Training camp is a time for NFL teams to dream big. Some of those dreams are realistic. Others, not so much. The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2015 goal to average 30 points per game is a bigger stretch than it might seem to be on the surface, but the subject raises questions worth our attention as teams converge for training camps.
Which teams have the best shot at putting up 30 a game? Why don't the Steelers rank higher despite having a quarterback recently voted into the top tier by 35 coaches and evaluators? And why, with Tom Brady facing a four-game suspension, are the Patriots still my top offense for 2015?
Quarterback ability, offensive continuity and projected strength of opposing defenses were among the factors I found useful when seeking answers to these questions.
Let's run through the list.
Five leading candidates to average 30 ppg
Could the Patriots be a factor even if Brady's lawsuit fails to reduce his four-game ban? Yes, they could. They averaged 20 points per game through four games last season (25th) and then averaged a league-leading 32.3 from that point forward (thank you, Rob Gronkowski's health). For the season, New England scored 29.3 ppg -- and that was with a nine-point output while resting Brady in Week 17.