| Rams |
over |
Bills |
Right off the bat, this one should be great. The default should be the Super Bowl champs winning their home opener. However, the Bills are looking like they'll be making a great run this year. Having Miller come in to sack his old QB is going to be interesting to watch. McVay is 5-0 in season openers, so we'll see if he can keep the streak alive. |
| Saints |
over |
Falcons |
The Saints are coming into this rivalry matchup with a 4-0 record playing in Atlanta and are looked at by many as being able to make a solid run this year, with a great chance to win the division and go far in the playoffs. Even though Payton is gone, most of the coaching staff is still in place and the star players have stayed put. New Orleans should win comfortably . |
| 49ers |
over |
Bears |
Trey Lance has the reigns now, with Mitchell and Samuel carrying the ball for him. Fields may have some trouble with the pass rush led by Bosa. It'll be interesting to see if having Jimmy G sit as a backup was the right choice. I expect chaos in the passing game, with the running game and the defense giving the 49ers the win. |
| Bengals |
over |
Steelers |
It's gonna look weird not seeing Big Ben on the field anymore. The Bengals have a chance to beat the Steelers for the fourth straight time; something that hasn't happened since the late 80s. Cincinnati is the better team with Burrow and will once again be a Super Bowl contender. |
| Eagles |
over |
Lions |
Detroit has a chance to be a sleeper team this season, but in Week 1 they're going up against a quality Eagles team and I don't see them winning this one as the young squad continues to develop chemistry. Philly's offense will overwhelm, with Sanders getting going early and Hurts looking to connect with A.J. Brown. |
| Dolphins |
over |
Patriots |
Battle of the Bama QBs. This one's tough for me, but I think Tua is the better QB and now has Hill to supplement Waddle down the field. Add to that the fact that the Pats are 1-4 in Miami the last four years and that McDaniels is no longer handling the offense, and I don't know what going to be going on with New England this season. |
| Ravens |
over |
Jets |
Is this the Flacco revenge game? One would hope it will be that dramatic, but I think not. New York has a few impressive rookies in Wilson and Gardner. But Jackson is in prove-it mode around an offense that has enough playmakers to make a run in the AFC. Baltimore has won nine of the last meetings against the Jets. |
| Commanders |
over |
Jaguars |
The Commanders' debut couldn't come against a better opponent. Wentz is once again back in the NFC West looking to show he's a top-tier QB. New Jags HC Pederson has some experience against Washington, so hopefully that means a tight game on both sides. Hoping Trevor Lawrence has a great sophomore season with no more drama. This one could be a field goal winner. |
| Panthers |
over |
Browns |
Baker revenge game! I'm sure everyone will be tuning in to this one. With Watson being sidelined (justifiably) the Browns will have Brissett (I keep wanting to say Briskett, then I get hungry) behind center. But keep in mind that if you're having a tough time picking who will win this game, the Browns have gone 0-16-1 in openers, so picking against them is the safe bet. |
| Colts |
over |
Texans |
The Texans open the Lovie Smith era, and it's going to be a rebuild. Pierce will impress in spots, the Colts have a new QB in Matty Ice who will flex to help the Colts win a weak AFC South division. The Colts are 8-5 as the away favorite under HC Reich, so they have a good track record on the road for this week. |
| Titans |
over |
Giants |
Good luck to HC Daboll; he's got a lot of work to do. Barkley is in a prove-it year, so I will expect a lot of the ground game this week. But yards will be tough against the Titans' defense. Tennessee controls the home opener around Tannehill and a healthy Henry. |
| Vikings |
over |
Packers |
The Packers are 2-4 in their last six trips to Minnesota. Rodgers has an unproven group of receivers going into a rival stadium, which is one of the tougher places to play. The Vikings have a new HC in O'Connell, and Cousins will be aggressive with Jefferson and Thielen. I don't think Green Bay will have a disastrous opener like last year, but I also don't think they win this one either. |
| Chiefs |
over |
Cardinals |
How will Murray look without Hopkins? How will Mahomes look without Hill? Murray will make a couple of highlight plays, but also take too many risks and turn the ball over. That allows the Chiefs to manage the clock and win on the road. |
| Chargers |
over |
Raiders |
These two divisional opponents are pretty evenly matched going into the opener. The Raiders have split the last eight road meetings against the Chargers, and new HC McDaniels is looking for his first win. Carr will try to stay comfy with Adams and Waller, but the Raiders have to keep the ground game going. The Chargers' additions on the defensive side will make their impact known immediately, making things easier for Herbert and the offense to squeak out a home win. |
| Buccaneers |
over |
Cowboys |
What's weird is that these two teams played each other in the opener last year, and that was a shootout. Brady returned from retirement a-la Favre, and at 45 years old he will be the focus against Dallas' defense led by Parsons. Brady has enough weapons to not stress too much, even without Gronk. Still, this one is probably my least confident pick of the bunch. |
| Broncos |
over |
Seahawks |
Wilson revenge tour, one of many going on this week apparently. If Seattle truly believes they can slow down this Denver team, they’re in for a rude awakening. The Broncos will run over the Seahawks all night between Wilson, Williams and Sutton. And there’s no way that Geno Smith is going to have much luck moving the ball against Denver’s defense. |