The NFL Preseason is over and the clubs have assessed their players and made final notes on new tactics as they prepare for the grueling NFL season 2024. We present a quick preseason analysis and insight on a few teams with the main season set to kick off in a week.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals' preseason schedule is officially complete, and their regular season will begin in Buffalo, Jonathan Gannon's team will be in action then. To minimize injury risk and help them get off the rust, most clubs will rotate at least part of their starters throughout the preseason. But in order to minimize injury risk during preseason play and to maintain maximum secrecy regarding their identity and goals before their Week 1 trip to Buffalo, the Cardinals made the decision to play it safe. 

Here are the key insights:

They need to work on a backup quarterback. As seen in the preseason Desmond Ridder and Clayton Tune fought for the starting spot behind Kyler Murray during the preseason, while the latter did not play a single down. It's reasonable to conclude after three games that, should Murray get hurt, neither of the options provided a significant confidence boost. RB Trey Benson's assimilation to the offense is reducing the number of contenders for the RB2 position. But Michael Carter, Emari Demercado, and DeeJay Dallas are proving themselves to be of some value. 

Wide receiver Greg Dortch, is getting better and making plays in an effort to gain a significant part in the offense. TE Tip Reiman is still working with the starting offense and is becoming used to the passing game. DL Darius Robinson will play a significant part in the defense, as seen by his absence from the preseason game. OLB Xavier Thomas is still making plays in the games and trying to increase the need for a pass rush. Xavier Thomas can aid in surpassing the 33-team sacks that Arizona had the previous season.

In all three of the confrontations, Thomas was frequently in the backfield, either snagging sacks or applying pressure elsewhere. Can he accomplish it against opponents from the regular season? Although players are unable to choose who they align with, that will serve as the real gauge, and Thomas has already earned the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities when it counts.

Atlanta Falcons 

More than anything else, Atlanta's objective for this fall will be transforming three back-to-back 7-10 seasons and six straight playoff-less campaigns into a year filled with victories, festivities, and an organizational transformation.

After almost a month, the Falcons have completed three preseason games, fifteen training camp practices, and two joint sessions with the Miami Dolphins. A scrimmage pitting the first team's attack against the second team's defense and vice versa has also been staged.

There have been several significant losses, including the season-ending knee injuries to outside linebacker Bralen Trice and receiver Rondale Moore, as well as the extended absence of safety DeMarcco Hellams due to an ankle ailment, but there have also been two significant additions in outside linebacker Matt Judon and safety Justin Simmons.

Here are the key insights:

The wide-open passing attack is being led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, and the team's offense is said to be very different from 2023. They also drafted Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall. RB Tyler Allgeier was a consistent member of the starting offense and enjoyed a fantastic training camp. Drake London, the wide receiver who leads the passing offense, has improved. Further, the Falcons strengthened their defense by adding two elite players, Judon via trade with the New England Patriots and Simmons through free agency.

Chicago Bears

The Bears had a perfect 4-0 preseason record, and look better than last year. They looked better even with a rookie quarterback. The rainy practice session against the Bengals revealed more about them than the actual performance, as they outperformed Joe Burrow three times at the defensive end.

Here are some of the key insights:

QB Caleb Williams' work ethic has been infectious, and he had his greatest practice week yet. Rome Odunze, a rookie wide receiver, is off to a great start in camp and will play a big part in their offensive strategy. Although Velus Jones Jr. is switching to running back from wide receiver, he will continue to play special teams. This team's strength remains firmly on the defensive end of the ball, even though the inexperienced offense is receiving the most of the attention. Their first game of the regular season is at Soldier Field on September 8, against the Titans.

Among the noteworthy changes is the offense of the Philadelphia Eagles, which has been redesigned by Kellen Moore and included novel motion and play ideas. The Kansas City Chiefs improve their offensive by strengthening the areas where they were poor last season, especially with their draft selections. With their talented offense and developing defense, the Houston Texans are establishing themselves as possible Super Bowl contenders as well. Lastly, impressive debuts by rookies like Malik Nabers raise the possibility that the league will see some fresh playmakers prove their worth on the big stage.

Teams may assess their player performance during preseason or regular season by employing sports data analytics. With Data Sports Group’s best sports data feed, this analysis is available in real time, enabling dynamic decision-making.

Well the NFL regular season is set to kick off on the 5th of September, where the Baltimore Ravens are visiting the Kansas City Chiefs. The second game pits the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil on September 6. Data Sports Group even offers live data feed, along with comprehensive coverage that allows you to track every play, every player, and every strategy. As the season kicks off, integrate our NFL API with your sports platform and take advantage of the live data feed.