Thursday, September 5th @ 8:20pm
Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Ravens and last year's MVP quarterback will be looking to get some revenge on the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes after what happened in last year's AFC championship game. The Chiefs were able to win in Baltimore 17-10 and then beat the NFC Champions, the San Fransico 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII. In the AFC Championship game, Travis Kelce was able to go for 11 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown. Kelce didn't play week one last year against the Detroit Lions and will be out on the field for this game and this Ravens defense will try to limit the Mahomes to Kelce connection as much as possible. The Ravens lost key players on their defense like Geno Stone who went to the Bengals, Patrick Queen to the Steelers, and Jadeveon Clowney to the Panthers. Not to mention their head defensive coordinator, Mike McDonald went to the Seattle Seahawks and became their new head coach. Defensive playmakers like Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, and Marlon Humphrey will have to perform at a high level to come out with a victory in Arrowhead. The Ravens will also look to Derrick Henry to be the star running back he has been for his new team. It will feel weird for any football fan to see him in that purple jersey.
Skylar's pick: Chiefs
Nebyat's pick: Chiefs
Friday, September 6th @ 8:15pm
Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles @ Brazil
After Eagles players expressed their thoughts about having an NFL game in Sao Paulo, Brazil, it left fans to wonder if this was a good idea. Either way, both teams aren't going to Brazil for the sunshine, they are going there to win a football game. With new head offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, the Eagles are looking to him to fuse this offense with Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, and DaVante Smith and make it one of the best if not the best in the league. But this Eagles' defense was a major flaw in why they lost games towards the end of the year but brought in Vic Fangio, safety CJ Garnder Johnson is back, and pass rusher Bryce Huff signed with the team. Opposite of them, the Packers had a very positive end to the season that gave Packers fans hope for the future, and as a result of this, Jordan Love got paid like a top quarterback. This Packers team only has one player over 30 and looks to be locked in for the future.
Skylar's pick: Eagles
Nebyat's pick: Eagles
Sunday September 8th - 1 pm Games
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons
One of the biggest questions going into this matchup was "Who is going to be the quarterback of the Steelers?" Well, Steelers fans don't have to wait anymore with Russell Wilson being QB1 for their week one game vs the Falcons. However, this isn't the most popular topic for this game. Last year former coach of the Falcons, Arthur Smith was fired by the team after they went 7-10 under him. Smith has now found a new home as the Steelers head offensive coordinator and is looking to get his first win as a Steeler against his former team. The Falcons hired former defensive coordinator for the Rams, Raheem Morris. They are counting on him to elevate the team to a new standard. The Falcons have a very young offensive foundation with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. However, this young offense will face a very experienced defense led by four-time all-pro TJ Watt, star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, and a new addition to the linebacker room, Patrick Queen.
Skylar's pick: Falcons
Nebyat's pick: Steelers
Arizona Cardinals @ Buffalo Bills
The Cardinals will be taking a cross-country trip to Buffalo for their first game of the year. Both of these teams have similar offensive blueprints. Josh Allen and Kyler Murray are as hard of quarterbacks to sack in the pocket. Allen being such a massive force and Murray being quick and elusive, both defenses have their problems to deal with. The Cardinals drafted rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Bills drafted rookie wide receiver, Keon Coleman. Along with the young stars at wide receiver, Allen and Murray will be looking for their young tight ends as well with Dalton Kincaid of the Bills and Trey McBride of the Cardinals. Stefon Diggs isn't a Buffalo Bill and DeAndre Hopkins isn't an Arizona Cardinal. Both of these teams offensive blueprints are fresh but the game is won on defense. The Bills have studs on the defensive lines with Ed Oliver being the top prospect for the Bills defense and star safety Buda Baker being the top prospect for the Cardinals defense.
Skylar's pick: Bills
Nebyat's pick: Cardinals
Tennesse Titans @ Chicago Bears
Number one overall quarterbacks have not won their first career start, in 21 straight seasons. David Carr (Texans, 2002) was the last person to do this. Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has a chance to start his rookie season off with a memorable beginning. In a town like Chicago, where they have some of the best history in sports, Bears fans haven't had this much love and hope for their team for a while. Williams will have what some are calling, the best wide receiver room in the league with Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and Rome Udonze. But these wide receivers might have their hands full with the secondary they face with the Titans. L'Jarius Sneed just won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs before being traded to the Titans, former Seahawks safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs have chemistry together, the Titans also went and got linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr and not to mention two-time pro bowler Jeffery Simmons. New head coach of the Titans Brian Callahan will try his best to come out with a win and keep that streak going.
Skylar's pick: Titans
Nebyat's pick: Titans
New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Pats will come to Cincinnati for their first game since 1999 without Bill Belichick being the head coach. Jerod Mayo will be taking on those duties from now on. He will rely on Jacoby Brissett to lead his team to victory over the Super Bowl-contending Bengals. With Joe Burrow looking better than ever, this feels like he is in the best shape of his life. However, his running mate Ja'Marr Chase hasn't been seen practicing with the team as he awaits his new contract. Head coach of the Bengals, Zach Taylor said in his most recent press conference, "We'll see", when he was asked about Chase playing week one. However, Chase was seen at practice after Coach Taylor said this. So Bengals fans can only hope this means that Chase is playing week 1.
Skylar's pick: Bengals
Nebyat's pick: Bengals
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts
One of the very few, but easily the most important divisional game of week one. Texans @ Colts. CJ Stroud vs Anthony Richardson. The NFC South isn't what it used to be over the last couple of years. this division used to be one of the worst divisions in football. But now these two young quarterbacks, this division as I said, isn't what it used to be. The Texans have a wide receiver core that some fans say is the best in the league. Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell. Since these teams are in the same division, it makes this game more important than normal. Remember that the winner of each division gets an automatic bid to the playoffs. So either team going down 0-1 isn't the end of the world, but every divisional matchup is important.
Skylar's pick: Texans
Nebyat's pick: Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins
Who doesn't love an inner-state football game?! This is for bragging rights. In their state known for their alligators, the cheetah and the penguin also known as Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are going to be in their natural habitat against the Jaguars. In the player's top 100 poll voted by NFL players, Hill was voted number one by his peers. Trevon Walker, Josh Allen, and a new signing from the 49ers, Arik Armstead will be counted on to pressure Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa and Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawerence both got paid this offseason. Wide receivers Gabe Davis, Cristian Kirk, and rookie Brian Thomas will look to relieve pressure off Lawerence. However, Lawerence faces one of if not the best cornerback in the league, Jalen Ramsey, and with a revamped Dolphins pash rush that's ready to show off.
Skylar's pick: Dolphins
Nebyat's pick: Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants
Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury after his first preseason game. This will be the first time ever that a first-round quarterback will miss the entire rookie season due to injury. Sam Darnold will start at quarterback for the Vikings, against quarterback Daniel Jones of the Giants. Without Saquon Barkley at running back, the Giants may be in for a tough season on offense this year. The Vikings still have one of the best offensive players in the league, wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Jefferson will inevitably make big plays for the Vikings regardless of who is playing quarterback. But will he get targeted often enough and accurately enough to be able to fully take control of a game? In this situation, the Giants have too many holes on their team to keep up with the Vikings.
Skylar's pick: Vikings
Nebyat's pick: Vikings
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints
Quarterback of the Carolina Panthers Bryce Young will have a good opportunity to show his improvements against a divisional team in the New Orleans Saints. On all accounts, the Panthers were a disappointment last season with a 2-15 record. Young will try to show that he's not the same player as last year and veteran for the Saints at quarterback Derek Carr will try to raise the Saints to a level above being middle of the pack. The Saints went 9-8 last year but lost out on the playoffs due to tiebreakers. The Panthers offense was the worst in the league last season in total passing yards, Bryce Young will need to turn that around to give them a realistic shot a competing in the NFC South, as well as improved defense. The more experienced Derek Carr will be able to score late in this one to give the Saints the lead.
Skylar's pick: Saints
Nebyat's pick: Saints
Sunday, September 8th - 4:05 pm Games
Oakland Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers
Division rivals of the AFC West face off in Sofi Stadium as Jim Harbaugh returns to the NFL after winning the National Championship last season at Michigan. Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams has had a history against the Chargers since joining the Raiders. In his debut for Oakland in 2022 against the Chargers, he caught 10 passes for 141 yards and one touchdown. Recently there has been tension between the wide receiver and the Chargers franchise because of a social media post made by the Chargers when the schedule was released, so Adams will be looking to have another big game against this opponent. Both these teams don't like each other and will be a high-scoring spectacle between both quarterbacks, Justin Herbert for Los Angeles and Gardner Minshew for Oakland.
Skylar's pick: Chargers
Nebyat's pick: Raiders
Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks
Seattle hosts Denver in week one for the second time in the last three years. To start the 2022 season, Seattle defeated the Broncos 17-16 in Russell Wilson's return to Seattle. But now the quarterback for Denver is rookie Bo Nix from Oregon. The new head coach of Seattle Mike Macdonald will be looking to integrate his defensive identity on his team as quickly as possible to compete in the NFC West. If Seattle quarterback Geno Smith takes care of the ball, the Seahawks offense can be explosive with weapons like DK Metcalf and Kenneth Walker. With the home crowd energy supporting them and the memory of Seattle losing week one at home to the Los Angeles Rams a season ago, the Seahawks will be looking to turn some heads and start the season off strong.
Skylar's pick: Seahawks
Nebyat's pick: Seahawks
Sunday September 8th - 4:25 pm Games
Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns
This matchup should be one of the best of week one, at least on paper. Both these teams had stellar regular seasons last year, but stumbled early in the playoffs. Cleveland has been carried in recent years by their defense, and they are set to cause lots of problems for quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense. Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb got his contract extension, so now the pressure shifts from the front office back to the coaches and players. If Dallas can score on the Browns in this game, it will be an encouraging sign to start the season, but Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett was Defensive Player of the Year a season ago. The Browns' defense will hold in key moments and force turnovers to separate themselves.
Skylar's pick: Browns
Nebyat's pick: Browns
Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One year after a surprising playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay with Baker Mayfield at quarterback takes on the Washington Commanders. Washington drafted quarterback Jayden Daniels second overall this year, and last season he won the Heisman Trophy at LSU. A true dual threat running and passing the ball, Daniels will be looking to start his NFL career off with a road win. The offensive weapons and experience for Mayfield give him an edge over his rookie opponent, but the Commanders' offense holds unknown potential because of their youth. Wide receiver Mike Evans for the Buccaneers will provide big catches no matter what, and Daniels will have to match the Buccaneers' playmaking to give his team a better chance to win. This could be a high-scoring game if both defenses get burnt in the passing game.
Skylar's pick: Buccaneers
Nebyat's pick: Buccaneers
SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions
In a primetime rematch from the playoffs last season, quarterbacks Jared Goff of Detroit and Matthew Stafford of Los Angeles face off again in a rivalry created when the two of them were traded for each other in 2021. The trade resulted in a Super Bowl LVI win for the Rams and an improved version of the Lions led by head coach Dan Campbell. The Lions won last season, which was their first playoff win since 1991. With future Hall of Fame pass rusher for the Rams Aaron Donald retiring at the end of last season, the Rams lost a cornerstone of their franchise since he joined the team, however, head coach Sean McVay seems to always find on-the-fly solutions to keep the Rams in contention. Both these teams will be extra motivated for this matchup, and will be exciting for all viewers especially because of the history and the media attention of Sunday Night Football.
Skylar's pick: Lions
Nebyat's pick: Lions
Monday, September 9th - New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers
NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers will host the New York Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers in their first game since they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. Rodgers is back from his Achilles tendon injury that he sustained in week one last season. The 49ers will be led by star running back Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Brock Purdy. Wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are one of the best wide receiver duos in the league, against a top-tier corner duo with cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed. The Jets' offense with Aaron Rodgers is still unknown, which is the most intriguing thing about this game. It will be a difficult test playing on the road against a great team like San Francisco, but the Jets do have the talent to compete if Rodgers can give them good quarterback play.
Skylar's pick: 49ers
Nebyat's pick: 49ers
