What would be the greatest overreaction after Week 1 of the NFL season?
That is the query we’re making an attempt to determine beforehand, and we began with final yr’s members in championship weekend to discover a preemptive reply.
Defending Tremendous Bowl champion Tampa Bay performs within the Thursday Night time Soccer opener in opposition to Dallas. The Cowboys get Dak Prescott again. Inexperienced Bay, after an offseason stuffed with drama with Aaron Rodgers, opens the season at New Orleans with new beginning quarterback Jameis Winston.
Within the AFC, Kansas Metropolis and Cleveland meet in a rematch of final yr’s AFC Divisional playoff thriller. Buffalo meets Pittsburgh within the remaining sport from final yr’s remaining 4. SN’s Invoice Bender picked one upset out of these 4 video games. Are you able to belief him? Bender completed 129-75 (.632) in straight-up picks within the common season after taking on this weekly function in 2020.
With that in thoughts, under are our picks and predictions for Week 1:
(Recreation odds courtesy of FanDuel)
NFL POWER RANKINGS:
Payments, 49ers, Steelers rising; Cowboys, Dolphins fall after preseason
NFL picks, predictions for Week 1
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7.5)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Tom Brady performed within the NFL kickoff sport 4 instances in New England, and the Pats had a 3-1 document in these video games. The Buccaneers have virtually their total core again from final yr, and that go rush will hold Prescott off stability within the first half. Dallas rallies to make it attention-grabbing, and the defending Tremendous Bowl champ sometimes wins right here. It is a large unfold, and we nonetheless assume the Cowboys sneak in a back-door cowl.
Decide: Buccaneers 31, Cowboys 24
Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5) at Houston Texans
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
City Meyer makes his debut with Jacksonville, and No. 1 choose Trevor Lawrence will get his first begin. Tyrod Taylor will begin for Houston given the uncertainty round Deshaun Watson. As grim because the outlook is for the Texans, they nonetheless swept the Jaguars final season. They win right here, too.
Decide: Texans 22, Jaguars 19
Los Angeles Chargers (-1) at Washington Soccer Crew
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Chargers head coach Brandon Staley makes his debut, and Justin Herbert is anticipated to construct on final yr’s rookie season. Talking of which, Washington’s Chase Younger shall be disrupting the Chargers’ offense. 5 of Washington’s seven wins have been within the underdog function final season. We like them to steal one at residence.
Decide: Washington 27, Chargers 24
Seattle Seahawks (-2.5) at Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Colts have points at quarterback. If Carson Wentz (foot) can’t play, then Jacob Eason will make his first NFL begin. Seattle allowed simply 3.9 yards per carry final season, so whoever is at quarterback shall be pressed to match performs with Russell Wilson. The Seahawks begin off the season in type underneath new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
Decide: Seahawks 30, Colts 20
New York Jets at Carolina Panthers (-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Sam Darnold Bowl is right here. The notion is first-round choose Zach Wilson could have extra success in New York with first-year coach Robert Saleh, and Darnold is tasked with rejuvenating a Carolina offense that returns Christian McCaffrey. Robby Anderson, former Jets, receiver, finds the top zone in opposition to his former group, too.
Decide: Panthers 26, Jets 19
Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Mike Zimmer is a former Bengals defensive coordinator, and Minnesota went 3-1 in its final 4 of the AFC North. Joe Burrow is again for the Bengals, and No. 1 choose Ja’Marr Chase struggled with drops within the preseason. The Vikings have to be higher in opposition to the run this season, and they are going to be higher on this spot. Burrow will watch one other former LSU teammate, Justin Jefferson, and Dalvin Prepare dinner get Minnesota out to a first-half lead it will not hand over. Patrick Peterson additionally makes a distinction in his Vikings’ debut.
Decide: Vikings 31, Bengals 21
Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans (-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
This must be a enjoyable shootout. Tennessee ranked fourth within the NFL in scoring offense final season, and the Titans added Julio Jones to an offense that options Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown.. Arizona continues to evolve round third-year quarterback Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Inexperienced. It is a back-and-forth sport that fantasy homeowners will level to as the rationale they received in Week 1.
Decide: Titans 31, Cardinals 29
San Francisco 49ers (-7.5) at Detroit Lions
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Lions are heavy underdogs in Dan Campbell’s first sport as head coach. Jared Goff is acquainted with the 49ers, however he was 3-5 as a starter in opposition to them with the Rams. It is going to be tougher in Detroit, and San Francisco returns most of its playmakers after an injury-riddled season. For now, Jimmy Garoppolo manages the offense.
Decide: 49ers 33, Lions 16
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Payments (-6.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Steelers are being left for useless regardless of an offseason spent revamping the offensive line. First-round choose Najee Harris is the reply at working again, and Ben Roethlisberger thrives with that help. Stefon Diggs torched the Steelers for 10 catches for 130 yards in a SNF victory final yr. Pittsburgh, with a wholesome protection that returns Devin Bush and added Joe Schobert, returns the favor. The over-reaction to Week 1 will comply with. Blitzburgh is again.
Decide: Steelers 27, Payments 24
Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons (-3.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
It is a battle of first-year coaches Arthur Smith and Nick Sirianni, so somebody has to get their first win. Jalen Hurts earned the beginning job, and he’s wanting to brighten up an offense that averaged simply 20.9 factors per sport final season. Matt Ryan misplaced Jones by way of commerce, however it is time to unleash rookie tight finish Kyle Pitts. This shall be an entertaining sport within the fourth quarter, and it is a coin flip.
Decide: Eagles 24, Falcons 23
Denver Broncos (-2.5) at New York Giants
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
The Broncos have Teddy Bridgewater at starter, and rookie Javonte Williams might cut up time with Melvin Gordon III at tailback. Daniel Jones enters a pivotal yr because the Giants’ starter, and it hinges on whether or not Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay can keep wholesome. Within the residence opener, the Giants discover a method to win ugly.
Decide: Giants 24, Broncos 21
Cleveland Browns at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (-6.5)
Sunday, 4:25, CBS
It will not shock us if the Browns win this sport given how they performed in final yr’s AFC divisional playoff sport. Baker Mayfield can hit play-action throws behind a powerful working sport that options Nick Chubb and former Chiefs working again Kareem Hunt. The Browns additionally upgraded their again seven within the offseason. Is it going to be sufficient to beat the Chiefs at residence? Most likely not this time contemplating Patrick Mahomes is 17-4 at residence and has by no means misplaced to an AFC North opponent. However they will run this again within the postseason.
Decide: Chiefs 31, Browns 28
Inexperienced Bay Packers (-4) at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Hurricane Ida pressured this sport to maneuver to a impartial web site in Jacksonville. The Packers beat the Saints on “Sunday Night time Soccer” final yr. Rodgers beat the Saints for the primary time within the Superdome in that sport, and Jameis Winston could have some success within the brief passing sport with Alvin Kamara. Can he sustain with Rodgers and an offense that returns all the appropriate items? Not with out Inexperienced Bay turnovers.
Decide: Packers 34, Saints 26
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Alabama followers shall be tuning in to this one with the quarterback matchup between Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones. It is Nick Saban’s former NFL group in opposition to Saban’s mentor in Invoice Belichick. For all of the Alabama ties, search for Dolphins rookie Jaylen Waddle to make a splash with a couple of highlight-reel catches. We like Miami in a good sport.
Decide: Dolphins 23, Patriots 20
Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams (-7.5)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Rams followers have the quarterback they need to see in Matthew Stafford, and he has years of expertise in opposition to the Bears. If Los Angeles can get the working sport early, then that shall be greater than sufficient for the protection to tee off on Andy Dalton. The “Sunday Night time Soccer” concentration is going to solely improve the cat-calls for Justin Fields.
Decide: Rams 27, Bears 17
Baltimore Ravens (-4.5) at Las Vegas Raiders
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ESPN
The Raiders shall be fired as much as open Allegiant Stadium, and it is a large spot for Jon Gruden in his fourth yr of his second stint. Las Vegas was simply 2-6 at residence this season. Will followers make a distinction in opposition to Baltimore? Lamar Jackson is 2-1 on “Monday Night time Soccer,” and he has 7 TDs and no interruptions in these video games. He is pleased to play spoiler right here, too.
Decide: Ravens 28, Raiders 24
