Record Last Season:180-101
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Thursday, September 5th, 7:20 PM CT
Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs
A rematch of last year's AFC Championship game, Lamar Jackson leads the Ravens into Kansas City looking to spoil the back-to-back defending Champs season opener. Baltimore added Running Back Derrick Henry this offseason, which will give the Chiefs and their run defense that struggled last season, a nice test to start the year. Zay Flowers vs Trent McDuffie should be a fun matchup between the Ravens number one Wideout and the Chiefs number one Corner. Travis Kelce vs Kyle Hamiton was a fun matchup in the AFC Championship game but Kelce was able to get the better of him a lot. Kansas City was able to add explosion to their offense bringing in rookie wideout Xavier Worthy, expect the Chiefs offense to be back to the fireworks show we’ve been accustomed to throughout the Mahomes era. I’ll take the Chiefs to start their quest for a three-peat with a win.
Ravens 21 Chiefs 24
X-Factor: Chris Jones
Confidence Level:5
Friday, September 6th, 7:15PM CT
Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles
A fun matchup between two of the NFC’s best, Jordan Love fresh off becoming the highest-paid player in NFL history, looks to build off his stellar first season as a starter against the Eagles who will look to bounce back from a disappointing 2023 campaign. The Eagles brought in star Running Back, Saquon Barkley, who will have the best offensive line he’s ever had. Green Bay will have to slow down the plethora of weapons at Philly's disposal of AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Dallas Goedert, and the aforementioned, Saquon Barkley. I do like Green Bay a lot this season and luckily for them, they don’t have to go to Philadelphia as this game takes place in Brazil. I think Love and the Pack get the win this week.
Packers 33 Eagles 30
X-Factor Vic Fangio
Confidence Level;6
Sunday, September 8th, Noon Games
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons
A matchup between two teams who brought in veteran Quarterbacks, Pittsburgh brought in Russell Wilson while Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins. Pittsburgh made the playoffs last season with Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph throwing passes so they should have postseason aspirations with Russ. Atlanta hasn’t made the playoffs since 2017 but now bringing in veterans Kirk Cousins, Matt Judon, and Justin Simmons, Atlanta has high expectations going into this season. Drake London vs Joey Porter Jr will be a fun matchup on the outside but the key very well could be Bijan Robinson and this Falcons run game vs the Steelers defensive line. Outside of George Pickens I have concerns about this Steelers pass-catching group and with Atlanta being at home, I’m going to roll with the Falcons.
Steelers 17 Falcons 23
X-Factor: Chris Lindstrom
Confidence Level:6
Arizona Cardinals @ Buffalo Bills
The Cardinals and their number four overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr, makes his debut against the Bills who have a new look roster. Getting rid of guys like Stefon Diggs, Micah Hyde, Tre White, and Jordan Poyer has made people skeptical about if this Bills team is still a playoff roster. As far as I’m concerned as long as Josh Allen is manning the station this team can still go far. Quarterback Kyler Murray can build off his strong end to the season where he looked better than ever after knocking off the rust from his ACL injury. The key for the Bills is their run defense against a very strong Cardinals run game. I believe the Cardinals will be much improved but Josh Allen should have a field day against this horrendous Cardinals defense.
Cardinals 20 Bills 30
X-Factor: Dalton Kincaid
Confidence Level:9
Tennessee Titans @ Chicago Bears
The highly anticipated debut of the number one overall pick Caleb Williams, who I have touted as the best quarterback I’ve ever seen coming out of college. Williams has a lot of Mahomes-like qualities to his game and for the first time in a long time, Bears fans have hope. He’s not all they added, Chicago traded for wide receiver Keenan Allen, signed running back D’Andre Swift, and drafted wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth overall pick. Chicago isn’t the only team that was busy this offseason, the Titans are giving their second-year signal caller Will Levis all the help he can get as they signed wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. The Bears secondary could be the best in the league and with the potential to be a top-12 offense in the league. I’ll take the Bears to win Caleb’s debut.
Titans 17 Bears 27
X-Factor Montez Sweat
Confidence Level:7
New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Patriots are starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett over their number three overall pick, Drake Maye to start the year as they travel to Cincy who is dealing with Ja’Marr Chase and his contract negotiations. Cincy with Chase or not should not have any problems dealing with the Patriots. Give me the Bengals to get the job done behind a finally healthy Joe Burrow.
Patriots 14 Bengals 24
X-Factor: Tee Higgins
Confidence Level:10
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts
This AFC South rivalry got some new juice last season when C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson were both drafted by the Texans and Colts respectively, within the first four picks of the 2023 NFL Draft. These two teams played in the final week of the season last year for the AFC South division title in which the Texans pulled out a close win. The Texans brought in superstar wide receiver Stefon Diggs to join an already elite offense. I believe both these teams should make the playoffs but the Texans are Super Bowl contenders for a reason. Give me the Texans.
Texans 24 Colts 23
X-Factor: Anthony Richardson
Confidence Level:5
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins
The Jaguars make a short trip to Miami to face the Dolphins. Both these teams had bad endings to their season as Jacksonville, due to injuries, blew their division lead and missed the playoffs while Miami dealt with injuries as well but made the playoffs before being dismantled by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Chiefs in the Wild Card round. I expect the Jaguars to bounce back this season but Miami is too explosive for the Jags.
Jaguars 21 Dolphins 34
X-Factor: Terron Armstead
Confidence Level:8
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints
The question for Carolina is can they build around Bryce Young and get the most out of him? Well, we shall see as Carolina added Xavier Legette and Diontae Johnson to give Bryce more options out wide. The Saints refuse to begin a rebuild and as their roster ages, it seems as though they’re content with winning 8-9 games a season. At the end of the day, they’re still better than the Panthers and should be able to get the win at home in the Big Easy.
Panthers 13 Saints 20
X-Factor: Derek Carr
Confidence Level:7
Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants
The Vikings look to bounce back after their injury-riddled disappointing 2023 campaign. The Giants are always disappointing and now after losing Saqun Barkley in free agency to their division rival the Philadelphia Eagles, things are near rock bottom for the Giants. I believe this will be a close game but in the end, the Vikings have more talent and a better coaching staff.
Vikings 22 Giants 16
X-Factor: Sam Darnold
Confidence Level:7
Sunday, September 8th, 3PM Games
Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers
Two AFC West rivals entering the season with different expectations, the Raiders are looking to build off their very strong end to the season while the Chargers, a team who consistently fall below their expectations, are starting a new regime under Jim Harbaugh. I like the direction of the Raiders and I think their fans will travel and make this somewhat of a home game for them.
Raiders 17-Chargers 16
X-Factor: Christian Wilkins
Confidence level:4
Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks
Another rookie quarterback, Bo Nix has to make his first start in one of the NFL’s three hardest places to play. Seattle has a new coach for the first time in over a decade as Mike Macdonald leads the Seahawks and their very talented roster into the new season. I expect the Broncos to have some form of success offensively, as Sean Payton now has HIS guy but in the end the lack of talent on the Broncos roster, I’ll take the Seahawks to defeat the Broncos.
Broncos 17 Seahawks 26
X-Factor: Devon Witherspoon
Confidence Level:8
Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns
A very good game, the Cowboys take on the Browns. Dallas had yet another postseason failure and came into this season that could be the last in “Big D” for Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy. Cleveland has Deshaun Watson back and is hoping he can finally live up to the fully guaranteed $230 million contract he signed in 2022. This game features the two best pass rushers in the NFL Micah Parsons and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. I expect a back-and-forth game that ultimately will lead to a Browns win.
Cowboys 23 Browns 24
X-Factor: Jerome Ford
Confidence Level:3
Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jayden Daniels is the last of the first-round quarterbacks making their debut this weekend, the number two overall pick is on the road against Tampa Bay. Baker Mayfield led the Bucs to a surprising playoff run in 2023 and even won a playoff game over the Eagles. This game has potential with the explosive offense of the Bucs and the big play ability of Jayden Daniels but in the end, the Commanders offensive line won’t be able to hold up against the Bucs.
Commanders 14 Bucs 23
X-Factor Tristan Wirfs
Confidence Level:7
Sunday, September 8th, 7:20PM CT
Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions
A rematch from an epic playoff game in January, Matthew Stafford and the Rams look to avenge their loss against Detroit. The Rams lost Aaron Donald this offseason as the future Hall of Famer decided to retire. I expect a Matt Stafford masterclass but in the end I’m rolling with the more balanced and talented team to get the win.
Rams 23 Lions 27
X-Factor: Jared Goff
Confidence Level:4
Monday, September 9th, 7:20PM CT
New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers
Well, let’s try this again, Aaron Rodgers makes his return from his achilles tear in his first game as a Jet on Monday night exactly 12 months ago against the Bills. If Rodgers can stay healthy this could very well be a playoff team with all the talent on both sides of the ball. They’ll have a tremendous test against the Niners coming off their Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. The Niners were able to pay Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams just in time for the season to begin and end their holdouts. This should be a tight game in the low 20s as both defenses are elite but the talent on the Niners offense is just too much for me to bet against.
Jets 20 49ers 24
X-Factor Brandon Aiyuk
Confidence Level:7
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