 NFL WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS
Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs (Thu) 8:20p (ET) NBC
The NFL betting season has not yet started, and the Detroit Lions already seem to be
one of the favorite picks for 2023. The Lions have been at the bottom of the NFC North
for a while but are the favorites to win the division this year. The Chiefs endured some offseason losses, but the core of Mahomes, Pacheco, McKinnon and Kelce is still there and, as has been the case throughout the Andy Reid-
Mahomes era, Kansas City’s offensive mindset of unstoppable aggression should
remain a constant. The Lions have a solid team, but honestly, no one is on the same level as the Chiefs.
Date: TNF - September 7th @ 8:20pm
Our Pick: Lions – 23, Chiefs – 34
Odds To Win: Chiefs -4.5 @ 
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons 1:00p (ET) FOX
Led by top overall pick Bryce Young, the Panthers will have a new look on offense this
season, and their first official test comes against a division rival. Carolina’s defense
spent more time on the field than any other unit in 2022, and it’s hard to see that
changing in a team with a new head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback.
There’s a lot to like about Atlanta’s offensive side coming into the new season. First-
round pick RB Bijan Robinson likely will have a very productive year, as he joins
Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier to form one of the most resourceful and
creative backfields in the NFL.
The home team comes out on top is this game.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 1pm
Our Pick: Panthers – 13, Falcons – 20
Odds To Win: Panthers -3.5 @
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens 1:00p (ET) CBS
With a rookie QB in CJ Stroud under center, RB Dameon Pierce might be asked to do
even more for an offense that lacks talent at receiver and a poor offensive line. While
they appear to be headed in the right direction; the Texans still have long ways to go.
Baltimore will have a new-look offense in 2023 under OC Todd Monken. Lamar
Jackson is finally surrounded by a strong group of skill players that should take some of
the weight off his shoulders, and the Ravens will bring back one of the top defenses in
the NFL.
The Ravens kick off the 2023 campaign with a solid win against the Texans.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 1pm
Our Pick: Texans – 12, Ravens – 30
Odds To Win: Ravens -10 @
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns 1:00p (ET) CBS
The Bengals were initially favored by 2.5 points, but Joe Burrow’s recent injury makes
things a bit more complicated, and the Bengals will likely be underdogs if he can’t play.
The defense lost some starters in the secondary so a weakness in the defensive
middle could keep the offense even more aggressive for 60 minutes.
Cleveland is working in a new offense, tailored to Watson, and a new defense with DC
Jim Schwartz turning up the intensity in hopes of producing more sacks and turnovers.
The Browns kept Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper, and David Njoku, while Elijah Moore and
Marquise Goodwin are speedy new additions that should give Watson plenty of
weapons.
The absence of Burrow gives the Browns an advantage in this matchup.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 1pm
Our Pick: Bengals – 17, Browns – 19
Odds To Win: Bengals -2.5 @
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts 1:00p (ET) FOX
Jacksonville had a great year in 2022, making it all the way to the Divisional Round.
The Jaguars are expected to throw the ball more in 2023, expanding on Pederson’s
playbook and utilizing one of the more underrated receiving corps in the league.
The cornerstone of Steichen’s offense in Philly was one of the best offensive lines in
the NFL. On paper, the Colts seem to have just that. On the other side of the ball,
Indianapolis' defensive line doesn't get nearly the credit and respect it deserves. Many
were surprised to see Anthony Richardson’s named as the Week 1 starter, but new
head coach Shane Steichen is clearly confident in the rookie quarterback.
The Jags start the 2023 season with a solid win at Indianapolis.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 1pm
Our Pick: Jaguars – 26, Colts – 20
Odds To Win: Jaguars -5 @
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings 1:00p (ET) CBS
Baker Mayfield enters the 2023 season as the starter for Tampa Bay after Tom Brady’s
retirement, and new OC Dave Canales will want to avoid Mayfield playing under
duress, so the playbook should be, for the most part, short and safe. The Bucs'
defense has a talented linebacker corps which should anchor Todd Bowles' defense.
The Vikings’ offense is going to be improved in Year 2 under HC Kevin O’Connell. Kirk
Cousins to Justin Jefferson is one of the top connections in the NFL, and the addition
of first-round WR Jordan Addison could give Jefferson some more space.
Minnesota’s offensive firepower will be too much for the Bucs to handle.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 1pm
Our Pick: Buccaneers – 19, Vikings – 31
Odds To Win: Vikings -6 @
Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints 1:00p (ET) CBS
Tennessee’s defensive front was among the best at stopping the run in 2022, and
there’s no reason to believe it will be any different in 2023. WR DeAndre Hopkins
moves into the No. 1 role in Tennessee where Tannehill should get back to the +20 TD
range.
The Saints will look to build a new and improved offense this season with Derek Carr
now under center and Michael Thomas back healthy. The Saints also have a great D-
line, which should help slow down Derrick Henry.
Carr starts things off right in New Orleans with a win.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 1pm
Our Pick: Titans – 21, Saints – 24
Odds To Win: Saints -3 @
San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers 1:00p (ET) FOX
Kyle Shannahan has already proven that he can win football games no matter who’s
playing QB for San Francisco. And whoever is under center for the 49ers will still have
the George Kittle - Deebo Samuel - Brandon Aiyuk trio at his disposal, as well as two
outstanding RBs in Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. The powerful 49ers
defense tied with the Steelers for the most interceptions (20) last season.
Watt’s pass pressure is the fuel on the fire, with offenses having to account for him on
every play. QB Kenny Pickett has turnover trouble, and there isn’t a lot of depth at
receiver, which means that the Steelers are going to run the ball (again) this season,
especially after strengthening the left side of the O-line.
This is going to be a close one, but the 49ers will come out on top.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 1pm
Our Pick: 49ers – 24, Steelers – 23
Odds To Win: 49ers -2 @
Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders 1:00p (ET) FOX
The idea that the Cardinals are going to have a tough year got even more cemented
when the team announced they had released expected starting QB for Week 1, Colt
McCoy. Now, they're expected to start Joshua Dobbs, who they traded for from the
Cleveland Browns recently. And this happens right after trading LB Isaiah Simmons, a
former first-round pick, for a seventh rounder.
Washington’s defensive unit is the crowning jewel of this franchise. Head coach Ron
Rivera will be operating with a clean slate at quarterback in the form of Sam Howell,
who will have former Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy calling plays. The rushing game had its
moments last season, but opponents will stack the box and force Bieniemy to put the
offense on the shoulders of an unproven passer.
Washington starts the season with an easy win against the Cardinals.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 1pm
Our Pick: Cardinals – 13, Commanders – 23
Odds To Win: Commanders -7 @
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears 4:25p (ET) FOX
The Packers have a powerful one-two punch on the ground with Aaron Jones and A.J.
Dillion running behind an offensive line that ranks amongst the best in the league.
Despite two horrible seasons for the Packers defense, DC Joe Barry still has his job,
but if the Packers defense starts slow that could change quickly.
Justin Fields was a one-man offense for Chicago in 2022, doing most of the damage
with his legs. There’s a lot of upside on the Bears, considering the way Fields finished
the season in 2022, the offseason acquisition of a legitimate No. 1 receiver in DJ
Moore, and the arrival of RB D’Onta Foreman. Chicago’s defense got better this year
with the additions of linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, which should
help contain the problems on the ground.
A late field gold in the 4th quarter will see the Bears beat the Packers.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 4:25pm
Our Pick: Packers – 23, Bears – 24
Odds To Win: Bears -1 @
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos 4:25p (ET) CBS
The Raiders have an arduous task in one of the NFL's toughest divisions. Jimmy
Garoppolo can’t stay healthy and that’s not expected to change as he ages. Good
news is RB Josh Jacobs, who led the league with 1,653 yards in 2022, is back and his
presence should take some pressure off Garoppolo.
Even though the Denver Broncos had an absolutely terrible 2022 season, they were
close in a lot of their games, with nine of their losses coming by seven or fewer points.
If Payton’s offense clicks and dominates time of possession, opponents will be forced
to throw into the outstanding Broncos secondary.
Wilson puts last season behind him and leads the Broncos to a win against the
Raiders.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 4:25pm
Our Pick: Raiders – 19, Broncos – 26
Odds To Win: Broncos -3.5 @
Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers 4:25p (ET) CBS
The Dolphins O-Line has improved but that’s probably not enough to allow Dolphins'
fans to breathe easy every time Tagovailoa drops back. If Tua stays healthy, Miami has
one of the highest ceilings in the league. The arrival of Vic Fangio creates a new and
improved look for the Dolphins defensive side of the ball. DC Fangio also seems to be
the perfect complement to the young HC McDaniel.
The LA Chargers are bringing in a new offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore in an
attempt to further unlock quarterback Justin Herbert's skillset. If the pass rush,
headlined by Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack can cause even more chaos in the pocket,
opposing QBs will have to hurry their throws against one of the most talented
secondaries in this NFL.
Both these teams have no shortage of firepower and should exchange blows all game
long.
Date: Sunday - September 13th @ 4:25pm
Our Pick: Dolphins – 30, Chargers – 33
Odds To Win: Chargers -3 @
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots 4:25p (ET) CBS
Expectations are once again very high for the Eagles after they came up just short in
last year's Super Bowl. There is no real secret to this team’s success: overwhelm
opponents at the line of scrimmage. And the Eagles continue to be stacked with talent
up front.
While New England’s offense should improve with Bill O'Brien calling plays and some
fairly decent new receiving options for QB Mac Jones, and the defensive side of the
ball seems to be in fairly strong shape, the Patriots have the toughest schedule in the
NFL, starting week 1 against the Eagles.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 4:25pm
Our Pick: Eagles – 27, Patriots – 20
Odds To Win: Eagles -4 @
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks 4:25p (ET) FOX
Less than only two years removed from a Super Bowl win, the Rams offense will look
to bounce back from a season full of injuries. On the other side of the ball, the Rams
lost important players sucks as CB Jalen Ramsey, edge rusher Leonard Floyd, safety
Taylor Rapp, LB Bobby Wagner, and DL A'Shawn Robinson.
The Seahawks have found an answer at QB for the near future in Geno Smith,
rewarding him with a $105 million contract extension this offseason. The defense gets
LB Bobby Wagner back after a one-year tenure with the Rams, and the hope is that
safety Jamal Adams is ready for the start of the season after missing most of the 2022
season with a quad injury.
Seattle is the better team, but these two division rivals should be in for a close game.
Date: Sunday - September 10th @ 4:25pm
Our Pick: Rams – 23, Seahawks – 24
Odds To Win: Seahawks -5.5 @
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants 8:20p (ET) NBC
QB Dak Prescott threw a league-high 17 picks in 2022. HC McCarthy and new OC
Brian Schottenheimer are trying to remedy those mistakes by installing a quicker
offense that would limit the amount of time Prescott holds the ball. One of the best
defensive units in the league got better this offseason, and it all started with convincing
Dan Quinn to stick around.
The New York Giants over-performed expectations in 2022. Daniel Jones was one of
the players that seemed to thrive under HC Brian Daboll, with career bests in passing
(3,205) and rushing (708) yards. RB Saquon Barkley also looked like himself again,
and the explosiveness the offensive unit lacked at times may have been addressed by
the offseason additions of WR Parris Campbell and TE Darren Waller.
Dak and the Cowboys leave New York with a win over the Giants.
Date: SNF - September 10th @ 8:20pm
Our Pick: Cowboys – 27, Giants – 20
Odds To Win: Cowboys 3.5 @
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (Mon) 8:15p (ET) ESPN/ABC
If there’s one thing that we know about the Buffalo Bills is that they are going to score
points. A lot of points. Buffalo saw DC Leslie Frazier leave the team, and not only is the
experienced coordinator gone, but the foundations of this defense seem to be
crumbling. LB Tremaine Edmunds left for Chicago and veteran Von Miller is coming off
a season-ending knee injury and could miss the start of the season.
The New York Jets seemed to be an average QB away from making the playoff in
2022, so they went out and got… Aaron Rodgers! And he is joined by former Packers
teammates WRs Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, and former Vikings RB Delvin Cook.
The Jets defense may be overshadowed by the headline-grabbing additions on the
offensive side of the ball, but Gang Green’s unit has what it takes to be one of the
league’s best in 2023. These two division rivals should have some interesting clashes this season, and the
first one is right out of the gate.
Date: Monday - September 11th @ 8:15pm
Our Pick: Bills – 30, Jets – 27
Odds To Win: Bills 2.5 @
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