It’s a new year for the NFL which means it is a new year of trying these damn predictions weekly. We once again will give it a go. We will not pick by the helmets. We will try to pick each match up with plenty of football intel and by the gut feeling. Week one of the NFL is always a freak show and anything can go. I have some upsets. I have some off-the-wall picks. I’m hoping week one to come out with a winning record at least. Dive in & see what I have.

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

DALLAS COWBOYS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Eagles are the defending champs after their beat down of the Kansas City Chiefs back in the month of February. Can the Cowboys spoil the celebration of the Superbowl festivities in Eagles town? What is the impact from the trade recently for the Cowboys as they sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay? The Eagles have 10-11 of their starters on their offense returning from last year’s championship run. I think the Cowboys defense will be solid with X-Bears head coach Matt Eberflus running the defense. He’s a better defensive coach than a head coach. The Cowboys got a run stuffer, Kenny Clark, from the Packers for Parsons. They added a head case receiver, George Pickens, from the Steelers. A healthy Dak Prescott with Pickens could make their offense hum. The Cowboys will be better than last year’s team. No way they are stopping running back Saquon Barkley of the Eagles in week 1. The Boys will give the Eagles a battle, but they will not break their mojo from last season right here right now.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

FRIDAY NIGHT GAME

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT LA CHARGERS (IN BRAZIL)

Will Patrick Mahomes and the black Jake from State Farm be recruiting any Brazilian beach gals for one of their commercials? This game will be played in Brazil at a neutral site. Hopefully away from the bombs Donald Trump is dropping on cartels. Jim Harbaugh, like Pete Carol, escaped their college program after winning a National Championship just in time before all the shit hits the fan.

The Chiefs will look to get back on track from their embarrassing loss in that Superbowl. They improved their offensive line over the off-season. Which should give Patrick Mahomes more time and he still is master of the Houdini act finding a way out of the collapsing pocket. Harbaugh’s Chargers were 0-2 versus the Chiefs last year. The Chargers lost their best tackle, Rashawn Slater, to a season ending knee injury. That will weaken the Chargers running game. The Chargers did not beat great teams last year on a weaker schedule. I don’t see things changing in week 1.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

THE SUNDAY TILT

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS

Baker Mayfield will be airing it out on a suspect Falcons defense, especially at the back end. The Falcons inserted Michael Penix behind center for three games as he replaced Kirk Cousins who went flat last season. Peniz completed 58% of his passes. He went 1-2 in three starts. He had 3 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions. He was okay!!

The Buccaneers defense is better this year. I do not see Penix able to match Mayfield score to score. I think Penix will need more starts to really get his footing down.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS

Is the Cleveland Browns the perfect team for the Bengals to get out of the gates with a win? Both teams did not start off the season very well. The Browns will have Joe Flacco behind center. Joe Burrow and the Bengals did sweep the Browns last year in regular season. Flacco was a Colt then. I think the Browns will be able to generate points against a bad Bengal defense.

Myles Garrett has sacked Joe Cool the most out of any QB in the NFL. Garrett has gotten Joe 9 times. I like Cleveland’s defense being able to contain the Bengals offense in this one. I don’t think the Browns will win many games this season, but I think they will win this one. History tells you the Bengals can’t get off to a good start and this has been going on for years.

OUR UPSET PICK: BROWNS

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Dolphins have not been kind to teams with losing records. The Colts did have a losing record last year. So did the Dolphins. Both teams had a 8-9 record. This may not be an air-it-out style game going in the Dolphins’ favor where they win big. The Colts have a ton of talented players on this roster. The Dolphins have one of the best aerial games in the league. Good defense cancels the air show. What do we expect out of Daniel Jones being named the starting QB for the Colts? I think Jones will be good enough as he has a chip on his shoulder from the G-Men cutting ties with him last year. Jones ended up signing with the Vikings, and he watched Sam Darnold resurrect his career. Not sure Jones will have the same year as Darnold. I think he can exploit the Dolphins’ weak ass secondary and pull out a home opener win over the fins.

OUR PICK: COLTS

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

This match up is the story of two young QB’s heading in different directions. Trevor Lawrence of the Jaguars came into the league blazing and now has gone dormant. Then Bryce Young looked like a bust for the Panthers after they drafted him number one overall. Then in the second half of last year, he was looking like a number one pick in complete control and dialing it up. Panthers played everyone tough when Young figured things out even losing to the Chiefs in overtime. The Jaguars have a new order with another new staff in place. Have they improved that bad Jaguar defense from last year? Is Lawrence ready after taking that huge hit versus the Texans that knocked him out of the game and season with a concussion. The Panthers added a top notch rookie receiver in the draft in Tetairoa McMillan to give Young another weapon. Even with new management I’m not sold on the Jags right now. I think Panthers will ride their late season success into this season.

OUR PICK: PANTHERS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

This match up has two teams that will improve this season with their new coach hires. Mike Vabrel will be the guy that resurrects the Death Star in New England. While Pete Caroll, the devil himself, will have this Raiders organization back in the post-season quicker than you think. This is a long trip for the Raiders, but being week one teams will be energized. Look for a defensive game between these two teams. Drake Maye is a young QB on the rise. Look for Geno Smith being back with Carroll & having the bigger game in this match up. It will be close. In the end the Raiders will get their first win under the devilish leadership. It will be close. The Patriots will be racking up some victories this season, but they are just short in this one.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Can Kellen Moore work the magic in New Orleans like he did in Philadelphia as the Eagles Offensive Coordinator? The Arizona Cardinals were making a run at winning the NFC West & then were derailed in the second half and finished with a 8-9 record. Moore will have to go with Spencer Rattler as his opening day starter. Rattler went 0-6 as the Saints QB last year. He threw only 4 touchdown passes to 5 interceptions. The Cardinals have improved their defense from a year ago. Kyler Murray looked better last season as their offense was well balanced with a pretty good running game. This Saints team has a roster filled with holes. An aging defense. Probably the worst QB room in the league which are all youngsters with no true veterans. I think the Saints will be one of the worst teams out of the gates. I think Arizona finds their first win rather easily.

OUR PICK: CARDINALS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT NEW YORK JETS

This is a revenge game for Aaron Rodgers going back to the Big Apple where he caused havoc with the Jets franchise. You could say that the new Jets quarterback has a chip on his shoulder after playing one season for the Steelers. Fields was 4-2 as the Steelers starter from week 1 & then was benched for Russell Wilson who came back from an injury. In the off-season, Fields was low balled by the Steelers offer so he took the better deal the Jets offered. Rodgers was a cancer for a Jets team that thought they only needed a QB to get back to post-season and beyond. The Jets sunk like the dinosaurs in the tar pits. Rodgers finds a new team in the off-season with the Steelers. I think Rodgers would thrive on any revenge game to rub salt on his former team’s wounds and stick it to them. I’m sure Fields would like to beat his former team. In big games, Fields is not very good in them. Rodgers has been there & done that. Fields will make a few too many mistakes where the Steelers defense will take advantage giving Rodgers a victory to keep his ego floating high.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

NEW YORK GIANTS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Russell Wilson as the Giants starting quarterback will not be able to turn New York into a playoff team. The Commanders had an awesome year last season and Jayden Daniels was the real deal for them in his rookie year. Washington improved the offensive line for their franchise QB during the off-season. The Giants are pretty good at pressuring the quarterback. Daniels will make the moves on the fly to adjust. Wilson improved last year in a Steelers uniform from the two seasons in Denver. His presence & his play as an aging QB don’t give me any confidence to pick the Giants in this one. Giants fans are waiting on Jaxson Dart, their next franchise QB. Washington does enough in this one to notch their first victory.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

TENNESSEE TITANS AT DENVER BRONCOS

Throwing the number one overall pick to the wolves in game 1. That’s what the Titans are doing starting their top pick, Cameron Ward, at QB versus the best defense in the NFL, the Denver Broncos. The Titans are hoping Ward will play like Jayden Daniels last year. The Broncos made the post-season last year. They had a pretty good solid rookie QB in Bo Nix who got better and better as the season went along. Nix and his head coach, Sean Payton, seem to have that relationship like the coach had back in his New Orleans days with Drew Brees. Nix and that Broncos offense will get better and should thrive out of the gates versus an average Titans defense. It is hard winning any football games in Denver. This is an easy one going Broncos.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The 49ers have won 7 out of the last 8 games they played versus their arch rival, Seattle. Seattle did win the last game back in November. The 49ers were banged up last year with a MASH list longer than Santa Claus’ naughty list. The 49ers still have a ton of talent of that roster and going into week one are healthy. The Seahawks have a new quarterback.

Sam Darnold had a career year last year in a Vikings uniform. He was awarded with a big contract by the Seahawks. Darnold struggled his last few games as a Viking and in that post-season game. Which Darnold are you going to get in Seattle? First round bust or another solid year behind center? Seattle will keep this game close no matter what with their solid defense that should carry over from last year. The 49ers have proven they can win in Seattle. I think Darnold will not play flawlessly in his first game in a Seattle uniform, and that will give the 49ers their first road victory.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

DETROIT LIONS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

It seems like any game between any NFC North teams will be a close affair. How will the Lions do with their new offensive & defensive coordinators? Both coordinators now have head coaching jobs. The Packers are the youngest team in the NFL and added one of the best pass rushers in the game in a trade with Dallas which landed Micah Parsons. The Lions defense will be roaring to go as they are finally healthy unlike last year when they lost a few key guys like Aidan Hutchinson. Both teams have solid defenses. This game should be a shoot out. I’m going with the Lions because Jared Goff takes care of the football. Jordan Love for the Packers will make at least one mistake or more to cost the Packers an opening week victory.

OUR PICK: LIONS

HOUSTON TEXANS AT LA RAMS

How is Matthew Stafford back? That is the first question I have in this match up between the Rams and Texans. He was limited in preseason. Then second question is: Can CJ Stroud recover from his sophomore season slump? The Rams added Davante Adams to their receiving core. The Rams already have Puka Nacua. The Rams offense will be one of the best aerial attacks in the NFL. The Rams can also run the ball well. The Texans offensive line is another big question. Let’s face it. It’s their weakness. Look for the Rams D to exploit that and be in the face of Stroud all day long. The Texans won the weak AFC South. They did not win many games versus opponents with winning records. I like Rams at home.

OUR PICK: RAMS

SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT BUFFALO BILLS

The rematch of last year’s divisional round game between the Bills and Ravens. Which the Bills won in a close game. The Bills and Ravens did play in regular season last year, which Baltimore won. It was in Baltimore and the Ravens blew out the Bills in that regular season match up.

Two of the best quarterbacks in the league will duel it out. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, besides on the field battles they had, these two guys were in the running for the MVP award. Which Allen won. Both teams have solid rosters. Both teams improved their defense during the off-season. Can the Bills stop the Ravens running game? Can the Ravens defense contain Allen? I think this will be another close game. Both teams are eager to win this one because it could be a tie breaker for post-season seeding. I like the Bills able to make Jackson make mistakes, especially turning over the football. That and the Bills at home find a way to win a tight game in week 1 with the Mafia loving every moment. Going with the home team indeed.

OUR PICK: BILLS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT CHICAGO BEARS

We will finally see the debut of JJ McCarthy for the Vikings. McCarthy was drafted in the first round by the Vikings last year but was injured in preseason and missed the entire season. The Bears found their dream coach hiring the hottest offensive coordinator in the league, Ben Johnson, former Lions OC. It is the second year for Caleb Williams who was the number 1 overall pick last season. He did not play like it. What can we expect from both quarterbacks? Johnson turned Jared Goff into a top QB in Detroit. I expect Williams to play better than he did last year. Can the Vikings get the same results they did inserting Sam Darnold behind center last year? This will be a close game no matter who wins it. I like the Bears in this one because Johnson knows the Vikings defense very well playing them twice a year last year with the Lions. I think with the Viking receiver core banged up, it favors the Bears and prevents McCarthy from having a bigger game if he can have a big game in his first test in the NFL on the road.

OUR PICK: DA BEARS