Week 1 2020 picks

Hey, I got the first pick correct so I feel good going into the full slate on Sunday and Monday.  So with that, let's get to it.....

Philadelphia at Washington--Is it weird to any of you that the team formerly known as the Redskins has no team name now other than Washington football team?  Whatever.  Eagles 22, Football Team 17

Miami at New England--It's gonna be strange seeing Belichick with Cam Newton as his QB.  If Cam stays healthy, and that's a big IF, the Pats will actually be pretty good.  Patriots 27, Dolphins 14

Green Bay at Minnesota--This should be another solid rivalry in 2020.  Not that it ever isn't but I mean they will vie for the NFC North title right until Week 17.  Vikings 24, Packers 23

Indianapolis at Jacksonville--Every metric I see has the Jags winning maybe one game this season.  Frank Reich is a damn good coach who will elevate the Colts, who have added veteran QB Philip Rivers.  Colts 34, Jaguars 13

Chicago at Detroit--It's hard to imagine a team having home field advantage this season.  It'll be like who has the loudest piped in crowd noise or who has the best looking cardboard fans.  Lions 21, Bears 19

Las Vegas at Carolina--Since Vegas already has a hockey team, typing this city name here isn't as odd as you think.  But Vegas and Charlotte has a very USFL feel, doesn't it?  Christian McCaffrey will be the difference here and the start of me being jealous that HC Matt Ruhle picked the Panthers over the Giants.  Panthers 23, Raiders 20

NY Jets at Buffalo--So far, Sam Darnold hasn't been the golden boy everyone thought he'd be.  I was pulling like crazy for Dave Gettleman to draft Saquon Barkley, so I was thrilled that he didn't listen to all the cries for Darnold or (gasp) Sam Rosen to succeed Eli Manning.  Bills 30, Jets 17

Cleveland at Baltimore--After 20 years, I still see this as the old Browns vs. the new Browns.  I need to get with the times.  Ravens 27, Browns 20

Seattle at Atlanta--I'm not sure I'm drinking the Seahawks Kool Aid everyone else is drinking.  This is a tough division that includes the previous 2 NFC champs and a rising star Kyler Murray led Cards team.  So all I know is the Hawks had better win games like this.  Seahawks 22, Falcons 17

LA Chargers at Cincinnati--Joe Burrow had one of the sickest college football seasons, maybe the sickest, in history.  Of course, he will be chased by Joey Bosa on Sunday, but I still like this kid's chances in the NFL.  Bengals 20, Chargers 17

Arizona at San Francisco--Let's hope everyone dealing with the effects of the wildfires in CA is as safe as possible.  I'm not sure how this will play in the Bay area with the smoke and haze on top of a pandemic.  But I haven't heard anything about moving the game or postponing it.  So.........Niners 23, Cards 22

Tampa Bay at New Orleans--This is the one we will all be glued to.  The start of the Tom Brady era on a team that isn't the Patriots and being coached by someone who isn't Bill Belichick.  He's lucky he's got a great coach in Bruce Arians, and he has his binky Rob Gronkowski back.  But this matchup is not favorable in the Superdome with or without fans.  Saints 38, Bucs 30

Dallas at LA Rams--Has everyone forgotten about the Rams?  They came back down to earth in 2019 but the core is still here--in particular the dominant DT Aaron Donald and QB Jared Goff.  Okay, they did lose Todd Gurley and booming kicker Greg Zuerlein, the latter of which is kicking for the visitors Sunday night.  Rams 24, Cowboys 21

Pittsburgh at NY Giants--The beginning of the Joe Judge era in Met Life, and I gotta be honest--my Giants are not very good and I'm not expecting more than 4-5 wins.  And I'm not thrilled to see Big Ben back at QB for the Steelers.....that guy always kills us in the 4th quarter, even every four years.  Steelers 31, Giants 24

Tennessee at Denver--Now that Ryan Tannehill is the man in Nashville, can he lead the Titans to the promised land?  Can Drew Lock do that for the Broncos?  Hell if I know, but this game should be an interesting barometer for both teams.  Titans 19, Broncos 16