Week 4 NFL Predix

By Jacob Sanders

After this week, we will be 25% of our way through the season. And outside of the Patriots making the playoffs, you can’t really tell me that you know a ton of what’s going on. The first quarter of a season is crucial in the sense that early wins help out later on if team’s have a mid-season slump. It’s also crucial in such a way that if you start out slow, then this week is relatively close to a must-win game for you if you wanna keep some sort of pace with the rest of the League. Keep in mind though, we’ve seen teams get off to horrible starts (last year’s Colts started 1-5) and still end the year white hot and storming into the post-season. As for now though, that time is a little bit away, so let’s get to the picks for this week!

Sanders went 12-4 last week putting him to 33-15-1 on the season so far. He also picked the Packers to win 31-24 on Thursday but the Eagles won 34-27. 0-1 on Week 4 so far.

TEN Titans vs ATL Falcons

Some of you may be wondering how misplaced my faith in the Falcons has been. To be honest, it’s ever so slightly misplaced as they seem troubled in their ability to finish off games. However, I don’t think that will be a problem here. The Titans can’t move the ball offensively unless Derrick Henry is having himself a day. Mariota isn’t getting it done and the Titans know this as well. It would be just like Mariota to have a big day here because he seems to have those types of games occasionally, but I just don’t see it here. I see Matt Ryan and Co. taking this game over and never looking back. 

Titans 10 Falcons 24

CLE Browns vs BAL Ravens

This space here will be longer than normal because I would like to talk about the Browns for a second here. There isn’t a better time than now for the Browns to get things on track. The odd thing though,  I’m not quite sure the Browns do get things back on track. I’ve been termed a “hater” of the Browns going into the season but really I was just being realistic. The talent on this roster is unbelievable. But combine that with the fact you have four hot-heads and a rookie head coach directing the team, it’s not like the Browns were going to explode like many thought. I had them going 8-8 this season and starting 1-3. So, I do feel like they recover down the stretch. But by then, it’s too little to late for the season. What I didn’t expect was the Baltimore offense to look as good as it does. I think even the biggest of Ravens fans are in awe of Jackson’s progress and the offense they have featured so far. To me, the Ravens improvement only further cements my opinion the Browns start 1-3. This Browns offense, which can not protect Baker Mayfield so far this season, won’t be able to keep pace with the Ravens offense. Browns come out feeling miserable with a 1-3 reality check that both Baker Mayfield and Freddie Kitchens have a long way to go.

Browns 17 Ravens 27

NE Patriots vs BUF Bills

The Bills are legit. I’m gonna say it. I had the Bills making the playoffs as the No. 6 seed at 9-7. However, they’re already 3-0 and surpassing what I expected from them. Have their opponents been all that great? Well, no. But come on, you beat who’s in front of you and the Bills have done so in gritty, fun ways. This week, they will be tested by the Patriots which brings me some excitement. I expect this game to be relatively close. The Bills coaching staff is smart and they put this Buffalo team in situations set up for success and all they ever have to do is execute and make the play. However, as hyped as I am about the Bills, it’s just too foolish to not pick the Patriots here. The upset chances here are real and I would get really excited if it did happen. However, the Patriots defense is a near immovable object. The Bills offense isn’t necessarily an unstoppable force.

Patriots 24 Bills 17

KC Chiefs vs DET Lions

It’s really weird that for about a 3 WHOLE seconds I actually considered the Lions chances of winning this game. That has nothing to do with the Chiefs and moreso to the fact that the Lions have genuinely surprised me. They tied the Cardinals, beat the Chargers and beat the Eagles. WHOA. Those are some quality teams to face in your first three games. I’ve gotten my own reality check in that the Lions aren’t dropping dead to 4-12 this season like I once thought. They’ve been tough and competitive. In the case of this game though, you have to ask yourself if Matt Stafford can keep pace with Patrick Mahomes. It’s quite possible he can. Will he though? Probably not. Chiefs win the game, but it’s probably way closer than anybody is expecting.

Chiefs 31 Lions 26

CAR Panthers vs HOU Texans

Am I on the hype train for Kyle Allen? Not at all. Many were impressed with his comfort and poise last week. While that was impressive for one’s first start, it was also against a punchless secondary in the Cardinals. So hit the breaks and think about the matchup for this week. They’re going to Houston. It’s the 2nd game in a row that’s an away game. It’s against a team quarterbacked by Deshaun Watson. Also, J.J. Watt will be in Allen’s face most of the day. I anticipate many rookie mistakes to be made during this game. Many more than last week.

Panthers 19 Texans 24

OAK Raiders vs IND Colts

Now THAT was the Raiders I expected. They got pummeled by the Vikings last week and also put Jon Gruden’s record on the road to 1-9 since he came back. At this point, you have to ask yourself if the Raiders can win on the road at all. The answer is probably not. There’s a lot to like about this Raiders team, but they are just so different when they aren’t at home. As for the Colts, they are pulling out some too close for comfort games all the time. This has made me consider the possibility that the Raiders actually make this game close here. Instead though, I’m going the opposite direction, and saying the Colts stomp the Raiders in front of the home crowd. Brissett has a career day here and puts the entire NFL on notice that this Colts team is still hungry and ready to win against anybody.

Raiders 14 Colts 28

LA Chargers vs MIA Dolphins

Here’s my quality, professional analysis. Dolphins are going 0-16. I will write this for every matchup until the Dolphins win a game. Hint: they won’t. Free win for the Chargers.

Chargers 27 Dolphins 9

WAS Redskins vs NY Giants

It’s actually incredible to me just how bad this Redskins team is this year. They looked competitive last year even when losing. But this year, they just look awful. Keenum clearly isn’t any sort of answer and the defense most certainly misses Preston Smith. At this point, it’s fair to wonder if Gruden is on the hot seat this year, even if it’s not fair to him that the front office hasn’t handled the roster well during his tenure in Washington. He’s probably gone before the season ends if you ask me.  Meanwhile, the Giants on the other hand are busy looking smart. After much ridicule about drafting Daniel Jones, the Giants suddenly look like a team with life. Will this make them world-beaters? Not at all, especially since Saquon will be gone for several weeks now. However, Jones being under center makes the Giants watchable again and frankly, viable again. They take the W here against an awful Redskins team.

Redskins 17 Giants 26

SEA Seahawks vs ARI Cardinals

A lot will be made about the Wilson-Murray matchup here. But really, what should be talked about is how much the Cardinals defense misses Patrick Peterson. A rookie QB last week decimated them at home. Now, I’m being asked about them facing Russel Wilson? That’s laughable. The choice is obviously Russel Wilson and Co. The question here is if the Cardinals can keep pace with the Seahawks. Here? Probably not. Kingsbury and Murray get their first taste of the “No. 12 fanbase” and it won’t be pretty.

Seahawks 30 Cardinals 20

TB Buccaneers vs LA Rams

Well. The Bucs are just as bad as we all thought. And while the Rams have certainly look like they have regressed from last year, they are still 3-0. Sure, Todd Gurley isn’t as explosive as last year. And Goff is having some early in-game struggles. But this team is persistent and still winning. The same can’t be said about the Bucs who look punchless with Winston under center.

Bucs 13 Rams 31

MIN Vikings vs CHI Bears

This will be my first reckless pick of the year. The Vikings here are going to go into Chicago, and ruin Matt Nagy’s offense. The Vikings here are going to show the Bears true colors here. If they can’t stop the opposing offense, they won’t win games. Dalvin Cook is a brilliant talent. Kirk Cousins to Adam Thielen is still a dynamite connection. What I’m getting at here, is the Vikings have enough offensive firepower to beat the NFL’s best defense. And that’s going to be the Bears problem all year as long as Trubisky looks as mediocre as he does. If the Bears defense can’t stop the opposing offense, can the Bears offense still win games? My answer is a hard no, as of right now.

Vikings 20 Bears 13

JAX Jaguars vs DEN Broncos

I’m actually insane. Why? I’m picking the Broncos here, yet again. What’s ironic about the Broncos, is that, offensively, they haven’t been as bad as the scoreboard shows. They are actually ranking in the top half of the league for driving the ball down the field. Their problem is once they reach the redzone, they can’t score touchdowns. Hell, this Denver offense drove the ball down the field in the last minute of the game against the Chicago defense. That’s impressive. Their opponents though are nothing to laugh at. Coming off a 9-sack effort, the Jags are hungry to continue their defensive dominance against a static Joe Flacco. Does it happen here? I’m gonna say no and give the Broncos their first win...hopefully.

Jaguars 14 Broncos 17

DAL Cowboys vs NO Saints 

Man, this is a great Sunday Night game even if it’s without Drew Brees. Teddy Bridgewater went into enemy territory and straight up dissected the Seattle defense completing 70% of his passes for 177 yards and 2 TDs. He’ll be tested again against a defense that I feel is criminally not being talked about in the Dallas Cowboys. All eyes are on the Dallas Cowboys offense and for good reason. Their offense is firing on all cylinders and Prescott looks more polished than ever. I get it. But that shouldn’t take away from the core strength of this roster which lies in the Cowboys defense. Quite honestly, I think the Saints have a real shot of winning this game without Drew Brees. However, I’m taking the Cowboys here. This game is also where the Cowboys put the NFL on notice with a 4-0 start, and an aim for a top seed in the NFC. It’s happening people. I’ve been on this hype train since March. It ain’t stoppin now. I may not like the Cowboys as a football fan, but damn do I love them as an analyst.

Cowboys 28 Saints 24

Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Outside of the Miami Dolphins, it’s quite possible that these two teams are competing for worst team in the AFC on Monday night. Both teams are a mess with no glimpse of hope to be seen for either. Frankly, the season is over in Pittsburgh. With Roethlisberger out, and neither Juju-Smith or James Conner picking up any slack, it’s hard to argue for the Steelers making a comeback. Also, the Bengals defense is leakier than the oil cartridge in my 4-wheeler. Trying to pick this game is like trying to pick between having a broken arm or a broken leg. You don’t want to pick either. So, I’ll just go with the home team. Pittsburgh. Ugh.

Bengals 16 Steelers 17

Week 3 NFL Predix

By Jacob Sanders

I can’t remember a time in the last 15 or so years when the League seemed turned on its head. Manning, Roethlisberger, Brees, Fitzpatrick, Newton and Foles were all Week 1 starters that are not suiting up this week due to injury or poor play. It’s amazing to see how storylines can change so much in the span of 7 days. In related news, it also means how the changing storylines can have such a huge effect on how the season will play out. That being said, let’s get to the picks where, spoiler alert, I’ll be picking teams I didn’t think I would be picking this week!

Sanders went 10-6 last week putting him to 21-11-1 on the season.

Sanders picked the Jags on Thursday to win 9-3. (Ending score was 20-7)

CIN Bengals vs BUF Bills

It’s not that I was particularly hyped about the Bengals going into this season, but they were certainly a team I wanted to monitor this season with a new HC who I thought could bring some life to this team. So far, it’s a mixed bag with a great performance against Seattle but then showing up dead on arrival AT HOME against the 49ers. That’s a WTF from me right there. The Bills on the other hand were another team I wanted to monitor and I’ve been pleasantly surprised. The defense has been playing tough, and Josh Allen has been making plays when it matters most. While the Jets and Giants aren’t the toughest competition, you just gotta beat who’s in front of you. After watching the 9ers man-handle the Bengals last night, I suspect the Bills to keep on rolling here at home.

Bengals 16 Bills 19

MIA Dolphins vs DAL Cowboys

Something noteworthy for the Dolphins here. They are starting Josh Rosen. That’s it. They’re still the worst team in the League and the Cowboys will probably hammer then like a nail into wood. There’s not much to say here. Most of these Dolphins starters wouldn’t be starting elsewhere and that’s just fact. Dallas W coming

Dolphins 6 Cowboys 31

DEN Broncos vs GB Packers

Wow have the Broncos been a disappointing mess. Yes, they were robbed of a win last week. Frankly, I don’t see how you can call timeout as a play is ending, but that’s neither here nor there. Them being robbed doesn’t change just how bad the Broncos have looked offensively. The Packers on the other hand, aren’t necessarily excelling on offense either, but they are doing enough for a stellar defense to win the game. I expect more of that here. If the Broncos offense from Week 1&2 show up to Lambeau Field, it’s gonna be a long long day in Green Bay.

Broncos 13 Packers 24

ATL Falcons vs IND Colts

It’s honestly weird how I’m a firm believer that the Falcons are taking the division this season. And yet, I’m pretty sure their season starts 1-2 here. I truly believe in this Colts team to have a fighting chance every game because they have the nastiest O-line in the League. This line gives the rest of the offense time to develop plays and make big runs. It perfectly compliments Brissett’s abilities in the sense that he also likes to create time for his receivers to get downfield. Overall, this offense is balanced and can create an attack the Falcons just haven’t seem to come up with yet. Considering that this Colts D isn’t nice to the running game, I expect the Falcons to continue to struggle getting Freeman going. That’s rough.

Falcons 17 Colts 21

BAL Ravens vs KC Chiefs

It’s safe to say this will probably be the best game of the week. This matchup was an instant-classic last year and is lining up to be an instant classic again. The Ravens found the formula for beating the Chiefs last year and if not for some Mahomes magic, they would have won. The difference this year though, is the Ravens are more set on passing the ball this year which adds a whole 'nother dimension to this matchup. Lamar Jackson has gotten off to a white hot start that no one but the people inside the Baltimore locker room saw coming. Not to be outdone, Mahomes has continued to prove that he’s probably the best QB in the League right now. If Baltimore wants to stop him, they have to do what they did last year. They have to blitz and disrupt Mahomes. However, the Chiefs know this and I’m sure are prepared for the blitzes to come. The Chiefs win it here in another nail-biter with more explosives this time around.

Ravens 30 Chiefs 36

Oakland Raiders vs Minnesota Vikings

Let’s be honest here. The Kirk Cousins hate train is gaining too much steam too fast so let’s slow down for a second. The guy had to play against one of the nastier defenses in Green Bay last week. While I do agree his INT in the endzone was an awful decision, It’s too early to say Cousins is bad. That being said, Cousins is going to have get something going at home if he wants to silence some people. What benefits him though, is that he is playing the Raiders. A team that is 1-8 in away games under Jon Gruden. The Raiders are still a bit of mystery in the sense that we really don’t know how improved this offense became over the offseason. They looked great against the Broncos but then awful against the Chiefs. If they can’t score against the Chiefs defense, I’m not sure how much better they’ll fare against the Vikings defense.

Raiders 17 Vikings 21

NY Jets vs NE Patriots

Quick facts for you. The Jets haven’t won in Foxborough since the Sanchez-Ryan era. The Jets are playing a 3rd string QB. The Patriots have the #1 defense and will sell out to keeping Bell out of the game. So, you think the Jets 3rd string QB, Luke Falk, is gonna beat the Patriots?

Jets 7 Patriots 28

DET Lions vs PHE Eagles

Last week was a disappointment for the Eagles as they failed to make the comeback in the final minutes of the game. On the other hand, the Lions had a nice weekend upsetting the Chargers. And by nice weekend, I mean they won. Other than that, it was pretty bad football in the Lions-Chargers game which leads me to my next point. The Lions might be 1-1, but I really don’t understand where they go from here. Nothing has stood out from them so far and it’s hard to pinpoint their team identity. The Eagles on the other hand, have shown they are a team that loves to play an offense that creates disruption/confusion and combine that with a mean defense. That defense hasn’t necessarily been “mean” in the first two weeks allowing 27 points to the ‘Skins and 24 to the Falcons, but I think they find their groove here.

Lions 14 Eagles 27

Carolina Panthers vs Arizona Cardinals

You know what’s absolute insanity to me? That people are picking the Cardinals to win this game for the SOLE REASON THAT NEWTON ISN’T PLAYING. So, you’re telling me you’d pick the Pathers if an injured Newton was playing? Let’s examine Newton his last 6 games where he’s been injured all 6 games. He has gone 1-5 in that span throwing 4 TDs compared to 8 INTs. So, tell me again why in the world you’d pick the Panthers here if Newton was playing. The obvious choice, no matter the Panthers QB, is to pick the Cardinals. This Cardinals team has new life with an exciting offense and bullish pass rush with Chandler Jones and Terrell Suggs leading the way. It just doesn’t compare to expect an offense that looks dead on arrival to outscore an offense that has been so much fun to watch in the first two weeks of the season.

Panthers 13 Cardinals 23

NY Giants vs TB Buccaneers

Hot-take. Daniel Jones is going to light up the Bucs and Jameis Winston won’t be able to keep up. What makes me say this exactly? Historically in the NFL, rookie QBs have excelled when they have a star running back and go-to target to throw to. Enter Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram. To me, Jones is set up for success here and he couldn’t have asked for a better first career start. Don’t get me started on the Bucs in this column. They got the W last week against a bad Panthers. Yet that win was sloppy, unrefined, and frankly showed nothing to make you think the Bucs improved from their Week 1 disaster.

Giants 17 Bucs 10

HOU Texans vs LA Chargers

This is the hardest matchup to pick this week. Frankly, my heart says to pick the Texans here. But Deshaun Watson is on his way to be sacked 80 times this season if the sack-rate continues and he’s facing a defense that has Ingram and Bosa. Uhhh. Yikes. That being said, I don’t trust a Chargers team that couldn’t muster up any points against the Lions. If we’re being fair, they did catch the injury bug early this season again, but still. Hard to imagine the Chargers winning here unless Watson is sacked 8 or so times. And that’s not out of the realm of possibility either.

Texans 23 Chargers 20

NO Saints vs SEA Seahawks

I’m not being a hater here. I’m a huge Teddy Bridgewater fan. But after watching his last two starts, I think he’s gonna need some time as the starter before he gets rolling. Unfortunately for him, he’s playing the Hawks in Seattle. While the Seahawks haven’t been the most fearsome competition through the first two weeks, they have been incredibly clutch and have won two exciting games so far. I imagine that the Saints could possibly get off to a hot start (which I don’t foresee), but even if that did happen, Wilson and Co. have been too good in the 3rd and 4th quarter to even think I can pick against them. So, Seattle starts 3-0. Who would have known?

Saints 13 Seahawks 21

PIT Steelers vs SF 49ers

I. LOVE. THIS. MATCHUP. What Mason Rudolph put on tape last week was impressive. Where Roethlisberger looked tired and out of sync with his offense, Rudolph looked comfortable, at home, and made some pretty ballsy throws. The problem for the Steelers though, is that their defense hasn’t performed up to expectation at all. You know who hasn’t had a problem on defense? San Francisco. Through the first two weeks, the 49ers defense has been in lockdown mode allowing Shanahan’s offense to have time on the field. I had some serious doubts, but this 49ers team has been a lot of fun to watch so far, and I anticipate that they will be fun to watch again this week.

Steelers 23 49ers 26

LA Rams vs Cleveland Browns

After a lot of consideration, I convinced myself that this matchup, on paper, isn’t as mismatched as I once thought. I wrote this down as an L for the Browns before the season even started. However, Myles Garrett has been a game-wrecker for the Browns and the Rams O-line has been well below average. This means the Browns D has a chance at getting Goff out of rhythm and if that happens, man oh man, the Browns are IN this game. However, the coaching matchup is still a giant gap to me. It’s hard to imagine Sean McVay getting outcoached by Freddie Kitchens in this game. So, I got the Rams here.

Rams 20 Browns 17

CHI Bears vs WAS Redskins

I certainly thought the Bears offense was going to decline a bit this season, but not THIS MUCH. Mitchell Trubisky was over-drafted. He only had 10 college game starts. We all know this. But after an impressive year last year, it’s so bizarre to see this kind of regression without injury being involved. The game plans Nagy has been putting out have even clearly stated that he is trying to hide Mitch Trubisky. Knowing this, can you convince yourself they’ll beat an 0-2 Redskins team? Quite honestly, the Redskins has a rough start to the schedule drawing the Eagles and Cowboys. It’s also not like the Redskins just fell on the floor for either team and they gave both teams tough Ws. If you ask me, I don’t trust Keenum to beat this Bears defense which has been baller. But I really don’t trust this Bears offense to get anything done. WAS grabs their first W of the season here.

Bears 10 Redskins 14

Week 2 NFL Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

Week 1 came and went. Some wild season-defining events have already happened like Nick Foles injury and Sam Darnold being out for a couple weeks. Other crazy summer stories like the Browns being Super Bowl contenders have crashed down to earth. Meanwhile, you have to wonder if the Steelers and Chargers are going to be okay with their injuries and/or exodus of talent in the offseason. It’s only been one week, but there is a LOT to unpack when you think about what has happened in the last seven days in the NFL. I’ll leave all that to you guys though. I’m just your friendly game picks writer :)

Sanders went 11-4-1 last week and is 0-1 this week after picking the Panthers to win two night’s ago (they lost 20-14 to the Bucs). This puts him at 11-5-1 on the season.

Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Redskins

How bout them Cowboys?!? Okay okay. So it was just against the Giants, sure. I think while most people expected the Cowboys to beat the Giants, I don’t think anyone expected Prescott to look as crisp as he did last week. It’s probably my No. 1 overreaction of Week 1, but I honestly believe we will continue to see this kind of Prescott. New OC Kellen Moore knows his quarterback and the zone reads with a couple of design run-plays thrown in are exactly what Prescott needs to have success. As for the Redskins, well….last week happened. After a massive 17-0 lead, they just let Carson Wentz carve them up to a 32-27 comeback victory. What concerns me, is that the Redskins defense was supposed to be the strength of this team and they faltered heavily when it mattered most. Don’t think they’ll be stopping this Dallas offense either.

Cowboys 27 Redskins 20

Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans

Both of those teams have solid showing last week. While the score was impressive, I think the Titans victory was skewed a bit due to the fact they benefited from the Browns committing 18 penalties. The Colts on the other hand, fought tooth and nail to the bitter end in OT losing to the injury-prone LA Chargers. What we learned from these teams is they probably won’t be an easy out this season in any game. And while I do love me some Jacoby Brissett, I think I like more of what I saw from Mariota and Co. If they can continue that, the Titans could be a dangerous threat to the Texans for the AFC South. This matchup is exciting and should go down to the wire.

Colts 26 Titans 27

Seattle Seahawks vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Both of these teams were, for lack of better words, disappointing last week. Yes, Seattle came away with a win, but I expect much more from a Seattle team who’s last game was a hard fought playoff game. The Steelers didn’t even put in an effort last week. Dreadful doesn’t even begin to describe the debacle that happened last Sunday night. That being said, look for the Steelers to try and bounceback in their opener. With that ALSO being said, their home opener is against the Seahawks who have a game-wrecker in Jadaveon Clowney. Ouch. Expecting them to roll on offense after a terrible output last Sunday, may or may not be appropriate here.

Seahawks 17 Steelers 13

Buffalo Bills vs NY Giants

Quite honestly, I don’t think it’s harsh to say that Eli Manning has weeks before Daniel Jones takes over. There were times last week when Manning looked like his old self and other times when it looked like he doesn’t belong on a football field anymore. Truth is, Manning shouldn’t be the starter anymore. Nearly everyone in the world but the NY Giants know that. Enough about the Giants though, what about the Bills who had a nice comeback last week? They have plenty of talent. I expect their defense to absolutely maul this Giants offense. Outside of Barkley, who’s gonna make plays for them? Well, with Shephard out, the answer is Evan Engram But that’s not enough.

Bills 20 Giants 14

New England Patriots vs Miami Dolphins

There’s a lot of ballyhoo about the Dolphins being Brady’s kryptonite when they play in Miami. This is actually true. Brady struggles the most in Miami. However, this is a Miami team is giving away talent left and right. While I don’t like to deal in absolutes, it would be really hard to convince me that this Miami team, which looked so awful last week, is going to beat a Patriots team that looked like the best team in the NFL last week.

Patriots 30 Dolphins 6

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans

I’m keeping this one short. This game is being played in Houston. The Texans looked like real playoff contenders in the Superdome and nearly won last Monday. The Jaguars? Well, their defense got demo’d by Chiefs and their starting QB is out. You tell me what’s gonna happen.

Jaguars 14 Texans 31

Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers

This matchup is the bane of my game-picking existence every week. It feels impossible to pick every year and it never gets easy. The Packers defense was stellar last week as was the Vikings defense last week. So, going into this week, you gotta ask yourself which offense you think will do better. Problem is, neither offense gave a very good read of who they are last week. So, this one’s a toss of the dice, and I’ll give it to the home team this time around. Although, you could flip a coin and your guess would be as could as mine.

Vikigns 17 Packers 20

LA Chargers vs Detroit Lions

So the Lions gave up a 24-6 lead to the Cardinals last week and ended their game in a tie. Not good. The Chargers on the other hand, sealed the deal in their OT game and beat the Colts in one swift attempt. While it’s hard to ignore the talent-drainage on the Chargers due to injuries, it’s even harder to imagine the Lions pulling out a win here after collapsing to the Arizona Cardinals. You know, the team with a rookie QB and rookie HC. Anthony Lynn and Co. take care of business here.

Chargers 24 Lions 14

San Francisco 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals

I really liked what the Bengals showed last week. If the Bengals offense continues to grow under Zac Stacy’s direction, there will be some mid-season talk about the Bengals as a potential cinderella team. For now though, let’s focus on the now. They’re facing a 49ers team that took advantage of two pick sixes against the Buccaneers. That’s not happening against the Bengals. If the 49ers want to win here, they gotta get some more production out of Jimmy G. This 49ers team has the defensive talent to handle the Bengals. I wonder if they have the offensive talent to produce.

49ers 16 Bengals 21

Arizona Cardinals vs Baltimore Ravens

Much is being made of the fact that this matchup faces off two young QBs who have matching styles. Both are mobile and both can throw the ball deep (both proved this last week). However, in my opinion, this story is overblown and there’s not enough focus on the defenses. This Arizona secondary has a lot to worry about (see last week) without Patrick Peterson and, if Baltimore’s offense showed anything last week, it’s that they have a ton of potential playmakers. That being said, so do the Cardinals with Fitz, Kirk, and Johnson all being able to run down the field in multiple directions. Last time these two defenses faced off, it was a defensive game that came down to the wire. This time? I’m expecting some offensive firepower on both sides.

Cardinals 20 Ravens 27

Kansas City Chiefs vs Oakland Raiders

Derek Carr had an impressive season debut in his second year under Jon Gruden. He looked precise, accurate, and knew what he wanted in his offense last week. That should actually continue against a relatively weak Chiefs defense this Sunday. Problem is, the Chiefs have way more firepower on offense than I think the Raiders can keep up with. If the Chiefs weren’t as explosive as they are offensively, I just may have ended up picking the Raiders here. But I’m not. Long live Patrick Mahomes reign in Chiefs Kingdom.

Chiefs 33 Raiders 24

New Orleans Saints vs LA Rams

Look. You know it. I know it. Rams and Saints fans know it. We aren’t gonna hear the end of the controversial call this coming Sunday. But, for the sake of my sanity, let’s ignore it, and choose to look at the matchup here. Despite scoring 30 points, I don’t think the Rams looked fantastic last week. Part of me believe they took advantage of a bad Cam Newton. But part of me also believes they had to shake off some rust. The Saints, on the other hand, were amazing last week and pulled off a great win for their home-opener on Monday night. It’s a tough call here, but I’m thinking the Rams may have a little more to prove here than the Saints i.e. they wanna show they can beat the Saints fair and square on their home turf.

Saints 27 Rams 28

Chicago Bears vs Denver Broncos

A nightmare game if you’re looking for an offense to perform well. Both the Bears and Broncos couldn’t get anything done offensively. The difference here though, is the Bears defense actually showed up last week and the Broncos defense did not. That being said, it’s hard to imagine the this Broncos defense performing so poorly again, especially at home. That, and Vic Fangio probably, maybe, just a tiny bit, has some extra motivation to beat his former team and knows what needs to be done to force mistakes out of Trubisky.

Bears 10 Broncos 13

Philadelphia Eagles vs Atlanta Falcons

This matchup has become a classic in the last couple seasons and certainly deserves it’s spot on SNF. However, in each matchup, the Eagles have come out victorious with defensive stops in the redzone. While I don’t predict that to happen again, if last week was any indication of how these two teams will perform, it certainly feels like the Eagles have the upper-hand. The Eagles offense was on fire last week after a rusty start and the Falcons offense barely created any smoke. Considering the talet difference here as well, it seems like Philly will be starting their season 2-0

Eagles 30 Falcons 27

NY Jets vs Cleveland Browns

Ugh. This matchup got bad REAL quick. Weird how this was a game I highly anticipated to be fun. But with injuries galore in New York, and penalties abound in Cleveland, is anyone excited for this game? I’m certainly not. In any case, the Jets made their team better with Sam Darnold growing into his sophomore year, signing Bell, and signing CJ Mosley. All three of them are hurt and only one (Bell) will be playing on Monday. Signs point to the Browns getting their first win of the season, frankly, by default. If you want any positive notes on the Browns though, let me say this. They can’t commit more penalties than they did last week, right?

Jets 10 Browns 20

Week 1 Game Picks

By Jacob Sanders

Football season is back! And while I normally have a really long paragraph on why the beginning of the season is so great, as it turns out, I have a lot going on this weekend. So. I’ll keep it short. It’s a new season. There might be favorites to win in Week 1. But if you ask me, nearly all of these matchups except for a select few are coin-flips. So, I don’t expect to pick that well this week.

FOOTBALL IS BACK EVERYONE! Hope your team wins unless they are playing mine.

Sanders is 1-0 so far after picking the Packers to beat the Bears 35-17 (WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN IT WAS 10-3 WHAT THE HECK)

Washington Redskins vs Philadelphia Eagles

So this is one of the few matches that I don’t view as a coin-flip. To be frank, the Washington Redskins haven’t been in the media all that much because of other, let’s say, more dramatic things going on in the NFL. However, if not for surprise retirement and wild behaviour, the Redskins would probably be getting panned for mishandling the best player on their roster (Trent Williams) and not finding a quarterback to be competitive while Dwayne Haskins learns the ropes. As for Philadelphia, their roster is loaded. In your friendly writer’s opinion, they had the best offseason of any NFL team. All signs point to the Eagles getting off to a hot start.

Eagles 30 Redskins 13

Atlanta Falcons vs Minnesota Vikings

You wanna talk coin-flip, here you go. This is a coin-flip matchup. What’s even crazier, is both these teams have legitimate shots at the playoffs this year and this matchup can determine who is in and who is out. That’s insane. As for the matchup itself, you have to ask yourself who is going to show off their potential. Will the Vikings defense return to form? Will the Falcons offense explode again? We really don’t know. Here’s something I do know. Kirk Cousins is under-rated. He did pretty well last year despite a lot of criticism. That being said, he will be facing a defense that was going to be stellar till injuries killed them last year. Now, they are healthy again. So who do you pick? Me personally, you gotta go with the home team here. Vikings start 1-0. Fun fact: the Falcons haven’t won in Minnesota since 2008.

Baltimore Ravens vs Miami Dolphins

At the risk of being called bias, I’m gonna say this is also one of the matches that isn’t a coin-flip. Barring Fitzmagic striking, this matchup is very lopsided. The Dolphins have sold away the present for the future where they will have four 1st round picks and two 2nd round picks in the next two drafts. That’s fantastic for their future but disastrous for the present. I won’t be surprised if the Dolphins finish with the worst record in the NFL considering how bare their roster looks at the moment. Compare that to a Baltimore team that has reloaded while rebuilding on the fly, and it’s hard to believe a talented team led by John Harbaugh is going to lose to a Dolphins team that sold it’s talent for going big and winning in the future. Did I mention that this is Brian Flores first game ever as a head coach?

Ravens 26 Dolphins 10

Kansas City Chiefs vs Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are trusting that Nick Foles will lead this team to be competitive. This may or may not happen but that’s not the important part of this game to consider. What’s important here, is the Jaguars defense returning to the status that originally led them to the AFC Championship game. If the defense can return to form, they can stop Patrick Mahomes. On the topic of Patrick Mahomes, reports are that he looks MORE COMFORTABLE with the offense. Uh, what? More comfortable than last year? That’s a scary proposition. And if it’s true, the Jaguars don’t stand a chance at keeping up with the scoreboard getting racked up.

Chiefs 31 Jaguars 17

Tennessee Titans vs Cleveland Browns

The Titans have a disastrous matchup to start with. Their O-line has some major concerns with Taylor Lewan suspended, and they are being asked to protect Mariota against a combo of Myles Garrett, Sheldon Richardson, and Olivier Vernon. Good luck with that one. Meanwhile, the Browns on-paper talent boasts offensive firepower that could rival the Steelers of years past if executed well. All this being said, the Browns may look to stomp out the Titans early in the game, and never loo back.

Titans 14 Browns 27

LA Rams vs Carolina Panthers

I’m keeping this one short. I LOVE the prospects the Panthers bring this year. What I don’t love, is their quarterback, after a full offseason, is STILL hurt. That’s a problem. Especially when you are facing the Rams defense. I anticipate the Panthers offense to struggle all day if Cam isn’t 100% healthy.

Rams 21 Panthers 13

Cincinnati Bengals vs Seattle Seahawks

I’d like this matchup to be more even if AJ Green were playing. But he’s not. AJ Green is a tragic story of being a HoF Caliber receiver but never being available enough to show himself off. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are having their own troubles at finding healthy receivers as well. That being said, the Seahawks have Russell Wilson. And that’s really all I need to see in order to think that the Seahawks can win a home game vs the Bengals.

Bengals 14 Seahawks 20

Indianapolis Colts vs LA Chargers

Look. Most people have written this off as a Chargers win thanks to the retirement of Andrew Luck. While I do get the sentiment, it’s not like the Colts are dead in the water. The Colts should be fine. But that’s the only word I would use. Fine. Like….7-9 fine. They receive their first loss here against a vastly superior Chargers team.

Colts 13 Chargers 17

San Francisco 49ers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This one’s a tossup too. But let me ask you this. Who do you trust more: Jameis Winston or Jimmy G? The correct answer is neither, but in this case, you have to pick one. For me, I am going with the coach that I think is better and that’s Bruce Arians. I think Bruce Arians is a perfect fit for the Bucs offense. While I don’t think they’ll make much noise in the NFL, they aren’t going to be the worst team in the NFL either. At the same time, I don’t think he 49ers will be horrible either but they are a very hard team to read at the moment. Giving the Bucs the benefit of the doubt here.

49ers 14 Bucs 17

NY Giants vs Dallas Cowboys

Keeping this one short. The Giants still have Eli Manning listed as their starting QB. The Dallas Cowboys have arguably the best defense in the league. You tell me how that’s gonna go.

Giants 6 Cowboys 20

Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals

This one is TOUGH. To pick this one, you have to ask yourself if you honestly think a college offense is going to work in the NFL. Well, if you want any recency, the Redskins, Eagles and Ravens have run college style elements in their offense to varying degrees of success. So there’s a chance that the Cardinals come out exploding and never looking back. There’s also a chance they look terrible. I’m taking my chances here, and saying the Cardinals go off. The Lions have no idea what’s coming and I think that gives the Cardinals a leg up. Also, Matt Patricia’s defense with Lions has been….uninspiring to say the least.

Lions 14 Cardinals 21

Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots

This is a great matchup with loads of potential across the board. The Steelers have gotten rid of every headache from their locker room and are ready to take back their spot as kings of the AFC. Meanwhile, the Patriots are the kings of the AFC and will continue to look at keeping their spot. The big talking point is that Tom Brady is 11-4 against the Steelers. That may be true, but let’s not forget something. The Patriots throw away a stupid game every year early in the season. Anyone remember the Chiefs-Patriots game where the Chiefs smoke the Pats in the second half and everyone questioned the Patriots dynasty? I remember. This is the game the Pats mishandle early in the season. They do it ever year. Almost like a tradition at this point.

Steelers 35 Patriots 31

Houston Texans vs New Orleans Saints

Over the last few years, the Saints have had slow starts to their year. The opposite has been true for the Texans. So, naturally, you wanna pick the Texans here. Not what I’m doing. I believe the Saints are going to get off to a hot start here. Home-crowd. Blood in their eyes from being robbed of a Super Bowl appearance. Mercy on the Texans for being the Week 1 matchup. By the way, I do like this Texans team this year. They swung for the fences to win now by grabbing another weapon in Stills and protection for Watson in Tunsil. In theory, it was the right move at the moment. I don’t like that they lost Clowney though.

Texans 20 Saints 23

Denver Broncos vs Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are an EM EE SS SS, MESS! Wow. While I do feel bad for how AB treated them, I can’t help but wonder why the Raiders let it go on for so long. Also, I truly wonder what kind of offense Gruden is going to put out without a dynamic receiver like AB. There’s a lot of unknown about the Raiders. Their opponent though, has a lot more that can be said of them. If you ask me, Joe Flacco went to the perfect team. They have the exact type of offense he can succeed in, and Vic Fangio scheming for a Von Miller led defense makes my eyes go starry. I love this Broncos team. And I love them to start 1-0 this week.

Broncos 24 Raiders 14