Welcome to my weekly notebook, a space that will help you hone in on what to watch before the ball is kicked off. From talking to people around the league and on the sidelines, you’ll get an inside perspective on players who could make the difference, what matchups could sway outcomes and what specific details to monitor closely in some of the biggest games of the week.
Heading into Week 1, there are plenty of storylines, starting with whether the Seahawks can repeat or if the Rams will blow everyone away as the overwhelming favorite to win Super Bowl LXI. Then there’s the AFC, where at least a half-dozen teams have a real shot to make deep runs, culminating in a chance to play for the Lombardi Trophy.
