The season kicks off tonight with the defending champs taking the field, and with it comes probably the most fun series of posts I've done since I started Confessions of a Sportscaster: the Pigskin Pick 'Em.
For the fourth straight year, I have assembled a nice group of people to pick games against the spread for the regular season. I could just post my picks on my own... but what fun would that be? For the second straight season, my friend Adam Quinn is joining me every week to post his picks on here.
Last year, Grabbing the Bull Horns blogger Geoffrey Clark beat both of us, and he is back this season to defend his crown. We'll see if he can do so. This season, my dad will also be joining us. He told me he may regret it, but that's another one we'll have to see on. However, most likely Adam and I will be the only ones actually posting our picks on here, though once games go active you can check the group to see what everyone picked, and I'll update standings as the season goes on.
On a separate note, I have also joined my colleagues at UKEndZone in a straight pick 'em competition. You can view our Week 1 picks here.
So, without further ado, here are Adam's and my picks for Week 1. We disagree on seven of the first 16 games, which is fine as long as this week doesn't go like Weeks 11-16 last year. And even if it does, I intend to follow the advice of my UKEndZone editor Ollie Connolly.
@northsider89 @UKEndZone life should always be lived as a hero Lucas. Always.
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieUKEZ) September 9, 2015Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots (-3.5)
Lucas: Patriots. Since the league gave the season opener to the defending Super Bowl champs, the defending champ has won 9 of 11 (the '12 Giants lost their opener at home to the Cowboys, and the '13 Ravens had to go on the road in Week 1 because the Orioles had a home game that day, and the NFL didn't want to play on a Jewish holiday or something... I forget). A vindicated Tom Brady destroys all.
Adam: Patriots. New England at home with Brady just getting his 4 game suspension lifted… Pitt with no Bell (we need more cow bell!) Not today, Brady and Gronk hook up early and often. Dare I say 4 passing TDs for Brady with 2 to Gronk?
Sunday, Early Afternoon
Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills (+2.5)
Lucas: Colts. Andrew Luck >>>>>>>>> Tyrod Taylor. Sorry, dude.
Adam: Colts. Who do the Bills have once they get past McCoy? They have no QB and mediocre WRs at best. I don’t see how Indy does not win by a TD or better.
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears (+5.5)
Lucas: Packers. Take consolation, Bears fans: for the second time in like five months you can relentlessly boo the tyrant Goodell! Granted, it will be in between booing Cutler's repeated interceptions, but seriously. You have a golden opportunity here. Don't waste it.
Adam: Packers. Ladies and Gentlemen… oh fine you stupid Packers fans too (I mean you, Lucas)… let us take a moment to reflect on what could have been a great season for the Bears… RIP.
Lucas note:
Cleveland Browns @ New York Jets (-3.5)
Lucas: Browns. Rex must have left some sort of voodoo curse when he got fired. That, or the Jets are just the Jets. Though I did get a fantasy football team name out of the deal...
Kansas City Chiefs @ Houston Texans (-1.5)
Lucas: Texans. Since this game is in Houston, I'm delaying one of my picking rules. Also, I hope J.J. Watt catches like 10 touchdowns this year just because he can.
Adam: Texans. I would also like to go out on a limb and pick the offensive player of the year: one Mr. J.J. Watt.
Lucas note:
Seattle Seahawks @ St. Louis Rams (+3.5)
Lucas: Rams. I think Seattle still wins, but I'm playing the "West Coast team playing a game at 10am body clock time against a tough opponent" card while we can't ignore the Kam Chancellor situation.
Adam: Rams. God help me I picked a team with Nick Foles on it… FML. I think this game will go the way of low scoring and it may come down to a FG. Both D's are solid.
Lucas note: I still don't get the massive Nick Foles hatred...
Miami Dolphins @ Washington Redskins (+2.5)
Lucas: Dolphins. I know I shouldn't joke about injuries, but I think it would be hilarious if Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy both get hurt (not out of the question, considering Ndamukong Suh is in Miami now...) and the Redskins have to go back to RGIII for the rest of the year.
Adam: Dolphins. Kirk – Mother F-ing – Cousins.
Carolina Panthers @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+4.5)
Lucas: Panthers. Picking the black cat in honor of the battle of the cats here for Rascal and Gizmo. You remember Rascal from last season; he went 2-2 in his picks, while Gizmo is a new addition to our family from back in May. Of course, they probably don't care that I picked a game in their honor because they're too busy looking outside (and in Gizmo's case, meowing to go out).
Sunday, Late Afternoon
Detroit Lions @ San Diego Chargers (-2.5)
Lucas: Lions. Kristen and I went to Vegas in June, and on our last day, I went to the sportsbook at our hotel. I wanted to bet a little money on a couple of games (since I was there). Since Green Bay was a ridiculous favorite (I don't remember the exact line, but I think it was like -155), I wanted to find a couple underdogs that seemed reasonable; Detroit was +125. I'm putting my Pigskin Pick 'Em pick where my money is.
Adam: Chargers. Until the Lions show how their backfield will look, I will steer clear of these close match-ups.
New Orleans Saints @ Arizona Cardinals (-2.5)
Lucas: Cardinals. I think Brees is going to miss having Jimmy Graham around.
Adam: Saints. NOLO has lost some 50% of the targets from last year. Look for 2nd year receiver Cooks (who I love from a fantasy perspective) to soak up plenty of those targets and red zone looks. AZ will have a fine season as well, but will have to wait until Week 2 for their first victory (against the Bears for the record).
Lucas note: Do I go here this early in the season? I'm going here this early in the season.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Oakland Raiders (+3.5)
Lucas: Bengals. Can we just send the Raiders to Los Angeles, have whatever new stadium gets built go for like three years of being only about 60 percent full because no one likes Mark Davis, then move them back to Oakland and never speak of moving a team to Los Angeles again?
Baltimore Ravens @ Denver Broncos (-4.5)
Lucas: Ravens. I don't particularly want to bet on the Ravens, especially considering there's a Maryland-based sports blog that is so blindly pro-Ravens they have a persecution complex about their teams and posted a garbage blog post about DeflateGate (that I won't bother linking to because I refuse to give them clicks for it), but I can't shake the feeling that there will be a back door cover on this game. Take the points.
Adam: Broncos. Not really sure what to say, I think it will be a good game but the line is low enough that I am taking the home favorite. Manning and Thomas should hook up nicely and Anderson will show if he is really an every down back as it appears he will start the season as.
Tennessee Titans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5)
Lucas: Titans. Part of this is my belief that Marcus Mariota is better than Jameis Winston. You know what, both teams suck, so let's just leave it at Mariota > Winston.
Adam: Buccaneers. Mark it down now, Doug Martin has his best year in more than 2 years.
Lucas note: So... he actually plays a full season?
Sunday Night
New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys (-5.5)
Lucas: Giants. NBC needs to drop the NFC East lovefest. Also, seeing some of what Odell Beckham, Jr. has been up to leading up to the season, give me the upset here.
Adam: Cowboys. It hurt bad that Dallas gave up Murray to Philly. The backfield is in shambles… but that just means Dez can put on a receiving clinic for everyone. Oh and he may even show OBJ a thing or two. OBJ is my prediction for one of the biggest fantasy busts of the year.
Monday Night
Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons (+0.5)
Lucas: Eagles. The crew is standing by and awaiting your orders, Admiral Kelly.
Minnesota Vikings @ San Francisco 49ers (-2.5)
Lucas: Vikings. Another Vegas pick. The Vikings were +140 in late June when I put money down on them. I still don't know how the Niners are favorites. Shut up and give me my money, Vegas sportsbook; I want to go on the High Roller for Happy Half Hour again.
Lucas note: I feel so much better. GIVE ME MY MONEY, VEGAS!
Records Last Season
Lucas: 124-132
Adam: 123-133
Geoffrey: 135-121
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