09-06-2015, 02:46 PM
Due to the pleasantly surprising demand/interest, I have decided to return with this series of posts previewing the games played by the division teams, maybe engaging in a little smack in the process, and picking those games. I readily admit it was fun reading the various perspectives and engaging in the unexpected competitive pick-'em aspect.
Because it is week one and I have a couple of other tasks I need to do, I am starting this early, but after this week, I will try to post it on Thursdays...NLT Saturday by 11 AM. Because it is so early in the week, I reserve the right to change/revise my picks up until midnight Friday as news/circumstances warrant. Of course I imagine any other participant is free to exercise the same prerogative.
With this in mind...let's get it started!
Kansas City (0-0) at Houston (0-0)-This is a rare game that features two guys coming off 20+ sack seasons-Kansas City's Justin Houston and Houston's J.J. Watt. You can bet the blocking schemes will pay these guys a lot of attention. Kansas City has a good pass rusher opposite Houston in Tamba Hali. The Texans wanted to do a more dominant version of this dynamic by drafting Jadeveon Clowney #1 overall, but he suffered a knee injury in the Houston Texans' turf that resulted in the dreaded microfracture surgery. Texans officials have been outwardly confident in their proclamations of his recovery, but many guys who have that procedure done lose their explosiveness and are not the same prior to the surgery. Clowney isn't the dominant pass rushing prospect without his explosiveness. Ultimately, I think the game will hinge on the ability of each offense to neutralize the pass rush. KC has the ability to run the ball effectively with Jamaal Charles, have a decent to good QB an Alex Smith, and a better than anyone they had last year WR in Jeremy Maclin. The same cannot be said for Houston's offense, where Arian Foster is out with a groin injury, Hoyer is an average to decent QB at best, and Deandre Hopkins is a good young WR prospect, but nowhere near the dominator Andre Johnson was in his prime. Chiefs 23, Texans 17.
Tacks (0-0) at Tampa Bay (0-0)-A game featuring the top two rookie QBs and top two players selected in this past draft making their official NFL debuts in Tampa's Jameis Winston and Tennessee's Marcus Mariota. Winston appears to have more surrounding skill position talent to help him with Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson, TE Austin Sefarian Jenkins, who should be difficult matchups against almost any secondary they go against. However, they had problems protecting Winston in the preseason, and Winston did not perform as well as Mariota. The difference here will be new Tennessee defensive coordinator Hall of Famer Dick Lebeau, who was a long time coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has generally given rookie QBs a very hard time over the course of his illustrious career, and has any number of imaginative blitzes lined up against a line struggling to protect that rookie making his first start. Tacks 21-Bucs 16.
Colts (0-0) at Buffalo (0-0)-This is a classic struggle between offense and defense, as the reigning AFC South champs bring a loaded offense to Buffahole to go up against a loaded defense and Rex Ryan making his debut as Bills head coach. With a talented and versatile group of targets, the Colts can exploit defenses with size (Andre Johnson and Moncrief) speed (Hilton and Dorsett), and TEs (Fleener and Allen). Their offensive weakness lays in the trenches, where Buffalo and its array of pass rushers and blitzes will attack as soon as they get off the bus. The Bills also have a good secondary that excels in man coverage. The difference is going to be the other matchup-the Bills offense vs, the Colts' defense. The Bills also have an impressive array of skill positions with McCoy running the ball against a vulnerable Colts run defense, Watkins and Percy Harvin. But the Bills don't have a guy like Andrew Luck at QB. Colts 28-Bills 23.
Panthers (0-0) at Jaguars (0-0)-The 1995 expansion teams renew early season acquaintances once again. Part of me still hates this team and their fans. Carolina comes to town with a depleted offensive line and receiving corps, but a rock solid defensive front seven against a Jaguars team that by many indicia, looks to be an improved group, especially on the offensive side of the ball. This game will hinge on whether the Jaguars can muster up enough of a running game to be competent and take some pressure off Bortles. I think they will. Jaguars win 24-20.
Last year's record: Who knows.
This year's record: 0-0 (I'm still in it!!!)
Because it is week one and I have a couple of other tasks I need to do, I am starting this early, but after this week, I will try to post it on Thursdays...NLT Saturday by 11 AM. Because it is so early in the week, I reserve the right to change/revise my picks up until midnight Friday as news/circumstances warrant. Of course I imagine any other participant is free to exercise the same prerogative.
With this in mind...let's get it started!
Kansas City (0-0) at Houston (0-0)-This is a rare game that features two guys coming off 20+ sack seasons-Kansas City's Justin Houston and Houston's J.J. Watt. You can bet the blocking schemes will pay these guys a lot of attention. Kansas City has a good pass rusher opposite Houston in Tamba Hali. The Texans wanted to do a more dominant version of this dynamic by drafting Jadeveon Clowney #1 overall, but he suffered a knee injury in the Houston Texans' turf that resulted in the dreaded microfracture surgery. Texans officials have been outwardly confident in their proclamations of his recovery, but many guys who have that procedure done lose their explosiveness and are not the same prior to the surgery. Clowney isn't the dominant pass rushing prospect without his explosiveness. Ultimately, I think the game will hinge on the ability of each offense to neutralize the pass rush. KC has the ability to run the ball effectively with Jamaal Charles, have a decent to good QB an Alex Smith, and a better than anyone they had last year WR in Jeremy Maclin. The same cannot be said for Houston's offense, where Arian Foster is out with a groin injury, Hoyer is an average to decent QB at best, and Deandre Hopkins is a good young WR prospect, but nowhere near the dominator Andre Johnson was in his prime. Chiefs 23, Texans 17.
Tacks (0-0) at Tampa Bay (0-0)-A game featuring the top two rookie QBs and top two players selected in this past draft making their official NFL debuts in Tampa's Jameis Winston and Tennessee's Marcus Mariota. Winston appears to have more surrounding skill position talent to help him with Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson, TE Austin Sefarian Jenkins, who should be difficult matchups against almost any secondary they go against. However, they had problems protecting Winston in the preseason, and Winston did not perform as well as Mariota. The difference here will be new Tennessee defensive coordinator Hall of Famer Dick Lebeau, who was a long time coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has generally given rookie QBs a very hard time over the course of his illustrious career, and has any number of imaginative blitzes lined up against a line struggling to protect that rookie making his first start. Tacks 21-Bucs 16.
Colts (0-0) at Buffalo (0-0)-This is a classic struggle between offense and defense, as the reigning AFC South champs bring a loaded offense to Buffahole to go up against a loaded defense and Rex Ryan making his debut as Bills head coach. With a talented and versatile group of targets, the Colts can exploit defenses with size (Andre Johnson and Moncrief) speed (Hilton and Dorsett), and TEs (Fleener and Allen). Their offensive weakness lays in the trenches, where Buffalo and its array of pass rushers and blitzes will attack as soon as they get off the bus. The Bills also have a good secondary that excels in man coverage. The difference is going to be the other matchup-the Bills offense vs, the Colts' defense. The Bills also have an impressive array of skill positions with McCoy running the ball against a vulnerable Colts run defense, Watkins and Percy Harvin. But the Bills don't have a guy like Andrew Luck at QB. Colts 28-Bills 23.
Panthers (0-0) at Jaguars (0-0)-The 1995 expansion teams renew early season acquaintances once again. Part of me still hates this team and their fans. Carolina comes to town with a depleted offensive line and receiving corps, but a rock solid defensive front seven against a Jaguars team that by many indicia, looks to be an improved group, especially on the offensive side of the ball. This game will hinge on whether the Jaguars can muster up enough of a running game to be competent and take some pressure off Bortles. I think they will. Jaguars win 24-20.
Last year's record: Who knows.
This year's record: 0-0 (I'm still in it!!!)
