The beauty of the NFL is that every single game is so incredibly important due to the simple fact that there are only 16 of them.\u00a0 The defending champs were one poorly-thrown Tony Romo pass away from missing the playoffs altogether.\u00a0 And, in this league of the best football players in the world, any little advantage goes a really long way.<\/p>\n
With this in mind, we like to do a different kind of preview here at BSB.\u00a0 You will hear all sorts of people with predicted divisional standings, with W-L records for all the teams.\u00a0 The most diligent of those will have the Ws and Ls at least add up to one another, but they are still just looking at a team – maybe the overall schedule – and deciding how good they think they are.\u00a0 But, I believe that there is so much more<\/em> to actually trying to “preview” the season.\u00a0 But, there are so many other factors to a season – little things like playing a team off their bye or on a short week or West Coast teams at 1:00 or playing getting a team in a\u00a0possible “trap game” that is sandwiched in between major rivals.\u00a0 Any one of these factors can be the difference between getting a ticket to the crapshoot playoff field and thinking about “what could have been.”\u00a0<\/p>\n So, here at BSB, we try to do our best to actually analyze<\/em> the schedule every year.\u00a0 So, without further ado, let’s get it going with Week One.\u00a0 While we will be using the preseason Vegas lines, as a reference, the picks will just be winners.\u00a0 You can make your own judgment\u00a0as far as ATS picks, if you really feel the need to bet NFL games this far in advance (not judging because, well, I do it…).<\/p>\n Each weekday for the next two weeks, we will be posting previews twice a day (7am and 3pm), so check back then to follow along week-by-week.<\/p>\n Dallas (0-0) at N.Y.GIANTS (0-0)<\/span>\u00a0–\u00a0Vegas:\u00a0Giants -3 Indianapolis (0-0) at CHICAGO (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas:\u00a0Bears -10 Philadelphia (0-0) at CLEVELAND (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Eagles -8.5 New England (0-0) at TENNESSEE (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Patriots -6.5 Atlanta (0-0) at KANSAS CITY (0-0)<\/span> –\u00a0Vegas: Falcons -1 Jacksonville (0-0) at MINNESOTA (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Vikings -4.5 Washington (0-0) at NEW ORLEANS (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Saints -9.5 BUFFALO (0-0) at N.Y. Jets (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Jets -4.5 St. Louis (0-0) at DETROIT (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Lions -9 Miami (0-0) at HOUSTON (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Texans -7 San Francisco (0-0) at\u00a0GREEN BAY (0-0<\/span>) –\u00a0Vegas: Packers -6.5 Seattle (0-0) at ARIZONA (0-0<\/span>) – Vegas: Cardinals -2 Carolina (0-0) at TAMPA BAY (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Panthers -3 PITTSBURGH (0-0) at Denver (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Broncos -2 Cincinnati (0-0) at BALTIMORE (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Ravens -6.5 SAN DIEGO (0-0) at Oakland (0-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Pick ’em NFC EAST:<\/span> NFC NORTH:<\/span> NFC SOUTH:<\/span> NFC WEST: AFC EAST:<\/span> AFC NORTH:<\/span> AFC SOUTH:<\/span> AFC WEST: The beauty of the NFL is that every single game is so incredibly important due to the simple fact that there are only 16 of them.\u00a0 The defending champs were one poorly-thrown Tony Romo pass away from missing the playoffs … Continue reading Wednesday Night<\/h1>\n
\nThe defending champs will get their rings on this night and have all the world watching them at home.\u00a0 I like the Cowboys this year, but I cannot find any reason to pick them in this one.\u00a0 Giants (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday, Early Afternoon<\/h1>\n
\nNo luck for Andrew’s debut here, as he faces a pretty stout defense and an underrated offense.\u00a0 Bears -10 (easy)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe Eagles dynasty couldn’t get off to a much easier start, as the Browns might be the worst team in the NFL.\u00a0 That being said, to quote one of BSB’s best contributors, Gross, “of all the times to play the Browns on the road, Week One is probably the worst time.”\u00a0 I still don’t see the 2012 Eagles losing to the 2012 Browns anywhere, anytime.\u00a0 Eagles (easy)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe Titans are always one of those teams that you never know how they’ll be.\u00a0 They still have QB issues, and the Pats are as high-flying as ever with their fleet of pass-catching tight ends and slot receivers.\u00a0 I do think Chris Johnson will bounce back and the defense is underrated in Tennessee, so it’s not a gimme for the Belichicks, but they should get this W.\u00a0 Patriots<\/strong>\u00a0(moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe old adage that so aptly applies to the NFL, “if you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse,” is the perfect summation of where I think these two teams are going this year.\u00a0 The Falcons are standing still with a good, but not great team, while the Chiefs continue to get better.\u00a0 Have the Chiefs caught the Falcons in talent?\u00a0 Maybe not, but Arrowhead is a notoriously tough place to play, and I think the Chiefs may be a real surprise this year after a great offseason and the additions of Eric Barry, Jamaal Charles, and Tony Moeaki back from injury.\u00a0 I like the Chiefs in a mild upset here in Week One.\u00a0 Chiefs (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nIf you are going to start the season without your best player, you might as well start with Jacksonville at home.\u00a0 With the status of Adrian Peterson in question, this is still a tough game, but I don’t know if there is a team in the league that I would take to lose to Jax at home.\u00a0 Vikings (close)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nIs RG3 the real deal?\u00a0 Maybe.\u00a0 Is Drew Brees the real deal?\u00a0 Uh…yes.\u00a0 This one’s an easy pick in the Big Easy.\u00a0 Saints (easy)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nIf KC isn’t the biggest surprise in the AFC, it just might be the Buffalo Bills.\u00a0 The Jets have a fantastic defense, but the Bills might be right there with them.\u00a0 In fact, I think their front 7 is better<\/em> than the Jets’.\u00a0 And, the Bills have a much better offensive team than their Week One opponents.\u00a0 The Jets are a 4.5-point favorite, and yet I think I like the Bills here in a nice upset.\u00a0 Bills (close)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nI think the Rams are going to be better than people think and the Lions are going to be worse than people think, so the fact that Detroit is a 9-point favorite here is too much.\u00a0 That being said, Detroit did win 8 more game than St. Louis last year and the game is in the Silverdome, but I would be a little careful if I were Coach Schwartz here.\u00a0 Lions (moderate)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nThis one should be the double-digit spread, not just 7, like it is.\u00a0 The Texans are a LOT better than Miami and should pummel them down in Houston.\u00a0 Texans (easy)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nSunday, Late Afternoon<\/h1>\n
\nThe Niners, not surprisingly,\u00a0pretty much brought back their whole 12-win team from a year ago.\u00a0\u00a0But, that doesn’t necessarily equate to another 12 wins.\u00a0 And, even if it does, it certainly\u00a0shouldn’t lead anyone to think that they can now go into Lambeau and beat\u00a0the\u00a0best team in the NFC.\u00a0 Packers (moderate<\/strong>)<\/p>\n
\nThe Seahawks are going to have one of the best\u00a0unknown defense in the league this year.\u00a0 But,\u00a0I think their offense is going to struggle (especially without Marshawn Lynch, who will likely be suspended, basically, for being a d-bag…again).\u00a0 At the very least, it should take some time.\u00a0 I’m not all that high on the Cards, but they did look pretty good at the end of last year and have most of their team coming\u00a0back.\u00a0 Cardinals (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nEvery year people think that teams in the NFL will stink just because they stunk last year.\u00a0 And, every year, a lot of teams that stunk up the joint the prior year, have decent seasons.\u00a0 I like Greg Schiano’s style, and I like all the additions that the Bucs added to their roster.\u00a0 And, by “like,” I just mean that they might not lose 12 games this year.\u00a0 As for the Panthers, I’m not so sure I agree with Ryan Khalil on his promise of a Super Bowl <\/a>in Carolina (though I love the confidence).\u00a0 In fact, I think they are probably more likely to lose 10 games again then even make the playoffs.\u00a0 I’ll take the Bucs, in an upset, at home in Week One.\u00a0 Bucs (close)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nSunday Night<\/h1>\n
\nThe scene of the crime from a year ago – the shocking playoff upset by the Broncos over the Steelers.\u00a0 Now, the Steelers get an immediate shot at redemption.\u00a0 But, that will most certainly not <\/em>be the story.\u00a0 The story is some guy wearing #18 in orange.\u00a0 The Peyton Manning Era begins.\u00a0 And, looking at the schedule, he better get his guys ready QUICKLY because they were done no favors early on.\u00a0 And, I think a team like the Steelers will use the Manning debut as as much motivation as Manning’s teammates will.\u00a0 I like the Steelers in an upset on the road.\u00a0 Steelers (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nMonday Night<\/h1>\n
\nI really like the Bengals this year.\u00a0 But, going into Baltimore on\u00a0a Monday night in Week One?\u00a0 That’s a tall order for anyone, let alone a team led by a bunch of second-year players.\u00a0 This game is probably going to be closer than Ravens fans would like, but they should come away with a big W to start the season.\u00a0 Ravens (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe Raiders stink…I’m still unsure as to how I feel about the Chargers, but I know they should beat the Raiders on the road on Monday night.\u00a0 And, I also know that if the line remains a “pick ’em,” I’m gonna jump all over it.\u00a0 Chargers (moderate)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nStandings After Week One<\/h1>\n
\nThe Giants made the biggest step here, picking up a big divisional win over Dallas<\/em>
\n1-0 Giants
\n1-0 Eagles
\n0-1 Cowboys
\n0-1 Redskins<\/p>\n
\nThis should be a really good division, but it’s still a surprise for any division to go 4-0<\/em>
\n1-0 Bears
\n1-0 Lions
\n1-0 Packers
\n1-0 Vikings<\/p>\n
\nWithout even having to beat them head-to-head, the Saints pick up a quick game on the Falcons, though it was an AFC loss for Atlanta<\/em>
\n1-0 Bucs
\n1-0 Saints
\n0-1 Falcons
\n0-1 Panthers<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>This should be the Niners’ division to lose, but they spotted Arizona a game (and a divisional win, at that)<\/em>
\n1-0 Cardinals
\n0-1 49ers
\n0-1 Rams
\n0-1 Seahawks<\/p>\n
\nA huge win for the Bills on the road at the Jets could come back to be enormous come playoff scenario time<\/em>
\n1-0 Bills
\n1-0 Patriots
\n0-1 Dolphins
\n0-1 Jets<\/p>\n
\nAnother year in the AFC North, another year with Baltimore and Pittsburgh on top
\n<\/em>1-0 Ravens
\n1-0 Steelers
\n0-1 Bengals
\n0-1 Browns<\/p>\n
\nThis might be the most boring divisional race in history…then again, that’s what we said about the Chargers in the AFC West last year
\n<\/em>1-0 Texans
\n0-1 Colts
\n0-1 Jaguars
\n0-1 Titans<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>The Chiefs picked up a nice win over Atlanta, while the Broncos couldn’t beat Pittsburgh at home – those two games could go a long way as this division plays out
\n<\/em>1-0 Chargers
\n1-0 Chiefs
\n0-1 Broncos
\n0-1 Raiders<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"