Yes, the NFL season technically opens with every team having an equal chance to reach the Super Bowl, but injuries and suspensions have put a few teams in early holes.
Teams expected to contend could get off to slow starts if they are handcuffed by too many problems, while poor teams could be hopeless if they are burdened by injuries and suspensions.
Here's my ranking of the 10 teams handcuffed the most to begin the season:
[h=2]1. New England Patriots[/h]The Patriots have the best roster among these teams, but they have problems. It starts with the four-game suspension of quarterback Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Right tackle Sebastian Vollmer is on the physically unable to perform list and could miss the season. Running back Dion Lewis has been slow coming off his ACL injury and is also on the PUP list. Last week, dependable defensive end Rob Ninkovich was suspended for four games for a PED violation. Despite these issues, the Patriots probably will start out with a 2-2 or 3-1 record and eventually win the AFC East. The only problem is these early issues could cost them home-field advantage in the playoffs.
[h=2]2. Dallas Cowboys[/h]It's bad enough to lose quarterback Tony Romo for half the season because of a broken bone in his back, but the Cowboys have big issues on defense as well. They knew the entire offseason that they needed help in the front seven because of the suspensions of Randy Gregory, DeMarcus Lawrence and Rolando McClain. But injuries have prevented them from filling that defensive void. Rookie linebacker Jaylon Smith is likely out for the season, recovering from a knee injury suffered in college. Fourth-round choice Charles Tapper hasn't practiced because of a hurt back, while third-round pick Maliek Collins is coming off a fifth metatarsal break. With a limited pass rush and rookie Dak Prescott at quarterback, the Cowboys could be 2-6 or 3-5 by the time Romo returns.
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[h=2]3. Pittsburgh Steelers[/h]Can the news get any worse? Running back Le'Veon Bell is out three games with a suspension. Tight end Ladarius Green is out at least six games with a slow-healing ankle injury. Wide receiver Martavis Bryant is suspended for the season. Over the weekend, the Steelers found out linebacker Bud Dupree could miss the season with a core muscle injury. Despite the problems, I still think the Steelers can go to the Super Bowl, but they can't take too many more hits to the starting lineup.
[h=2]4. Buffalo Bills[/h]The Bills wanted to get younger and better on defense. That didn't happen. First-round pick Shaq Lawson will miss a good portion of the season with a shoulder injury, and second-round pick Reggie Ragland blew out his knee. To make matters worse, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was suspended four games for a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy and is now in rehab. The Bills struggled to stop the run between the tackles last year and will struggle again this year, costing them a chance to go to the playoffs and possibly costing coach Rex Ryan his job.
[h=2]5. Kansas City Chiefs[/h]Linebacker Justin Houston, one of the best defenders in the league, will miss at least six games recovering from his ACL injury, while starting inside linebacker Josh Mauga is on the injured reserve list for the season. That puts all the pressure on aging linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson. It also doesn't help that running back Jamaal Charles is still recovering from a knee injury. Despite these problems, Andy Reid and his team are still good enough to stay in the AFC West playoff race.
[h=2]6. Minnesota Vikings[/h]The Vikings might be sitting at No. 3 on this list if it weren't for the trade for quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford, filling in for Teddy Bridgewater, has to learn the Norv Turner offense in a little more than a week and play at a higher level than he ever has in his career. Fortunately for him, he has more talent around him than he had at any other time in his career. With Bradford, the Vikings might be good enough to get a wild-card spot, but I don't think they can stay with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North race.
[h=2]7. Green Bay Packers[/h]The first wound was self-inflicted. The Packers didn't want to pay huge money for Josh Sitton, so they left one of the best interior blockers in the game go to the Chicago Bears. The timing couldn't have been worse. Center Corey Linsley is on the PUP list for at least six games, so the Packers have to fix the middle of their offensive line quickly. The defense temporarily will be lacking some depth with the suspensions of Mike Pennell and Demetri Goodson. You also have to expect it to take some time before wide receiver Jordy Nelson is back to his old self, though I still expect the Packers' offense to lead the team to the NFC North title.
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[h=2]8. Chicago Bears[/h]The good news is the Bears signed Sitton and reached a contract extension with Kyle Long. Now they have one of the best guard combos in football. What handcuffs them is coming together in the first month of the season with a new offensive coordinator and running back, plus a couple of important injuries. The Bears lost starting center Hroniss Grasu for the season to a knee injury, so quarterback Jay Cutler will be working with a new interior offensive line. On defense, outside linebacker Pernell McPhee is out at least six games on the PUP list. Coach John Fox will have to do some pretty good coaching to get this team to seven wins.
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[h=2]9. Indianapolis Colts[/h]The biggest problems for the Colts the past couple years have been on the offensive line and on defense. They didn't get a break this year. The offensive line lost guard Hugh Thornton for the season, and Jack Mewhort, the team's best young lineman, could miss time with a knee injury. On defense, end Arthur Jones is suspended for four games, and cornerback Vontae Davis is banged up. It all falls on quarterback Andrew Luck to get this team above .500.
[h=2]10. Cincinnati Bengals[/h]Tight end Tyler Eifert is expected to miss the first couple of games, so quarterback Andy Dalton starts the season without three of his top four pass-catchers from 2015, as Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu left in free agency. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict is out three games with a suspension. That's a big loss for the defense. Still, I think the Bengals will win at least 10 games.
John ClaytonESPN Senior Writer
Teams expected to contend could get off to slow starts if they are handcuffed by too many problems, while poor teams could be hopeless if they are burdened by injuries and suspensions.
Here's my ranking of the 10 teams handcuffed the most to begin the season:
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[h=2]10. Cincinnati Bengals[/h]Tight end Tyler Eifert is expected to miss the first couple of games, so quarterback Andy Dalton starts the season without three of his top four pass-catchers from 2015, as Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu left in free agency. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict is out three games with a suspension. That's a big loss for the defense. Still, I think the Bengals will win at least 10 games.
John ClaytonESPN Senior Writer
