2020 NFL Pick’ems: Week 1

Opening Week’s are always tough when it comes to picking games. You have a good idea of how each team will look, some more than others, but you can’t know for sure. With so many moving pieces in the offseason – personnel and coaching changes, the addition of rookies – the variables become much more complicated.

Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs

Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

Winner: Buffalo Bills

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings

Winner: Green Bay Packers

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Football Team

It was an off season like no other for the Washington franchise, which saw not only the worldwide pandemic, but a paradigm shift in society that ultimately lead to the team dropping the moniker they’ve used for over 80 years. Fresh starts, new beginnings, anything is possible now in Washington. Of course, it’s entirely possible that nothing really changes on the field with Dan Snyder still preferring to be the ventriloquist for his front office, rather than putting football people in place and letting them make the football decisions. This will supposedly be the case with Ron Rivera – a head coach Washington was extremely lucky to have nabbed last year.

With that said, there is some genuine reason for optimism in Washington. Not that they will be competing for anything serious, like a playoff spot. However, there is a sense that under Rivera, this team will no longer be the butt of the league, but more of a professional outfit that will look to outwork the opposition. Rivera was a blue-chip linebacker in his playing days, and that same mentality has carried over to his coaching style. By all accounts he is a player’s coach, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to allow any nonsense to proliferate through his ranks. Washington selected what many considered to be the best player in the 2020 Draft in DE Chase Young. Adding this young stud to a front seven that is already loaded with talent, there is tons of buzz around Washington having one of the best pass-rushes in the league this year.

For Philadelphia, it’s back to the grindstone after just barely squeezing out a division championship last year, only to lose QB Carson Wentz to injury for another playoff run. With a healthy Wentz on the field, there is little doubt that the Eagles can compete offensively. However, the Eagles will be starting this year much like how they started last year – injury-plagued. Top wideout Alshon Jeffery is expected to miss several weeks with a recovering foot injury, while stellar second-year RB Miles Sanders will be out with a hamstring. This severely limits the Eagles’ big-play ability on offense. Fortunately, they may not have to put up a ton of points to win against Washington this week.

Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens

Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Winner: Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders @ Carolina Panthers

Winner: Las Vegas Raiders

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions

Winner: Chicago Bears

Seattle Seahawks @ Atlanta Falcons

Winner: Seattle Seahawks

Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots

These two teams were headed in opposite directions at the end of last season. The Dolphins were surging, winning three of their last five games including a victory over the Patriots in the final week. In New England, major change was coming as Tom Brady would be playing his last games as a Patriot after 20 years as the unquestioned leader. Now, Brady is in Tampa Bay, and another former league MVP has stepped in to replace the legend at quarterback. Cam Newton is motivated to prove he can still be one of the more difficult questions to solve for NFL defenses, while Bill Belichick will be looking to prove he was the driving force behind creating the greatest dynasty the league has ever sen.

Winner: Miami Dolphins

Los Angeles Chargers @ Cincinnati Bengals

Winner: Los Angeles Chargers

Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers

Winner: San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints

Winner: New Orleans Saints