Weak spots: Every team's biggest red flag entering the NFL season

Teams are like people: they all have flaws. Here's the greatest red flag facing each team entering the 2019 season.

AFC I NFC

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson's arm

We know Jackson can get it done with his legs, but the Ravens will only get so far without a legitimate thrower. Jackson was one of the least accurate passers in the league as a rookie, and he needs to make major strides for Baltimore to get beyond the divisional round of the playoffs. The Ravens just used a first-round pick on big-play receiver Marquise Brown, but his ceiling will be capped until Jackson consistently gets the ball where it's supposed to go.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Secondary

The Steelers have a solid No. 1 cornerback in Joe Haden, but there's a ton of uncertainty after that. Steven Nelson was brought in to play opposite of Haden, and while he had the third-most pass breakups in the league last year, he also surrendered the third-most yardage among players at his position. Fellow cornerbacks Mike Hilton and Artie Burns are liabilities, while safeties Sean Davis and Terrell Edmunds have been leaky in pass coverage.

Cincinnati Bengals: Offensive line

A rough offseason has left the Bengals' offensive line in a state of disarray. First-round left tackle Jonah Williams will miss the season with a torn labrum, forcing injury-prone Cordy Glenn to abort his planned move to guard. Clint Boling, a former starting guard, retired. Fellow guard, Christian Westerman, was cut after contemplating his own retirement. Center Billy Price, the team's 2018 first-round pick, was demoted to a reserve role. John Miller and Bobby Hart are slated to start on the right side - a risky proposition at best.

Cleveland Browns: Pressure of expectations

Expectations are sky-high for the new AFC North favorites, which means a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs since 2002 will face a copious amount of pressure. Time will tell how first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens handles adversity, and the same can be said for sophomore quarterback Baker Mayfield, an offseason darling of observers around the league. Talent won't be a problem for the Browns, but living up to the hype could be.

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs: Secondary

The Chiefs had the second-worst pass defense in the league last season despite assistance from a pass rush that posted the most sacks. The defensive line proceeded to lose both Dee Ford and Justin Houston while adding only Frank Clark, so the secondary could have an even tougher assignment in 2019. Tyrann Mathieu is an upgrade over every safety that played for the Chiefs last year, but the jury is still out on whether he can be the true ball hawk they need.

Los Angeles Chargers: Health

Pro Bowl safety Derwin James and left tackle Russell Okung will begin the season on the shelf, and that could spell trouble early on. James was the most versatile and valuable member of the Chargers' secondary as a rookie, and it's unclear how the club will compensate for his absence. Okung has been the anchor of the offensive line over the last couple of years, and his absence following blood clots is also significant.

Denver Broncos: Joe Flacco

The Broncos will desperately need Flacco to play at a level he hasn't sustained since 2014. It's an especially tough ask considering the lack of infrastructure that Denver has around him - the line is shaky and the receivers are mostly unproven. The defense could be formidable under first-year head coach Vic Fangio, but it's hard to see Flacco, who doesn't throw the deep ball as well as he used to, igniting this offense.

Oakland Raiders: Derek Carr's pocket jitters

Carr hasn't been the same since breaking his leg in 2016. He always looked to get the ball out quickly anyway, but he's rushed even more over the last two years, to the detriment of Oakland's offense. The 28-year-old has new downfield weapons in Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams, but he must commit to staying in the pocket, absorbing hits, and taking shots in the passing game. There just isn't enough recent evidence to suggest Carr will be willing to do that.

AFC East

New England Patriots: Uncertainty at tight end

If the Patriots have a question mark on offense, it's at tight end, where a Gronk-sized hole remains. The presumed replacement, Ben Watson, will miss four games to open the schedule due to a failed drug test. And even when Watson returns, it's hard to predict how much New England will get out of him - he's 38 years old and posted only 400 yards with the New Orleans Saints last season. Behind Watson on the depth chart is Matt LaCosse, who had a career-high 250 yards with the Broncos last year.

Miami Dolphins: Lack of talent

Through their own doings, the Dolphins have lost a lot of talent since last season. Here's a look at the notable starters they've traded or released, and the signature contribution they made to the team in 2018:

Miami appears focused on building for the future and will likely deem the 2019 season a success if it lands the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft.

New York Jets: Adam Gase-Gregg Williams pairing

Any early-season hiccups could conceivably cause internal discord given that two fiery coaches have to coexist. Gase didn't hire Williams, so it'll be tough to convince the veteran defensive coordinator to reconsider tactics if his unit struggles. The Jets have enough talent to contend for the playoffs, but history suggests they're more likely to tailspin into dysfunction.

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen's accuracy

The Bills added free agents John Brown and Cole Beasley to their receiving corps, but it won't make much of a difference if Allen's accuracy fails to improve. The strong-armed pivot will make his share of big plays, but it's the consistency from throw to throw and his ability to keep drives alive that will make or break Buffalo's season.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts: Uncertainty with Jacoby Brissett

Jacoby Brissett is no slouch, but he's also no Andrew Luck. The last time the Colts were without Luck, Brissett and Co. plummeted to a 4-12 record in 2017. Brissett is presumably a better quarterback now - and the Colts have upgraded their talent across the board over the last two offseasons - but his ability to make plays and to fulfill his potential are still question marks.

Texans: Offensive line

Despite swinging a blockbuster trade to acquire left tackle Laremy Tunsil, the Texans still have concerns up front. Tytus Howard, a rookie who played tackle at Alabama State, is expected to start at guard. The other three spots were up for grabs throughout training camp and the preseason. Even with the upgrade on Deshaun Watson's blind side, he could be in for another long season after being the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL last year.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Lack of offensive playmakers

Nick Foles is an upgrade over Blake Bortles, but the Jaguars are short on exterior weapons for their new quarterback. While Dede Westbrook and Marquise Lee have shown flashes in the past, neither is a No. 1 receiver. Even running back Leonard Fournette is more of a between-the-tackles bruiser than a game-breaker. Without much big-play potential, Jacksonville will have to convert third downs at a particularly high rate.

Tennessee Titans: Matchups without Taylor Lewan

Lewan, one of the best blind-side protectors in the game, will miss the first four contests after testing positive for a banned substance. Making matters worse for Tennesee, he'll sit out matchups against some of the most explosive pass-rushers in the league.

The Titans may struggle mightily to protect Marcus Mariota during Lewan's absence. And given the quarterback's injury history, extra pressure could lead to a slew of other problems.

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