2016 NFL Week 1 Picks

Here are my picks for week one of the 2016 NFL Season.

Thursday, September 8th
Carolina Panthers vs Denver Broncos; 8:30, NBC: Here we got a Super Bowl rematch to start the 2016 season. Peyton Manning has retired and taking his place as Broncos quarterback is Trevor Semien. It will be interesting to see how he performs in his first career start. The Panthers and Cam Newton will be motivated after losing the Super Bowl and getting shutdown by the outstanding Broncos defense. That same defense will be great again this season, but Newton will find a way this time around.
Prediction: Carolina 24, Denver 20.

Sunday, September 11th
Green Bay Packers vs Jacksonville Jaguars; 1:00, FOX: This should be a fun game between one of the NFC's best teams in the Packers and an up and coming team in the Jaguars. Expect Aaron Rodgers and the Pack to pull away late in this one.
Prediction: Green Bay 27, Jacksonville 17.

Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens; 1:00, CBS: This is an interesting game between two teams looking for bounce back seasons. The Bills have suspensions and injuries on the defensive end and Joe Flacco will take advantage of that and lead the Ravens to a win.
Prediction: Baltimore 26, Buffalo 19.

Chicago Bears vs Houston Texans; 1:00, FOX: This should be an interesting game as well. Brock Osweiler makes his Texans debut against a Bears team that's in a bit of a transition phase. JJ Watt is back from his surgery and he and Osweiler will lead the Texans to a week one win.
Prediction: Houston 27, Chicago 20.

Cleveland Browns vs Philadelphia Eagles; 1:00, CBS: This might be the worst game of week one although there are many storylines here. Carson Wentz will make his NFL debut after the team traded away Sam Bradford. Robert Griffin III makes his Browns debut in what he hopes to be a career rebirth. Expect a low scoring game and the Eagles defense to make plays to lead the team to a win.
Prediction: Philadelphia 20, Cleveland 16.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons; 1:00, FOX: This should be an interesting division game. Jameis Winston starts his sophomore season hoping for a breakout and the Falcons are hoping for a bounce back season as a team. I actually like Winston to lead the Bucs to a road win here.
Prediction: Tampa Bay 27, Atlanta 23.

Minnesota Vikings vs Tennessee Titans; 1:00, CBS: Sam Bradford makes his Vikings debut here after the team traded for him to replace the injured Teddy Bridgewater. Marcus Mariota enters his sophomore season hoping for a breakout. The Vikings are still a decent team without Bridgewater and they still got Adrian Peterson running the football.
Prediction: Minnesota 24, Tennessee 16.

Cincinnati Bengals vs New York Jets; 1:00, CBS: This game could very well be the best one of week one. Andy Dalton returns from his season ending injury from a year ago and the Jets, who came very close to make the playoffs last season have a very tough schedule to begin the season. I like the Bengals here to get the week one win.
Prediction: Cincinnati 27, NY Jets 24.

Oakland Raiders vs New Orleans Saints; 1:00, CBS: This is an interesting matchup between the up and coming Raiders and Drew Brees and the Saints. The Raiders have gotten well deserved hype with all the blue chip young players they have on their roster and they all will contribute to a road win in week one.
Prediction: Oakland 30, New Orleans 20.

San Diego Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs; 1:00, CBS: This should be an interesting division matchup. San Diego is hoping for a bounce back season and better health and Kansas City is hoping to get back to the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. I like Jamaal Charles, who is making his return from injury, will lead the Chiefs to a win.
Prediction: Kansas City 33, San Diego 20.

Miami Dolphins vs Seattle Seahawks; 4:05, CBS: This is one of the least interesting games. Miami could end up as one of the leagues worst teams meanwhile Seattle is still a Super Bowl contender despite losing people via retirement or free agency. Russell Wilson will lead the way here and the Seahawks are my lock of the week.
Prediction: Seattle 34, Miami 16.

Detroit Lions vs Indianapolis Colts; 4:25, FOX: Matthew Stafford and the Lions are hoping for a bounce back season as well as Andrew Luck and the Colts. Luck is coming off an injury and he'll look like his old self this week and lead the Colts to a win.
Prediction: Indianapolis 27, Detroit 20.

New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys; 4:25, FOX: Despite Tony Romo being injured, this is still the best matchup of week one between what is arguably the leagues best rivalry. Dak Prescott will make his NFL debut and it will certainly help with Ezekiel Elliott running the football and playing behind the leagues best offensive line. The Cowboys defense is full of injured and suspended players and that's where Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr will take advantage and lead the way to a Giants win.
Prediction: NY Giants 30, Dallas 27.

New England Patriots vs Arizona Cardinals; 8:30, NBC: Despite Tom Brady being injured, this is still an interesting game from a standpoint of how Jimmy Garappolo will play in his first NFL start. The Cardinals have the leagues best roster and that will show in this game.
Prediction: Arizona 30, New England 13.

Monday, September 12th
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Washington Redskins; 7:10, ESPN: This should be an interesting game for sure between Pittsburgh, who many are picking to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl and Washington, who won the NFC East last season and many people believe they'll regress. This will be a fun game, but I like Ben Rothlisberger and Antonio Brown to lead the way to a Steelers win.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 33, Washington 24.

Los Angeles Rams vs San Francisco 49ers; 10:20, ESPN: This was the toughest game to pick. Case Keenum will start for the Rams and Blaine Gabbert will start for the 49ers. I don't believe we'll see many points scored here, but give me the Niners to pull it out at home.
Prediction: San Francisco 17, Los Angeles 13.