We are almost all the way through the preseason in the NFL now, which means that Week 1 of the regular season is now just a couple of weeks away. We all now have a good idea of the likely Super Bowl challengers this season and of which teams might be in the cellar. That said, there is a history of weird things happening in the NFL, especially in the opening week of the season when slow-starting teams might come out a little flat. With that in mind, we are going to look ahead to the opening week and make some bold predictions so you can bet against their NFL odds. Let’s see how many we end up getting right.
4 Bold Predictions for NFL Week 1
The Super Bowl Champs Don’t Have it Easy
There is going to be a lot of celebrating on the opening night of the season, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers getting their rings and raising the championship flag in their home opener. It’s always a glitzy affair when teams get to do that, but it can also come with a bit of a Super Bowl hangover. Yes, the Bucs are going to be good again this season, but I think they might have a fight on their hands on the first Thursday night of the season. The Cowboys are looking to bounce back, and what better way to do it than to give the champs a scare.
Shootout in Buffalo
The Buffalo Bills took a massive step forward last season, thanks in large part to QB Josh Allen having a breakout season. The expectation is that this team will be in the mix for the Super Bowl this season, but they also have a tough game in the opening week. The Pittsburgh Steelers will be in town, and while they are in a bit of a transition year, they are still very dangerous. Big Ben looked fit and sharp in his first preseason appearance, which is very good news for the Steelers. I think we might see Roethlisberger and Allen shoot it out in Week 1.
Zach Wilson Wows in Week 1
The QB draft class this year is one of the best that we have seen in quite some time. Most people would agree that Trevor Lawrence is the one to watch, but he is not even being guaranteed a start in Week 1 if the season. Having watched the preseason, and yes, it is just the preseason, the rookie QB that is catching the eye is Zach Wilson of the New York Jets. He even caught the eye of Aaron Rodgers after putting on a great showing against the Packers in preseason. I think Wilson has a big opening week.
Cleveland Browns with the Upset
Remember, what we are talking about here is bold predictions. This is one that I don’t think I would throw any money at, but when looking for a potential upset in Week 1, it was the Browns on the road against the Chiefs that jumped out. At the very least, I would take the Browns to cover as a 6-point underdog, but I would also not be stunned if they found a way to scrape out a win in KC.
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