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NFL: 5 teams in deep trouble come Week 1

By Pete Schauer

Aug 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) passes against the New York Jets during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) passes against the New York Jets during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 23, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) is helped off the field after getting injury in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 23, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) is helped off the field after getting injury in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

St. Louis Rams

Anytime you lose your franchise quarterback for the season, it’s going to be a rough start to the year.

That’s the case for the St. Louis Rams, who saw starter Sam Bradford tear the ACL in his left knee, which is the same injury that sidelined the 26-year-old after just seven games in 2013. This was supposed to be a breakout year for Bradford, but the Rams are now left reeling without him.

St. Louis is now forced to start 34-year-old veteran Shaun Hill, who hasn’t started an NFL game since 2010 and barely has more touchdown passes than years lived to his name.

The Rams will get the Minnesota Vikings in the Edward Jones Dome in Week 1, and although Minnesota’s defense isn’t anything special, I think they’re stout up front with Linval Joseph and Sharrif Floyd, which should help contain Zac Stacy and the Rams’ running game.

That means there’s more pressure on Hill to produce, and given his inexperience and overall lack of talent as an NFL starter, St. Louis isn’t in good shape to begin the season.

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