The 2014 NFL season kicks off tonight and HNGN is providing our analysis of Week 1. With a lot of offseason action, a number of teams may surprise the league in their first game of the new year.
Packers at Seahawks, Thursday @ 8:30 p.m.
Something tells me Green Bay could take this one, especially after the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens lost to the Denver Broncos in the opener last year and the defending champion New York Giants fell the year before to the Dallas Cowboys. But I'm going to go with the 12th man on this one.
Seahawks 23, Packers 20
Saints at Falcons, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
New Orleans took down Atlanta in Week 1 at home last year, and then again on the road later in the season. The Saints are better than they were in 2013 thanks to the acquisitions of safety Jairus Byrd (who will replace Malcolm Jenkins) and first round draft pick wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
Saints 24, Falcons 17
Vikings at Rams, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
With the late preseason injury to Sam Bradford, I don't see how St. Louis can quickly adapt to Shaun Hill running the offense - he hasn't started a game in over three years. Oh, and Adrian Peterson has a combined 275 yards rushing and five touchdowns in his last three Week 1 performances.
Vikings 27, Rams 16
Browns at Steelers, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
The Browns may surprise the league this year even without Josh Gordon. They have a solid defense and Ben Tate is a good rusher behind an experienced offensive line. But Cleveland hasn't won in Pittsburgh since 2003 and they've dropped 18 of their last 20 to the Steelers.
Steelers 23, Browns 14
Jaguars at Eagles, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
While the Redskins travel to Houston, the Giants travel to Detroit (on Monday night), and the Cowboys host the 49ers, the Eagles get a Week 1 gift as they host Jacksonville. The Jaguars have clearly been the worst team over the past three seasons, compiling a 10-38 record, and things haven't really improved drastically over the past year.
Eagles 34, Jaguars 17
Raiders at Jets, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Oakland will be starting rookie Derek Carr against a depleted Jets secondary, but they're 2-14 in their past 16 road games and haven't won on the East Coast since taking down the Steelers back in 2009. The Jets improved their offense from last season and their defensive front seven is among the best in the league. They'll win, but not by much.
Jets 20, Raiders 17
Bengals at Ravens, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
The Bengals last won at M&T Bank Stadium back in 2009 and were nearly triumphant last year after Andy Dalton heaved up a Hail Mary pass to A.J. Green for a touchdown as time expired to take the game to overtime. They ended up losing on a Justin Tucker field goal, but I think they win in Baltimore this year, especially with no Ray Rice in the backfield for the Ravens.
Bengals 24, Ravens 20
Bills at Bears, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Buffalo brings their young squad into Chicago on Sunday, but they don't have their starting middle linebacker in Kiki Alonso leading the defense against a high-powered Bears offense. Chicago has too many offensive weapons in Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffrey and Martellus Bennett.
Bears 28, Bills 17
Redskins at Texans, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
RGIII seems to be back at full strength while the Texans have Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. Each team has a new head coach, but Houston was 2-14 last year in a mediocre division, including 14 straight losses. The Skins lost their final eight games in 2013, but five of them were decided by one possession or less.
Redskins 23, Texans 17
Titans at Chiefs, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Kansas City is probably still suffering from their heartbreaking loss to Indianapolis in last year's wild-card playoff matchup. They beat Tennessee on the road last year 26-17, but lost Brandon Albert, Jon Asamoah, Geoff Schwartz, Tyson Jackson, Dexter McCluster, and Brandon Flowers in free agency. The Titans could surprise this year with new coach Ken Whisenhunt.
Titans 17, Chiefs 13
Patriots at Dolphins, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
The Dolphins have lost seven of their past eight against the Patriots and New England is the same team as last year with the addition of Darrelle Revis and the return of Rob Gronkowski. The Dolphins could make noise in the AFC this year, but not in Week 1.
Patriots 28, Dolphins 20
Panthers at Buccaneers, Sunday @ 4:25 p.m.
The Buccaneers cleaned house in the offseason and are under a new direction with head coach Lovie Smith. Cam Newton isn't 100% healthy and still hasn't a marquee receiver to throw to, while the Bucs have done serious work to their roster (acquired Logan Mankins, Eric Dietrich-Smith, Michael Johnson and Mike Jenkins) in the offseason. Despite losing by a combined 39 points to Carolina last year, they'll take the Week 1 matchup.
Buccaneers 24, Panthers 14
49ers at Cowboys, Sunday @ 4:25 p.m.
Dallas has been 8-8 for the past three seasons and lost the final game of the year to each division opponent to be eliminated from playoff contention, while San Francisco has made it to the NFC Championship the past three seasons. Tony Romo is coming off of back surgery and the defense looks as if they might have trouble against some of the high-powered NCAA offenses.
49ers 31, Cowboys 17
Colts at Broncos, Sunday @ 8:30 p.m.
The Colts upset the Broncos at home last year 39-33 as Peyton returned to Indianapolis for the first time since being released by his former team. But now they're in Denver and the Jim Irsay distraction might have Indy off their toes while the Broncos look to rebound from an embarrassing loss in the Super Bowl.
Broncos 35, Colts 24
Giants at Lions, Monday @ 7:10 p.m.
In the first of two Monday Night Football games, the Giants take their new offense to Detroit where the Lions look to get revenge on last year's 23-20 overtime loss to New York. The Lions secondary looks skeptical, and so does the Giants offense, so this should be an interesting matchup.
Giants 17, Lions 14
Chargers at Cardinals, Monday @ 10:20 p.m.
The Cardinals boasted one of the league's best defenses last year and surprised everyone with a 10-6 record despite missing the playoffs. The Chargers lost offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt to Tennessee, and the defense doesn't look too great.
Cardinals 31, Chargers 21
