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NFL Week 1 Preview: Macdonald's Defense, Maye's Deep Ball, & Division Picks

Breaking down Seattle's split-field cap, New England's vertical shots, and full divisional schematic outlooks.

Mike Macdonald’s Seattle defense takes on Drake Maye’s vertical passing attack in Week 1, testing whether split-safety caps and interior B-gap pressure can shut down New England’s downfield shot rate for a second straight time. Felix and Cody break down the schematic details of that matchup, examine key under-center offensive shifts around the league, and project divisional races through a defensive lens. Dive into tape-backed analysis of backend coverage rotations, front-seven rebuilds, and structural scheme fits heading into the 2026 NFL season.

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Timestamps:

00:00 CFB Tape & Program Development

06:11 NFL News: Gonzalez Extension & Smith Injury

11:28 Cleveland's QB Room Dilemma

15:35 AFC East & North Division Forecasts

21:40 AFC South & West Fronts

29:30 NFC Contenders: Eagles, Bears, & Rams

48:01 Week 1 Scheme: Macdonald vs. Drake Maye

53:09 Matchups to Watch: Under-Center Shifts & Rebuilt Fronts

59:22 Opening Slate Breakdown & Week 1 Implications

Last week’s episode:

» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!


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