Thursday, September 10, 2015

2015 NFL SEASON: WEEK 1



A new season is upon us. Everyone is 0-0. Including myself, Ms. Roberts, and Mr. Blake.



MUST WATCH GAMES

Steelers at Patriots

Of course the first game of the season will be must watch. The defending Super Bowl champion gets to raise their banner and play in a nationally televised primetime game.

This was a good game to start the road to Super Bowl L 50. Both teams have appeared in 8 Super Bowls each (Steelers 6-2, Patriots 4-4) and combined for 10 Vince Lombardi Trophies. So, 20% of the Super Bowl trophies reside either in New England or Pittsburgh.

Originally this was supposed to be the first of four games that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was to miss due to his involvement in the team’s ball deflation scandal that took place during last season’s AFC Championship Game. A federal judge in New York ruled that Brady’s suspension was to be overturned.

Even though the Steelers have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown, they will be without running back Le’veon Bell who will miss two games due to violating the league’s drug policy.

Packers at Bears/Chiefs at Texans/Colts at Bills

In Chicago, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks at beginning his defense of his league MVP award. It is also a new era in Chicago as John Fox takes over the head coaching job.

There was a strong argument for Texans linebacker JJ Watt to win the MVP. Even though he did not win that award, Watt was recognized as the unanimous defensive player of the year and the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2015 named Watt the top player. Rodgers was number 2. This was the first time that a defensive player was named the number 1 player since this list started in 2011. Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is not expected to start, but he will play.

The Colts start their season in Buffalo against a Bills team that acquired LeSean McCoy from the Eagles via trade and hired Rex Ryan after he was fired from the Jets.

Ravens at Broncos/Saints at Cardinals/Lions at Chargers/Titans at Buccaneers

I watched a bit of NFL Network’s Inside The NFL last night and the panel discussed the Ravens at Broncos game. The consensus appears that this game won’t be a high scoring affair. When these two teams met in 2013, quarterback Peyton Manning threw for 7 touchdowns. Now there is a feeling that BOTH teams won’t score that many touchdowns.

The much talked about Cardinals defense will have their hands full taking on the Saints led by quarterback Drew Brees.

If there is one game that has the potential to be a shootout, it is the Lions at Chargers in San Diego.

The only reason why I have Titans at Buccaneers on the list of must see games is because it features the first two overall picks, Buccaneers quarterback Jamis Winston and Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota. So if you are unfortunate to have to watch this travesty monstrosity game… at least this game is at the beginning of the season when there is still hope.

Giants at Cowboys

The first Sunday Night game is at Jerry World, but the day before Texas high school football will take the field. One of those teams is my high school, Birdville, and they will be playing Byron Nelson of Trophy Club, TX. I wish the Birdville Hawks the best of luck and hope they can claim their first win of the season.

As for the team that claims Jerry World as its home, the Cowboys enter the 2015 season with high expectations after a 12-4 that ended in disappointment. For now

For some reason Eli Manning and the Giants play their best game at this stadium. Since this stadium formally opened in 2009, the Giants won the first four meetings between these two teams but have lost the two most recent games.

I do wonder who will be in Owner Jones’ box for this game…



Eagles at Falcons/Vikings at 49ers

This is the 10th season of the NFL concluding the first week with a Monday night doubleheader. The first game opens with the new look Eagles taking on the Falcons led by quarterback Matt Ryan and new head coach Dan Quinn.

The second game concludes at Levi’s Stadium, the site of Super Bowl L 50. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson returns from his season long suspension. The 49ers are a train wreck. It is going to be interesting how bad this will be.


And now the picks.

DISCLAIMER: These picks are strictly for entertainment purposes only. If you choose to engage in monetary exchange and use these picks, you do so at your own risk.


Kickoff times are Mountain Time
Sunday afternoon games airing in Denver are noted by (DEN)
Picks are in BOLD

KICKOFF GAME, NBC 6:30 PM
Steelers at Patriots


CBS 11AM
Chiefs at Texans (DEN)
Browns at Jets
Colts at Bills
Dolphins at Washington

FOX 11AM
Packers at Bears (DEN)
Panthers at Jaguars
Seahawks at Rams


CBS 2PM
Ravens at Broncos (DEN)
Titans at Buccaneers
Bengals at Raiders

FOX 2PM
Saints at Cardinals
Lions at Chargers


SUNDAY NIGHT, NBC 6:30PM
Giants at Cowboys


MONDAY NIGHT, ESPN
Eagles at Falcons (4:55 PM)
Vikings at 49ers (8:10 PM)


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