Week 1
Saints at Falcons
When: 10 a.m. (Fox 28)
Line: Saints by 3
Synopsis: New Orleans has the nucleus of its high-octane, Drew Brees-led offense back, with TE Jimmy Graham again the big target. Atlanta tries to bounce back from a 4-12 clunker of a season. Despite Saints’ success in recent years, they have struggled on the road (6-10 last two seasons). .
Pick: Falcons 27-24
Vikings at Rams
When: 10 a.m.
Line: Rams by 31/2
Synopsis: STL tries to get over the hump but turns to journeyman QB Shaun Hill because of Sam Bradford’s season-ending knee injury. So look for a lot of handoffs to Zac Stacy against a “D” that was No. 16 vs. the run last year. MIN relies on RB Adrian Peterson but he works against perhaps the NFL’s best defensive front.
Pick: Rams 20-17
Browns at Steelers
When: 10 a.m.
Line: Steelers by 7
Synopsis: Veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer starts for the Browns over rookie sensation Johnny Manziel for new coach Mike Pettine, but he’s minus Josh Gordon, the NFL’s top receiver last season who is suspended for the year for another substance-abuse violation. PIT has become an offensive-oriented team recently.
Pick: Steelers 20-16
Jaguars at Eagles
When: 10 a.m.
Line: Eagles by 10
Synopsis: Apparent mismatch of the day, as Philly’s potent offense keyed by RB LeSean McCoy faces the NFL’s fourth-worst run defense of last season. Jacksonville goes with Chad Henne at QB after finally abandoning Blaine Gabbert but doesn’t have much of a WR corps with which to work.
Pick: Eagles 37-17
Raiders at Jets
When: 10 a.m.
Line: Jets by 5 1/2
Synopsis: Geno Smith’s at quarterback for New York for his second year and now has a key target in Eric Decker, who was imported from Denver. OAK goes with rookie Derek Carr at QB. Teams whose QB makes his first NFL start, as Carr will here, are 21-48 over the last seven seasons. ’Nuff said.
Pick: Jets 23-13
Bengals at Ravens
When: 10 a.m.
Line: Ravens by 1 1/2
Synopsis: Ravens are minus suspended RB Ray Rice for the first two games and open with defending AFC North champ Cincinnati, which has had a solid but unspectacular run in recent years with QB Andy Dalton. CINCY is 1-7 in its last eight road division games, as is this one.
Pick: Ravens 20-17
Bills at Bears
When: 10 a.m.
Line: Bears by 7
Synopsis: CHI has become an offensive-oriented team, with a potent Jay Cutler-led passing attack, but it must improve its defense if it wants to be a force. The Bears allowed 394.6 yards a game last year, more than all but two teams. BUF defense should be OK this year, but Bills are a work in progress.
Pick: Bears 30-17
Redskins at Texans
When: 10 a.m.
Line: Texans by 3
Synopsis: WASH QB Robert Griffin III tries to bounce back from a poor year and could do so under new coach Jay Gruden. He’ll operate vs. a defense that was horrendous last year, but is much heathier now and should be vastly improved. Former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien has that job with HOU, but has journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB.
Pick: Texans 23-21
Titans at Chiefs
When: 10 a.m.
Line: Chiefs by 3
Synopsis: KC tries to build off a strong 2013 season, and has given QB Alex Smith a big contract. But WR Dwayne Bowe serves a one-game suspension here for a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. TEN QB Jake Locker is back after an injury-plagued year and will face a reworked KC defensive backfield. KC will unleash RB Jamal Charles on a defense that was 20th vs. the run last year. And KC’s defense figures to be stout again.
Pick: Chiefs 26-17
Patriots at Dolphins
When: 10 a.m. (CBS)
Line: Patriots by 4
Synopsis: New England goes to steamy Miami to open the season, where it lost last year, and no longer is the dominant team that seemed invincible. MIA’s Ryan Tannehill was sacked a league-high 58 times last year, the offensive line has been rebuilt. There are upsets every week in the NFL. Why not here?
Pick: Dolphins 23-20
Panthers at Buccaneers
When: 1:25 p.m.
Line: Buccaneers by 21/2
Synopsis: Carolina has made a lot of changes after a big season last year, and QB Cam Newton’s health is in question as he has been battling a rib injury and might not be able to go. (Derek Anderson would start.) CAR has a new crop of receivers. Tampa turns to QB Josh McCown, who was strong last year in Chicago filling in for Jay Cutler after he was hurt. Lovie Smith takes over as Tampa’s coach, so you know defense will be a priority.
Pick: Buccaneers 20-17
49ers at Cowboys
When: 1:25 p.m. (Fox 28)
Line: 49ers by 41/2
Synopsis: SF’s once-mighty “D” has questions related to suspensions, possible suspensions and injuries. But even if the 49ers give up an uncharacteristic amount of points to a potentially potent Tony Romo-led Dallas attack, they should be able to counter against a Cowboys “D” that was horrid last year and can only improve so much. Normally, this would look like a big day for SF. But because of its uncertain “D,” Dallas stays close.
Pick: 49ers 31-27
Colts at Broncos
When: 5:30 p.m.
Line: Broncos by 7 1/2
Synopsis: DEN gets going after being blitzed by Seattle in the Super Bowl, and QB Peyton Manning comes off a monster season and when not throwing now will hand off to RB Montee Ball. Indy is efficient under QB Andrew Luck, who has WR Reggie Wayne back after missing much of last season and new target Hakeem Nicks, a former Giant.
Line: Broncos 33-23
Giants at Lions
When: 4:10 p.m., Mon. (ESPN)
Line: Lions by 6
Synopsis: A lot of changes for New York, including Rashad Jennings as the lead running back, as it tries to rebound from a poor season. But the offensive line is a question, not a good sign as quarterback Eli Manning comes off a shaky season. Detroit’s potent offense has most of its key cogs back. The Lions’ defensive line is solid, and could rattle Manning.
Pick: Lions 27-23
Chargers at Cardinals
When: 7:20 p.m., Mon. (ESPN)
Line: Cards by 3
Synopsis: SD was fifth in the league in offense last year, and QB Philip Rivers likes to throw to emerging WR Keenan Allen, but they face the stout Arizona “D” here. Arizona had a strong finish last year and just missed the playoffs, but the Carson Palmer-led offense is on the rise.
Pick: Cardinals 21-20