The season is upon us! Welcome back #PickSixNation for another exciting and accurate year. The 'NFL Genius' Julian Pritcher is back to give you accurate pick after accurate pick after finishing the 2013 season with an astonishing 71% correct-pick rate in a league where toss-ups are expected. At Pick Six Previews we don't just give you something to read so you can stay busy. As a nationally-recognized college football preview website with more accurate picks than ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Lindy's, Athlon, Sporting News, Yahoo, etc., we guarantee quality and accuracy in everything we produce, especially NFL. We added on another NFL expert this season as we revamped our total NFL coverage. Mike Trevelise joins the fold to not only uphold the gold-standard we've set at Pick Six Previews when predicting games, but also to help you win your fantasy league.
Here are our Week 1 game picks. Check back every week!
Here are our Week 1 game picks. Check back every week!
Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
Surely you remember this game from two seasons ago. It wasn’t a particularly interesting matchup on paper. Here were two teams, one the Super Bowl aspirations (the Packers) and one with a lot of guys nobody had heard of…yet. Trailing by 5 points in the waning seconds of the game, Seattle’s rookie quarterback Russel Wilson heaved a desperation throw into the end zone that was “caught” by Golden Tate. Replayed showed the “Fail Mary” pass was actually intercepted by M.D. Jennings even after Tate shoved Jennings in the air, a blatant pass interference call. The replacement refs missed both calls and gave Jennings and Tate simultaneous possession, awarding the catch and touchdown to Tate to win the game. Eventually, this win would put Seattle in the playoffs, and would push Green Bay down to a three seed instead of a two seed.
The 49ers got the two seed and Green Bay had to go into San Francisco for the divisional round (a game they lost…badly) instead of having the bone-chilling home field advantage in Lambeau. So this game will serve as sweet, sweet revenge for the Packers? Not so fast.
I think the whole “revenge” factor in this game is overrated. Green Bay was a flawed defense that year, and probably would have lost to the 49ers in Lambeau even if they got the two seed. Seattle lost in the divisional round as well, so both teams made it just as far that season. What is underrated, however, is this game could be a rematch in the NFC Championship down the road.
The Packers could have the best offense in football. They will get right tackle Bryan Bulaga back as well the Green Bay’s golden boy, Aaron Rodgers, who missed 8 games last year. Look for Rodgers to take advantage of the somewhat new-look Seattle defense. Lacking the depth from last year, the Seahawks lost Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond from the secondary. Expect the Packers to play a lot of three receiver sets to try and expose Seattle’s inexperience at slot cornerback.
Seattle also lost Red Bryant and Chris Clemons from their defensive line. This team will lean heavily on Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril for sacks this season. While Seattle let their pass rushers go, the Packers upgraded theirs in the offseason by bringing in Julius Peppers. Peppers is unproven in Green Bay’s 3 – 4 scheme, however, so it may take some time for him to adapt. Both Peppers and Clay Matthews are athletic enough to keep Russell Wilson in the pocket and make throws downfield against an underrated secondary for Green Bay.
Aside from the secondaries, there are a lot of other matchups to watch in this game, starting with Seattle’s rookie right tackle, Justin Britt. Clay Matthews should have a field day against Britt. Even with a shaky offensive line, Seattle should have space to run up the weaker interior of Green Bay’s defense, where they start the slower A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones. Also, Julius Peppers will be good this season, but not in this game. He will need a few more games to adapt in Green Bay.
The Packers have lost to the NFC West in their last two opening games; I don’t think that changes this year. This will almost certainly be the game where Seattle raises their Super Bowl Championship banner. The atmosphere should be as rowdy as ever and the Seahawks should be dominant late, in what should be a great way to open the NFL season.
Seattle 27 Green Bay 24
The 49ers got the two seed and Green Bay had to go into San Francisco for the divisional round (a game they lost…badly) instead of having the bone-chilling home field advantage in Lambeau. So this game will serve as sweet, sweet revenge for the Packers? Not so fast.
I think the whole “revenge” factor in this game is overrated. Green Bay was a flawed defense that year, and probably would have lost to the 49ers in Lambeau even if they got the two seed. Seattle lost in the divisional round as well, so both teams made it just as far that season. What is underrated, however, is this game could be a rematch in the NFC Championship down the road.
The Packers could have the best offense in football. They will get right tackle Bryan Bulaga back as well the Green Bay’s golden boy, Aaron Rodgers, who missed 8 games last year. Look for Rodgers to take advantage of the somewhat new-look Seattle defense. Lacking the depth from last year, the Seahawks lost Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond from the secondary. Expect the Packers to play a lot of three receiver sets to try and expose Seattle’s inexperience at slot cornerback.
Seattle also lost Red Bryant and Chris Clemons from their defensive line. This team will lean heavily on Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril for sacks this season. While Seattle let their pass rushers go, the Packers upgraded theirs in the offseason by bringing in Julius Peppers. Peppers is unproven in Green Bay’s 3 – 4 scheme, however, so it may take some time for him to adapt. Both Peppers and Clay Matthews are athletic enough to keep Russell Wilson in the pocket and make throws downfield against an underrated secondary for Green Bay.
Aside from the secondaries, there are a lot of other matchups to watch in this game, starting with Seattle’s rookie right tackle, Justin Britt. Clay Matthews should have a field day against Britt. Even with a shaky offensive line, Seattle should have space to run up the weaker interior of Green Bay’s defense, where they start the slower A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones. Also, Julius Peppers will be good this season, but not in this game. He will need a few more games to adapt in Green Bay.
The Packers have lost to the NFC West in their last two opening games; I don’t think that changes this year. This will almost certainly be the game where Seattle raises their Super Bowl Championship banner. The atmosphere should be as rowdy as ever and the Seahawks should be dominant late, in what should be a great way to open the NFL season.
Seattle 27 Green Bay 24
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos
Last year Andrew Luck and the Colts were able to pull off a dramatic upset over Peyton Manning’s Broncos in Indy. Don’t expect Peyton to let that happen again, especially not in Denver. In what could be a preview of the AFC matchup (although the Patriots will certainly have something to say about that) the Colts will simply be overmatched. If the Broncos aren’t totally fired up for this game after their embarrassment in the Super Bowl last season, then there is a problem in Denver. Expect the offense to open the game hot. The loss of Wes Welker shouldn’t be too big of a setback for a team loaded with offensive talent. Expect to see more of Cody Latimer, who is physically the same size as Eric Decker, than initially planned. The biggest question mark heading into the game is how well the new Denver defense will mesh. Sometimes a decent defense with average talent becomes worse when more talented players are inserted because of scheme fits and comfort with other players. This may be the case for Denver especially early in the season. Expect Luck to utilize his receiving corps, which has three potential number one receivers in Wayne, Hiltion, and Nicks. The x-factor for Luck will be Nicks in the slot, if he can pull in catches, it will really help out Indy’s offensive attack. Expect a shootout in Denver even if the Broncos pulls away early, the Colts are never out of a game, just ask the Chiefs about their playoff game last season. Andrew Luck will bring the Colts close but ultimately it will be a losing effort.
Broncos 41 Colts 31
Broncos 41 Colts 31
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Last year the Saints took both meetings from the Falcons, but then again pretty much everyone beat the Falcons last year. The trend to look out for in this matchup is that even when one team seems superior, the score never reflects that. Last year the scores were 23-17 and 17-13. The Falcons even with their bad defense keep the Saints scoring low as these two games ranked in the bottom five for points scored by the Saints last year.
Many people have high expectations for both of these teams this year, but be wary of them both. Expect this game to be low scoring and relatively boring. The Saints’ safeties, Kenny Vaccaro and Jairus Byrd, should keep Matt Ryan in check and Drew Brees struggles on the road, not to mention against the Falcons. The Atlanta fans should be out in full force for this matchup expecting a strong resurgence this year after their disappointing 2013 campaign. The Georgia Dome can rock when the fans are into it, and I expect this will be the case for this game. The Saints are a better team, but the Falcons are always a good matchup and should use some of their ‘Hard Knocks’ excitement to give the Saints a good game.
Saints 20 Falcons 17
Many people have high expectations for both of these teams this year, but be wary of them both. Expect this game to be low scoring and relatively boring. The Saints’ safeties, Kenny Vaccaro and Jairus Byrd, should keep Matt Ryan in check and Drew Brees struggles on the road, not to mention against the Falcons. The Atlanta fans should be out in full force for this matchup expecting a strong resurgence this year after their disappointing 2013 campaign. The Georgia Dome can rock when the fans are into it, and I expect this will be the case for this game. The Saints are a better team, but the Falcons are always a good matchup and should use some of their ‘Hard Knocks’ excitement to give the Saints a good game.
Saints 20 Falcons 17
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This matchup is an interesting one. It pits a team that is poised to regress against one that is hoping for a resurgence with a new head coach and quarterback. Last year the Panthers won both matchups against the Bucs handily. This year it should be a little different. The defensive front of the Bucs is scary. People overlook the team from Tampa because their recent history has been shaky at best, but they have some young talent on the line that will really disrupt both the ground game and Cam Newton’s ability to pass. Not to mention you have perhaps the best Defensive Tackle in football and the former Bengals franchise player Michael Johnson.
Also look for the defense to force Cam Newton into throwing picks, the addition of Alterraun Verner in the secondary will help in shutting down an already desperately weak Carolina passing attack. The Panthers defense will also still be effective, but the tall athletic receivers of the Bucs should get the better of a secondary with three new faces. Ultimately, this will be a story of two defenses, but there is just enough firepower on the Bucs side to take down the Panthers.
Buccaneers 23 Panthers 13
Also look for the defense to force Cam Newton into throwing picks, the addition of Alterraun Verner in the secondary will help in shutting down an already desperately weak Carolina passing attack. The Panthers defense will also still be effective, but the tall athletic receivers of the Bucs should get the better of a secondary with three new faces. Ultimately, this will be a story of two defenses, but there is just enough firepower on the Bucs side to take down the Panthers.
Buccaneers 23 Panthers 13
San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys
The 49ers are one of the deepest teams in the NFL. This depth will be seriously tested, especially in the first game of year against Dallas. San Francisco will be missing their best pass rusher in Aldon Smith as well as Navarro Bowman, a great linebacker in pass coverage and against the run. Dan Skuta and Michael Wilhoite will be their replacements in this game. They will have to deal with the Cowboys scary offensive line.
For all the things we can make fun of the Cowboys for over the last decade (Tony Romo and Jerry Jones make up a majority of them), they have made all the right moves when it comes to their line. Tyron Smith and Doug Free might be the best combination of offensive tackles in the league. Second year pro, Travis Frederick is a great run blocking center and although they’ll probably be starting rookie Zach Martin at right guard, this line has the potentially to be one of the best at the end of the year.
DeMarco Murray is a pretty good running back too. Dallas could be great at running the ball against this San Francisco defense if it weren’t for one problem; Jason Garrett hates running the ball. He’ll find any excuse to throw the ball downfield as much as possible. Part of that is how terrible the Cowboys defense has been recently. When your defense gives up points on nearly every possession, it forces you to throw the ball more to keep up. Unfortunately for Dallas, their defense got worse.
They lost DeMarcus Ware in free agency and Sean Lee to injury before the beginning of the season. Without them, this defense doesn’t have any who can play. The 49ers should score a ton of points in this game and honestly, so should the Cowboys. San Francisco might not need to stop the run with how much passing Dallas will be doing, but they will need to keep Tony Romo from picking them apart. The secondary is the obvious weakness in this 49er defense and Romo should light it up while trying to play catch up. This game will come down to who has the ball last in a classic shootout, similar to the Denver game last year. Unfortunately for Dallas, they lost that game, and they’ll lose this one too.
San Francisco 38 Dallas 36
For all the things we can make fun of the Cowboys for over the last decade (Tony Romo and Jerry Jones make up a majority of them), they have made all the right moves when it comes to their line. Tyron Smith and Doug Free might be the best combination of offensive tackles in the league. Second year pro, Travis Frederick is a great run blocking center and although they’ll probably be starting rookie Zach Martin at right guard, this line has the potentially to be one of the best at the end of the year.
DeMarco Murray is a pretty good running back too. Dallas could be great at running the ball against this San Francisco defense if it weren’t for one problem; Jason Garrett hates running the ball. He’ll find any excuse to throw the ball downfield as much as possible. Part of that is how terrible the Cowboys defense has been recently. When your defense gives up points on nearly every possession, it forces you to throw the ball more to keep up. Unfortunately for Dallas, their defense got worse.
They lost DeMarcus Ware in free agency and Sean Lee to injury before the beginning of the season. Without them, this defense doesn’t have any who can play. The 49ers should score a ton of points in this game and honestly, so should the Cowboys. San Francisco might not need to stop the run with how much passing Dallas will be doing, but they will need to keep Tony Romo from picking them apart. The secondary is the obvious weakness in this 49er defense and Romo should light it up while trying to play catch up. This game will come down to who has the ball last in a classic shootout, similar to the Denver game last year. Unfortunately for Dallas, they lost that game, and they’ll lose this one too.
San Francisco 38 Dallas 36
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
This will be Ravens fans chance to get a first look at Gary Kubiak’s offense in their home opener on Sunday. Kubiak will look to employ a (relatively) new zone blocking scheme in the run game and give Joe Flacco plenty of easy reads from play action fakes. They have the weapons to stretch the field to. Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones have underrated speed down the seam. Flacco will also get his favorite target, Dennis Pitta, back from injury, as well as a few free agents to throw in the mix. The Ravens added Steve Smith to their receiving corps and Owen Daniels for more depth at tight end. Now, Flacco has a combination of speed and reliable route runners across the field. Look out Cincinnati.
It would seem like the Bengals have a counterpunch to the Ravens passing game; a deep secondary. I’m not sold on this group, though. They have a lot of names you know (Leon Hall Terrance Newman, Adam Jones, Dre Kirkpatrick) without all the talent. There is a reason why Jones and Newman couldn’t get their contracts renewed with their former teams. Kirkpatrick could almost be considered a bust going into his third season out of Alabama. Leon Hall is the best of this group, but he has had two leg surgeries in two seasons. That is not someone the Bengals should be relying heavily on.
This secondary group is almost the same as last year too. It’s an old group with the exception of rookie Darqueze Dennard, who they may need desparately toward the end of the season. Flacco should expose the Bengals older cornerbacks in this first game.
This game will also be the first of Ray Rice’s two game suspension. That leaves Baltimore with Bernard Pierce and rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro in the backfield. Pierce is good, but this offensive line will take some time to gel and figure out what Kubiak wants them to do. Don’t expect much out of the running game from Baltimore early on, especially against the Bengals front 7, who get Geno Atkins back from injury last year.
Though the Ravens are considerably weak at safety and their offensive line will be raw in a new scheme, I think Baltimore pulls this one out at home. Without much of a run game, Joe Flacco will spread the ball around to all his new receiving options, giving the Ravens their first win against a division rival.
Baltimore 26 Cincinnati 23
It would seem like the Bengals have a counterpunch to the Ravens passing game; a deep secondary. I’m not sold on this group, though. They have a lot of names you know (Leon Hall Terrance Newman, Adam Jones, Dre Kirkpatrick) without all the talent. There is a reason why Jones and Newman couldn’t get their contracts renewed with their former teams. Kirkpatrick could almost be considered a bust going into his third season out of Alabama. Leon Hall is the best of this group, but he has had two leg surgeries in two seasons. That is not someone the Bengals should be relying heavily on.
This secondary group is almost the same as last year too. It’s an old group with the exception of rookie Darqueze Dennard, who they may need desparately toward the end of the season. Flacco should expose the Bengals older cornerbacks in this first game.
This game will also be the first of Ray Rice’s two game suspension. That leaves Baltimore with Bernard Pierce and rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro in the backfield. Pierce is good, but this offensive line will take some time to gel and figure out what Kubiak wants them to do. Don’t expect much out of the running game from Baltimore early on, especially against the Bengals front 7, who get Geno Atkins back from injury last year.
Though the Ravens are considerably weak at safety and their offensive line will be raw in a new scheme, I think Baltimore pulls this one out at home. Without much of a run game, Joe Flacco will spread the ball around to all his new receiving options, giving the Ravens their first win against a division rival.
Baltimore 26 Cincinnati 23