RECORD LAST SEASON 172-94-2
Thursday, September 7th, 7:20 PM CT
Detroit Lions 0-0 @ Kansas City Chiefs 0-0 The Chiefs open their championship defense against the Lions, a young team with a ton of hype going into the 2023 season. Patrick Mahomes is 13-3 in September , in his career, and Andy Reid has gotten to prepare for this average Lions defense for months, meaning the Chiefs might score 50. The Chiefs, as of this writing, seem like they’ll be without Chris Jones, and potentially Travis Kelce who has a bone bruise, but in the end, it won’t matter as the Chiefs will start their title reign 1-0. Lions 26 Chiefs 38 Confidence Level: 10
Sunday, September 10th, Noon CT Games
San Francisco 49ers 0-0 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 0-0 This game is going to be so physical and a coaching masterclass between Mike Tomlin and Kyle Shanahan. It also features the last two Defensive Player of the Year, T.J. Watt (2021) and Nick Bosa (2022). The Steelers have a lot of hype going into year two of the Kenny Pickett era and with the talent they have at the skill positions this offense could make a major leap this season. San Francisco has an offense made of superstars with Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk. The Steelers defensive line vs. the Kyle Shanahan run scheme is the matchup to watch. It’s hard to predict this one as the Steelers have upset a Super Bowl contender in week one two years in a row but, I’ll ride with San Fran this week. 49ers 21 Steelers 17 Confidence Level: 5
Cincinatti Bengals 0-0 @ Cleveland Browns 0-0 An AFC North showdown between the Bengals and Browns will answer some questions for us. One of them is Joe Burrow 100% after injuring his calf during training camp. Another is can Deshaun Watson return back to form in 2023? The Browns have the pass rush with Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith coming off the edge. The Browns will have to deal with the elite trio of Ja’marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd, and it is always a treat to see Denzel Ward lineup vs. Chase. Cleveland has the best running back in the game, Nick Chubb, who can win this game by himself but in the end, the Bengals offense, I think, will be too much as they start the season 1-0. Bengals 27 Browns 21
Confidence Level: 7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-0 @ Minnesota Vikings 0-0
The Tom Brady era is over in Tampa Bay and in steps Baker Mayfield, who looks to get his career back on track after finishing 2022 with the Rams. Justin Jefferson vs. Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis will be a fun matchup, but the Vikings use Jefferson all over, and you can bet he’ll get his fair share of targets. The Vikings offense is full of weapons besides Jefferson. They still have T.J. Hockenson, K.J. Osborn, and first-round pick Jordan Addison. The Bucs pass rush could get busy against the Vikings offensive line but in the end, I feel Minnesota will get the better of Tampa Bay. Buccaneers 20 Vikings 23 Confidence Level: 8
Arizona Cardinals 0-0 @ Washington Commanders 0-0 Kyler Murray is still recovering from his torn ACL so Josh Dobbs will get the start this week. The Cardinals seem to be in a rebuild and with the lack of talent on the roster, Washington should have a field day with their potentially elite defense. Sam Howell enters year two as the starter for the Commanders and has shown enough potential for the Commanders brass to be confident in their choice. Commanders get the win at home. Cardinals 16 Commanders 27
Confidence Level: 10
Jacksonville Jaguars 0-0 @ Indianapolis Colts 0-0 The Jaguars had a successful 2022, making the playoffs and winning the AFC South and winning a playoff game. Now they look to bring that success into this season. The Colts first-round pick Anthony Richardson makes his debut Sunday, and it’ll be without Jonathon Taylor, who will be out the first four weeks of the season. The Jaguars offense will have a big day and get the win against their AFC South rival. Jaguars 31 Colts 17
Confidence Level: 8
Carolina Panthers 0-0 @ Atlanta Falcons 0-0 The debut of the number one overall pick Bryce Young takes place in Atlanta this week as the Panthers face their NFC South rivals. The Falcons have the offensive potential to put up points but this Panthers defense is borderline elite. In the end, the Panthers offensive line and lack of weapons will make me side with the Falcons this week. Panthers 19 Falcons 26
Confidence Level: 4
Houston Texans 0-0 @ Baltimore Ravens 0-0 The number two overall pick C.J. Stroud also makes his debut but in a much more difficult task traveling to Baltimore. The Ravens have a lot of hype going into this season with a set of new weapons like Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers. Lamar is known to start out fast and I expect nothing less this Sunday. Texans 13 Ravens 34
Confidence Level:10
Tennessee Titans 0-0 @ New Orleans Saints 0-0 The Titans have the perfect style to come in and steal this game on the road. They’re physical and run the ball well with a good defense. The Saints have a new quarterback in former Pro-Bowl Derek Carr, who looks to reignite this Saints offense. This won’t be an easy game by any means and this is one of my riskier picks, but I’m going with the Titans on the road. Titans 24 Saints 23 Confidence Level: 3
Sunday, September 10th, 3:25 PM CT Games Miami Dolphins 0-0 @ Los Angeles Chargers 0-0 The Chargers won this matchup last season and they had stars missing. Now, they will have their full roster and I think that gives them more of an edge against the Dolphins in what I expect to be a shootout. Tua and the Dolphins will keep it close but in the end, give me Herbet to get the win. Dolphins 27 Chargers 31 Confidence Level:2
Philadelphia Eagles 0-0@ New England Patriots 0-0 The Eagles start their revenge tour in New England, in what fans may think will be an easy game for Philly, but will actually be a tough grind-it-out game. The Patriots have the defense to keep this game close but the offense inevitably will let them down. Eagles 26 Patriots 16 Confidence Level: 9
Green Bay Packers 0-0 @ Chicago Bears 0-0 Finally, we get to see the Jordan Love era begin and it starts against the Bears. Green Bay has a lot of talent on this roster so don’t think they’ll just fall off a cliff. The Bears should be better than last season but I do have concerns about their pass rush in a game with a young QB. The best thing to give him is time in the pocket allowing him to get into a rhythm. It feels weird saying this but, give me Green Bay in the upset. Packers 26 Bears 23
Confidence Level:2
Las Vegas Raiders 0-0 @ Denver Broncos 0-0 Sean Payton returns to coaching in his debut at Mile High. It will be interesting to see how the Broncos come out after their embarrassing performance in 2022. The Raiders have Jimmy Garopplo which is a step down from Derek Carr, but he has spent time with Josh McDaniels in their New England days. I think the Broncos beat the Raiders for the first time in a few years.
Raiders 20 Broncos 24 Confidence Level: 3
Los Angeles Rams 0-0 @ Seattle Seahawks 0-0 The Rams have a ton of young players which is different from their star-studded rosters of recent memory. Seattle is coming off one of the more surprising seasons, as they made the
playoffs last season in their first year starting Geno Smith. The Seahawks have a really talented roster and even with McVay being an elite coach, I have doubts the Rams will be able to keep up with Seattle. Rams 17 Seahawks 28 Confidence Level 8
Sunday, September 10th, 7:20 PM CT Dallas Cowboys 0-0 @ New York Giants 0-0 Dallas once again has massive expectations going into the season and we’ll see how they respond in a tough game in New York. I do think Dallas got better while the Giants are the same or at least close to the team they were last season. It’ll be close, but expect a good showing from Dak and the offense. Cowboys 30 Giants 24 Confidence Level: 7
Monday, September, 11th, 7:15 PM CT Buffalo Bills 0-0 @ New York Jets 0-0 The Bills are here to prove the AFC East is still theirs while the Jets want to prove they’re more than just hype. The Jets offense may face chemistry issues to start the season, but I do think this team is going to live up to the hype and that starts with a statement win against the Bills. Bills 24 Jets 27 Confidence Level: 1
PARLAY OF THE WEEK Lions vs. Chiefs over 52.5 points Lamar Jackson over 214.5 yards Justin Jefferson anytime touchdown
Justin Herbert over 1.5 touchdown passes
Ceedee Lamb over 72.5 +1615
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