2021 NFL Week 1 Picks

Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs (-6, 54 1/2), 4:25 pm - The last time these two met, it was in Kansas City in the divisional round, won by the Chiefs, 22-17, which, if that same score is repeated, makes Cleveland a winner with the points. Top to bottom, these two are among the most complete, deep teams in the conference. Expecting a wild one.

Coin Flip: Kansas City

Prediction: Browns 33 Chiefs 31

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (-3, 43 1/2), 4:25 pm - Alabama QB Mac Jones was the 15th player drafted in 2021, and he's starting for the Pats against his former teammate, Tua Tagovailoa, for the Dolphins.

These two split their games last year, each winning at home. Miami missed the playoffs with a 10=6 mark while the Patriots fell to 7-9. The Patriots spent a bundle on free agents in the off-season. This will be a test to see if they made the right moves.

Coin Flip: New England

Prediction: Dolphins 26 Patriots 23

Green Bay Packers (-4, 50) at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 pm - The Saints aren't going to replace legendary Drew Brees overnight, and Jameis Winston doesn't appear to be a long term solution, so, being that Aaron Rogers is likely a top-three QB league-wide, this one looks like a no-brainer.

Coin Flip: New Orleans

Prediction: Packers 38 Saints 24

Denver Broncos (-3, 42) at NY Giants, 4:25 pm - Teddy Bridgewater beat out Drew Lock for the starting job in Denver, so he'll be looking to make that decision look like the right one. The Giants were paper tigers last season, checking out with a 6-10 mark (though the Broncos were 5-11), but Daniel Jones doesn't seem to have what it takes to get the Giants back to where they'd like to be and they are significantly banged up already on offense.

Coin Flip: Denver

Prediction: Broncos 21 Giants 13

Chicago Bears at LA Rams (-7 1/2, 46 1/2), 8:20 pm - Can Matthew Stafford produce for the Rams as they look to make the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five season (missed at 9-7 in 2019)? The Bears won't make it easy on him, but the oddsmakers seem to think the Rams are the real deal.

The Bears will need plenty of defense because they have Andy Dalton as their starting QB, though Justin Fields, the 11th pick in the draft, out of Ohio State, is destined to be #1, just not right away.

Coin Flip: Chicago

Prediction: Rams 31 Bears 9

Monday, September 13

Baltimore Ravens (-4 1/2, 51) at Las Vegas Raiders, 8:15 pm - The Raiders were 7-9 in 2019 and 8-8 in 2020. Is this the year they put it all together? This game should prove a good measuring stick as the Ravens are looking fierce coming off three straight seasons in the playoffs.

Lamar Jackson remains one of the most potent weapons in the league. He'll be missing reliable J.K. Dobbins at RB. Gus Edwards and Trenton Cannon will get most of the work. The Ravens picked up Sammy Watkins in the off-season. They'll need production from him. Baltimore was a prodigious 6-2 on the road last season. This should be a win for them against a Raiders' defense that allowed 29.9 points per game in 2020.

Coin Flip: Las Vegas

Prediction: Ravens 34 Raiders 21

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IdleGuy.com December 2024, Vol. 1 #11