Otago Daily Times sports reporter and avid NFL fan Robert van Royen makes some predictions for the season.
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
The Seattle Seahawks were a dumb decision away from winning it all last year, but are my pick to win a second title in three years this time round.
Adding tight end Jimmy Graham makes them more potent offensively, while the defence is set to remain as one of the best in the league.
The Legion of Boom is not intact to start the year, as safety Kam Chancellor is holding out for a new contract.
RUNNER-UP
The Indianapolis Colts will return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010, when they lost to the New Orleans Saints.
Star quarterback Andrew Luck is spoilt for weapons, and the arrival of running back Frank Gore from San Francisco will make the Colts offence the best in the league.
However, a defence which struggles against the run will not be good enough to deliver a championship.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Had it not been for a season-ending injury to wide receiver Jordy Nelson, the Green Bay Packers might just have got the nod over the Seahawks.
The Packers will still make it to the NFC Championship match, while the New England Patriots will drop the AFC decider to the Colts.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys will also be in the thick of it come crunch time.
WORST RECORD
The Jacksonville Jaguars will finish with a 3-13 record to lock up the No 1 overall pick in next year's NFL Draft.
HAYNE TRAIN WILL LOSE STEAM
Expect the Jarryd Hayne hype to die down now that the regular season is here.
Hayne cracked the 49ers roster after shining against second and third stringers in pre-season games that have about as much intensity as an ITM Cup match between Manawatu and Northland.
As the fourth running back in the depth chart, do not expect him to see much action out of the backfield.
He might return a punt or two, but he will be up against the big boys now.
As only 46 players in the 53-strong roster are active on game day, there is every chance Hayne will not even suit up for the team's first game.
What a let-down that would be for broadcasters in New Zealand and Australia advertising Tuesday's match between the Vikings and 49ers as Hayne's debut match.
Initially making the roster does not guarantee Hayne a spot for the season.
NFL rosters are like revolving doors, they are continuously chopping and changing.
Hayne will have to hope the injury bug does not bite the 49ers, or his roster spot will be one of the first, if not the first, to go on the chopping block.
