Week 1 NFL Picks
By Michael Schneid
Patriots @ Bills
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are too tough to stop. EJ Manuel struggles in debut and Brady uses his random, nameless WR group to throw all over an injured secondary
Winner: Patriots
Bengals @ Bears
Marc Trestman's head coaching debut in Chicago. Bengals defensive line will blitz and pressure Cutler all day and the Bears will have no way of stopping it.
Winner: Bengals
Dolphins @ Browns
Off-season spending spree in Miami will blow up in GM Jeff Ireland's face. New regime in Cleveland gets off to strong start behind Trent Richardson and defense.
Winner: Browns
Falcons @ Saints
Falcons are one of NFC's best teams but Saints will be re-energized by Sean Payton's return to sidelines and Saints offense will explode as will the crowd.
Winner: Saints
Bucs @ Jets
Darrelle Revis should score more TDs than the Jets WRs. Geno Smith's debut probably won't end well for the Jets. Bucs should win by at least 2 TDs.
Winner: Bucs
Titans @ Steelers
Two teams who could struggle in 2013, but Steelers still have more talent and Titans have a lot of question marks coming into this game. If Chris Johnson finds holes and Jake Locker improves Titans could sneak into wild card, but Steelers win this game.
Winner: Steelers
Vikings @ Lions
Lions offense shows improvement with Reggie Bush and Christian Ponder's 2013 regression begins.
Winner: Lions
Raiders @ Colts
Raiders are probably NFL's worst team. Colts were Cinderella of the NFL last year and will continue to build on momentum.
Winner: Colts
Seahawks @ Panthers
Early test for both teams. I think Cam Newton explodes in this game running for two TDs and throwing for a couple as well. Early set back for Seahawks.
Winner: Panthers
Chiefs @ Jaguars
Jaguars begin new regime right. Despite an injured thumb for Blaine Gabbert, Maurice Jones-Drew and an improved defense step up for Jags and spoil Andy Reid and Alex Smith's debut in KC.
Cardinals @ Rams
The "other two" teams in the NFC West. Both teams could have big seasons ahead of them, Rams get the best of Cardinals and Tavon Austin makes big plays and flashes his potential.
Winner: Rams
Packers @ 49ers
49ers are the class of the NFC but Packers get payback for last year's playoff elimination. Eddie Lacy will add a whole new dimension to the GB offense and Rodgers goes off on SF secondary.
Winner: Packers
Giants @ Cowboys
Cowboys finally get off the schneid and beat the Giants at home for this first time since opening their new building. Tony Romo throws for 300 yards and 4 TDs and the defense steps up and makes big plays in the 4th quarter.
Winner: Cowboys
Eagles @ Redskins
All the hype and pre-game banter surrounds around RG3 and his health and performance. Chip Kelly's debut goes very smoothly and Redskins defense can't slow down the high powered offense of the Eagles. A rejuvenated Mike Vick outplays RG3 at his own game.
Winner: Eagles
Texans @ Chargers
The final game of week 1 probably won't be a pretty one. Texans front 7 should dominate the Chargers OL and force Philip Rivers into bad throws and make him uncomfortable.
Winner: Texans
Patriots @ Bills
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are too tough to stop. EJ Manuel struggles in debut and Brady uses his random, nameless WR group to throw all over an injured secondary
Winner: Patriots
Bengals @ Bears
Marc Trestman's head coaching debut in Chicago. Bengals defensive line will blitz and pressure Cutler all day and the Bears will have no way of stopping it.
Winner: Bengals
Dolphins @ Browns
Off-season spending spree in Miami will blow up in GM Jeff Ireland's face. New regime in Cleveland gets off to strong start behind Trent Richardson and defense.
Winner: Browns
Falcons @ Saints
Falcons are one of NFC's best teams but Saints will be re-energized by Sean Payton's return to sidelines and Saints offense will explode as will the crowd.
Winner: Saints
Bucs @ Jets
Darrelle Revis should score more TDs than the Jets WRs. Geno Smith's debut probably won't end well for the Jets. Bucs should win by at least 2 TDs.
Winner: Bucs
Titans @ Steelers
Two teams who could struggle in 2013, but Steelers still have more talent and Titans have a lot of question marks coming into this game. If Chris Johnson finds holes and Jake Locker improves Titans could sneak into wild card, but Steelers win this game.
Winner: Steelers
Vikings @ Lions
Lions offense shows improvement with Reggie Bush and Christian Ponder's 2013 regression begins.
Winner: Lions
Raiders @ Colts
Raiders are probably NFL's worst team. Colts were Cinderella of the NFL last year and will continue to build on momentum.
Winner: Colts
Seahawks @ Panthers
Early test for both teams. I think Cam Newton explodes in this game running for two TDs and throwing for a couple as well. Early set back for Seahawks.
Winner: Panthers
Chiefs @ Jaguars
Jaguars begin new regime right. Despite an injured thumb for Blaine Gabbert, Maurice Jones-Drew and an improved defense step up for Jags and spoil Andy Reid and Alex Smith's debut in KC.
Cardinals @ Rams
The "other two" teams in the NFC West. Both teams could have big seasons ahead of them, Rams get the best of Cardinals and Tavon Austin makes big plays and flashes his potential.
Winner: Rams
Packers @ 49ers
49ers are the class of the NFC but Packers get payback for last year's playoff elimination. Eddie Lacy will add a whole new dimension to the GB offense and Rodgers goes off on SF secondary.
Winner: Packers
Giants @ Cowboys
Cowboys finally get off the schneid and beat the Giants at home for this first time since opening their new building. Tony Romo throws for 300 yards and 4 TDs and the defense steps up and makes big plays in the 4th quarter.
Winner: Cowboys
Eagles @ Redskins
All the hype and pre-game banter surrounds around RG3 and his health and performance. Chip Kelly's debut goes very smoothly and Redskins defense can't slow down the high powered offense of the Eagles. A rejuvenated Mike Vick outplays RG3 at his own game.
Winner: Eagles
Texans @ Chargers
The final game of week 1 probably won't be a pretty one. Texans front 7 should dominate the Chargers OL and force Philip Rivers into bad throws and make him uncomfortable.
Winner: Texans
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