We’ve finally made it to the beginning of the 2019 NFL season, and I, for one, am ecstatic!
We got our appetizer on Thursday night. One of the greatest rivalries in NFL history–Packers v. Bears–kicked off the 100th NFL season. And what a game it was.
Packers at Bears. It was all about DEFENSE! Each team put constant pressure on the opposing quarterback and also kept the running game in check. In check = stuffed. The Packers allowed just 56 yards rushing, while the Bears gave up 48 yards on the ground. Wow! The lack of running success put pressure on Mitchell Trubisky, and that’s trouble when the other team has a guy named Rodgers. The game turned on one great play. It started (of course) with ‘that guy,’ Rodgers, who threw a 50/50 ball to Jimmy Graham. The former basketball player used his body-blocking skills to make an end zone catch. It was the game’s only touchdown.
It’s the very first game of the season so, naturally, it will take a few games for these teams to find their groove. But my take is that Pack is back. In my TSC season predictions piece, I have them listed as a playoff team. The Bears? Trubisky and the Bears’ O have a lot of work to do.
With Thursday’s game in the books, here are my weekend picks, Week 1.
Cowboys 29, Giants 19
Rams 33, Panthers 16
Browns 24, Titans 20
Chiefs 31, Jaguars 24
Ravens 36, Dolphins 10
Vikings 30, Falcons 27
Jets 24, Bills 13
Eagles 20, Redskins 17
Chargers 27, Indianapolis 13
Seahawks 23, Bengals 3
Lions 17, Cardinals 14
Bucs 35, 49ers 28
Steelers 30, Patriots 23
Texans 25, Saints 24
Broncos 24, Raiders 16
With that said, look for my NFL predictions each week. My first edition of NFL Power Rankings will come out every Tuesday starting in Week 3. And I invite you to listen to the Route 4 Sports Podcast for a whole lot of NFL talk. What’s more, let me know if you’d like to be a guest on the show. Email me at jfeir816@aol.com.
Enjoy Week 1!
