NFL Predictions: A Look at Every NFL Game This Season
By Steven Kriz
Week One
Thursday, Sep. 8th–
Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos:
The highly anticipated Super Bowl 50 rematch should be a great bout. Trevor Siemian makes his first NFL start against the reigning NFC Champs, and doesn’t do anything spectacular, throwing for 212 yards and a TD, but has no INT’s. Cam Newton has yet another rough day against this defense, as he gets sacked 5 times and throws 2 INT’s, the second leading to C.J. Anderson’s second score of the day.
The Pick: Broncos 27 Panthers 12
Sunday, Sep. 11th–
Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars:
The Jaguars come in with a much improved defense to go with a pretty darn good offense. However, Rodgers comes out in midseason form against the young Jags and dices them for 4 TD’s against 0 INT’s. What was a close game at halftime turns into a rout after Bortles 3rd quarter pick six, and the Packers win big in Florida.
The Pick: Packers 38 Jaguars 20
Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens:
The Ravens had an injury riddled year ago, but they come out strong against the Buffalo Bills who are minus some key players due to suspension. Joe Flacco makes his return from an ACL injury with a solid performance, and Terrell Suggs registers two sacks in his return from his achilles tear.
The Pick: Ravens 27 Bills 16
Chicago Bears at Houston Texans:
Brock Osweiler gets to make his regular season debut with his new team against his former coach John Fox. Bears first round draft pick Leonard Floyd quickly introduces himself to Osweiler, registering two sacks, however the Texans just get past the Bears on a last second field goal as time expires.
The Pick: Texans 17 Bears 16
Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles:
RGIII comes out hot against the Eagles in the first half, throwing for a score and running for another as the Browns take a 10 point lead into halftime. However, Carson Wentz, making his first career start makes the Eagles look like geniuses for shipping off Sam Bradford. A nice rally in the second half gives the rookie his first career win.
The Pick: Eagles 24 Browns 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons:
The Falcons home debut doesn’t exactly go as planned. A thinned down Jameis Winston comes out on fire, throwing 3 scores to Mike Evans in the first half alone, and adds another TD pass in the second half. Matt Ryan has a forgettable day, as he throws 2 INT’s and loses a fumble in the 4th quarter, and the Bucs roll to an easy road win.
The Pick: Buccaneers 38 Falcons 16
Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans:
After a very tough injury to Teddy Bridgewater in the preseason, Shaun Hill tries to keep the reigning NFC North Champs afloat as newly acquired Sam Bradford is not ready to start on a weeks preperation in a new playbook. A date with the Titans is a nice way to start, as the Vikings defense digs in and holds the Titans to only 10 points. Hill isn’t flashy but efficient, and the Vikings are able to get a win to start the year.
The Pick: Vikings 20 Titans 10
Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets:
The Jets certainly look like a playoff team this season, as they march out to a 17-0 lead behind a pair of TD passes by Ryan Fitzpatrick to Eric Decker. In the 2nd half the Bengals rally to tie the score at 20, but a late drive gets capped off by Matt Forte’s first TD as a Jet, and the Jets put away the defending AFC North Champions.
The Pick: Jets 27 Bengals 20
Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints:
The Raiders improved perhaps more than any team this offseason, on paper that is. The problem with winning the offseason is that it doesn’t always translate to the field, and Drew Brees certainly makes sure that it is not a fun debut for the Raiders. Brees throws for 4 TD’s, and the game is never close from start to finish as the Saints cruise to the victory.
The Pick: Saints 35 Raiders 17
San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs:
The Chargers waste no time on the road as they jump out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter behind 62 first half yards from Melvin Gordon. The Chiefs put the clamps down at that point as Gordon will only manage another 18 yards the rest of the way, and a pair of Travis Kelce second half touchdowns complete the comeback.
The Pick: Chiefs 24 Chargers 17
Miami Dolphins at Seattle Seahawks:
Adam Gase had a pretty rough draw for his first game as head coach as he has to take his team to CenturyLink against perhaps the most talented team in the league. The game is never close as Russell Wilson fires 3 first half TD’s and the Seahawks cruise the rest of the way.
The Pick: Seahawks 31 Dolphins 6
Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts:
Matthew Stafford was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL a season ago once the Lions dismissed Joe Lombardi in favor of Jim Bob Cooter. Stafford picks right back up where he left off, however Andrew Luck shows us exactly why he scored the richest contract in NFL history. This one is a back and forth shootout, with neither team able to stop the other, and a late Luck FG drive is the dagger.
The Pick: Colts 38 Lions 35
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys:
Could this be the beginning of the Dak Prescott era? A broken back for Tony Romo forces the rookie into action, but it is the other Cowboys rookie that really steals the show. In his debut, Ezekiel Elliott rushes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Prescott has one pick, but overall shows well throwing for 218 yards and a touchdown and the Cowboys start the year off with a nice win.
The Pick: Cowboys 27 Giants 16
New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals:
It’s a forgettable outing for Jimmy Garoppolo in his first career start, as Chandler Jones reintroduces himself to the young signal caller multiple times. Although they are getting older, Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald are both still very good as they hook up for a pair of scores. To be fair, the Patriots probably wouldn’t have won this game, even with Tom Brady.
The Pick: Cardinals 27 Patriots 17
Monday, Sep. 12th–
Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins:
Big Ben and Antonio Brown prove to the world that they can get by for four games without Le’veon Bell as they connect for three touchdowns, and Brown, fresh of a gig on Dancing With The Stars introduces us to some new fancy touchdown dances. This game isn’t close from the first minutes on.
The Pick: Steelers 35 Redskins 16
Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers:
Football is back in L.A. but the home debut of the Rams will have to wait another week, as this game gets played at Levi Stadium. The Rams, however make a statement on defense, holding the 49ers to only 3 points in Chip Kelly’s debut as head coach. Starting QB Blaine Gabbert is sacked 6 times, and throws two INT’s to go along with a lost fumble, and the Niners only advance the ball past the 50 once all game.
The Pick: Rams 24 49ers 3
Standings:
AFC East
New York Jets: 1-0
Buffalo Bills: 0-1
Miami Dolphins: 0-1
New England Patriots: 0-1
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: 1-0
Pittsburgh Steelers: 1-0
Cincinnati Bengals: 0-1
Cleveland Browns: 0-1
AFC South
Houston Texans: 1-0
Indianapolis Colts: 1-0
Jacksonville Jaguars: 0-1
Tennessee Titans: 0-1
AFC West
Denver Broncos: 1-0
Kansas City Chiefs: 1-0
Oakland Raiders: 0-1
San Diego Chargers: 0-1
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NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: 1-0
Philadelphia Eagles: 1-0
New York Giants: 0-1
Washington Redskins: 0-1
NFC North
Green Bay Packers: 1-0
Minnesota Vikings: 1-0
Chicago Bears: 0-1
Detroit Lions: 0-1
NFC South
New Orleans Saints: 1-0
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1-0
Atlanta Falcons: 0-1
Carolina Panthers: 0-1
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: 1-0
Los Angeles Rams: 1-0
Seattle Seahawks: 1-0
San Francisco 49ers: 0-1
Next: Week 2