NFL Round 1 - Sunday Preview
Buffalo Bills (0-0) @ Baltimore Ravens (0-0) - M&T Bank Stadium
The Ravens and Bills both have ambitions to get to the playoffs in 2016 and will be looking to start the year off on a winning note when they square off in Baltimore. The Ravens were battered and bruised last season having a horrific run with injuries which saw them drop to 6-10. With Joe Flacco back at quarterback and veteran Steve Smith on deck, they will be expecting higher offensive numbers. Buffalo finished last season 8-8 under new coach Rex Ryan and rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Ryan, a defensive specialist, will be looking for far better play from a defence that was extremely underwhelming last season.
Verdict - Ravens 29 Bills 16
I think the Ravens can open their season with a win at home. Buffalo are not the best road team and I don't think their offence is capable of putting together big numbers. I think the Ravens are in decline a little, however they have a core group of senior players and a proven head coach that will want to put last year's nightmare behind them.
Chicago Bears (0-0) @ Houston Texans (0-0) - NRG Stadium
The Texans get the defence of their AFC South crown under way with a home game against the Bears on Sunday. The Texans brought in Denver's Brock Osweiler on a long term contract and they will be expecting solid play given the investment made under him. The Bears went 6-10 under John Fox last year with polarising quarterback Jay Cutler having a better than average season.
Verdict - Texans 24 Bears 19
I think Houston's hard nosed defence can start the year in dominant fashion. Expect Jay Cutler to have his moments in this game but ultimately make 1 or 2 costly turnovers. I don't think Houston's offence will click instantly and I expect them to try and run the ball and control the clock in this game.
Miami Dolphins (0-0) @ Seattle Seahawks (0-0) - CenturyLink Field
The Dolphins get the sternest test possible of their new regime when they head to the madhouse that is CenturyLink Field to take on the Seahawks on Sunday. The Dolphins had a turbulent 2015 when they fired Mike Philbin early in the season before finishing in last place in the NFC East with a 6-10 record. New Head Coach Adam Gase will need to get the best out of Ryan Tannehill if the Dolphins are to improve in 2016. The Seahawks are again one of the favourites for the Super Bowl in 2016 despite exiting in the divisional round of the playoffs to Carolina.
Verdict - Seahawks 33 Dolphins 3
Sorry Miami, I see the Seahawks crowd and defence overwhelming the Dolphins here. Seattle is a tough place to go for any team let alone one with a new head coach and coming off a poor season. I expect Russell Wilson to have another excellent season and play a near faultless game to open the season with a few touchdowns and no interceptions.
New York Giants (0-0) @ Dallas Cowboys (0-0) - AT&T Stadium
The Giants and Cowboys collide in what is often a fierce and frantic NFC East rivalry in Week 1 of the NFL on Sunday. The Cowboys had a nightmare 2015 season falling all the way to 4-12 as injuries and off-field dramas punctuated a truly lost season. With Tony Romo again on the sidelines with injury, all eyes will be on Dak Prescott as he takes his bow on the big stage. Prescott had an impressive pre-season, however this is the real acid test. The Giants had a similarly dismal 2015 falling to 6-10 and 3rd place in the NFC East. With Tom "2 time Super Bowl Winner" Coughlin stepping down, offensive coordinator Todd McAdoo gets his chance. The Giants retain a core group of veterans which need to show far more consistency if this side is to compete for the NFC East crown in 2016.
Verdict - Cowboys 30 Giants 28
This game at "Jerry World" is always a cracker. I expect it to have wild mood swings, horrific mistakes and some brilliance thrown in there. Rivalry games don't get much bigger than these two teams and I see this game going right down to the final play. Ultimately I think Dak Prescott can impress enough on debut to give the Cowboys a dual threat along with their potent running game. I see Eli Manning throwing for over 300 yards but making 1 or 2 costly errors.
Detroit Lions (0-0) @ Indianapolis Colts (0-0) - Lucas Oil Stadium
Andre Luck and the Colts will be desperate to get off to a winning start against the Lions on Sunday after a year to forget in 2015. Luck managed just 9 games last season and became a turnover machine. The Colts actually won more games in his absence in finishing out of the playoffs at 8-8, however Luck remains a star of the future and is expected to bounce back this season. The Lions have concerns of their own after finishing last season 7-9 and having the great "Megatron", Calvin Johnson, retire in the off-season.
Verdict - Colts 40 Lions 17
I think Andrew Luck can feast on the Lions here in a soft home opener. I think Luck might be able to throw 4 touchdowns and over 300 yards and help get his team off to a quick start. I think Detroit look like a team with a lot of holes in it and should be far more competitive at home than on the road.
New England Patriots (0-0) @ Arizona Cardinals (0-0) - University of Phoenix Stadium
Two teams that fell one game shy of the Super Bowl clash here as the Patriots get an early acid test without Tom Brady on Sunday. The Patriots will be up against it when they head to Arizona to take on a loaded Cardinals side. Third year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will get his chance on Sunday to show that he might just be the future for New England when Brady's illustrious career finally comes to an end. He will know he is alive in coming up against an aggressive Arizona defence which rated in the Top 4 in the NFL in 2015. The Cardinals appear to have all the pieces to make a run this year, however they will need Carson Palmer to step up and play a whole lot better at money time in the playoffs.
Verdicts - Cardinals 33 Patriots 18
I see Arizona winning this game relatively comfortably. Jimmy Garoppolo might be good but this is not the ideal debut game for him in a hostile environment in Arizona. Arizona are a really balanced side and I see them controlling the clock here and eventually wearing New England's offence down.
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) @ Washington Redskins (0-0) - FedExField
The Steelers' Super Bowl credentials get an early litmus test as they head to Washington for a marquee Sunday Night Football game to open the NFL season. With a high powered offence the Steelers appear to have all the pieces to make a deep run in the playoffs this season. However like always the Steelers will go as far as Big Ben goes, and will be relying on their veteran quarterback staying healthy. The Redskins surprised everyone last season by clinching the NFC East after coming home with a wet sail. The Redskins gained Carolina's star cornerback Josh Norman in the off-season and will be expecting him to make an early impact on Sunday.
Verdict - Steelers 34 Redskins 24
I think this will be a high quality and close game for the majority of the match. However I have Pittsburgh going to the playoffs as the top seed in the AFC so I think their offence can pick apart Washington on Sunday night. While I think Kirk Cousins will have a decent game I think ultimately he will make one or two more mistakes than Big Ben. Plus Pittsburgh's running game should be superior to the Redskins.