by The Legend » Sep 03, '19, 6:37 pm
GAME OF THE WEEK – THURSDAY NIGHT - Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, CHI by 3 – There’s a lot of intrigue with this match up and while I would have preferred they kept the traditional Super Bowl champs on opening night, I understand why they went with the oldest rivalry. For the Bears, can Trubisky take the next step and make the offense match what this defense is capable with Khalil Mack. For the Packers, how will Aaron Rodgers adjust to a new coach for basically the first time in his career and what will the offense look like? In the end I’ll take the Packers to strike an early road upset and get a head up on the rest of the division. UPSET!! GB Packers 24, Chicago Bears 21
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings, MIN by 4 – I hate when we have two teams like this playing in the first couple weeks of the season because it's just so hard to know what to expect. I mean you could tell me these two teams are going to meet in the NFC Championship game and I'd believe you. You could also tell me they're both drafting in the top five and I'd believe that too. When in doubt I'll stick with the home team to take a close one. Minnesota Vikings 27, Atlanta Falcons 21
Washington at Philadelphia Eagles, PHI by 9.5 – Washington is one of a bunch of teams that we'll be talking about as a complete trainwreck and embarassment to the league in a highly competitive race to the #1 pick. Eagles meanwhile have a healthy Carson Wentz for at least a little while, so they roll here. Philly Eagles 28, Washington 17
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets, NYJ by 3 – Don't really think either of these teams are very good and its likely that they split their season matchups with each other this year. That being said I'll start with the home team, which if I had to pick one of them to rise to the standard of mediocrity, it'd be the new look Jets. NY Jets 21, Buffalo Bills 17
Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins, BAL by 7 – I fully believe the league will catch on to the Ravens one-dimensional offense and Lamar Jackson to expose them as temporary frauds. That being said I could go down to the corner bar and find 10 guys that I could take on the field and beat the Dolphins with. Baltimore Ravens 21, Miami Dolphins 16
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, TB by 1 – I'm a huge believer that if Jimmy G can stay healthy, the Niners are a playoff team in the NFC. On the other hand, the Buccaneers will be searching for a new quarterback this spring. UPSET!!! SF Niners 27, TB Buccaneers 23
Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars, KC by 4 – If Nick Foles can supply just decent quarterback play I think the Jaguars will be much closer to the team that almost played in the Super Bowl two years ago than the one that bombed big time last fall. I also think the Chiefs can not possibly maintain what they did a year ago, but I don't know if those two things will intersect in this first game. KC Chiefs 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24
Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns, CLE by 5.5 – Everyone has been talking about all the things the Browns have done on offense the last year or so and it's been great, but once they are scraping Marcus Mariota off the First Engery Stadium turf all will realize this defense is ridiculously good (probably better than the offense). Cleveland Browns 34, Tennessee Titans 13
Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers, LAR by 3 – This might be the game I am having the hardest time deciding on. The Rams are really good and the Super Bowl was an anomaly for the Rams, but the trip across the country is always a tricky one and the Panthers with a healthy Cam Newton (however brief that will probably last this year) are far more dangerous than the end of last season showed. I'll take the Rams in a heart-stopper. LA Rams 28, Carolina Panthers 23
Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals, DET by 2.5 – I wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinals stormed onto the field Sunday and got the victory before anyone got a book on them, but I'm going the other way on this grand experiment that seems to be destined to crash and burn. Detroit Lions 28, Arizona Cardinals 21
Cincinnati Bengals at Seattle Seahawks, SEA by 9.5 – The Bengals stink... BADLY! The Seahawks are probably past their championship window (now that they've paid Russell Wilson), but they will no doubt have more than enough to take care of business here. Seattle Seahawks 30, Cincy Bengals 16
Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers, LAC by 6.5 – Wouldn't it be ironic if the Colts managed to stink enough here to get their hands on Justin Herbert or Tua after one year without Andrew Luck? It's possible, but the competition is probably too stiff for that to happen at the bottom of the NFL standings. They will get a decent start on it though with a loss to the Chargers, who have their own issues to work out. LA Chargers 28, Indy Colts 17
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, DAL by 7 – Zeke Elliott is basically the only interesting thing about either of these teams and he likely won't be playing. Even still, the Giants are clueless and don't stand a chance in this one. Dallas Cowboys 27, NY Giants 20
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots, NE by 6 – This would probably qualify as the Game of the Week to me, because there's just so much unknown, but both teams are likely to still be big time contenders this year. Can the Steelers move on from an off-season losing one of the very best running backs and one of the very best receivers at the same time? What will the Pats look like without Gronk? How long will Josh Gordon stay eligible this time around? What will their offense transform into next? That being said. New England should have enough to win this one at home as they raise another banner. NE Patriots 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 24
Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints, NO by 7 – Two teams that I would pick to win their divisions meeting in Week 1. One of them will get a huge boost and one will have to climb out of an early hole. I'm buying in, this is the Saints year in the NFC. NO Saints 31, Houston Texans 23
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders, OAK by 1 – The NFL closes Week 1 with by far the worst game of the week. Outside of the typical Raider sideshow circus that has been turned up to 11 with Antonio Brown, there's nothing remotely entertaining about either of these teams, but the Broncos have the better roster. UPSET!!! Denver Broncos 23, Oakland Raiders 20
Credit to Tim/Everlong for this awesome sig