A Gander across the Gridiron: Week 1

An early look at games and my predictions.

Sep 10, 2020

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Hello FTN Faithful! This will be the first of weekly posts I plan during the season! I’ll briefly be going over each game this week aside from the 49ers. I will include my thoughts on the game, the current line, and my (probably pretty inaccurate) predicted score! The first week is always tricky to predict, and I can’t really get into this season’s trends, so let’s see how wrong I am!

Texans @ Chiefs

5:20 pm PT (TNF) KC -9.5

First game of the season and we get to naturally suffer by watching the Chiefs. KC did beat Houston in the playoffs, but Houston did win their regular season matchup in 2019. But with the Texans losing Deandre Hopkins and Brandin Cooks already being banged up (questionable with a quad injury), I have a hard time seeing the Texans pulling off the upset.

Shana’s prediction: KC wins 31-17

Seahawks @ Falcons

10:00 am PT SEA -2.5

There’s been a lot of seasons where Seattle struggles on the road in September. Last season they won both their road games, a struggle in Pittsburgh where Roethlisberger got hurt and an easy win in Arizona. But it’s not like Atlanta has started hot the past couple of seasons either. I think we see two talented quarterbacks duel it out, and for Gurley to have a strong start against a former division rival. Add in that it’s a west coast team going east in the morning, and I think Atlanta wins.

Shana’s prediction: ATL wins 27-24

Jets @ Bills

10:00 am PT BUF -6.5

The NFL loves to pit these guys against each other early in the season. Third time in four seasons they play week 1. The Bills are a solid team while the Jets are looking for their first winning season since 2015, and first playoff appearance since 2010. Of course I’m excited for Gore to play another season. The Bills tend to run a lot when ahead, so we might see a slow, low scoring game

Shana’s prediction: BUF wins 17-13

Bears @ Detroit

10:00 am PT DET -3

If there’s team Mitch Trubisky can play well against, it’s Detroit. And Da Bears did sweep the Lions last season, but by a combined 11 points. Stafford did not play in either game. His return should make this game closer, but you don’t want to return to the NFL against Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. Still, I have to go with the better quarterback this matchup.

Shana’s prediction: DET wins 21-10

Packers @ Vikings

10:00 am PT MIN -2.5

So I do think the Packers are a little overrated. But I also think the Vikings will regress from last season. Kirk Cousins lost Stefon Diggs, and he’s going against a tough Green Bay pass rush. And Cousins isn’t great against pressure. Vikings did manage to trade for Yannick Ngakoue, but I just trust Rodgers more against this pass rush. But this will be a great game to watch.

Shana’s prediction: GB wins 20-17

Dolphins @ Patriots

10:00 am PT NE -6.5

If past games tell us anything, the Dolphins will either get blown out or luck their way into a win. Ryan Fitzpatrick is the starter, and the Patriots will need to adjust to losing so many starters on defense to the Covid list. So an upset will not surprise me at all. But I’ll say this is the blowout game of the year, and Belichick gets off to a strong start without Tom Brady. And we see Pickpatrick instead of Fitzmagic.

Shana’s prediction: NE wins 33-10

Eagles @ WFT

10:00 am PT PHI -5.5

Philly is a much better team than Washington. But those early injuries suck. Good news is Wentz is off the injury report. But I keep thinking back to week 1 of last season, where Washington got off to a great start before choking. Maybe week 1 weirdness comes back, and we see Dwayne Haskins, Antonio Gibson, and Terry McLaurin surprise? Let’s go with that.

Shana’s prediction: WAS wins 33-25

Raiders @ Panthers

10:00 am PT LV -3

The Panthers are horrendous. I love Christian McCaffery so much, and like DJ Moore quite a bit. But there’s a mediocre O-line and a defense full of rookies. Which could easily end up being the worst this season. I don’t think they can stop Josh Jacobs. I’m going to have a hard time predicting a Panthers win against anyone unless they really show some early magic.

Shana’s prediction: LV wins 27-17

Colts @ Jaguars

10:00 am PT IND -8

Welcome to what could very easily be the worst game of week 1. A team that is very strong in the trenches and has a veteran QB sounds good. A team that pushes away all its talent is not. I just can’t see Minshew standing up against Deforest Buckner and company. It is worth saying that the Jaguars typically play better than normal against Indy, and often split the series.

Shana’s prediction: IND wins 28-13

Browns @ Ravens

10:00 am PT BAL -7.5

Two teams looking for redemption. The Ravens after not winning a playoff game, and the Browns for playing like the Browns last season. Cleveland has played Baltimore tough the past couple of years, so I’m expecting a closer game. Myles “the Browns have a helmet logo for a reason” Garrett will be playing as well. But better talent should win out this time.

Shana’s prediction: BAL wins 33-28

Chargers @ Bengals

1:05 pm PT LAC -3

When I first saw this was a week 1 matchup, I was really hoping for Herbert vs Burrow. Instead it will be Tyrod Taylor vs Burrow. And I will almost always go against a QB’s first game of his career. I really like Burrow, but Taylor has a lot more experience. And the Chargers have good edge rushers. Burrow is going to have a rough first game adjusting to the NFL.

Shana’s prediction: LAC wins 17-9

Buccaneers @ Saints

1:25 pm PT NO -3.5

This is the game everyone is waiting for. I hate that it on at the same time of the Niners. But the NFL can’t resist a Cowboys vs unpopular LA team on SNF. Mike Evans is day-to-day with an ankle injury, while the Saints have Marcus Davenport (elbow) and Cesar Ruiz (ankle) not practicing. That Evans injury really hurts, and this is Brady’s first game with Tampa. I’ll go with the team that’s more proven week 1.

Shana’s prediction: NO wins 24-17

Cowboys @ Rams

5:20 pm PT (SNF) DAL -3

The game no one really wants to watch on SNF. This will be our first look at the Cowboys without the clapper Jason Garrett, and the Rams without Todd Gurley. The Cowboys of course have a strong offensive line that can handle Donald better than most. But I don’t know if LA’s linebackers can handle Elliott with Littleton leaving. But the secondary can shut down a strong receiving corps.

Shana’s prediction: DAL wins 21-18

Steelers @ Giants

4:15 pm PT (MNF) PIT -5.5

I do not trust Ben Roethlisberger right now. He played horribly last season before he got hurt. Daniel Jones is very unproven, but at least he has potential to become a good QB. The Steelers aren’t exactly good on the road either, and you always know they will drop games to lesser teams a few times during the season. I’m predicting yet another NFCE upset.

Shana’s prediction: NYG wins 26-24

Titans @ Broncos

7:10 pm PT (MNF) TEN -2

If you haven’t heard, Von Miller is likely out for the entire season due to an ankle injury. Not to mention Bradley Chubb is still working his way back from an ACL tear. I am high on Denver this season, but this game is not set up well for them at all. Tennessee is a tough opponent, and just boosted their own pass rush with Jadeveon Clowney.

Shana’s prediction: TEN wins 17-14

What predictions do you actually think are spot on? Let me know your thoughts before the games begin!

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