WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THE RAIDERS???
Same st, different season. I think they are cursedā¦ along with a dumba owner.
I think this time its a little different and the craziness is exacerbated to another level due to the crazy culture we are living in now.
Maybe. Iāve been a Raiders fan since 1968. The last 25+ years have been total shit. Mark taking over from Al has been a f**king joke. This GM/HC combination is an abominationā¦ Al is turning over in his grave. This team is cursed; itās the new Browns.
Could be all of the above, but Charles Jones says that the Raiders sent a crisis team to his house and that is really weird.
Raider fans got to be loving this! I know I did!
NFL Week 1 Sunday Game Picks
Week 1 is always a challenge in terms of picking games. The only thing we have to go on is past performance, as well as off-season and preseason work. In some cases, itās difficult seeing teams storm (or whimper) out of the gate vastly different than they were the season prior. See the recent Lions win over Superbowl champs KC Chiefs!
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. EDT (FOX)
For the life of me I cannot understand why everyone is so low on the Panthers but so high on the Falcons. I know the Falcons drafted running back Bijan Robinson, but outside of him no one scares me on Atlantaās offense. While I think wide receiver London Drake is a good player, I donāt trust that Desmond Ridder is really the quarterback of the future for the Falcons. On the other sideline, C.J. Stroud will be excited to make his first NFL start. Head coach Frank Reich will have the Panthers ready to rally around their rookie and pull out the win.
Panthers with the Week 1 upset.
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. EDT (CBS)
For the Ravens and their fans, itās time to put up or shut up. This team has consistently been a contender in their division, with a very good coach and an extraordinary quarterback. But early injuries and early playoff exits have been the Achilles heel for Lamar Jackson and Baltimore. Now that offensive coordinator Greg Roman is gone, I fully expect to see Jackson show off some of the arm talent that won him the Heisman award at Louisville. Thereās a good number of football fans who think heās unable to excel as a passer. This is the year to prove all the naysayers wrong. The Texans are doing all the right things to build for the future. I would be misleading if I didnāt take the opportunity to give them credit for the moves theyāve made this offseason. But they arenāt quite ready to beat a team like the Ravens. I do, however, think they will keep the game interesting enough to beat this ridiculous spread. Ten points?! The Texans are bad but they arenāt the Cardinals.
Ravens win but donāt cover the spread.
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns , 1 p.m. EDT (CBS)
No one wants to admit this, including me. But the Cleveland Browns are really good. They have a talented roster top to bottom that can compete with any team in their division and conference. But no one wants to believe in Deshaun Watson. There, I said it. No one wants to say it. If they had another quarterback, the Browns would be in the conversation. But on the other side of the field, the Bengals and their fans are rejoicing after hearing the news that quarterback Joe Burrow is expected to play and that heās healthy. The high-powered offense is back and will be fun to watch. Wide receivers JaāMarr Chase and Tee Higgins have combined to form one of the most exciting receiving pair in the league, and thereās reason to believe the offensive line will be better this year after an expensive upgrade. If Joe Burrow can stay healthy and stay clean, the Bengals have a chance to make a historic run.
But for Week 1, I need to see the new improved offensive protection for Burrow before I think theyāll be safe from the Brownsā aggressive pass rush.
The Browns win their season opener and force the national media to talk about them Monday morning.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. EDT (FOX)
This one wonāt be long. The Colts arenāt good. I like quarterback Anthony Richardson, but he needs time to develop and he will also need someone to talk some sense into Colts owner Jim Irsay to pay their star running back and end all this offseason drama. The best thing you can do for a rookie QB is give him a run game and good defense. Or you can do what the Colts are choosing to do. Take away the only elite player on your offense and then force the rookie to overextend and play hero ball. Sound familiar to Bills fans? It should, in quarterback Josh Allenās rookie year running back LeSean McCoy was a shell of himself. Compared to his standards, that season was pedestrian. He put up 161 rushes for 514 yards, three touchdowns, and 34 catches for 238 yards. Thatās exactly what you can expect from the Colts if they really think starting running back Zack Moss is the right way to go.
The Jaguars are the team on the rise in the AFC outside of the Jets. Good coaching, good QB and new weapons. Iām high on the Jags this year. They win the division and make it out of the Wild Card round in January.
Jags win and cover the spread. I guess I lied, that was a long winded answer.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. EDT (CBS)
Sometimes a new environment is good for players. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has found himself in the best offensive situation heās been in since entering the NFL. These are the best receivers heās played with, and now thereās no pressure. That might actually spell success for the former first-overall pick. But the Vikings are going to be a dangerous offense and I donāt think Baker is prepared to keep up. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson looks unstoppable, but rookie receiver Jordan Addison wonāt be too far behind. Iām not sure the Vikings will miss Dalvin Cook.
Baker and the Buccaneers put some points up. But not enough to come up on top. The Vikings win but donāt cover the spread.
Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. EDT (CBS)
The Saints, under the leadership of their new quarterback Derek Carr, are poised for success against the Titans and likely to cover the three-point spread. Carrās arrival brings stability to the Saintsā passing game, and he has a track record of making accurate throws and smart decisions. Combined with a strong defense, New Orleans has the tools to control the game. Meanwhile, the Titans, though formidable, might take some time to adjust to any defensive schemes the Saints throw at them.
This matchup seems favorable for the Saints to secure a victory and cover the spread.
San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. EDT (FOX)
The 49ers are going to destroy the Pittsburgh Steelers. How is the spread so close? Christian McCaffrey is still the leagueās best running back in my opinion and his skills as a receiver make him a formidable threat to any defense. His impact on the game cannot be overstated. With his agility, speed, and incredible field vision, McCaffrey has consistently delivered exceptional results, both rushing and receiving. Itās highly likely that heāll have a standout performance against the Steelers, contributing significantly to the 49ersā offensive success. Additionally, Nick Bosaās recent signing of a five-year, $170 million extension is fantastic news for the team. Bosa is an immensely talented defensive player, known for his relentless pass-rushing abilities. This lucrative contract extension not only reflects his exceptional skill level but also serves as a testament to his importance to the teamās success. With Bosaās presence on the field, the 49ersā defense will present the Steelers with a far more challenging task, giving the Niners a significant advantage even on the road.
Combining McCaffreyās exceptional abilities and Bosaās newly signed extension, the San Francisco 49ers have a strong chance of securing a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m. EDT (FOX)
At some point do I stop admitting Iām a Cardinals season ticket holder? This time last year I was excited about the team. They had just come off a great season, losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs. Now? The Commanders are favored by seven points to blow them out. The Commanders?! Donāt get me wrong, I love their defensive line and some of their offensive weapons. But did I miss the point when Sam Howell became Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen? Why is everyone so high on Washington? For this game it doesnāt matter if Howell is an MVP or not.
The Commanders win this game but not by a touchdown. This game is won by a field goal. Cardinals beat the spread.
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m. EDT (FOX)
The only story line that will interest most people is to watch and see How Jordan Love takes control of the Green Bay Packers this season as he is now the defacto starting QB since Arron Rogers departure to greener pastures.
Chicago on the other had has quietly been flying under the radar this off-season and has gotten sneakily better.
Chicago by a billion.
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. EDT (CBS)
The Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson are poised for a comeback season under the guidance of new head coach Sean Payton. So much so that if it werenāt for safety Damar Hamlinās incredible story, Iād say Wilson should win the award with the improvement heāll make this season. With Paytonās proven track record of success and his ability to harness the full potential in players, thereās no doubt that the Broncos will experience a rejuvenation. Wilson, known for his exceptional leadership skills and incredible athleticism, will undoubtedly benefit from Paytonās strategic game planning and offensive expertise. Moreover, Wilsonās experience and championship-winning mentality will greatly contribute to the Broncosā resurgence.
On the other hand, I have reservations about Jimmy Garoppolo as a starting quarterback. While he has shown flashes of potential, his inconsistency and inability to stay healthy raise doubts about his capability to lead a team towards sustained success. His lack of experience and limited skill set in certain aspects of the game may hinder his ability to make smart decisions under pressure. Consequently, I remain unconvinced of Garoppoloās suitability as a starting QB in the long run.
Broncos will win and cover the spread.
Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m. EDT (CBS)
The Chargers are set up for a big season and it will start with a win against quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins. Thatāll happen because of quarterback Justin Herbert whoāll spearhead a triumphant performance. Herbert, with his exceptional talent and strong arm, will prove to everyone that he deserves to be mentioned as one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the league. His ability to make accurate and precise throws, coupled with his intelligent decision-making, will enable him to exploit any weaknesses in the Dolphinsā defense.
Herbertās confidence and determination will shine through as he leads his team to a well-deserved victory, solidifying his place among the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m. EDT (CBS)
While Iām not an Eagles fan, I must say I am looking forward to this game. Anytime thereās potential for a rivalās embarrassment, itās easy to get in the mood for it. The Patriots have done nothing to support quarterback Mac Jones. Wellā¦ this year they actually have an offensive mind employed as their offensive coordinator. So I guess thatās an improvement. But wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster wonāt provide enough for the Patriots to keep up with the Eagles. In my opinion the Eagles have the best roster top to bottom in the entire NFL. It will take a collapse of epic proportions to lose to this Patriots team.
Eagles win and cover. I donāt know how Las Vegas has this so close.
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. EDT (FOX)
Are we ever going to see wide receiver Cooper Kupp play at a high level again? It seems like he was just in the Super Bowl doing amazing things and being regarded as the best reeiver in football. Now that seems like a distant memory. Kupp will be unavailable for this game and head coach Sean McVay says heās not opposed to placing the star wideout on Injured Reserve. This hurts the Rams, as I donāt think theyāll be able to keep up with the Seahawksā offensive power.
Yes, you read that right. Geno Smith basically had two No. 1 wide receivers last year in Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Now theyāve added receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to the mix ā who I believe will end up being the true WR1 in Seattle. So now you have a team with three high-quality players for Geno Smith to put together another strong season. Everyone will be amazed by Smith-Njigba, and his legend starts at 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday afternoon.
The Seahawks win and cover the spread.
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 8:20 p.m. EDT (NBC)
āHow āBout Them Cowboys?!ā In typical Cowboys fashion, they come into the season boasting one of the most talented rosters. But for Dallas it will come down to coaching and QB play. Dak Prescott is a very good signal caller. When heās healthy, the offense rolls. He just has to protect the ball and not put the defense in bad situations for the Cowboys to reach their goals. The Giants are looking more dangerous than they did last year after surprising everyone and winning a game in the Wild Card round. Head coach Brian Daboll is my favorite offensive mind in the league. Heās fun and his players love him.
The Giants will get the upset and win their home opener.
Courtesy~ James Pennington; Draftkings
I donāt follow American football that much but did see the news of the Cowboys dominating the Giants. This prediction did not age well. 
Yeah! The Giants got spanked! There is just no other way to call it. I canāt tell if the cowboys are for real or if the Giants simply didnāt come to play, or the Giants are counterfeits and last yearās playoff victory was simply an outlier. Sigh!
Gutsy win by Jimmy G and the Raiders. An opening season win on the road? Is this a sign of things to come for the Raiders this season?
Atlanta Braves first to clinch their division!
Iāll take the Eagles win. Not pretty at all but a win. Looks like the offense could have used the extra pre season game.
The offensive coordinator quickly changed the game plan and the offense EFFEVTIVELY ran tje ball .
Yes, Iāll.say it, the defense has a BIG HOLE in the MIDDLE against the pass which the coaches need to solve and the injuries are going to hurt. Howie will have a TOUGH JOB to find CAPABLE players to sign.
Canāt wait for the Eagles to lose to the Cowboys!
Like Jizzer, the Patriots officially suck a$$ this season and lose to the Dolphins!
Tua owns the Patriots! Lol!
The Eagles will be in good shape when they play the Boyz later in the season and it will be s close game. Anything can happen in this RIVALRY.
I donāt think the Eagles are as good as everyone says they are and I think the Cowboys will beat them at least once this year and will challenge for the division.
The Eagles will hit their stride and are presently dealing with injury problems. The are still one of the top teams in the NFC.
After watching the Boyz, I agree they could split the two games with the Eagled.