has been one of the league's best over the last several years and should continue as long as the trio is healthy.

Why they won't: While the pass rush was excellent last year, the defense and particularly the run defense, was thrashed late last season after losing Ryan Shazier. The speedy linebacker could be irreplaceable, and there remains a huge void that the team is hoping free agent signing Jon Bostic can replace. We're also about to see the value of Haley now that he's gone. He's bumped heads with his players at every stop, but his offenses in Arizona and Kansas City were also worse off when he departed.

Why they will: San Francisco acquired Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots last season and won all five games that he started under center. Kyle Shanahan's offense was finally gelling, and could take another step forward with the return of Pierre Garcon from injury and the addition of Jerick McKinnon at running back.

Why they won't: Garoppolo won all of his starts, but his stats weren't spectacular with just 7/5 TD/INT. McKinnon is unproven as a bell cow back, and despite some improvement, the defense still ranked just 24th last season. With an opening schedule that includes visits to the Vikings, Chiefs and Chargers in the first four weeks, we'll know early if the 49ers are true contenders.

Why they will: The Seahawks are ready to change their identity, getting significantly younger on defense and adding help in the running game by drafting Rashaad Penny in the first round. He has a chance to be the team's first true bell cow back since Marshawn Lynch and should support Russell Wilson, who has often been running for his life over the last two years behind a mediocre offensive line.

Why they won't: Although many of the defensive players the Seahawks lost were older, the loss of talent on that side of the ball is eye-opening. The team will be without Michael Bennett, Sheldon Richardson, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and potentially Earl Thomas. Those losses could be too much to overcome. The offense has its own issues after losing Paul Richardson and Jimmy Graham, plus Doug Baldwin is missing the preseason due to injury.

Why they will: The Bucs offense failed to reach expectations last year, but the talent is still there. The receiving options look outstanding on paper with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, DeSean Jackson, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, and rookie Ronald Jones adds legit talent at running back. The front office also did a great job addressing the pass rush by adding Jason Pierre-Paul, Vinny Curry and Vita Vea.

Why they won't: The team is starting the year on the wrong foot with Jameis Winston suspended three games. This was already slated to be a make-or-break year for him after last year's struggles. The defense added talent but still needs to prove its ability after ranking dead last in the NFL last season in yards allowed. For a team digging out of the cellar, the NFC South makes life even more difficult.

Why they will: Tennesee's offense is set to add some flavor with the hiring of former Rams coordinator Matt LaFleur and signing of former Pats running back Dion Lewis. Marcus Mariota has stagnated in recent seasons, but the hope is that the new weapons allow him to take a giant leap forward. The defense is also in good hands with new head coach Mike Vrabel and former Ravens coordinator Dean Pees.

Why they won't: For all the flashes Mariota has shown in his first three seasons, the fact is that he's yet to throw for 3,500 yards in a season and had 13/15 TD/INT last year. Even with a great offensive line and developing star running back Derrick Henry, the team needs more from Mariota. The defense also has been far from elite recently, ranking 13th last year, and the signing of cornerback Malcolm Butler could be a boom-or-bust pick up after he fell out of favor in New England.

Why they will: Ravaged by injuries last season, Washington remained competitive and has added significant talent on both sides of the ball. Alex Smith is constantly criticized as a game manager, but the fact is that he has seven straight winning seasons as a starter. He will have capable weapons with Jordan Reed, Josh Doctson, Chris Thompson and the additions of Paul Richardson and Derrius Guice (although Guice is out for the season after tearing his ACL in a preseason game). The defensive line also looks formidable after using consecutive first-round picks on Jonathan Allen and Da'Ron Payne.

Why they won't: Smith won't turn the ball over, but he's not exactly a great come-from-behind quarterback. It remains to be seen if he's a better fit than Kirk Cousins. The defense has a lot of ground to cover, even after the additions of Payne and Orlando Scandrick, finishing tied for the fifth in most points allowed last year.