NFL 2016: Newton, Rodgers poised to continue NFC dominance

With the NFL season kicking off on Thursday night, we take a look at the top storylines to watch in the NFC.

You can also check out our AFC major storylines.

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been the talk of the pre-season. You don't need to be a football fan to know about his protest.

The team's second-string quarterback has been taking a knee during the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice in the U.S. Still, the 49ers are expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL, regardless of whether or not Kaepernick starts.

Here are some other major storylines in the NFC.

Cam Newton ready for more

Last year was the year Panthers QB Cam Newton finally arrived. He led his team to 15 regular-season wins and all the way to the Super Bowl before being smothered by the Denver Broncos' defence.

But 2015 was just the beginning.

Newton already has 43 career rushing touchdowns, tied with former 49er Steve Young for the most in history by a quarterback. Newton has done it in 78 games, less than half of the 169 Young needed.

With the Panthers opening the regular season on Thursday against the Broncos, it may not take long to watch Newton make history.

Aside from rewriting the quarterback record book, the Panthers get wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin back after he missed all of last season with a knee injury.

With Newton in the prime of his career at age 27 and Benjamin adding to what was an already explosive offence, the Panthers shouldn't have a problem putting up points.

Replicating 15 wins and a Super Bowl appearance will be tough, but Newton's encore to last season's coming out party should be sweet.

The Pack is back

Aaron Rodgers has his gang back together this season, and the Green Bay Packers seem poised to regain elite status in the NFL.

Last year, Jordy Nelson's pre-season injury derailed the synchronicity that the Packers are so accustomed to on offence. Coupled with a running back in Eddie Lacy who played about 30 pounds heavier than the Packers would like, Rodgers was forced to play backyard football, still getting Green Bay to within overtime of the NFC championship game.

With Nelson back in the fold, Randall Cobb ready to roam the slot without being double teamed, a leaner Lacy and a new seam-stretching tight end in Jared Cook, the Packers' offence looks a lot closer to the 2011 edition that won 15 games as Rodgers had arguably the greatest season ever by a quarterback.

The weakness for Green Bay is their front seven on defence, which should allow certain teams to control the pace of the game and keep Rodgers off the field long enough to steal some wins.

But with Minnesota losing QB Teddy Bridgewater for the season, and not much competition from Detroit and Chicago within the division, the NFC North crown should be heading back to Titletown.

L.A. has a QB problem

The Rams moved to Los Angeles and took a quarterback first overall in the draft. Unfortunately for fans, that quarterback doesn't look anywhere close to contributing.

Jared Goff was nabbed after Los Angeles traded up with Tennessee, putting a face to the franchise after its relocation from St. Louis.

But Goff faceplanted in the pre-season and will start the year in street clothes as the team's third-string quarterback, making him the first passer taken first overall not to open the season as the starter since JaMarcus Russell in 2007.

Reports have said Goff is far behind in his development, citing his skittishness in the pocket, his lack of leadership and small build. Rotoworld.com went as far as saying he's built "more like a diver than a football player."

Lucky for the Rams, second-year running back Todd Gurley is a bad man, and should be able to steal games single-handedly.

But with Case Keenum opening the season as the starting quarterback, there isn't much to be excited about in Los Angeles.

Goff will need to develop quickly or he could be given the bust label before stepping on the field.

Bet on: Dak Prescott

The Dallas Cowboys' fourth-round pick this year looked better than anyone could have predicted in the pre-season, and now he's poised to lead America's Team after QB Tony Romo broke a bone in his back.

Yes, Prescott is a rookie, but so was Russell Wilson in 2012 when the third-round pick established himself as a clear franchise quarterback for Seattle. The Cowboys have said Romo will reclaim the starting job when he's healthy enough to return, but if Prescott wins, Dallas will have some thinking to do.

Pre-season numbers are dubious, but Prescott's were phenomenal: he completed 78 per cent of his passes for 454 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions, and also added two touchdowns on the ground.

The situation Prescott has been thrust into is perfect. He has the NFL's best offensive line, superstar wide receiver Dez Bryant, and first-round rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott to shelter him.

Elliott is arguably the most talented tailback to enter the NFL since Adrian Peterson and could threaten Eric Dickerson's rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards.

With a mobile quarterback such as Prescott entering the fold, the possibilities for Dallas' offence expand, giving them the opportunity to run the option and throw defences off balance with two running threats.

If Prescott piles up wins, Romo might need to listen to Jerry Glanville.

Don't bet on: Sam Bradford

The reasoning behind Minnesota's decision to trade a first-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Sam Bradford makes sense. That's the going rate for anyone considered decent in the NFL.

Losing Teddy Bridgewater meant a team that was supposed to be good all of a sudden looked bad, and wasting one of Adrian Peterson's final seasons wasn't an option.

But that doesn't mean Bradford will provide Minnesota with what they're looking for.

The poster boy for mediocrity at the position, Bradford has played a full season just twice in five years, has never won more than seven games, and has never thrown more than 21 TDs in a year.

In defence of Minnesota, they possess a better defence than any of Bradford's previous teams, while also having Adrian Peterson in the backfield.

Maybe Bradford will have his best season ever and win eight games. Maybe he'll do one better and get nine. But in a loaded NFC with four elite teams and plenty more contenders, pinning a team's hopes on a mediocre QB seemingly made of glass looks like a stretch.