The first game is now in the history books. I had predicted the Bears to win, an they did not. The Packers defense proved to be stronger, although they faced a much weaker unit than the Bears defense did in that game.
So, I got that one wrong. Let's see how I do in the other predictions to begin the brand new 2019 season:
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets - Our first real look at the new Jets. With a revamped defense, this is supposed to be a whole new team. But they will have a tough challenge on their hands, with the Bills defense being one of the league's best overall. Still, fresh excitement, coupled with the new and young talent, should help propel Gang Green to a narrow win against their division rivals. My pick: N.Y. Jets
Kansas City at Jacksonville - Kansas City enjoyed an exciting and explosive season last year, although it ended with the disappointment of losing to the Patriots in the AFC title game. Still, this was probably the best season overall that the Chiefs and their fans enjoyed in decades, and it bodes well for this coming season, when they clearly enter the year as one of the favorites. They have been waiting all off-season for this, and despite a tough defense by Jacksonville, the Jaguars likely simply do not have enough to keep up with the fired up Chiefs in this one, home field advantage or not. My pick: Kansas City
Tennessee at Cleveland - The Browns are ready for an exciting new season, one filled with a lot more hope and expectations than any other in recent memory for Cleveland. Their offense appears to have some serious firepower, but the Titans are a good and tough first test, having one of the league's best defenses. This is a tough game to predict, because it really could go either way. However, I suspect that the home team comes out on top in the end in this game. My pick: Cleveland
Atlanta at Minnesota - The Vikings have been a serious contender now for years, and they clearly want to get off on the right foot this season. The Falcons can have an explosive offense, with veteran quarterback Matt Ryan at the helm. But they also have some liabilities with their defense. Minnesota's defense is good, even though they will be tested. Their offense, however, struggled a bit at times last season, even though they have some talent. They should be able to get off to a good enough start in this game to pull this one off, and start the season with an encouraging win. My pick: Minnesota
Washington at Philadelphia - Philadelphia had an up and down kind of season last year as their title defense, but they figure to be more consistent this year. They no longer have the big targets on their chest as the defending champs, like they did last season. With home field advantage, and a sense of purpose for this season, the Eagles should be able to come out on top in this one. My pick: Philadelphia
Baltimore at Miami - Many people expect the Dolphins to be the worst team in the league this season. Baltimore, meanwhile, were the AFC North champs last season, and look to be in good position to repeat this season, as well. They are clearly a playoff contender, and even home field advantage should not be enough to help the Fins in this one. My pick: Baltimore
L.A. Rams at Carolina - The Rams are the defending NFC champs, an they bring their explosive offense, the "Greatest Show on Turf 2," to Carolina. The Panthers seemed solid in the first half of last season, but they completely fell apart in the second half. They will have a hard time trying to keep up against the Rams, who will be tough to beat. My pick: L.A. Rams
Cincinnati at Seattle - The Bengals are one of the worst teams heading into this season, and they will be on the road in one of the toughest places in the league for a road team to play. Seattle has a tough defense, and a solid offense. Hard to see how the Bengals can even compete in this one. Surprises can happen, but it would be foolish to predict anything but a Seahawks win. My pick: Seattle
Indianapolis at L.A. Chargers - Both of these teams figure to be playoff contenders this season. But the Chargers have home field advantage, and the Colts are still reeling from the recent surprise retirement announcement by former star quarterback Andrew Luck. The Chargers have realistic expectations to possibly go far this year, and it needs to begin on the right foot, which I expect it will for them in this game. My pick: L.A. Chargers
N.Y. Giants at Dallas - As a Giants fan, I would love to say that the G-Men will win this one. But lately, the 'Boys always seem to have their number, and despite some improvements last season over the year before, there is still much work to be done. Dallas appears to be a serious contender in this division, and they enjoy home field advantage. It should be a tough game, but the Cowboys should likely come out on top. My pick: Dallas
Detroit at Arizona - The Cardinals had one of the worst defenses in the league last year, but they had the worst offense of anyone in the league. Not that the Lions were a serious title contender, because they were not. But they still have a better team overall than the Cards do. Arizona has home field advantage in this game, but that really is the only advantage that I see them having. Frankly, it likely will not be enough. My pick: Detroit
San Francisco at Tampa Bay - Both of these teams are trying to recover from disappointing season last year. The 49ers have their starting quarterback again, which should help. Both offenses have some talent and could produce. But both defenses ranked near the bottom last season, and both defenses have some room to significantly improve. Tough to call it, but my guess is that home field advantage helps to decide this one. My pick: Tampa Bay
Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh at New England - The Patriots did not open up the regular season, as most Super Bowl champions do. Still, they have a nationally televised opening game when they host the Steelers. Pittsburgh is not as strong as they were a few seasons ago, when these two teams met in the AFC Championship Game. But the Steelers struggled to beat the Pats even back then, especially up at Foxboro. This is a tough task for anyone, but it is hard to imagine the Steelers managing to pull off what would truly be a shocking upset for them. The Pats may or may not get back to the Super Bowl, but all signs seem to point to them being at least a contender again. Clearly, they want to get off on the right foot, and a win here to open the season should be an enormous help. My pick: New England
Monday Night Football: Game One - Houston at New Orleans - Both of these teams were division winners last year. But one of these teams was a clear title contender, while the other? Well, not so much. The Saints have serious hopes of reaching the Super Bowl, and they should be healthy and fired up for this one. All of that should prove to be a bit too much for the Texans, who will have a long night. My pick: New Orleans
Monday Night Football: Game One - Denver at Oakland - Oakland has some talent, but this situation with them still being in Oakland, but on their way out, is not helping matters at all. It feels like they are on unstable ground, and that compromises their home field advantage. Denver is not exactly a powerhouse team themselves, but they have a decent defense. This one is a tough one to pick, but I have to go with the team that I feel is better. My pick: Denver
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets - Our first real look at the new Jets. With a revamped defense, this is supposed to be a whole new team. But they will have a tough challenge on their hands, with the Bills defense being one of the league's best overall. Still, fresh excitement, coupled with the new and young talent, should help propel Gang Green to a narrow win against their division rivals. My pick: N.Y. Jets
Kansas City at Jacksonville - Kansas City enjoyed an exciting and explosive season last year, although it ended with the disappointment of losing to the Patriots in the AFC title game. Still, this was probably the best season overall that the Chiefs and their fans enjoyed in decades, and it bodes well for this coming season, when they clearly enter the year as one of the favorites. They have been waiting all off-season for this, and despite a tough defense by Jacksonville, the Jaguars likely simply do not have enough to keep up with the fired up Chiefs in this one, home field advantage or not. My pick: Kansas City
Tennessee at Cleveland - The Browns are ready for an exciting new season, one filled with a lot more hope and expectations than any other in recent memory for Cleveland. Their offense appears to have some serious firepower, but the Titans are a good and tough first test, having one of the league's best defenses. This is a tough game to predict, because it really could go either way. However, I suspect that the home team comes out on top in the end in this game. My pick: Cleveland
Atlanta at Minnesota - The Vikings have been a serious contender now for years, and they clearly want to get off on the right foot this season. The Falcons can have an explosive offense, with veteran quarterback Matt Ryan at the helm. But they also have some liabilities with their defense. Minnesota's defense is good, even though they will be tested. Their offense, however, struggled a bit at times last season, even though they have some talent. They should be able to get off to a good enough start in this game to pull this one off, and start the season with an encouraging win. My pick: Minnesota
Washington at Philadelphia - Philadelphia had an up and down kind of season last year as their title defense, but they figure to be more consistent this year. They no longer have the big targets on their chest as the defending champs, like they did last season. With home field advantage, and a sense of purpose for this season, the Eagles should be able to come out on top in this one. My pick: Philadelphia
Baltimore at Miami - Many people expect the Dolphins to be the worst team in the league this season. Baltimore, meanwhile, were the AFC North champs last season, and look to be in good position to repeat this season, as well. They are clearly a playoff contender, and even home field advantage should not be enough to help the Fins in this one. My pick: Baltimore
L.A. Rams at Carolina - The Rams are the defending NFC champs, an they bring their explosive offense, the "Greatest Show on Turf 2," to Carolina. The Panthers seemed solid in the first half of last season, but they completely fell apart in the second half. They will have a hard time trying to keep up against the Rams, who will be tough to beat. My pick: L.A. Rams
Cincinnati at Seattle - The Bengals are one of the worst teams heading into this season, and they will be on the road in one of the toughest places in the league for a road team to play. Seattle has a tough defense, and a solid offense. Hard to see how the Bengals can even compete in this one. Surprises can happen, but it would be foolish to predict anything but a Seahawks win. My pick: Seattle
Indianapolis at L.A. Chargers - Both of these teams figure to be playoff contenders this season. But the Chargers have home field advantage, and the Colts are still reeling from the recent surprise retirement announcement by former star quarterback Andrew Luck. The Chargers have realistic expectations to possibly go far this year, and it needs to begin on the right foot, which I expect it will for them in this game. My pick: L.A. Chargers
N.Y. Giants at Dallas - As a Giants fan, I would love to say that the G-Men will win this one. But lately, the 'Boys always seem to have their number, and despite some improvements last season over the year before, there is still much work to be done. Dallas appears to be a serious contender in this division, and they enjoy home field advantage. It should be a tough game, but the Cowboys should likely come out on top. My pick: Dallas
Detroit at Arizona - The Cardinals had one of the worst defenses in the league last year, but they had the worst offense of anyone in the league. Not that the Lions were a serious title contender, because they were not. But they still have a better team overall than the Cards do. Arizona has home field advantage in this game, but that really is the only advantage that I see them having. Frankly, it likely will not be enough. My pick: Detroit
San Francisco at Tampa Bay - Both of these teams are trying to recover from disappointing season last year. The 49ers have their starting quarterback again, which should help. Both offenses have some talent and could produce. But both defenses ranked near the bottom last season, and both defenses have some room to significantly improve. Tough to call it, but my guess is that home field advantage helps to decide this one. My pick: Tampa Bay
Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh at New England - The Patriots did not open up the regular season, as most Super Bowl champions do. Still, they have a nationally televised opening game when they host the Steelers. Pittsburgh is not as strong as they were a few seasons ago, when these two teams met in the AFC Championship Game. But the Steelers struggled to beat the Pats even back then, especially up at Foxboro. This is a tough task for anyone, but it is hard to imagine the Steelers managing to pull off what would truly be a shocking upset for them. The Pats may or may not get back to the Super Bowl, but all signs seem to point to them being at least a contender again. Clearly, they want to get off on the right foot, and a win here to open the season should be an enormous help. My pick: New England
Monday Night Football: Game One - Houston at New Orleans - Both of these teams were division winners last year. But one of these teams was a clear title contender, while the other? Well, not so much. The Saints have serious hopes of reaching the Super Bowl, and they should be healthy and fired up for this one. All of that should prove to be a bit too much for the Texans, who will have a long night. My pick: New Orleans
Monday Night Football: Game One - Denver at Oakland - Oakland has some talent, but this situation with them still being in Oakland, but on their way out, is not helping matters at all. It feels like they are on unstable ground, and that compromises their home field advantage. Denver is not exactly a powerhouse team themselves, but they have a decent defense. This one is a tough one to pick, but I have to go with the team that I feel is better. My pick: Denver
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