Ten Really Bold Predictions For Week One in the NFL
Finally, week one of the NFL is finally here. The wait is over and we will finally be treated to a full slate of NFL football with plenty of great games to tune into .
One of the great things about the NFL is parody. The term "any given Sunday" is a true statement. The year has just kicked off and only one game is in the books, and this weekend, anything can happen.
With that in mind I have compiled a list of Ten Really Bold Predictions for Week One.
10. Bears QB Jay Cutler Will Throw for over 300 Yards in Week One
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Last year the Bears were hyped as a Super bowl contender with the acquisition of Jay Cutler. Instead of living up to expectations the Bears had an abysmal season led by a poor showing by Cutler.
Enter new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, and an offense that features the quarterback, a spread offense, and big stats. Cutler is adjusting to the new offensive and the results will show in week one. Cutler will shred a Lions defense that is vulnerable to the pass. Look for a big day for Jay Cutler and the Bear’s offense.
9.Bengals Jermaine Gresham Will Have More Yards Than T.O. and Ochocinco
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All the news in the Bengals off season has been made by outspoken wide receivers Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco. The loud and dynamic duo is on the same team and ready to make the Bengals super bowl contenders.
This week against the Patriots however, there will be another offensive target that is making all the right moves. Rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham is a great target for Carson Palmer and is a mismatch in the Patriots defensive scheme. With all of the attention on the wide receivers, the big tight end will be open all day and will be the go-to-guy in the end zone.
8. Packers and Eagles Will Have A Defensive, Low Scoring Game
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The Packers and Eagles meet in a great game to kick the season off and the hype before this game will talk about the energetic offensives for both teams. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is one of the best young signal callers in the league and has an offensive arsenal to throw at. Kevin Kolb is under the spotlight after taking over the quarterback spot for departed veteran, Donovan Mcnabb.
What is overlooked in this game is how great the defensives are. The Eagles have a fierce pass rush and finished third in the league in sacks in 2009. The assumption is that the Packers have a subpar defense, but look again; they ranked high last year in several key defensive categories.
The end result will be a low scoring game.Bet Mania has the over /under for this game at 47 and the combined score will be much lower than that. Of course my prediction on the winner of this game is somewhat of a bold prediction too.
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7. The Kansas City Chiefs Will Shock The San Diego Chargers
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Monday night football always seems to bring out the best in teams. This Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs host the San Diego Chargers in the second game of a double header on ESPN.
The Chiefs need to start the season off on the right foot and beating the favorites to win the AFC West would set the tone for the season. The home field advantage cannot be dismissed as the Chiefs always do well as home underdogs.
The breakdown of this game explains why the Chargers will be short handed for this game. Rookie Ryan Matthews will be a great player in this league, but in this game the edge is with Kansas City.
6. Tim Tebow Will Score a Touchdown Against Jacksonville
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Broncos head coach, Josh McDaniel is keeping quiet on the backup quarterback position. It is obvious that Kyle Orton will start after having a brilliant preseason. McDaniel will undoubtedly tab Tebow to be the backup. He had a decent preseason and is his jewel of the draft.
Expect Tebow to see some playing time in formations that are made just for him. Tebow will get a chance to run or throw in situations that will prepare him for the future. I imagine that they bring in Tebow near the goal line and he runs an option and fakes a pitch before diving into the end zone. Tim Tebow mania is growing and will only get bigger after week one.
5. Donovan Mcnabb Will Have a Better Game Than Tony Romo
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The Washing Redskins host the Dallas Cowboys in the Sunday night game and it will be the first game under center for Donovan Mcnabb. Although my prediction on the game is a bold one, the play of McNabb will be the main story. McNabb gives the Redskins a leader on the field and with the home field advantage he is poised to have a good game.
Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense struggled the entire preseason and don’t expect any improvement in the first game. The offensive line executed poorly and rookie Dez Bryant will see his first playing time after sitting out due to injury. The chemistry will not be there early in the season.
4. Houston Texans Will Reverse the Curse
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The Texans are set to break out this year and this is the biggest game in franchise history. We have all heard that story line before (see 2009), but the Texans always seem to disappoint. They are 1-15 against the Colts, but that number may be a bit misleading since the Texans were building a franchise for some of those games.
Now they have one of the better offenses in the league and a defense that is improving. Quarterback Matt Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson are becoming one of the best duo’s since, (dare I say it?) of course I will, Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison. BetMania has the Colts as slim two point favorites in their latest sports betting odds and the Texans won’t need the points. There is a better breakdown of this game, but bottom line is the Texans are now ready to break the long losing drought and beat the Colts in week one.
3. Chris Johnson Will Rush for Less Than 100 Yards
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Chris Johnson started off slow last year rushing for just under 60 yards in the first game of the season. This year expect another slow start from the talented running back. The Raiders have been working on how to slow down the superstar all preseason in anticipation of the first game of the season.
Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said the Raiders would be better off crowding the line of scrimmage with eight or nine defenders whenever Johnson is in the backfield.
“I’d rather put eight or nine in the box and try to slow him down and put the game in Vince’s hands, even though Vince is an excellent athlete and a good quarterback,” Kelly said of Titans quarterback Vince Young. “I would rather take my chances with Vince than Chris Johnson, that’s just a fact.”
The Raiders will rise to the challenge and hold Johnson under the century mark.
2. Darrelle Revis Gets Beat for Six on Monday Night Football
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The Jets have been the center of attention in the off-season. They are being hyped as Superbowl contenders and they were the star of HBO’s” Hard Knocks” reality show. The best defensive player on the team, Darrelle Revis, made news for holding out over a contract dispute. Just before the regular season started, the Jets and Revis came to an agreement and he will be in the game against the Ravens to kick off the season.
Without camp time expect Revis to be a bit rusty. He has so much talent that he will overcome this rather quickly but not before the Ravens try and take advantage of it. Look for the Ravens to attack Revis early with big plays off play action. The Ravens know if they defeat Revis on one play it will raise the confidence level of their offense and the Jets defense will have to regroup.
1. Buffalo Bills Will Squish the Fish
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The NFL sports betting odds for this game as posted by Bet Mania are the Miami Dolphins -3. That is it? Wait, just three points? Something smells fishy (pun intended).
The bold prediction is that the Bills will beat the Dolphins this Sunday. The Dolphins have a bad habit of playing poorly in Buffalo and the Bills are already being written off as one of the worst teams in the NFL this year. The most dangerous underdog in the NFL seems to be the home divisional underdog and that applies in this case.
C.J. Spiller played so well in the preseason he was announced as the team’s starter for this Sunday. He is going to be a great weapon in this offense. The Bills offense will surprise and put up some points against the Dolphins and shock in the NFL world in week one!
Time For Kickoff
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Football is finally here, so sit back and enjoy the season!
Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews, and predictions. Feel Free to contact Matt at mregaw@gmail.com
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