I got a strong start to the NFL week thanks to a near-perfect performance from New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzy started out looking a whole lot like the guy that blew the Jets’ playoff chances in the final game last season with two dumb fumbles that New York was lucky enough to recovery. Once those Fitztacular plays were out of his system, he was on fire the rest of the game. New York’s offense was only stoppable when receivers dropped balls right in their hands. This Jets team could be interesting in 2016 after all.
Before I get to this weekend’s picks, I want to peak in at a few of my sporstwriting peers, or as I like to think of them when it comes to picking NFL games, my arch enemies. I went 9-7 last week and that seems to be the going average among the game prognosticators for Week 1. The best opening week performance belonged to CBS Sports’ Jeremy Eisenburg, who went 13-3. The worst? CBS Sports’ Will Brinson who went 6-10 and opened this week with a loss by picking the Bills. Stay strong, Will. #BrinsonStrong
Sunday Early Games
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-3.5)
Andy Dalton took a beating last week against the Jets and it won’t get any easier against this Steelers defense. Ben Roethlisberger looks like he’s ready for that fourth trip to the Super Bowl already, but he’ll face down a significant pass rush of his own led by Cincinnati’s Geno Atkins. I like the Steelers, but I don’t like the line. Steelers 27, Bengals 24
Tennessee at Detroit (-6)
Jim Caldwell avoided the Dead Coaches Walking list in Week 1 with a tremendous win over the Colts. This AFC South slate for the Lions will keep him off it again this week. Lions 34, Titans 16
Baltimore at Cleveland (+6.5)
Josh McCown is pissed everyone is writing off the Browns with him at quarterback. What he fails to realize is that we had already written off the Browns when he was on the bench. Ravens 31, Browns 13
Dallas at Washington (-3)
If Terrance Williams goes out of bounds with that catch Sunday afternoon, Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey gets a shot at a 62-yard game winner? Anybody want to bet he’d miss it? Me neither. The Redskins bandwagon is emptying faster than a men’s room with Chris Christie walking through the door. Cowboys 34, Redskins 17
New Orleans at New York Giants (-4.5)
So the Saints still can’t stop anybody. Daily fantasy players take not. Giants 38, Saints 35
San Francisco at Carolina (-13.5)
Chip Kelly and the 49ers got a week off of real NFL football facing off against a Jeff Fisher coached team. They now travel to Carolina and face a Panthers team that will not start the season 0-2. Panthers 42, 49ers 13
Miami at New England (-6.5)
Hey, remember who not only predicted that the Patriots would beat the Cardinals back in August, but that there would be a massive overreaction to that New England win in praise of Bill Belichick? Yeah. Remember what else I predicted? Dolphins 24, Patriots 20
Kansas City at Houston (-2.5)
This, along with Cincy – Pittsburgh are the best games of the early slate. This is a potential playoff match up and I really like that line. Texans 24, Chiefs 21
Sunday Late Games
Seattle at Los Angeles (+6.5)
This game has everybody on upset alert for reasons I can’t comprehend after the Rams’ abysmal Week 1 performance. The Seahawks didn’t play great either. They will Sunday. The only thing interesting about this game is how quickly Case Keenum gets the hook for Jared Goff. Seahawks 31, Rams 13
Tampa Bay at Arizona (-7)
You want a real upset prediction? (other than my Dolphins-Pats pick), here it is. Jameis Winston and the Bucs get it done in Arizona against a team half the NFL punditry picked to go to the Super Bowl. (I did not). Bucs 27, Cards 24
Jacksonville at San Diego (-3)
I don’t get this line. If anything, I think it’s backwards. Jags 27, Chargers 24
Atlanta at Oakland (-4.5)
This is a surprisingly rough starting schedule for the Falcons, a team I picked to make the playoffs. It’s looking bleak already. Raiders 34, Falcons 31
Indianapolis at Denver (-6)
I could pretty much repeat my line above, exchanging Falcons for Colts. Broncos 17, Colts 14
Sunday Night
Green Bay at Minnesota (+2.5)
I’m not sure we’ll see Sam Bradford in this game, but it will get the clock ticking. Packers 37, Vikings 16
Monday Night
Philadelphia at Chicago (-3)
This is a shockingly tough game to pick, so I’m going with the line. Bears 20, Eagles 17
This week:
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 1-0
Last week:
Straight up: 9-7
Against the spread: 5-11
