New England Patriots 20 Buffalo Bills 17
This is going to be one of the more difficult early season matches for New England. Buffalo’s defense is looking sharp with the recent re-signing of defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, and will look to stuff the run and put pressure on Brady. But the difference in this game will be the inexperienced Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The Patriots defense will keep him under pressure, and uncomfortable. It will be a relatively low scoring affair, but I have New England edging out the Bills with a last-minute field goal.
Carolina Panthers 21 Houston Texans 10
This is not a very entertaining matchup to watch. Both offenses are without key players, Texans missing running back Arian Foster, while the Panthers recently lost WR Kelvin Benjamin for the year. The one positive aspect in this matchup will be the Panthers defense, headed by newly re-signed linebacker Luke Kuechly. The Texans will need backup RB Alfred Blue to rush for over 100 yards to have a chance and I just don’t think that will happen. I got the Panthers in this one.
Pittsburgh Steelers 34 San Francisco 49ers 16
The Steelers will be on fire on this one, after a disappointing opening night loss to the Patriots. Antonio Brown will go over 100 yards for the second straight game against the depleted 49ers team who saw their team get decimated in the offseason. Watch out for the sleeper of the game which will be RB Deangelo Williams of the Steelers. He will go for over 100 yards for the second straight game, making a case of why he should be seriously looked at in the Steelers committee of running backs. A lot of Pittsburgh offense and not a lot of 49ers anything. Steelers easily in this one.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21 New Orleans Saints 17
UPSET ALERT (or is it really even an upset?). In recent history the Bucs have played the Saints very tough and I think this is the game where Jameis Winston leads them over the hump. The Saints defense is ranked 31st in the league which is second to last and that will be the death of them in this game. The dark horse of this game will be the “Muscle Hamster” Doug Martin, as he will go for over 100 yards on the soft Saints front seven. Drew Brees will throw the ball a lot in this contest and it won’t be enough. I got the Buccaneers.
Detroit Lions 28 Minnesota Vikings 14
I have two words that will be the difference in this contest: Calvin Johnson. Megatron will go off in this game, going for over 100 yards with a pair of touchdowns to go with it. Adrian Peterson will get his yards but it will not be enough in the end. Lions will stay poised in this one and show everyone why they shouldn’t sleep on them in the NFC this year. I have the Lions by a couple scores.
Arizona Cardinals 23 Chicago Bears 17
This will be a close game the whole way, but the stout defense of the Cardinals will force Jay Cutler back into his old habits of turning the ball over, he will throw a pick-six that will be the difference in this one. Losing top WR Brandon Marshall to the Jets will hurt them more than they think, and with Alshon Jeffrey banged up, Cutler won’t have a true go-to receiver. The Bears will be left searching for answers, as the rock solid Cardinals will take this one on the Bears home turf.
Cincinnati Bengals 30 San Diego Chargers 24
This game will be decided by who rushes for more yards, and that will be Jeremy Hill of the Bengals. This is one of the more tough matchups to decipher, as both teams are even. But, Andy Dalton will limit his mistakes, and stick to the ground and pound, as the Chargers will struggle with rookie RB Melvin Gordon. I like the Bengals by about a touchdown.
Tennessee Titans 17 Cleveland Browns 6
Battle of the basement. Both teams will struggle mightily this year trying to find their footing, and both will struggle in this one. The Titans will start to find their way, on the legs of dual threat RB’s Bishop Sankey and David Cobb, as each will combine for over 100 yards on the ground. The Browns just won’t get anything going on offense and will fall in this one. The Titans will themselves out of the basement with a win here.
Atlanta Falcons 42 New York Giants 35
Most of this game will be spent watching the ball fly through the air, as each team will likely attempt over 50 passes. With each defense ranked in the bottom four in the league and each passing attack ranked in the top 10, it’s understandable how this will be a high scoring affair. Julio Jones will go off for three touchdowns (yes three). But Eli will be Eli and I see a couple interceptions in his future. That will be the difference, Falcons by a touchdown.
St. Louis Rams 20 Washington Redskins 10
The line of scrimmage will be dominated by the Rams front seven, which will virtually run over the Skins weak offensive line. Kirk Cousins will struggle and Alfred Morris won’t be able to bail him out. Tre Mason will surprise his critics and go over 100 yards and a score. Rams in this one, no doubt.
Miami Dolphins 30 Jacksonville Jaguars 12
When you are ranked in the bottom half of the league on defense and offense, you don’t stand a chance against the Dolphins. Blake Bortles has given me no signs that he can be a solid QB in the NFL, and I don’t think this game will be any different. Ryan Tannehill will take over in this one, showing his fantasy owners that he is in the top tier of quarterbacks. Lamar Miller will compliment the offensive attack nicely as the Dolphins stomp the Jags.
Oakland Raiders 23 Baltimore Ravens 21
Am I really picking the Raiders in this game? THE RAIDERS? Yes, yes I am. Linebacker Khalil Mack is a powerhouse for that Raiders defense, and newly acquired Aldon Smith will make the difference. The Raiders will put their foot down and attempt to begin to resurrect a dismal past 10 years of awful football. With the offense being led by young guns Latavius Murray and Amari Cooper will stun the Ravens.
Dallas Cowboys 34 Philadelphia Eagles 23
Statement game. I’m still not into the Chip Kelly high flying offense hype. He is starting injury prone Sam Bradford and Demarco Murray, who saw just shy of 500 carries last year. You heard that right, 500. Those two alone worry me deeply about the longevity of this “high flying” Eagles squad. Dallas Cowboys make the statement to their division rival that they are going to win all of the NFC this year. Yes I have the Cowboys going to the SuperBowl, you heard it here first. Romo and Dez Bryant dominate, cruising to victory.
Green Bay Packers 27 Seattle Seahawks 24
No replacement refs will be present this time. Even with two Super Bowl appearances under his belt, there is something about Russell Wilson I am not sold on, specifically his throwing ability. Maybe I’m just delusional, but I’m not just not 100 percent on him. Aaron Rodgers throws a gem, throwing 2 TD’s to underrated Davante Adams. The Green Bay defense makes a big stop deep into the fourth against the Seahawks to skirt by with the win. The Pack wins by a field goal.
Indianapolis Colts 38 New York Jets 13
It’s a shame that this game has to be on Monday Night Football, because it won’t be much of a game at all. The Jets will finish last in the AFC east this year and this game will only reassure that prediction. Andrew Luck will look sharp in his second start, but the unsung hero of this one will be the ageless Frank Gore. Gore will go over 100 yards after struggling week one against the daunting Bills defense. The Jets won’t get much of anything going on offense, and Colts will have everything going, winning by a large margin.