NFL Picks Week 1: Updated Spreads, Predictions for Season Openers

The New England Patriots' 28-21 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers surely did enough to whet America's appetite for regular-season football. 

Luckily for them, only hours separate them from the rest of the Week 1 schedule with a number of games that will surely entertain the masses. 

Let's take a look at the Week 1 schedule, the spreads and whom I think will win. Spreads are courtesy of OddsShark.com.

Matchup	Time (ET)	Spread	Prediction
Sunday, September 13
Seattle at St. Louis	1 p.m.	SEA -4.5	Seattle
Green Bay at Chicago	1 p.m.	GB -3.5	Green Bay
Kansas City at Houston	1 p.m.	HOU -2.5	Kansas City
Cleveland at New York Jets	1 p.m.	NYJ -2.5	New York Jets
Miami at Washington	1 p.m.	MIA -1.5	Miami
Carolina at Jacksonville	1 p.m.	CAR -2.5	Carolina
Indianapolis at Buffalo	1 p.m.	IND -2.5	Indianapolis
Detroit at San Diego	4:05 p.m.	SD -2	Detroit
New Orleans at Arizona	4:05 p.m.	AZ -3	Arizona
Cincinnati at Oakland	4:25 p.m.	CIN -3	Cincinnati
Baltimore at Denver	4:25 p.m.	DEN -4	Denver
Tennessee at Tampa Bay	4:25 p.m.	TB -2.5	Tampa Bay
New York Giants at Dallas	8:30 p.m.	DAL -5	New York Giants
Monday, September 14
Philadelphia at Atlanta	7:10 p.m.	PHI -1	Philadelphia
Minnesota at San Francisco	10:20 p.m.	SF -4.5	San Francisco

Seattle at St. Louis

Sunday, Sept. 13 1 p.m. ET

The two-time defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks kick off their season against an up-and-coming division rival in the St. Louis Rams. 

While Seattle is a 4.5-point favorite, one of the highest of the week, they could have their hands full with the Rams. 

This is a Rams team that defeated the Seahawks, 28-26, last season in St. Louis last year and holds plenty of explosive talent to impact the game. 

Most of it, though, is coming on the defensive side as the Rams hold one of the best defenses in the NFL. The core of that unit is the defensive line that recorded 30.5 sacks last season and look primed for an encore in 2015. 

Sports Illustrated's Andy Benoit took a look at the Rams line:

"

It features the game’s most explosive edge rusher, Robert Quinn, and, already, the game’s most explosive interior gap-shooter, Aaron Donald, last year’s 13th overall pick. Donald has extremely quick get-off, well-honed footwork and the capacity to shed blocks and redirect in traffic. Though he’s at his best fighting the run, he’s capable of also being a 10-sack pass rusher (rare for a defensive tackle).

"

If they are able to live up to these expectations, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson could be under a lot of pressure in the pocket on Sunday. Short passes to new tight end Jimmy Graham might prove vital to move the Seahawks offense, but Wilson has another option.

A lot of pressure gives Wilson an opportunity, though, to run outside of the pocket. And at times, his legs are just as dangerous as his arm. 

The St. Louis linebackers would have to shut him down in order to do so, but I could see Wilson running for close to 75 yards on Sunday. He will find a way to put points on the board, albeit not too many. I'm not sure if the St. Louis offense would be able to keep up. 

New quarterback Nick Foles is working with an offensive line that returns just a pair of starters from 2014, according to the Associated Press (via FoxSports.com). They'll also be without projected starting running back Todd Gurley, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. The rookie is fresh off of recovering from an ACL injury, and it still remains to be seen if backup Tre Mason will be able to suit up as well.

Points are going to be at a premium, but the Seahawks should be able to come out on top.

Prediction: Seattle 17, St. Louis 10

Green Bay at Chicago

Sunday, Sept. 13 1 p.m. ET

Another divisional matchup that makes up Sunday's earlier games is one of the most historic rivalries in the game. 

Sunday provides the 189th meeting between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears with two franchises in two different places. 

Green Bay is coming off of a heart-breaking NFC Championship loss to the Seahawks, but they still are considered by many as the class of the conference. Even without star wide receiver Jordy Nelson, the Packers are anchored by MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has the capability of making most receivers around him look good. 

A new-look Bears secondary that brings in four new starters has quite a stiff test to start their season. If they aren't a completely cohesive unit by Sunday, Rodgers is going to pass all over them. 

Add that to a matchup with Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler and I'm taking Rodgers every time. Cutler, despite losing wide receiver Brandon Marshall, does have some dangerous targets to look at with wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White this season. But there's a problem.

Jeffery is questionable for the opener with a calf injury, per Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune, while White remains on the PUP list due to a shin injury. 

Take those two targets out and no way Chicago hangs around with the Packers. 

Prediction: Green Bay 31, Chicago 14

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.