By Jacob Sanders
Week 1 has arrived. After a year in 2020 where everything has been turned upside down, some things have slowly gone back to normal. While not everything is as it used to be, that’s not to say you can’t enjoy your team still play. Sure, the crowd noises may not be as loud (due to no crowds), and the vibe will feel a little different, the teams are still here to compete and give each other their 100% effort. The same goes for me as I give it my best effort to get my picks down with 100% accuracy (that’ll never happen). Anyhoo, why am I still talking?! Let’s get to Week 1!
Sanders is 1-0 on the season so far. He picked the Chiefs to win the season starter 34-23. The game ended 34-20 (so close!).
PHE Eagles vs Washington
Washington had a nightmare summer. From name changes to accusations to players being arrested (and then cut from the team) and everything in between, Washington looks toward having a down year already. However, there is some positives to build on with Alex Smith back, Dwayne Haskins getting a shot to start full-time, and rising stars like Terry McLaurin. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for the Eagles. They’ve reloaded for a chance at another title run with a healthy Carson Wentz and an offense they have attempted to give more star power to. We have no idea if it’ll workout, but as of right now, you pick the team who has the better head coach and quarterback in this moment.
Eagles 23 Washington 13
NE Patriots vs MIA Dolphins
There’s quite a difference in the stories of these two teams. One team is attempting a “comeback” story with a comeback player after losing the GOAT to the Bucs. The other team is attempting to establish themselves as contenders for the AFC East in a post-Tom Brady era. There’s not a whole lot to read into this matchup. On paper, the Patriots lost a lot of talent to both free agency and COVID-19 opt-outs while the Dolphins went out and spent more money than they knew what to do with. Who wins? Honestly, it definitely feels like the Dolphins are the pick here. But am I really going to pick against the best coach of all-time and a former MVP-QB who has a chip on his shoulder with something to prove? No way.
Patriots 20 Dolphins 17
MIN Vikings vs GB Packers
Ah yes, the prime morning game of Week 1. Who doesn’t love a good clash in the NFC North. Both of these teams made the playoffs last year, and both are ready to go back at it again but each have their own reasons. The Vikings had a massive overhaul in the offseason while the Packers….did almost nothing. Not to say that the Packers didn’t create some headlines this offseason, but they certainly took the “reload and try again” road after finishing 13-3 and getting bashed in the NFC championship game. There’s something to be said that Aaron Rodgers could be on a type of revenge tour this year to give the Packers FO a massive headache and some regret for drafting Jordan Love. However, for Week 1, the Vikings have been beating GB at home for 4 of the last 5 years. I don’t think that trend changes here with how each team’s offseason went.
Vikings 27 Packers 26
NY Jets vs BUF Bills
I may not be one of those people who’s on the Bills hype train in terms of Josh Allen coming out and having his best season to take the Bills to 12 wins. However, I am on the hype train that this defense is so talented, and McDermott is such a good coach, that they’ll get 10+ wins this season. How about that? Too safe? Probably. However, the Bills look to be a much more well-rounded and well-coached team than let’s say, a team like the Jets. I like Sam Darnold. And that’s pretty much all I can say about this Jets team? Man. They’ve gotta show me something this year if I’m to believe the Jets can give Sam Darnold what he needs to win. And they haven’t done that yet.
Jets 17 Bills 20
IND Colts vs JAX Jaguars
Every year, I’ve got a team that I carry zero belief in until they win a game or two. In other words, there’s always an 0-16 candidate for me each year. Obviously, an 0-16 season comes rarely so being a candidate doesn’t mean your a candidate. However, that does mean I’m picking against JAX nearly every game unless some miracle happens. They’ve left the cupboard empty, and left Gardner Minschew with nothing to work with. The Colts on the otherside, signed a potential HOF QB to their roster and this Colts roster is already designed to win. Coming out and beating a talentless Jags team will provide a lot of confidence for an Indianapolis team ready to go back to being contenders.
Colts 31 Jags 19
DET Lions vs CHI Bears
I have to admit. I laughed when I saw this matchup. It’s quite the coinflip. You could argue for either team, and I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with your take. However, the Bears have Mitch Trubisky starting Week 1. Different year, same nightmare for Bears fans where they have to watch a QB who clearly isn’t their future. On the other side of the field, the Lions at least have a QB who’s coming back from injury and should be fresh to go. The Lions lost some talent, but they also had a decent draft. There’s potential for this Lions team. And they’ve got enough to beat up on the Bears at home.
Lions 31 Bears 24
LV Raiders vs CAR Panthers
What a weird Week 1 matchup. Not only is it a non-divisional game, but it’s also a non-conference game as well between two teams who really don’t have a clear direction they are headed. Are they good? Are they bad? No one can tell you for sure. However, if I had to guess, the Panthers may need some time to get rolling. The Raiders? They need a defense. When you look at their offensive efficiency last year? It was good enough for one of the tops in the League. And yet they couldn’t win games. Defense and situational football matters. For the Raiders, they may have caught a break in facing a team with a rookie HC and a new QB.
Raiders 24 Panthers 17
CLE Browns vs BAL Ravens
I sat here and tried to think of how I couldn’t sound bias on this one. Typically, it’s easy to not sound bias for Baltimore. But now, they’re a superstar team and I’m a sucker for superstar teams, regardless if it’s the Ravens or another team (looking at the Chiefs/Saints). At the same time, I’m also one of the few people who are very high on the Browns going into this season. Their roster is loaded. Let me say that again. The Cleveland Browns roster is LOADED. They just need some guidance and direction which I believe they have in rookie HC Kevin Stefanski. This matchup seems like it will be a hype matchup. However, I AM concerned that the Browns secondary is injury-riddled already. That’s bad when you need the defense to be able to combat against the slew of weapons Baltimore has. I think BAL continues their regular season success they’ve had for quite some time now.
Browns 24 Ravens 27
SEA Seahawks vs ATL Falcons
This right here, is the most interesting matchup of the morning games. We really have no idea where each team is headed. The Seahawks were a playoff team, but mostly because of Wilson’s best year yet as the QB of Seattle. Meanwhile, the Falcons had a late season surge that proved to be formidable but not enough. I truly do love Russell Wilson and view him as a top 2 QB (#1 for me personally). But, I can’t help but wonder how the rest of the Seattle roster will pan out. At the same time, what do the Falcons have going for them? Will their defense finally click again? Matt Ryan should continue the success he has always had but is there enough firepower on offense? Will the Todd Gurley signing workout?. There’s too many questions I have about both of these teams to make a definitive decision. So I’m going with the team who has the best quarterback in the NFL, in my opinion.
Seahawks 31 Falcons 28
LA Chargers vs CIN Bengals
Everyone is going to be excited for Joe Burrow’s first game. I don’t blame them. In fact, I do believe his first NFL game will be a win. Consider this my “upset” pick for the week. Also consider the fact I don’t trust the Chargers in beating a team who has a ton of upside while they downgraded at QB, lost their star defensive player to injury, and really have nothing going on for special teams. This one is short and sweet, but that’s really all I gotta say on this one.
Chargers 17 Bengals 24
AZ Cardinals vs SF 49ers
Welp. This is the one I’d get hate mail for if I was a bigger author/analyst. I’m outright picking the Cardinals to win this game. I believe in the year 2 growth of Murray. I believe that the Hopkins trade will open up the offense even more and allow Murray to set the League on fire this year. They’ve got a real tough task in facing the NFC Super Bowl representative the 49ers. The 49ers have a monstrous D-line who are ready to eat Murray alive. They’re also injury-riddle on offense and lack firepower. Barring the 49ers D-line just absolutely destroying the Cardinals offense, everything is in favor for the Cardinals to come out on top in a tight game.
Cardinals 24 49ers 21
NO Saints vs TB Buccaneers
I’ve had a lot of time to think about this one. The hype is their. It’s Drew Brees vs Tom Brady. It’s the Bucs potentially explosive offense against the Saints explosive offense. But. There is one massive difference between both of these teams. The Saints have proven they have a defense who can contend with bigger offenses. They have star players who can control the game. The Bucs don’t necessarily have that. While the Bucs defense did improve as the season went on last year, we have no real idea if it’s up to the task that a “Brady vs Brees” matchup presents. If you ask me, I don’t think they are. On top of that, I expect TB12 to be a little rusty out of the gates, considering he’s got a brand new offense with brand new players. Seems like a recipe for a Saints win.
Saints 35 Bucs 27
DAL Cowboys vs LA Rams
Intriguing pick for the first SNF game of the season, considering the schedule makers could have billed the Vikings-Packers game or Bucs-Saints here. Nevertheless, this isn’t the worst pick for SNF either. This game carries some weight in terms of early NFC seeding AND seeing if either team can bounceback from a disappointing 2019 season. The Cowboys come in with a new head coach in Mike McCarthy while the Rams come in with the brilliant Sean McVay. Both coaches have a mind for offensive football which tells me this one appears to be a shootout. If this game does become a shootout, I’ll take the Cowboys then. Better QB. Better WR group. Better O-line.
Cowboys 33 Rams 27
PIT Steelers vs NY Giants
Let’s be quite honest here. We know who the Steelers are coming in. They’re a defensive team coming in with their franchise QB returning. We have no clue who the Giants are. How will new HC Joe Judge look in his first debut? How will a Daniel Jones offense guided by Jason Garrett look? Will the Giants defense finally stop opponents from scoring? The answer to all 3 questions: who knows. So this is a game where I take certainty over uncertainty. Mike Tomlin is still one of the best coaches in this game, and his defense is prepared to give Daniel Jones a rough start to Year 2.
Steelers 20 Giants 10
TEN Titans vs DEN Broncos
I was very ready to pick the Broncos in the opener. In fact, I still kinda am. However, the Von Miller loss is a massive blow to what could have been a fantastic season for the Broncos. I do believe Drew Lock will make himself the starter of Denver’s future for years to come. Will he be some all-star? My guess is no but I view him as a QB who can win with talent around him, and the Broncos gave him all the talent he can handle. Meanwhile the Titans didn’t necessarily blow anyone away this offseason. They resigned their own players but also lost a couple key players in Logan Ryan and Jurrell Casey. I think this hurts them enough for me to still pick the Broncos, despite the fact the Titans O-line will have less headaches without Von Miller in the game. That, and I’m not fully buying into the Ryan Tanehill comeback story just yet.
Titans 23 Broncos 24
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