Matt: The NFL is finally back! Ryan and I can’t be more excited
about it. As with college football, we’ll be picking every game and letting you
know how we did each week. Those picks will be up shortly. We are also going to
do the same we do with college football and discuss the key match ups of the
week and who we think will win those. This week we got 7 games to talk about,
of course we are going to kick things off with the Thursday night game!
Ryan: The NFL is finally back. It has been a long time since
February, and a lot has changed since the Ravens won the Super Bowl. Week one
will answer many questions such as: Will Peyton Manning have another Hall of
Fame season, does Tom Brady have enough offensive weapons, will the sophomore
quarterbacks slump, is the return of Sean Peyton going to bring the Saints back
to the playoffs. Not all of those questions may be answered week one, but some
will. Many great games are being played this week, especially a rematch of last
years AFC divisional playoff game between the Ravens and the Broncos at Mile
High. Here is a prediction and analysis of a few games.
Baltimore at Denver, Thursday 8:30 ET NBC
Matt: I’m so pumped to have football back and this is the
perfect match to start things off with. Unfortunately, I’ll be at work for the
first half of this game, but I’m going to try and get out of there so I can see
the finish. This is going to be a great game. A rematch of these two teams
playing in the playoffs last year where the Broncos were so close to beating
the would be Super Bowl champs. A lot has changed for both teams since that
matchup, and I think the changes are going to help the Broncos win this first
game of the regular season.
Winner: Denver
Ryan: This game marks the beginning of the 2013 NFL season, which
is a long time coming. This is also a rematch of last year’s playoff game in
which the Broncos won 59 minutes of the game, and lost on a blown coverage.
This year, the Broncos got better with the additions of Wes Welker and Montee
Ball, a running back that has a nose for the end zone. The addition of Welker
gives the Broncos the best receiving core in the NFL (Thomas and Decker already
on the team). Giving Peyton Manning that many weapons just spells trouble for
opposing defenses. The Ravens lose key players on defense: Ray Lewis and Ed
Reed. This offseason, they made Joe Flacco the most overpaid player in NFL
history. By doing so, they didn’t have enough cap space to keep Anquan Boldin,
Flacco’s safety blanket. The lack of star players will hurt the Ravens all year
and especially this game. The Broncos will run away with this game.
Winner: Denver
Atlanta at New Orleans, Sunday, 1:00 PM FOX
Matt: The NFC South is getting right into as these two
division foes battle off in the Big Easy. Sean Peyton’s return, Matt Ryan on the
quest to finally win a ring, Drew Brees looking to have another record setting
year. There are so many storylines in this game I don’t even know where to
begin. This is going to be another great one, but in the end I think Sean
Peyton coming back is going to take a bit of adjusting to, and I think the
Falcons are poised to have a really good year again, so I’m going to have to go
with the Falcons on this one.
Winner: Atlanta
Ryan: This game looks to be the highest scoring of all the week
one games. The Falcons and the Saints have been battling for the division for
the past few years, and this season wont be much different. The Falcons were
relieved to find out that tight end Tony Gonzalez would return for one final
season. The Falcons also added running back Steven Jackson, letting go Michael
Turner. The Saints welcome back Sean Peyton who was suspended all last year due
to the bounty scandal. The Saints struggled without him the first few games
last year, even though Drew Brees put up another 5000 yard passing performance.
The Saints didn’t make too many additions, except by hiring defensive
coordinator Rob Ryan. Defense was the reason for most of the Saints’ losses
last year. This game looks to be an instant classic, and I have the Saints
winning this game in the last four minutes of the game. Superdome, Sean Peyton,
and Drew Brees. Enough said.
Winner: New Orleans
Green Bay at San Francisco, Sunday, 4:25 ET FOX
Matt: The NFC champions in a rematch against
one of the teams that it defeated on its way to the Super Bowl. Colin Kaepernick
starts the year off as the starting QB for the first time in his career and he
has a tough test in front of him with the strong defense of Green Bay. This
honestly is almost a coin toss for me, but in the end I’m going to go with the
home team and think San Fran will get the win at Candlestick
Winner: San Francisco
Ryan:
The 49ers are coming off a tough Super Bowl loss and looking
to make another run. The Packers are three years removed from their miracle
championship run and have not shown much championship aspects in the playoffs.
Aaron Rodgers has put up stats in the regular season but has gone Peyton
Manning in the playoffs. Packers are lacking in the defensive side of the ball
and running game. The 49ers defense is as good as ever and will put lots of
pressure on Rodgers. With a running quarterback, athletic tight end, and strong
running back, San Francisco will have no problem against the Packers.
Winner: San Francisco
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys Sunday, 8:30 ET NBC
Matt: Once again the NFC East is highlighted in Sunday
Primetime. I feel like they get that slot a lot, but I also think it is
deserved. These matchups are always some of the greatest of the season, and
Ryan and I both had difficulty picking the winner of the NFC East. This is
going to be an interesting game, and both QBs are going to be under some major
pressure this year to perform, being in such big markets. In the end though, I’m
swinging this one to the Giants, just out of the pure fact that Romo will
probably choke a bit under the spotlight of being the first Sunday Night
Football game.
Winner: New York Giants
Ryan: Last years opening game featuring the Cowboys and Giants was
a back and forth game with Kevin Olgetree dominating the game. Well, Olgetree
isn’t with the Cowboys anymore, but the man who threw it to him, Tony Romo, is.
Tony Romo was just given a big contract extension and is looking to prove
himself. The Giants are coming off a bad year in which Hakeem Nicks was injured
for most of the season, and Victor Cruz had a less than stellar season. This
game will be a good battle against equally skilled team. The Cowboys have just
too many receiving weapons for the Ginats to keep up. Cowboys win.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia at Washington Monday, 6:55 PM ESPN
Matt: Nothing better than the Monday Night double header,
and this first match up promises to be a good one. RGIII vs Vick. I’m really
excited about this one, mostly because it’ll be one of the three games I
actually get to watch this week because of work, but it should be a great game.
I think that in the end the Redskins will pull it off, RGIII is a much better
running QB than Vick and I think that is going to be the difference in this
one.
Winner: Washington Redskins
Ryan: The first Monday night game. This game, in my opinion is not
suited for Monday night. Sure, people are in love with Robert Griffin III, for
some reason, but with him hurt and the Eagles not in playoff form, this game
feel mediocre. The Saints/Falcons game is better suited but that is neither
here nor there. As I said, Griffin is coming off a serious knee injury he
suffered in the playoff game against the Seahawks. His lack of running ability
makes him a far less quarterback. Alfred Morris is going to get more carries,
which will load the box. If Griffin can take advantage of the close defense
with some deep passes, the Redskins might have a chance in this game. The
Eagles are in a new system with Chip Kelly as head coach. Kelly’s fast paced,
option offense hasn’t been proven to work in the NFL yet, but he has the
perfect quarterback to do it in Michael Vick. The Eagles have more offensive
fire power with McCoy, Jackson, and Cooper. The Redskins defense, anchored by
Purdue standout Ryan Kerrigan, played well against the run, but terribly
against the pass. The Eagles win the game.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles
Houston at San Diego Monday 10:15 PM ESPN
Matt: I almost decided not to cover this one, but I figured
it is the Monday night game so why not? I’ll probably fall asleep trying to
stay awake for this one, but I still think it’ll be a decent game. However, it
could easily turn into a blowout. Houston looked really good last year, and I
think they’ll come out and look better this year. The Chargers tend to have a
slow start to the season, but with the new coach, it is hard to predict what
kind of year they will have. I’m still going to have to take the favorites here
and go with the Texans
Winner: Houston
Ryan: The Chargers struggled last year offensively with Ryan
Mathews breaking both collarbones and Denario Alexander tearing a ligament in
his knew. Well, Matthews seems healthy, but Alexander tore his knee again and
is out for the season. With that, Malcolm Floyd needs to step up in the number
one receiver role. The Texans look to continue their playoff streak by beating
the Chargers at home. The Texans defense, that already has Brian Cushing and JJ
Watt added another stud at safety, Ed Reed. With a strong defense, and
playmakers Foster and Johnson on the offense, the Texans should come away with
the win fairly easily.
Winner: Houston
So there you have it, our first week predictions. Make sure
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(facebook.com/snpsports), and tell your friends to read the posts if you
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