On Thursday the NFL will return, with Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson squaring off in primetime, with (some) fans in the stands. Imperfect as it is, the league arrived at this moment after a virtual draft, lots of COVID-19 testing and no preseason games. Heading into the first week of action, here are 20 storylines to follow throughout the 2020 season:
1) How will COVID-19 shape the season?
As experts predict an uptick in COVID-19 infections peaking in late-autumn, the NFL is barreling head-on into its regular season. The league decided against the bubble approach and is instead relying on social distancing and frequent testing, like MLB.