Doug Farrar

The NFL preseason is framed around several defining questions: whether the defending champion Seattle Seahawks can repeat, whether the Los Angeles Rams' aggressive additions of Myles Garrett and upgraded cornerbacks will pay off, and whether Justin Herbert can thrive under new Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. The Buffalo Bills hope Jim Leonhard's defensive expertise can finally help Josh Allen reach a Super Bowl, while the New England Patriots face regression and internal-drama risks despite adding AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs. The Dallas Cowboys must repair a defense that allowed historically high points totals, and the Houston Texans need C.J. Stroud and a revamped offense to match an elite defense.­