Sunday Selections are back! I couldn’t be happier for the first Sunday of the NFL season. On Thursday night, the NFL season began with the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs ended up winning 32-29. Now, most of you will be spending your Sundays watching the NFL until the season ends. I want to make some picks for this season, so here are my award winners, division winners, and Super Bowl champion:
NFL Honors:
NFL MVP: Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
NFL Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
NFL Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
NFL Coach of the Year: Brian Flores, Miami Dolphins
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Cleveland Browns
NFL Comeback Player of the Year: Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Division Winners:
AFC East: Buffalo Bills
AFC North: Cleveland Browns
AFC South: Tennessee Titans
AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs
NFC East: Washington Football Team
NFC North: Green Bay Packers
NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals
AFC Champion: Kansas City Chiefs defeat Buffalo Bills
NFC Champion: Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat Arizona Cardinals
Super Bowl Champion: Kansas City Chiefs defeat Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Now that we have made our season predictions, let’s make some picks for this week.
Baltimore Ravens (0-0) (-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (0-0)
Even with no running back depth and Marcus Peters done for the season, I expect the Ravens to start their season with a win. They lead the series 8-3, and their weapons on both sides of the ball make it hard for me to go against them.
Tune into Ravens at Raiders on Monday at 8:15 PM ET on ESPN/ABC.
Philadelphia Eagles (0-0) at Atlanta Falcons (0-0) (-3)
The Eagles’ offense is something I want to keep an eye on this season. They have Jalen Hurts at quarterback, with the Heisman winner as their possible top receiver. Zach Ertz is getting more healthy too. However, their defense concerns me. The Eagles are 11-5 (including playoffs) against the Falcons since 2000. The last time the Eagles kicked off the season against Atlanta, they won. I’ll take the Eagles, but it’s going to be a thriller.
Tune into Eagles at Falcons at 1 PM ET on FOX.
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) at Buffalo Bills (0-0) (-6.5)
Even though the Steelers lead the series 16-11 against the Bills, I do not doubt in my mind that the Bills will win this game. Josh Allen is one of the league’s top quarterbacks, and he has one of the best receivers to throw to (Stefon Diggs). Pittsburgh’s defense should be better, with T.J. Watt leading the way. Their offensive line scares me, however. If they can’t produce as well on offense, this could be a long season in Pittsburgh. I’ll take the Bills because of their offense and their home-field advantage.
Tune into Steelers at Bills at 1 PM ET on CBS.
Minnesota Vikings (0-0) (-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)
Both teams have an LSU receiver as their WR1 (Justin Jefferson for the Vikings, Ja’Marr Chase for the Bengals). However, I’m concerned about the Bengals’ offense. Ja’Marr Chase is making excuses for dropping passes, their offensive line was terrible last season, and Joe Burrow is coming off a season-ending injury last season. The Vikings look better when I compare the two teams.
Tune into Vikings at Bengals at 1 PM ET on FOX.
San Francisco 49ers (0-0) (-8.5) at Detroit Lions (0-0)
The Lions will be beginning a new era, one that doesn’t include Matthew Stafford. Instead, the starting quarterback will be Jared Goff, after Stafford and Goff swapped teams. However, I feel bad for Goff. He doesn’t have any offensive weapons outside of D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson. The 49ers will not begin the season with Trey Lance as their quarterback. But with most of the team healthy, I think they’ll win.
Tune into 49ers at Lions at 1 PM ET on FOX.
Arizona Cardinals (0-0) at Tennessee Titans (0-0) (-3)
The Cardinals lead the series 7-4 against the Titans, but that’s not why I’m picking them. With Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, I think it’s about who has the better offense. I expect a shootout because I’m not impressed by either defense. It’ll be exciting seeing Julio Jones in his first game as a Titan, but how much will he contribute to the Titans. In a high-scoring affair, the Cardinals get it done on the road.
Tune into Cardinals at Titans at 1 PM ET on CBS.
Seattle Seahawks (0-0) (-3) at Indianapolis Colts (0-0)
Russell Wilson and the Seahawks always seem to get off to a terrific start for at least the first six weeks of the season. Expect an MVP-type game from Wilson, but don’t sleep on the Colts’ defense. Seattle doesn’t have anyone on the injury report, so I think they’ll edge the Colts in Indy.
Tune into Seahawks at Colts at 1 PM ET on FOX.
Los Angeles Chargers (0-0) at Washington Football Team (0-0) (-2)
Even though I think Washington has one of the best defenses in the NFL, led by Chase Young, I think this game will be about the offense. Justin Herbert looks to continue where he left off last season in an attempt to bring the Chargers back to relevancy. Herbert to Keenan Allen will be fun to watch, but how does Washington’s offense do? They have a new starting quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he isn’t the franchise quarterback they desperately need. I’ll take the Chargers in a real close battle.
Tune into Chargers at Washington at 1 PM ET on CBS.
New York Jets (0-0) at Carolina Panthers (0-0) (-3.5)
The Jets have not been very successful in past years. They were so bad last season that they found a way to lose the first overall pick. So much for tanking. Anyways, Jets-Panthers is interesting because Sam Darnold used to be the Jets’ QB1, and he was traded to the Panthers. Now the Jets are starting rookie QB Zach Wilson, who they took at the second pick. I’ll take the Panthers, who have Christian McCaffrey back, and a better set of receivers. Their defense is better, led by Jeremy Chinn.
Tune into Jets at Panthers at 1 PM ET on CBS.
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0) (-3) at Houston Texans (0-0)
The Trash Bowl comes in Week 1 of the NFL season. The Texans are without Deshaun Watson for various reasons that I won’t write about. They will be starting former Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who got his job taken away by Justin Herbert last season. For Jacksonville, it’s a new era. They took college superstar quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first pick. They have James Robinson on the run again and have upgraded their receiving core. It will be hard to watch because I didn’t think Trevor was good during the preseason games. So, I’m going to pick the Jaguars because the Texans are that bad.
Tune into Jaguars at Texans at 1 PM ET on CBS.
Cleveland Browns (0-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (0-0) (-5)
The Browns-Chiefs game has more hype than any other game remaining on Week 1. The Browns upgraded their defense, while the Chiefs lost Sammy Watkins (who’s bound to have another incredible Week 1 performance). However, the Chiefs are my pick to win the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill are unbelievable, one of the best trios in the NFL. They won’t lose, but it’ll be a closer game.
Tune into Browns at Chiefs at 4:25 PM ET on CBS.
Miami Dolphins (0-0) at New England Patriots (0-0) (-3.5)
The Patriots are beginning a new era, with Mac Jones as their starting quarterback. Jones plays a similar style to Tom Brady, which is why there is so much hype about him starting for New England. However, they have to face a tough rival in the Dolphins. They upgraded their receivers with Jaylen Waddle and Will Fuller V (Fuller is suspended for this game). I’m concerned about Tua, however. He’s not as good as everyone hoped he would be. I rarely like Alabama quarterbacks, but Jones and Hurts seem promising. I’ll take the Patriots in a close one.
Tune into Dolphins at Patriots at 4:25 PM ET on CBS.
Green Bay Packers (0-0) (-3.5) vs. New Orleans Saints (0-0)
Due to the impact of Hurricane Ida, the Saints aren’t able to play in New Orleans for a little bit. This game will take place in Jacksonville at TIAA Bank Field. Although the Saints are 19-35 in season openers, they’ve won the past three season openers. However, with Drew Brees gone and Aaron Rodgers back for the Packers, I expect an easy win for the Packers.
Tune into Packers vs. Saints at 4:25 PM ET on FOX.
Denver Broncos (0-0) (-3) at New York Giants (0-0)
The Broncos have a 39-21-1 record in season-openers, tied for the best record (Cowboys). The Broncos look to have a better defense this season, while Saquon Barkley is back as the face of the New York Giants. I expect an ugly battle, but the Broncos win by two touchdowns.
Tune into Broncos at Giants at 4:25 PM ET on FOX.
Chicago Bears (0-0) at Los Angeles Rams (0-0) (-8)
The Bears coaching staff questions me because I don’t know why Andy Dalton would be starting over Justin Fields. It creates a mismatch against the Rams. The biggest matchup is between defensive superstars Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack. I’m excited to see how the Rams’ offense can improve with Matthew Stafford as their new QB1. Expect this game to be about who has the better offense, and that belongs to the Rams.
Tune into Bears at Rams at 8:20 PM ET on NBC.
Calhoun's Corner 