2017 Week 1 Predix

Written by Sam DeCoste

It has been a long wait. But it is finally here. NFL football returns this Thursday, as the Patriots drop their fifth Super Bowl banner as they host the Chiefs to kickoff a new season. As the season goes, I will post a Predix page every week before the first game on Thursday night, predicting the results and scorelines of each and every one of the 256 regular season games, as well as ten playoff games and the Super Bowl. It all begins here with Week 1. Here we go. Will your team win in Week 1? 

Kansas City Chiefs @ New England Patriots

I'm not very optimistic that we will get a very entertaining game to open the season if that's what you're hoping. The Patriots have loaded up this offseason and they are ready to defend their title this season. There is buzz about a potential undefeated season, and you better believe it is a real possibility that it will happen. At least if you're the Chiefs, you can get the Patriots game out of the way right out of the gate. The Chiefs should be in the playoffs again this season, but they should be blown out on opening night. Patriots win. 

Prediction: KC 10, NE 38

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

Could this be Ben Roethlisberger's final game at FirstEnergy Stadium? Nah, probably not. But maybe. Roethlisberger admitted he is pondering retirement this season, and may not return in 2018. But nonetheless, he is not getting any younger. Even so, he and the Steelers should be ready to go for this one. The Steelers are a much better team than the Browns, and homefield does not provide much of an advantage to Cleveland. Roethlisberger has played at Cleveland every season since he entered the league in 2004, but he has more wins in Cleveland than most Browns quarterbacks. He will win again before Kizer wins his first NFL game. 

Prediction: PIT 31, CLE 7

Atlanta Falcons @ Chicago Bears

The reigning NFC Champions begin the road to the Super Bowl all over again on a road game in Chicago. They locked up Devonta Freeman to a long-term contract, Julio Jones is as good as he ever was, and the defense surely will improve after a poor campaign in 2016. But the question about this Falcons team is can they replicate their offensive success under Kyle Shanahan? I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, the Falcons offense is loaded. Defensive coordinators will not sleep the night before playing Atlanta. But the Bears have less talent than the Falcons, and they will lose.

Prediction: ATL 24, CHI 16

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

This game has more meaning to it because of the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and its devastation in Texas, especially Houston. Bill O'Brien already came out recently, saying that the Texans will dedicate their 2017 season to the city of Houston. And they will want to give their city something to cheer about in Week 1, when they welcome the Jaguars. As long as Blake Bortles is quarterback, I will always pick the other team playing him. 

Prediction: JAX 9, HOU 27

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

This game is being preached as "The Tank Bowl." Yes, these two teams may be two of the worst in the league going into 2017. Bowles may not last the season, while the Bills begin the era of Sean McDermott. Although the Bills seem to be rebuilding, they are still talented. LeSean McCoy is among the league's best ball carriers and game changers, and they have a talented defense. The Jets are a candidate for the first pick in the draft this season, and they seriously may not win a game this season. They won't win this week.

Prediction: NYJ 10, BUF 20

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins

Every year is supposed to be a big year for quarterbacks. This year is arguably the most important for Kirk Cousins. Wherever he plays next season, a team will have to break the bank for Cousins, who has already made 44 million dollars in two years off of franchise tags. And he has started 0-2 his first two seasons as a Redskins starter, and he has a tough test right off the bat. The Eagles look ready to go in 2017, and they should beat the Redskins for the first time since 2014.

Prediction: PHI 20, WSH 16

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Miami Dolphins

There is another tropical storm that puts this game in a state of uncertainty. It may not be played on Sunday. But talking football, the Dolphins are going with Jay Cutler in 2017 in relief of Ryan Tannehill, who has a torn ACL. On the other side, the stars of Hard Knocks boast Jameis Winston, who looks to take the next step as a true franchise quarterback. His team is loaded with talent across the board, especially with the addition of DeSean Jackson. The Bucs offense should have a field day against the Miami defense, and that should win them plenty of games this season. And the Bucs defense should have a field day against Jay Cutler as well. 

Prediction: TB 31, MIA 27

Oakland Raiders @ Tennessee Titans

The Raiders are back and with a mission to go all the way this year. Could they do it? They could, especially if Marshawn Lynch plays like Marshawn Lynch this year. If Carr replicates his success passing the ball from last year, the Raiders will win many games. But he will have to do it while carrying the defense who have not shown any signs of improvement from last year. The Raiders played in so many exciting games last year because the Raiders offense got off to slow starts, and their defense leaked a lot of yards and points. That cannot be the formula again this year. Otherwise Tennessee will make them pay in Week 1, they have a great offense themselves. But the Raiders have a better one.

Prediction: OAK 34, TEN 24

Arizona Cardinals @ Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford just became the highest paid player in NFL history, with a 5 year, $135 million dollar contract. The Lions are Stafford's team. But he has not been able to compete against playoff opposition. He is 5-46 against teams with a winning record. That is not good enough. I think the Cardinals will have a winning record this season, and make the playoffs by the Wild Card. Do the math.

Prediction: ARZ 31, DET 17

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

This has to be the worst game of the week. The Ravens were by far, the unluckiest team in the offseason. They lost so many players to retirement, injury, and suspension, that they are left drastically shorthanded going into 2017. Their best player is their kicker. But Justin Tucker is a pretty great kicker. And the Bengals have a good team. John Ross will be great, and AJ Green will go back to dominating defensive backs again. And if Joe Mixon gets rolling, the Bengals are a playoff team. 

Prediction: BAL 13, CIN 17

Indianapolis Colts @ Los Angeles Rams

This is a great game if Andrew Luck plays. Andrew Luck is not playing. And Scott Tolzien may be the worst quarterback in the league. He cannot move the Colts offense down the field. And he certainly won't do so against a Wade Phillips defense. The Rams defense is a must start this week in fantasy. It could get ugly for the Colts. The Rams should run riot here. This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: IND 3, LAR 24

Carolina Panthers @ San Francisco 49ers

Ron Rivera won't like starting on the road to start the season again. But going to play the 49ers isn't all that bad, especially when Brian Hoyer is playing quarterback. The Panthers should win the game no problem. And Christian McCaffrey will announce himself to the NFL as well. Rookie of the Year. Will Jed York fire another head coach after this game? Don't be surprised if it happens.

Prediction: CAR 23, SF 16

Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers

Ever since the 2014 NFC Championship, this matchup has not lived up to the hype that it has carried. This year, they open the season against each other. And it should be a cracker of a game. Seattle struggles on the road, and their offensive line is yet again a liability for them. Green Bay's defense lost them the NFC Championship last year (by a large margin), but they have a pretty great quarterback. Aaron Rodgers won't carve the Legion of Boom, but Russell Wilson will be running for his life. 

Prediction: SEA 20, GB 28

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys

Year after year, the NFL puts this game on opening weekend. At some point, they'll stop it, right? Probably not, especially if this game is as good as it usually is. This game, whether Elliott plays or not, is huge for Dak Prescott. He has not beaten the Giants in his career. At some point, he will have to beat them, otherwise he'll establish a reputation for choking against the Giants. I don't believe he does, but it can become a running theme if he struggles Sunday night. Dak will lead the Cowboys back inside the last minute, and win it, leading nostalgic Cowboys fans everywhere preaching "Super Bowl!"

Prediction: NYG 21, DAL 24

New Orleans Saints @ Minnesota Vikings

Ah, yes, the Adrian Peterson bowl. Does anybody else find it weird to see Peterson wearing a Saints uniform? It's weird, especially considering he will probably not start for the Saints. Aside from Peterson, the Saints have finished 7-9 each of the last three years, and they have started 0-3 each time. They struggle out of the gate every year, and this game should be no different, especially considering Minnesota has a great defense. Fantasy owners beware any Saints playmakers.

Prediction: NO 17, MIN 23

Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos

This is the tightest game on the Week 1 slate. The Chargers are loaded, and more so now that they haven't suffered their annual string of injuries in the regular season yet. But their first two draft picks are not 100%, so that still hurts. And on the road at Mile High, it's a tall task for the Chargers to win. The Broncos seem to be forgotten by fans and pundits, which is questionable, given that they won a Super Bowl just two short seasons ago. Their defense is still ferocious, and they will wreak havoc on NFL quarterbacks all season long. Maybe not so against the Chargers, but they will win a close one.

Prediction: LAC 21, DEN 24

Picture credit: http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/66549/20160915/nfl-trade-rumors-dallas-cowboys-swap-dak-prescott-for-paxton-lynch-peyton-manning-want-young-qb-to-replace-trevor-siemian.htm