2019 NFL Week 1 Picks

Here are my picks for week one of the 2019 NFL Season.

Thursday, September 5th
Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears- 8:15, NBC: The 100th anniversary season of the NFL kicks off with the oldest rivalry in the league. The Packers are looking to rebound from a disappointing 6-9-1 season from a year ago and have a new head coach in Matt LaFleur. The Bears are looking to build upon a 12-4 first season for Matt Nagy. Aaron Rodgers is someone that wants to come out and have a chip on his shoulder this season. Mitchell Trubisky wants to improve in his third season. The Packers offense goes as Rodgers goes and DeVante Adams is one of the best in the game at receiver. The Bears offense will have a little different look with rookie David Montgomery at running back. The Packers are improved defensively with the moves they made bringing in Preston Smith, Za'Darius Smith, and Adrian Amos. The Bears defense is still very good despite a downgrade in defensive coordinators with Chuck Pagano replacing Vic Fangio. That said, I like Khalil Mack to have a big game and sack Rodgers a few times to lead the Bears to an opening night win.
Prediction: Chicago 26, Green Bay 20.

Sunday, September 8th
Tennessee Titans vs Cleveland Browns- 1:00, CBS: The Titans are a team that many folks expect to take a step back this season. Meanwhile, the Browns are a team that many folks are high on. Odell Beckham Jr will probably play even though he's dealing with a hip issue and I do expect the Browns to come out with a vengeance and show everyone they're here and ready for a big leap.
Prediction: Cleveland 27, Tennessee 13.

Baltimore Ravens vs Miami Dolphins- 1:00, CBS: The Ravens are a team that won it's division a season ago and people are mixed on Lamar Jackson. The Dolphins are the consensus worst team in the NFL and they are clearly tanking for Alabama star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to take in the 2020 draft. Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting for the Dolphins, who always tend to surprise early in seasons and pull off home upsets. I think that tend continues and shuts up the tanking narrative for at least one week as they win a close one against a Ravens team I'm not sold on.
Prediction: Miami 24, Baltimore 23.

Atlanta Falcons vs Minnesota Vikings- 1:00, FOX: The Falcons are a team that looks to rebound and make the playoffs after an injury plagued season a year ago. The Vikings also missed out on the playoffs a year ago and most people think they'll make the postseason. Stud receivers Julio Jones and Stefon Diggs are both questionable for different reasons for their respective teams, but the difference in this game is the Vikes pass rush dominating the Falcons offensive line and I think Kirk Cousins has himself a solid game.
Prediction: Minnesota 30, Atlanta 23.

Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets- 1:00, CBS: Both of these teams are sleeper picks to surprise folks and have a winning record and if either team is to do that, their second year quarterback must improve on their first year with Josh Allen and Sam Darnold respectively. The Bills defense is improved and I'm not sold on the Jets defense as a whole, but I don't love the either teams skill position guys except for Le'Veon Bell and Bills rookie running back Devin Singletary. Bell and Darnold I think will have nice games to give Gang Green a win.
Prediction: NY Jets 27, Buffalo 20.

Washington Redskins vs Philadelphia Eagles- 1:00, FOX: The Redskins are among the worst teams in the league this season, but their defense should be somewhat decent. The Eagles are a popular Super Bowl pick by media outlets, but I think there are better teams then them in both conferences. Carson Wentz will have a nice day as well as the Eagles defense against a subpar Redskins offense.
Prediction: Philadelphia 30, Washington 10.

Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers- 1:00, FOX: The Rams are a team thats trying to avoid the dreaded Super Bowl hangover. The Panthers season depends on the health of Cam Newton and whether his shoulder is right or not. I think Newton looks rusty in this game and the newly paid Jared Goff will have a field day against the Panthers secondary.
Prediction: LA Rams 24, Carolina 20.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Jacksonville Jaguars- 1:00, CBS: The Chiefs are a team that expectations are sky high for led by reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes. The Jaguars are a popular bounce back team after a disappointing 2018. Mahomes is a much better quarterback than Nick Foles, who hasn't done anything good in a non-Eagles uniform so I like the Chiefs in this one.
Prediction: Kansas City 27, Jacksonville 23.

Indianapolis Colts vs Los Angeles Chargers- 4:05, CBS: The Colts are obviously a team with lowered expectations after the stunning retirement of Andrew Luck. The Chargers are a team with high expectations, but are without Russell Okung, Derwin James, and Melvin Gordon. Those are all significant injuries and I think the newly paid Jacoby Brissett will lead the Colts to a monster upset as they'll remind the league that this is not a terrible team without Luck as they take advantage of the Chargers injuries.
Prediction: Indianapolis 23, LA Chargers 20.

Cincinnati Bengals vs Seattle Seahawks- 4:05, CBS: The Bengals are supposed to be among the worst teams in football in Zac Taylor's first game as coach. The Seahawks are a team I'm not particularly high on this season although they recently acquired Jadeveon Clowney from the Texans to improve their pass rush. I think the Seahawks are the much better team here and are my lock of the week.
Prediction: Seattle 26, Cincinnati 13.

New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys- 4:25, FOX: This is normally a fun divisional rivalry, but this time around it's not even the best divisional rivalry in the division at the moment. The Giants are among one of the worst teams in football, although they have the best running back in the league in Saquon Barkley. The Cowboys are a team thats very good all around, but have a head coach thats a lame duck. Ezekiel Elliott got paid and he along with the vastly underrated defense will help lead the Cowboys to a much needed week one win.
Prediction: Dallas 24, NY Giants 16.

San Francisco 49ers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers- 4:25, FOX: Both of these teams want to surprise folks this season. Jimmy Garappolo is back at quarterback and he wants to prove doubters wrong. Jameis Winston is someone that wants to prove doubters wrong too as he's in a contract year. I expect a ton of offense in this game and for me it comes down to the quarterbacks and I trust Garappolo more than Winston.
Prediction: San Francisco 34, Tampa Bay 27.

Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals- 4:25, FOX: This is the worst game of the Sunday slate and thats saying something because it's the debut of number one overall pick Kyler Murray. I do think Murray will show some flashes in this game and throughout the season, but his offensive line flat out stinks. The Lions are a team I think is overrated and may fire its coach after the season, but I do think they get off to a solid start with a win here.
Prediction: Detroit 27, Arizona 16.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots- 8:15, NBC: Here is the best game of the day to sick off Sunday Night Football. The Steelers are a team that is poised to do some damage with Ben Rothlisberger with a chip on his shoulder. Tom Brady and the Pats want to continue to show that they're still the Patriots and the defending champions at home and I expect a shootout and a Pats win.
Prediction: New England 33, Pittsburgh 26.

Monday, September 9th
Houston Texans vs New Orleans Saints- 7:10, ESPN: This is one of the best Monday Night Football openers I can remember. The Texans traded away Jadeveon Clowney, but acquired Laremy Tunsil to improve what was an awful offensive line. The Saints are a team that I think can make a run at the Lombardi Trophy this season. This screams shootout and I think the Saints get the win here at home.
Prediction: New Orleans 35, Houston 30.

Denver Broncos vs Oakland Raiders- 10:15, ESPN: The Broncos are a team with a new coach in Vic Fangio and want to surprise folks this season. The Raiders are just a circus led by Antonio Brown, who was first rumored to be suspended for his actions with GM Mike Maycock, but now head coach Jon Gruden came out and said he's playing. That does not change my opinion of this game and I think the Broncos come out and Von Miller and Bradley Chubb will get to Derek Carr and lead the way for a win.
Prediction: Denver 26, Oakland 20.