NFL pick, Week 1 forecast: Chiefs manipulate Texans; 49ers, Ravens upset with the cardinals, the brown ones

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The NFL’s picks and predictions are pretty tough in Week 1 of any given season, when we know so little about how off-season roster changes will manifest on the pitch. We are now choosing NFL games to open a season defined by changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Welcome to 2020.

Only two of the 16 games on the NFL Week 1 schedule will feature fans in the stands, as the Chiefs and Jaguars will allow a small percentage of their stadiums capacity to be filled. Thus, the typical home court advantage attached to the odds in each game is not so important a factor.

However, team travel to away games during the coronavirus pandemic is very stressful, so teams that have to make long trips in week 1 will be the first to deal with extended health protocols and NFL safety guidelines for teams on the road.

Traditionally, the NFL Week 1 schedule begins with the reigning Super Bowl champions – this year the Chiefs – hosting the season opener on Thursday night, and it ends with a double “Monday. Night Football ”.

Here are our week 1 picks in the NFL, throughout this pair of Monday night games.

OVER WEEK NFL 1:
Choices Against Spread | Full TV program

NFL picks, predictions for week 1

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Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-9 1/2)

Jeudi, 20 h 20 HE, NBC

It won’t be the party the Chiefs were hoping to be with only about 20% of the capacity of Arrowhead Stadium filled with Kansas City worshipers. But it should still give the desired result. The Chiefs have lost next to nothing from their Super Bowl-winning team, and while the Texans remain competitive thanks to Deshaun Watson’s brilliance, they still don’t stack. There’s a reason we love Patrick Mahomes’ crew rehearsing as Champions.

To choose: Chefs 30, Texans 17

Green Bay Packers to Minnesota Vikings (-2 1/2)

Dimanche, 13 h HE, Fox

Many have been disturbed by the way the Packers have handled their roster during the offseason. But even with Jordan Love pictured, as long as Aaron Rodgers plays the quarterback, Green Bay’s offense will be a problem for opposing teams. Of course, the Vikings are also uniquely equipped to give the Packers trouble. This one will be as close as the odds suggest.

To choose: Packers 27, Vikings 23

Miami Dolphins aux New England Patriots (-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

It would be a lot more fun if Tua Tagovailoa replaced Ryan Fitzpatrick for the Dolphins, but we’ll take what we can get with Cam Newton starting for the Patriots in their first game in the Tom Brady era. New England didn’t have much time to get into the QB that was signed just before training camp, which would be a problem for anyone except Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels.

To choose: Patriots 24, Dauphins 13

Philadelphia Eagles (-6 1/2) at Washington Football Team

Dimanche, 13 h HE, Fox

The NFL Week 1 schedule was finalized so long ago that one of these teams had a different name when it was announced. Washington has been fortunate enough to have new coach Ron Rivera to guide the team through a turbulent offseason, but he won’t be able to steer his players to many wins in 2020. The list starts with rival the NFC East who won the division last year and has a solid chance to repeat themselves.

To choose: Eagles 28, Washington 17

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Seattle Seahawks (-2) aux Atlanta Falcons

Dimanche, 13 h HE, Fox

It’s a tough place for the Seahawks, the team we love to win the NFC this season. It’s a long road trip for an early kick-off, but at least Seattle has the cushion of the offseason rather than having to face such a challenge in the middle of its schedule. The Falcons are a tough team to read heading into Week 1. We’re more confident about what we’ll get from Russell Wilson and Co.

To choose: Seahawks 30, Falcons 20

Cleveland Browns à Baltimore Ravens (-8 1/2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Weird and inexplicable upheavals in Week 1 are relatively common, especially when divisional opponents collide to start a season. Which makes it a dangerous game for the Ravens, who, speaking of inexplicable upsets, were blown away by the Browns as one of their two regular-season losses last year. Cleveland has new offensive coach Kevin Stefanski and is hoping to fight in the AFC North (for real this time). This game is the perfect opportunity for the Browns to prove they are worthy of optimism.

To choose: Browns 33, Ravens 28

Chicago Bears aux Detroit Lions (-3)

Dimanche, 13 h HE, Fox

The Lions get a home basket which makes this game a toss. The Bears recently announced that Mitchell Trubisky won the starting quarterback over Nick Foles, which probably doesn’t matter to their Week 1 opponent. Detroit is just focused on getting their own QB back and what that will do. for an attack that was making progress before getting injured last season.

To choose: Lions 27, Ours 17

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New York Jets to Buffalo Bills (-6 1/2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

After reaching the playoffs as a wild card last year, the Bills took notice of what was going on around them in the AFC East and did everything they could to complete what was already a lineup. solid. They’ll be good enough defensively to claim their Premier League title since the Clinton administration, and they’re hoping the addition of Stefon Diggs will be enough to elevate Josh Allen to Pro Bowl level. The Jets, meanwhile, are not yet ready to fight.

To choose: Bills 27, Jets 10

Indianapolis Colts (-7 1/2) at Jacksonville Jaguars

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Philip Rivers now lives in Florida, not too far from where he will make his debut as the Colts’ new quarterback. Indianapolis recruited the veteran hoping his intelligence will help bring the team back to the playoffs a year after Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement. While the Colts are in a win-now mode, the Jaguars appear to be… whatever the opposite of a win-now mode. This gap is important for good reasons.

To choose: Colts 31, Jaguars 13

Las Vegas Raiders (-3) at the Carolina Panthers

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

We have absolutely no idea what to expect from the Panthers, a team with a new coaching staff, a new quarterback and a revamped defense that no longer includes Luke Kuechly. The Raiders also can’t know what to expect, which is why a team that flirted with the playoffs last year is barely favored over a team that had no shooting.

To choose: Raiders 27, Panthers 24

Chargers de Los Angeles (-3) aux Bengals de Cincinnati

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS

The Chargers start Tyrod Taylor on Justin Herbert at quarterback, so it won’t be a clash with QBs selected from the top six picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. If Joe Burrow comes out the door as well as As the Bengals expect, a loss for the Chargers to open the season against last year’s worst team could make them think more about playing the rookie. The fact that Burrow no longer has to deal with injured Derwin James in this game is notable.

To choose: Bengals 28, chargeurs 21

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers à New Orleans Saints (-3 1/2)

Dimanche, 16 h 25 HE, Fox

It’s Sunday’s game of the day, if not the game of the week, thanks to Tom Brady moving from New England to Tampa Bay in free agency. The Buccaneers hype is real, and for good reason. This team flirted with the playoffs last year thanks to an underrated defense despite seemingly endless turnovers from former passer Jameis Winston. Brady won’t make the same mistakes, which gives Tampa Bay a legitimate chance to steal the division from New Orleans.

To choose: Boucaniers 30, Saints 27

Arizona Cardinals à San Francisco 49ers (-7)

Dimanche, 16 h 25 HE, Fox

The Cardinals are excited about what the addition of DeAndre Hopkins will mean for their attack on rising star quarterback Kyler Murray, and they should expect to win many more games than last year. Arizona is probably not yet at the level of San Francisco and Seattle in the division. It might not matter at Week 1 when the 49ers are so thin on the wide receiver.

To choose: Cardinals 28, 49ers 27

Dallas Cowboys (-3) at Los Angeles Rams

Dimanche, 20 h 20 HE, NBC

It was supposed to be the grand opening of the brand new SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and technically, even though there won’t be any fans in attendance. That crowd would have been crowded with Cowboys fans, anyway, so the change could actually be good for the Rams. Either way, Dallas is the busiest team.

To choose: Cowboys 23, Rams 20

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Pittsburgh Steelers (-5) aux Giants de New York

Monday, 19 h 10 HE, ESPN

It’s a tricky place for the Steelers, on the road to opening the season in a bizarre “Monday Night Football” window. But Pittsburgh is back in contention mode with Ben Roethlisberger back on the lineup and such a stingy defense ready to get the offensive support it deserves.

To choose: Steelers 26, Giants 14

Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos (-1 1/2)

Monday, 22 h 20 HE, ESPN

The Titans probably look at that line and play the disrespect card even though they open the season on the road in an odd time slot. We can’t blame them, because while their run to the AFC Championship game last season was accompanied by a series of upheavals, they are a legitimately strong team and much more proven than the Broncos. The non-compliance card should work, at least for week 1.

To choose: Titans 24, Broncos 20

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