NFL Week 1: Four Games to Watch and The Pound Pick'Em
Sports Opinion by Ethan Irish and Josh Blatt
NFL Betting Records
Ethan: 1-0-0
Josh: 2-0-0
Ethan's Game to Watch #1:
Cleveland Browns @ Carolina Panthers
Cleveland comes into their first game of the season with Jacoby Brissett leading the offense against the Panthers. Former Browns quarterback, Baker Mayfield, will be starting for the Panthers and he has implied that there is a chip on his shoulder after being undervalued by the Browns. The Mayfield headline is what intrigues me the most about this game but I think the game will also be interesting especially for Cleveland. With Deshaun Watson being suspended for 11 games to start the season, the offensive scheme changes. Will running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt be relied on more? Also, how will they utilize Amari Cooper in his first game since being traded to the team?
The offense for the Browns is completely different this season but the defense is pretty close to last season. While their defensive line is a bit shaky, re-signing Jadeveon Clowney was a good move and Myles Garrett is still Myles Garrett. Their secondary is loaded and ranked third in the league according to PFF because of names like Denzel Ward and John Johnson III. With this, I think Panthers stud running back Christian McCaffrey will have a good game against a below average interior d-line and average linebackers. The secondary for the Browns can handle the wide receivers that Carolina has.
Winner: Cleveland Browns
Josh's Game to Watch #1:
Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions
The thought of the Lions being able to win a game this early in the season seems foreign. HBO's Hard Knocks showed the world what the Lions are about. It's all about that grit, man-- Detroit wasn't as terrible as their 3-13-1 record last season showed. They lost six games by one possession, with five of them being by 4 or less points. Drafting Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson with the 2nd pick seems to be a great move, stealing linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez in the sixth round, and signing wide receiver D.J. Chark all look to be fantastic acquisitions that will improve the Lions weakest position groups. Breakout receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown looks to build on an outstanding end of his rookie season and running back D'Andre Swift will be making an attempt to stay healthy.
The Eagles will be looking to capitalize on the acquisition of wide receiver A.J. Brown and another offseason of Jalen Hurts attempting to learn how to read an NFL defense. There will be a quite literally huge debut on Sunday in defensive tackle Jordan Davis-- which I'm sure Eagles fans have been waiting for since April when Philadelphia drafted him with the 14th pick. I just don't trust the Eagles and I know it's VERY hard to trust the Lions-- but the Lions' secondary is looking better with the growth of Amani Oruwariye, Tracy Walker, and what Detroit hopes to be a healthy season for third year corner back Jeff Okudah. I see the Lions edging out the Eagles and claiming their first win of the 2022 campaign.
Winner: Detroit Lions
Ethan's Game to Watch #2:
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
I am interested to see how the Packers come out in their first game of the season after losing big pieces of their offense with Davonte Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling leaving. Aaron Rodgers has a task ahead of him with a very dangerous Vikings offense led by Kirk Cousins. Wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen combined for 2,342 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns last year. They aren't scrubs and Minnesota still has Dalvin Cook in the backfield. While Cook can be injury prone he still is a top 6 running back in the league.
How will the Rodgers led Packers handle lack of talent on the offensive side of the ball and score enough points on the road against the Vikings? Honestly, I don't think they will but Rodgers has proved me wrong before and I'm sure he will do it again. This is Rodgers' 18th season in the league and might be the season where he has to prove the most. This week 1 game is also one of the few that will have season long impacts in the NFC North that seems to be very weak.
Winner: Minnesota Vikings
Josh's Game to Watch #2:
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
What a season 2021 was for the Bengals, I look forward to seeing the vast improvement to their team after quarterback Joe Burrow's first healthy offseason. Not having to rehab will do wonders for Burrow and his offense, while Steelers' quarterback Mitch Trubisky has had to learn a new system under Mike Tomlin. Trubisky is the main reason that I'm doubtful in Pittsburgh's ability to win this game. Sure, running back Najee Harris is incredibly talented-- but I don't believe he'll be able to get TOO much done this weekend due to the fact that Cincinnati had the #7 defense against the run last season. The lack of receiving weapons in the first few weeks will be a detriment to the Steelers, at least until wide receiver George Pickens is fully acclimated to the offense, and as somebody who drafted him in fantasy this year, I'll be waiting.
This is probably the hardest game for me to pick this weekend. I truly believe that either team can win, and of course the quarterback play of the Steelers absolutely terrifies me-- and for that reason, I wouldn't touch this game with a 39 and a half foot pole betting wise. I think this goes one of two ways-- either the Steelers win a close game, or the Bengals absolutely blow them out. With that hunch, with some "deep" thinking I'm gonna have to pick against the "Stillers."
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
The Pound Pick'Em
Sun. 1 pm EST Games
Cleveland Browns @ Carolina Panthers (-2):
Ethan's Pick: Cleveland Browns
Josh's Pick: Carolina Panthers
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins (-3)
Ethan's Pick: Miami Dolphins
Josh's Pick: Miami Dolphins
Philadelphia Eagles (-4) @ Detroit Lions
Ethan's Pick: Philadelphia Eagles
Josh's Pick: Detroit Lions
Baltimore Ravens (-7) @ New York Jets
Ethan's Pick: Baltimore Ravens
Josh's Pick: Baltimore Ravens
San Francisco 49ers (-7) @ Chicago Bears
Ethan's Pick: San Francisco 49ers
Josh's Pick: San Francisco 49ers
Indianapolis Colts (-8) @ Houston Texans
Ethan's Pick: Indianapolis Colts
Josh's Pick: Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Washington Commanders (-3)
Ethan's Pick: Washington Commanders
Josh's Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars
New Orleans Saints (-5.5) @ Atlanta Falcons
Ethan's Pick: New Orleans Saints
Josh's Pick: New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5)
Ethan's Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Josh's Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Sun. 4:25 pm EST Games
Kansas City Chiefs (-4.5) @ Arizona Cardinals
Ethan's Pick: Kansas City Chiefs
Josh's Pick: Kansas City Chiefs
Green Bay Packers (-1.5) @ Minnesota Vikings
Ethan's Pick: Minnesota Vikings
Josh's Pick: Green Bay Packers
Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers (-3)
Ethan's Pick: Los Angeles Chargers
Josh's Pick: Los Angeles Chargers
New York Giants @ Tennessee Titans (-5.5)
Ethan's Pick: Tennessee Titans
Josh's Pick: Tennessee Titans
SNF: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1.5) @ Dallas Cowboys
Ethan's Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh's Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers