HERE WE GO FOLKS! Week one of a brand new season. Let’s get things started off right!
GAME OF THE WEEK – Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers, GB by 3 – Every time these two teams get together, something memorable happens. This week one matchup should be no different. Big things to watch: Packers’ weak pass rush versus the Seahawks’ weak offensive line. Seahawks’ running game with Eddie Lacy versus Packers’ rebuilt front seven. Packer’s two new TEs matching up against the Seahawks defense to add to the Packers’ WR depth. Gonna be a lot of fun matchups in this one. With it being week one, I give the home team the edge when most else seems even.
Packers 27, Seahawks 24THURSDAY NIGHT OPENER – Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots, NE by 8.5 – Look, the Pats may be missing Edelman, but there’s simply no chance they lose a home opener against anyone, even a Chiefs team that is built to give them problems.
Patriots 30, Chiefs 17New York Jets at Buffalo Bills, BUF by 8 – The Jets are, on paper, one of the worst teams we’ve seen in quite some time. They’ll be lucky to win two games this year.
Bills 31, Jets 10Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears, ATL by 7 – Finally, after what has to be one of the longest offseasons for any team ever, the Falcons hit the field again. Now is when we find out what sort of resolve they have. Don’t expect Matt Ryan to put up the same kinds of numbers as he did in his MVP campaign last year, especially with Kyle Shanahan gone to San Francisco, but expect them to easily roll the Bears.
Falcons 37, Bears 17Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans, HOU by 5.5 – What the hell has happened to Blake Bortles? Yeesh. The Texans are once again a team that has a lot of good pieces in place but no QB to tie it all together. Against the Jags, though, all you have to be is competent, which the Texans are.
Texans 20, Jaguars 13Philadelphia Eagles at Washington, PHI by 1 – Philly had a hot start last year before sputtering out late in the season. It’ll be interesting to see how this young team and its young QB have evolved over the offseason. Meanwhile, the Redskins are still in search of a defense, and Kirk Cousins is still in search of a long-term contract. Week one, gotta give the home team the edge, but you never know in divisional games, especially the NFC East.
UPSET! – Washington 28, Eagles 24Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions, ARZ by 1.5 – I think the Lions are getting a little disrespected here, though if Carson Palmer can play like he did in 2015 instead of 2016 then this team is still capable of making one final run at it. Will be interesting to see how they match up. But again, when in doubt, go with the home team in week one.
UPSET! – Lions 23, Cardinals 20Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans, TEN by 2 – I like the Titans’ chances at taking their weak division this year, especially if Marcus Mariota continues to develop along the same trajectory as he has so far. But I REALLY like the Raiders, and expect them to take the next step this year to being true contenders.
UPSET! – Raiders 34, Titans 27Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins, TB by 2.5 – With all the uncertainty surrounding this game and the hurricane, it’ll be tough for the Dolphins to pull it off. But beyond that, this is an interesting matchup between two teams with a lot of fight. I think the Buccaneers are the ones who have their arrow pointing upward.
Bucs 23, Dolphins 16Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, CIN by 3 – Divisional games are crucial at any time, but especially in the AFC North, in which any of three teams could win the division in any given year. This makes this early season matchup quite interesting and important. When in doubt… you know.
Bengals 24, Ravens 20Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns, PIT by 8.5 – The Browns at least aren’t the WORST team in the league any more… just second or third worst.
Steelers 37, Browns 13Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams, LAR by 3.5 – You know your roster is shit without Andrew Luck when you’re expected to lose to the Rams.
Rams 20, Colts 10Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers, CAR by 5.5 – The Niners have a long, long way to go before they can get back to respectability. The Panthers are going to be neck and neck with the Falcons for the AFC crown this year, and will keep pace this week.
Panthers 24, 49ers 9New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, DAL by 3.5 – Seems like these two open the season on SNF every year, and every year it’s a tight game. Never know what to expect in games between these two teams. When in doubt…
Cowboys 20, Giants 17New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings, MIN by 3.5 – Never forget that the Vikings started last season 5-0 before blowing it as always. That’s what they do… start fast, then wimp out.
Vikings 23, Saints 20Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, DEN by 3.5 – I honestly hope the Chargers lose every game this season, because Dean Spanos doesn’t deserve shit.
Broncos 27, Chargers 13