613 breaks down every Sunday matchup, as well as the double header Monday night. Find out who will win, who to watch, who will surprise and more here in our Week 1 Preview. Check here before making your picks, or choosing your starters this Sunday.
Playoff Rematch: Rodgers Returns to Candlestick NE @ BUF: EJ Manuel vs. Tom Brady. How will this play out I wonder? Belichek, Brady and Co. pick apart Bills D, and Pats D forces young Bills Offense into too many mistakes. Pats run wild with Ridley & Vereen as N.E. cruises to victory! Players to watch: Bills young offense, featuring EJ Manuel, CJ Spiller, and R.Woods versus unheralded N.E. players like Vereen, Sudfeld, and Thompkins.
CIN @ CHI: Big defensive matchup to kick off the season for these playoff hopefuls. Both QBS (Dalton and Cutler,) are trying to take that step into Elite status. They will have their work cut out for them as these defenses are no joke. Look for the Bears D to be too strong in a rather ugly game. Players to watch: Alshon Jeffery WR - CHI, and Gio Bernard RB - CIN
MIA @ CLE: Hype machine Miami, rolls into Cleveland full of hope only to be slapped back into reality by the very average Browns. Miami has a lot of people buying in with the FA acquisitions they made in the off-season - however the Browns D is very underrated. Look for Joe Haden to contain Mike Wallace and for the Browns D to limit the Fins rushing attack. Due to Browns weak offense of their own this game will probably be closer than it should be. Jordan Cameron should make enough plays in the passing game to compliment the heavy workload Trent Richardson will receive. The new look offense for the Dolphins fails to show up in Week 1. Players to watch: Dion Jordan DE - MIA and Jordan Cameron TE - CLE
ATL @ N.O.: The other Payton is back. Sean Payton! In his return the rejuvenated Saints show off their high powered offense and make enough plays defensively to upset the Falcons opening week. Saints catch the Falcons off guard with a more successful running attack while Stephen Jackson's struggles to do much in his first game with Atlanta. Players to watch: Mark Ingram RB - N.O. and Jacquizz Rodgers RB - ATL
T.B. @ NYJ: Revis returns to his New York Island. Geno Smith continues to struggle much like in preseason and the Bucs D takes advantage as Tampa opens the season with a strong performance on the road. Look for Jets special teams and defense to keep them in the game for a while - but the inevitable rookie mistakes to be made by Geno Smith will ultimately cost the Jets the game. Players to watch: Mike Williams WR - TB, and Tampa Bays new look Secondary (Barron, Goldson, Banks, & Revis)
TEN @ PIT: Dick Lebeau loves playing against young QBs. His formula has proven succesful time and time again; Blitz, force turnovers, Blitz, force some more Blitz some more and then win. Unless Chris Johnson returns to CJ2K or Locker takes a major jump forward the Titans should come up short in this game. Players to watch: Isaac Redman RB - PIT and Kenny Britt WR - TEN
MIN @ DET: Lions show off their new toy, Reggie Bush, and display their high powered offense against the Vikings. Ponder and the Minnesota offense struggles to keep pace despite Adrian Petersons efforts. Lions D looks great and forces Ponder to make a couple costly mistakes and the one dimensional Vikings drop the season opener. Players to watch: Reggie Bush RB - DET and Kyle Rudolph TE - MIN
OAK @ IND: Colts display a much more balanced offense with a more productive running game as they feed Bradshaw the ball around 20 times vs. the Raiders. Colts improved defense, rushing attack, plus an improved Luck all contribute to an easy win for Indy. Players to watch: Tyrelle Pyror QB - OAK (will make a few plays for the highlights) and Ahmad Bradshaw RB - IND (should break 100 all purpose yards and reach pay dirt)
SEA @ CAR: UPSET ALERT! Seattle is forced to travel across the country for their opening game. They will play at what will feel like 10am by their watches. Look for Carolina defense to do a nice job containing Marshawn Lynch and keeping the game close - however look for the Panthers to struggle to make enough plays , on the offensive side, down the stretch to pull off the upset. Players to watch: Golden Tate WR - SEA, and Carolina s improved D-Line.
KC @ JAX: In the "Who Really Cares?" game of the week the new look Chiefs aim to catch teams off guard this season. Look for the Jags D to keep them in it til the 4th quarter until Alex Smith drives K.C. down the field for a late score to seal the deal. Andy Reid, Jamaal Charles, and Alex Smith all impress as the Chiefs look to be the leagues most improved and challenge for a playoff spot. Players to watch: Blaine Gabbert QB - JAX and Dwayne Bowe WR - KC.
ARI @ STL: Watch these D's! The NFC west packs the best defenses in the league and this game will showcase 2 of them competing. Rams had the best record withing the NFC West going 4-1-1 and they've added a couple of weapons on the offensive side. Patrick Peterson and Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu will form one of the best CB pairs in the league and should give Rams WR's lots of trouble. Look for Bradford to hook up with J. Cook enough times to move the sticks and to put up more points than the Cards offense. Carson Palmer shows why he is an upgrade over LY's quarterback play in Arizona, however poor O-line play carries over from last season, and the Cardinals can't handle the Rams pressure. Defenses both perform well but Rams make enough plays on O to get the "W". Players to watch: Jared Cook TE - Rams and Tyran Mathieu CB - ARI.
G.B. @ S.F.: Rematch in Candlestick - Rodgers returns one more time. This time Rodgers gets his revenge. Pack WR's get the best of S.F. CB's and force them into making too many mistakes/penalties. With the Pack jumping out to an early lead the 49ers are forced to play catch up and Kaepernick looks a bit rusty trying to rally San Fran from behind. Players to watch: Jordy Nelson WR - GB, Jermichael Finley TE - GB, and Quinton Patton WR - S.F.
NYG @ DAL: Sunday Night features a great NFC East showdown. Dallas shows off explosive offense with healthy; Romo, Dez, Murray, Witten, and Austin and their defense surprises many as they contain the Giants passing attack. Giants usually stumble out of the gates and this season is no different. Aside from a few big plays by David Wilson, New York will fall short as they shot themselves in the foot too often. Players to watch: Demarco Murray RB - DAL, and Rueben Randle WR - NYG.
PHI @ WAS: Big Monday nigth matchup featuring two QB's out to prove something. Vick wants to show he is much better than last seasons performance and RG3 wants to show hes back 100% (no he's not,) and ready to play. Vick and Eagles offense moves the ball with more effectiveness but Skins D manages to hold them off enough to let Alfred Morris wear them out on the other side of the ball. RG3 looks solid but timid in the win as Skins impress as an overall team, Players to watch: Desean Jackson WR - PHI and RG3 QB - WAS
HOU @ S.D.: Blow Out Of The Week! Houston looks like a powerhouse as they crush the Chargers O-line and dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Arian Foster, Ben Tate and Houston, gallops to a big win as San Diego fans brace for a long season. Rivers looks light years from where he was as a passer a few years ago and Chargers lack of playmakers on offense make this game a laugher. Players to watch: Ben Tate RB - HOU, Danny Woodhead RB - S.D., and Vincent Brown WR - S.D.
Thanks Folks!
Happy Sunday.
-D.M.
CIN @ CHI: Big defensive matchup to kick off the season for these playoff hopefuls. Both QBS (Dalton and Cutler,) are trying to take that step into Elite status. They will have their work cut out for them as these defenses are no joke. Look for the Bears D to be too strong in a rather ugly game. Players to watch: Alshon Jeffery WR - CHI, and Gio Bernard RB - CIN
MIA @ CLE: Hype machine Miami, rolls into Cleveland full of hope only to be slapped back into reality by the very average Browns. Miami has a lot of people buying in with the FA acquisitions they made in the off-season - however the Browns D is very underrated. Look for Joe Haden to contain Mike Wallace and for the Browns D to limit the Fins rushing attack. Due to Browns weak offense of their own this game will probably be closer than it should be. Jordan Cameron should make enough plays in the passing game to compliment the heavy workload Trent Richardson will receive. The new look offense for the Dolphins fails to show up in Week 1. Players to watch: Dion Jordan DE - MIA and Jordan Cameron TE - CLE
ATL @ N.O.: The other Payton is back. Sean Payton! In his return the rejuvenated Saints show off their high powered offense and make enough plays defensively to upset the Falcons opening week. Saints catch the Falcons off guard with a more successful running attack while Stephen Jackson's struggles to do much in his first game with Atlanta. Players to watch: Mark Ingram RB - N.O. and Jacquizz Rodgers RB - ATL
T.B. @ NYJ: Revis returns to his New York Island. Geno Smith continues to struggle much like in preseason and the Bucs D takes advantage as Tampa opens the season with a strong performance on the road. Look for Jets special teams and defense to keep them in the game for a while - but the inevitable rookie mistakes to be made by Geno Smith will ultimately cost the Jets the game. Players to watch: Mike Williams WR - TB, and Tampa Bays new look Secondary (Barron, Goldson, Banks, & Revis)
TEN @ PIT: Dick Lebeau loves playing against young QBs. His formula has proven succesful time and time again; Blitz, force turnovers, Blitz, force some more Blitz some more and then win. Unless Chris Johnson returns to CJ2K or Locker takes a major jump forward the Titans should come up short in this game. Players to watch: Isaac Redman RB - PIT and Kenny Britt WR - TEN
MIN @ DET: Lions show off their new toy, Reggie Bush, and display their high powered offense against the Vikings. Ponder and the Minnesota offense struggles to keep pace despite Adrian Petersons efforts. Lions D looks great and forces Ponder to make a couple costly mistakes and the one dimensional Vikings drop the season opener. Players to watch: Reggie Bush RB - DET and Kyle Rudolph TE - MIN
OAK @ IND: Colts display a much more balanced offense with a more productive running game as they feed Bradshaw the ball around 20 times vs. the Raiders. Colts improved defense, rushing attack, plus an improved Luck all contribute to an easy win for Indy. Players to watch: Tyrelle Pyror QB - OAK (will make a few plays for the highlights) and Ahmad Bradshaw RB - IND (should break 100 all purpose yards and reach pay dirt)
SEA @ CAR: UPSET ALERT! Seattle is forced to travel across the country for their opening game. They will play at what will feel like 10am by their watches. Look for Carolina defense to do a nice job containing Marshawn Lynch and keeping the game close - however look for the Panthers to struggle to make enough plays , on the offensive side, down the stretch to pull off the upset. Players to watch: Golden Tate WR - SEA, and Carolina s improved D-Line.
KC @ JAX: In the "Who Really Cares?" game of the week the new look Chiefs aim to catch teams off guard this season. Look for the Jags D to keep them in it til the 4th quarter until Alex Smith drives K.C. down the field for a late score to seal the deal. Andy Reid, Jamaal Charles, and Alex Smith all impress as the Chiefs look to be the leagues most improved and challenge for a playoff spot. Players to watch: Blaine Gabbert QB - JAX and Dwayne Bowe WR - KC.
ARI @ STL: Watch these D's! The NFC west packs the best defenses in the league and this game will showcase 2 of them competing. Rams had the best record withing the NFC West going 4-1-1 and they've added a couple of weapons on the offensive side. Patrick Peterson and Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu will form one of the best CB pairs in the league and should give Rams WR's lots of trouble. Look for Bradford to hook up with J. Cook enough times to move the sticks and to put up more points than the Cards offense. Carson Palmer shows why he is an upgrade over LY's quarterback play in Arizona, however poor O-line play carries over from last season, and the Cardinals can't handle the Rams pressure. Defenses both perform well but Rams make enough plays on O to get the "W". Players to watch: Jared Cook TE - Rams and Tyran Mathieu CB - ARI.
G.B. @ S.F.: Rematch in Candlestick - Rodgers returns one more time. This time Rodgers gets his revenge. Pack WR's get the best of S.F. CB's and force them into making too many mistakes/penalties. With the Pack jumping out to an early lead the 49ers are forced to play catch up and Kaepernick looks a bit rusty trying to rally San Fran from behind. Players to watch: Jordy Nelson WR - GB, Jermichael Finley TE - GB, and Quinton Patton WR - S.F.
NYG @ DAL: Sunday Night features a great NFC East showdown. Dallas shows off explosive offense with healthy; Romo, Dez, Murray, Witten, and Austin and their defense surprises many as they contain the Giants passing attack. Giants usually stumble out of the gates and this season is no different. Aside from a few big plays by David Wilson, New York will fall short as they shot themselves in the foot too often. Players to watch: Demarco Murray RB - DAL, and Rueben Randle WR - NYG.
PHI @ WAS: Big Monday nigth matchup featuring two QB's out to prove something. Vick wants to show he is much better than last seasons performance and RG3 wants to show hes back 100% (no he's not,) and ready to play. Vick and Eagles offense moves the ball with more effectiveness but Skins D manages to hold them off enough to let Alfred Morris wear them out on the other side of the ball. RG3 looks solid but timid in the win as Skins impress as an overall team, Players to watch: Desean Jackson WR - PHI and RG3 QB - WAS
HOU @ S.D.: Blow Out Of The Week! Houston looks like a powerhouse as they crush the Chargers O-line and dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Arian Foster, Ben Tate and Houston, gallops to a big win as San Diego fans brace for a long season. Rivers looks light years from where he was as a passer a few years ago and Chargers lack of playmakers on offense make this game a laugher. Players to watch: Ben Tate RB - HOU, Danny Woodhead RB - S.D., and Vincent Brown WR - S.D.
Thanks Folks!
Happy Sunday.
-D.M.
