First game of the year surprised me a bit (I can't be the only one right?). Seattle looked about as good as expected, but it was Green Bay that looked surprisingly flat. An Eddie Lacy concussion, bad penalties and suspect defense play all have the makings of a long season for the Packers. More to come in the Monday Download.
Let's get right to the next set of games.
NO @ ATL (+3)
Several years ago, these games used to be a lot closer. Now,
each team appears to be heading in different directions. New Orleans, already
an explosive offense, went out and drafted speedy WR Brandin Cooks, only
furthering their depth there. The Saints do have some questions at the RB position
with no one definitely taking charge. Mark Ingram will likely start as the #1
back, but who finishes the season as the leading rusher is anybody’s best
guess. Drew Brees, however, should be just fine throwing to any number of his
weapons, including Jimmy “
don’tcall me TE” Graham.
Atlanta, similar to the Saints, has nice depth for their
wide receivers and should be just fine on that front, assuming Julio Jones
stays healthy this year. Losing Tony Gonzalez to retirement won't help
them, but may create some more opportunities for other players like Harry
Douglas (full disclosure, I’m a very big Louisville Cardinals fan). The Falcons,
much like the Saints, have a lot of questions at the RB position. Starter
Steven Jackson, 31, is old by NFL standards and I can’t see him playing a full
schedule this year. Until Jackson proves that he can help open up some gaps for
the Falcons, I expect Rob Ryan to blitz early and often with his Saints’
defense. Matt Ryan will have his hands full.
New Orleans is getting 3 points, but I’d have taken them
getting 9. I think they pull out the
easy victory by 10.
Spread: NO
Straight Up: NO
Score: 34-24
CIN @ BAL (-1.5)
I just don’t think Baltimore is that good. They have speed
with their WR’s and an extra pop with the addition of Steve Smith. No Ray Rice
means Bernard Pierce will handle the RB load. He is a capable, big back, but
more of a head on collision type of runner than your elusive, lateral runner. Their defense should be solid as usual and I look forward to seeing
rookie C.J. Mosley make his impact felt immediately, but their lack of
offensive capabilities should likely stunt Joe Flacco and co.’s ability to get
into the end zone.
Cincinnati enters the season very similar to the previous
ones – likely to finish atop a mediocre division only to fizzle out come
playoff time. The Bengals return Giovani Bernard at RB and of course, A.J.
Green at WR, to compliment the sometimes shaky, Andy Dalton at QB. They have
added some depth at both the RB & WR positions and should be solid on the
defensive end, particularly with their CB play. In this game, they just need to
outscore Baltimore, which shouldn't be a problem.
Take Cincinnati, the underdog here, getting points.
Spread: CIN
Straight Up: CIN
Score: 13-10
BUF @ CHI (-6.5)
Good news for Buffalo is that they’re playing in Chicago
while it’s still warm. Bad news, pretty much everything else. Yes, they have a
young QB in E.J Manuel (who might not even be starting by week 4). They also
have a pretty good RB combo of C.J. Spiller & Fred Jackson, who we’d like
to see both remain healthy. They went out and drafted speedy WR Sammy Watkins
with their first draft pick, who will be fun to watch assuming anyone can get
him the ball. Buffalo seems to be banking on the future, but unfortunately for Bills fans, the
future is not now.
Chicago seemed to gain a bit of revitalization on the
offensive side with Marc Trestman at the helm.
His cerebral approach to the
game makes me want him to coach someone like Peyton Manning, rather than the
impulsively prone, Jay Cutler. The person who benefited most from the new
offensive scheme appears to be Matt Forte, who should see continued improvement
in terms of number of carries and yardage, as the team strikes a healthy
balance with WR’s Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Unlike Bears team of
years past, this team will be led by their offense with their defense doing
just enough to let them win.
I like the Bears at home giving a shade under a TD.
Spread: CHI
Straight Up: CHI
Score: 24-17
WAS @ HOU (-2.5)
I think this has the potential to be one of the better
match-ups of the day. Two teams that I think, unfortunately, will likely repeat
their modest performances of last year. Houston starts the year off with a
bunch of new faces. New head coach Bill O’Brien, starting QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick
and this year’s #1 draft pick, Jadeveon Clowney. Fitzpatrick probably has the
most complimentary offensive tools (WR’s Andre Johnson & DeAndre Hopkins
along with RB’s Arian Foster & Andre Brown) in his professional career thus
far. Clowney, a beyond impressive athlete, will be playing in an unfamiliar position
(OLB) and hasn't had much on the field practice due to injuries. I expect a
fairly steep learning curve for him with some flashes of his potential of what is to come in a few years. He may have to learn quickly, though, as Washington (and all future
opponents) will likely spend most of the day running away from the new 100
Million Dollar man – J.J. Watt, from whom we could all learn a lesson in
work
ethic.
Washington kicks off the year under new head coach, Jay
Gruden. Gruden, known as a QB-friendly coach and offensive mind (debatable to
some Cincinnati fans), no doubt was brought in by owner Dan Snyder to try and
get Robert Griffin III (RGIII) back on track. Since entering the league, perhaps no QB has had such
a quick rise and fall with a chance to still rise again. The acquisition of WR
DeSean Jackson, flanked to the opposite side of Pierre Garcon, along with Pro
Bowler Alfred Morris at RB, should all help ease some of the pressure off RGIII.
The truth though, RGIII likes being option #1 & #2 as evidenced by his
continuing inability to know when to slide or go out of bounds. With the
emergence of Kirk Cousins as a viable QB, I don’t think Griffin has too long
(read too many hits on the run), before Cousins supplants him as starter, that
is if Snyder doesn't trade him to gain back the draft picks they traded away to
get RGIII in the first place.
I think this game will be close throughout, with Houston
leading most of the way. I see Fitz (for all the in-game references to his
intellect – he really is a smart guy), making one bad throw during a critical
portion of the 4th quarter. I see Washington capitalizing and coming
down kicking a game winning FG, ruining the first appearance of the “new”
Texans.
Spread: WAS
Straight Up: WAS
Score: 27-24
SF @ DAL (+5)
Was I the only person left off the guest list for Ray
McDonald’s party
last
week? Between injuries, suspensions (both drug related and otherwise), it
seems like the season could not start soon enough for the 49ers. Despite being without some of their best
defense players, Jim Harbaugh’s team should be just fine. Colin Kaepernick
stands to have one of those college-like days; maybe 150 yards passing, 100 or
so rushing. When he gets tired of spreading the wealth among his ample
receiving options (including TE Vernon Davis), he’ll be able to call on the
ever reliable, Frank Gore at RB. Don’t be surprised to see some action from #2
RB, rookie, Carlos Hyde, who should be a ton of fun to watch.
From everything that I am hearing and reading, Dallas might
have the worst defense…ever. The usually spend happy Cowboys really did nothing
to ensure fielding a well-balanced team for the next 17 or so weeks. If what we all know is going to happen,
happens, Romo will be the scapegoat and the ‘Boys will likely be in the cellar
of a less than spectacular NFC East. At least we might be able to see Michael
Sam get off the practice squad and into the starting lineup by season’s end.
49ers giving 5 points on the road is
really just an embarrassment to the Cowboys. I like them to cover though. It is
going to be a long season of frowns in Jerry Jones’ owner box, starting with
this opener.
Spread: SF
Straight Up: SF
Score: 28-10
DET @ MIN (-3)
DAL @ PHI (-4.5)
