The Chiefs are raising their banner at Arrowhead and begin their title defense against the Texans to kickoff Week 1. Check out our predictions and some insight for the rest of this week's slate!
All games at 1:00 p.m. ET unless otherwise noted.
THURSDAY:
Houston @ Kansas City 8:20 p.m. ET
- Sam: Chiefs
- I don't predict a Super Bowl hang over in Kansas City, and I'm not sure why anybody would. Mahomes will be ready as always and even though the Texans are a top tier team, they won't be able to keep up with the champs, especially after the awful offseason that coach Bill O'Brien had.
- Jake: Chiefs
- Johnny: Texans
- Both of these QBs just got a payday, but Watson is going to show the defending champs he means business to kickoff his MVP-caliber season.
SUNDAY:
Miami @ New England
- Sam: Patriots
- New England is set for their worst season in my life time and Miami is on the build, but I don't think the tides have turned all the way yet (especially with Tua on the bench) and I see this game going to New England.
- Jake: Patriots
New York (A) @ Buffalo
- Sam: Bills
- It pains me not to pick the Jets, but even the greatly improved Jets offense will struggle vs the elite buffalo defense, especially the secondary of White, Hyde, and Norman. By the second Bills/Jets matchup in week 7 its possible the Jets have melded enough to make the game competitive, but in week one I see it being fairly one sided.
- Jake: Bills
- Johnny: Bills
- It will be very interesting to see how Josh Allen works with his new weapon Stefon Diggs, I think the Bills will come out on top in their home opener even if the new duo can't connect.
Green Bay @ Minnesota
- Sam: Packers
- The two Aaron’s of Green Bay make this pick easy for me. Running back Aaron Jones played great in both games vs Minnesota last season and Quaterback Aaron Rodgers plays great against almost everyone almost all the time.
- Jake: Packers
- Minnesota's offense is primed to take a step backward in Week 1 without Stefon Diggs. Sure, Justin Jefferson will likely do a decent job filling Diggs's role eventually, and talented young tight end Irv Smith Jr. will likely see an uptick in targets, but the offense is going to have to work out the kinks in their opener. Adam Thielen also just turned 30, and he will likely be facing more double-teams than he ever has before. Oh, and Aaron Rodgers is going to have a chip on his shoulder after the Packers drafted Love in the 1st round.
- Johnny: Vikings
Philadelphia @ Washington
- Sam: Eagles
- Chase Young is an electric prospect, but one man can’t change much and for the most part this is still the same “Washington Football Team” that lost to the Eagles twice last season.
- Jake: Eagles
- I actually think Washington is underrated this year. No, I don't think they're going to be a great team, but in a weak NFC East, even if they finish last I think they'll be in the running for most of the year. Haskins is still a question mark, but he certainly made strides at the end of last season. I also think this pass rush could end up as one of the best in the NFL, led by Montez Sweat and newcomer Chase Young. I think it will be a close game, but the Eagles are the better team going into week one, and I think a fresh Carson Wentz will be able to come out on top, but don't be surprised if he takes a few big hits.
- Johnny: Eagles
Indianapolis @ Jacksonville
- Sam: Colts
- The Jacksonville Jaguars are legitimate contenders for the first pick in next years draft, and it’s going to be hard to pick them just about any week. The Colts look strong, are fresh off a solid draft, and are ready to run out veteran Quaterback Phillip for the first time. Indy 10 times out of 10.
- Jake: Colts
- If you're in a survivor league, this is the game of the week in my opinion. The Colts aren't going to light the league on fire, and I don't really trust Philip Rivers at this age. However, the Jaguars are a really bad team this year, and there's not going to be a lot of other times where picking the Colts this season makes sense. Might as well pick them in their easiest matchup of the season.
- Johnny: Colts
- As exciting as Gardener Minshew is, Phillip Rivers has a huge chip on his shoulder and the Colts are the better team here, now with a veteran QB.
Chicago @ Detroit
- Sam: Bears
- This game is a great example of a situation where I don’t really want to pick either team. The bears are giving yet another shot to Mitchell Trubisky, who has struggled for years now, and the Lions don’t really have anything exciting going for them at all. The factor that made me pick the Bears after all was their improved pass rush vs the Lions mediocre offensive line.
- Jake: Lions
- The Bears took a massive step back on defense last year, and while I think they're too talented to not improve this year, I cannot imagine the team is excited about starting Mitch Trubisky. Allen Robinson is the only real weapon this offense has, and while it is a tough opening matchup for rookie Jeff Okudah, it's unlikely he gets completely torched. Matthew Stafford will also likely be back with a vengence, and people forget that Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones are very good receivers with a competent QB. T.J Hockenson also looks to take a step forward this season, and Stafford finally has a running game with the three-headed monster of Kerryon Johnson, Deandre Swift and newly signed Adrian Peterson. I hate Matt Patricia as a coach, but give me the lions here.
- Johnny: Lions
- The Bears are starting the wrong quarterback. The Bears are starting the wrong quarterback. The Bears are starting the wrong quarterback. The Bears are starting the wrong quarterback.
Las Vegas @ Carolina
- Sam: Raiders
- Christian McCaffrey is primed to take at least a small step back and Teddy Bridgewater is with a new team after an unconventional preseason. The Raiders on the other hand have one of the best offensive prospects in the game with Henry Ruggs III, and a new city to play for. Close game, but I lean to Vegas.
- Jake: Raiders
- Johnny: Panthers
- I think the Raiders will be competivive for a Wild Card spot this year, but Teddy Bridgewater knows how much a win is needed outside of the division because he has two of the best QBs of all time on his schedule 4 times this season.
Cleveland @ Baltimore
- Sam: Ravens
- Even though there are obviously many more factors in play, this games outcome can be simply explained through the QB matchup. Lamar Jackson vs Baker Mayfield. Blowout.
- Jake: Ravens
- Johnny: Ravens
- The Browns are going to give everyone a run for their money this year, but with the restrictive circumstances training camp offered, the Browns probably aren't quite ready with their new HC.
Seattle @ Atlanta
- Sam: Seahawks
- Russell Wilson does not miss and he does not have off years. This may be the most exciting game of the week, and of course both teams COULD win, but I've learned to not to pick against the Wilson Seahawks and thats a rule I'll follow here.
Oh yeah and also DK Metcalf is a beast.
- Jake: Seahawks
- Johnny: Seahawks
Los Angeles (A) @ Cincinatti 4:05 p.m. ET
- Sam: Bengals
- Joe Burrow may be the biggest Quarterback prospect ever. Throughout his college career he never ceased to amaze and I don't see him disappointing for the first time now. Look for an electric debut and a Bengals win.
- Jake: Bengals
- I'm just really not excited about the Chargers this year. I like Tyrod Taylor as a locker room presence, but I don't really believe he's a good starting QB. Derwin James is also a brutal loss for the Chargers. I don't like the idea of picking a rookie QB to win their debut—because it's a tough task—and the Bengals are a poorly run, poorly coached organization, but it's Joe Burrow. Watch out for Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd in this one too.
- Johnny: Bengals
- Joe Burreaux baby!
Tampa Bay @ New Orleans 4:25 p.m. ET
- Sam: Saints
- Both teams have all time great quarterbacks, strong defenses, and countless offensive weapons. Saints gain the advantage from having more time together as a team (and from my hatred of Tom Brady), but this one could go either way.
- Jake: Saints
- I really really want Tom Brady to win his first game as a Buc, and I think the Bucs win the rematch, but with Mike Evans looking to be on the wrong side of questionable (or at least severely limited in the game) I think the Saints hold off the future NFC Champion Bucs (Yes).
- Johnny: Bucs
- Brady is on a mission with his best weapons on paper ever, he's coming into 2020 HOT!
Arizona @ San Francisco 4:25 p.m. ET
- Sam: 49ers
- The Arizona Cardinals have an incredibly exciting offense, especially after this past offseason, but the San Francisco defense will just be too strong and the 49er running attack will go wild on a weak Arizona defense.
- Jake: 49ers
- These are always good games, and the Cards will be really fun to watch this year. But the 9ers will pick up the win.
- Johnny: 49ers
Dallas @ Los Angeles (N) 8:20 p.m. ET
- Sam: Cowboys
- The McVay Rams have been going downhill consistently since 2018, and this year should be no exception, especially with the loss of Brandin Cooks and Todd Gurley. It will be great to see SoFi stadium in action though.
- Jake: Rams
- Johnny: Cowboys
MONDAY:
Pittsburgh @ New York (N) 7:10 p.m. ET
- Sam: Steelers
- Daniel Jones should take another step forward in his development this season and that'll be exciting to see, but the Giants as a whole should be overmatched in this week one matchup. Watch for Jones to be overrun by the Steelers pass rush, as this will be a major test for the Giants unproven offensive line.
- Jake: Steelers
- Johnny: Steelers
- Big Ben is back and Daniel Jones still has some work to do, especially with Jason Garrett running the G-Men's offense.
Tennessee @ Denver 10:20 p.m. ET
- Sam: Titans
- This could be the biggest toss up of the week for me, but what makes the pick is the thought of the Broncos front 7 trying to stop Derrick Henry without Von Miller.
- Jake: Broncos
- I'm not the biggest Drew Lock fan, but this offense has SO much young talent, and his arm talent is a very good fit for this offense. Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, Noah Fant. Not to mention they have a very strong backfield with the RBBC of Philip Lindsay and Melvin Gordon. The Broncos were also the 10th best defense based on yards allowed last season, and Bradley Chubb might be back for this game (on a limited snap count if he plays). The Titans are one of the best teams in the AFC, but the Broncos are primed to do some damage this year, and I think they upset the Titans this year.
- Johnny: Titans