The NEO Sports Insiders Staff Picks The Week One NFL Games

It’s week one of the NFL season, and there’s a number of great games on the NFL slate to chat about. Today our crew makes their picks, going through all the games this first weekend of the season, with a little extra emphasis on the Browns-Jets matchup which everyone in Cleveland will keep their eyes on this Sunday from Met Life Stadium.

Matt Williamson

Patriots over Steelers
Packers over Bears
Chiefs over Texans
Colts over Bills
Redskins over Dolphins
Panthers over Jags
Seahawks over Rams
Cardinals over Saints
Lions over Chargers
Bucs over Titans
Raiders over Bengals
Broncos over Ravens
Cowboys over Giants
Eagles over Falcons
Vikings over 49ers

Jets over Browns – Browns struggle to move the ball. Late field goal wins it for New York.

Ryan Kaczmarski

New England over Pittsburgh
Green Bay over Chicago
Houston over Kansas City
Indy over Buffalo
Miami over Washington
Carolina over Jacksonville
Seattle over St. Louis
Arizona over New Orleans (is this an upset special?)
Detroit over San Diego
Tampa Bay over Tennessee
Cincy over Oakland
Baltimore over Denver
Dallas over New York Giants
Atlanta over Philly
San Francisco over Minnesota

NY Jets 24 Browns 13 – Although both teams need a quick start this season, Jets’ backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is too much for the Browns secondary, and Brandon Marshall and company score three, and New York adds a field goal. The Browns get one rushing TD and add two field goals.

Matt Loede

Patriots over Steelers
Packers over Bears
Texans over Chiefs
Colts over Bills
Dolphins over Redskins
Panthers over Jaguars
Seahawks over Rams
Saints over Cardinals
Chargers over Lions
Buccaneers over Titans
Bengals over Raiders
Broncos over Ravens
Cowboys over Giants
Falcons over Eagles
Vikings over 49ers

Jets 17 Browns 13 – This has all the makings of an ugly, defensive battle. Special teams will be a huge key for both teams, but I would trust Ryan Fitzpatrick over Josh McCown at this point, and the Jets run game with Chris Ivory should be able to set the pace for a Jets opening day win over the Browns.

Scott Piker

Pittsburgh @ New England – New England
Green Bay @ Chicago – Green Bay
Kansas City @ Houston – Houston
Indianapolis @ Buffalo – Indianapolis
Miami @ Washington – Miami
Carolina @ Jacksonville – Carolina
Seattle @ St. Louis – Seattle
New Orleans @ Arizona – Arizona
Detroit @ San Diego – San Diego
Tennessee @ Tampa Bay – Tampa Bay
Cincinnati @ Oakland – Cincinnati
Baltimore @ Denver – Denver
New York Giants @ Dallas – Dallas
Philadelphia @ Atlanta – Philadelphia
Minnesota @ San Francisco – Minnesota

Cleveland @ New York Jets – Cleveland – The Browns finally end their losing streak on opening day. Both offenses will struggle, both defense will shine, Browns win on a late field goal in a low scoring game 16-13.

Eddy Jensen

Patriots over Steelers
Packers over Bears
Colts over Bills
Chiefs over Texans
Redskins over Dolphins
Panthers over Jaguars
Seahawks over Rams
Cardinals over Saints
Chargers over Lions
Titans over Buccaneers
Bengals over Raiders
Broncos over Ravens
Giants over Cowboys
Falcons over Eagles
Vikings over 49ers

NY Jets 18 Cleveland 12 — Squandering offenses make speed chess look more interesting than suspected.

Steve Dimatteo

NE over Pittsburgh
Indy over Buffalo
Green Bay over Chicago
Seattle over St. Louis
Miami over Washington
Jacksonville over Carolina
Houston over Kansas City
Arizona over New Orleans
Detroit over San Diego
Denver over Baltimore
Cincinnati over Oakland
Tampa Bay over Tennessee
Dallas over NYG
Philly over Atlanta
Minnesota over San Francisco
NY Jets over Browns

Adrienne Goehler

PIT over NE
GB over CHI
KC over HOU
IND over BUF
MIA over WSH
CAR over JAX
SEA over STL
ARZ over NO
SD over DET
TB over TEN
CIN over OAK
DEN over BAL
DAL over NYG
ATL over PHI
MIN over SF

CLE over NYJ 20-16 – Despite the last time the Browns won the season opener was with Jeff Garcia at QB in 2004, this is the year they snap the streak. A sloppy, low-scoring, scrappy game plays in the Browns favor with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center for the Jets, who I’m not so sure is as comfortable as some may think after Geno Smith was sidelined with a broken jaw. Jets weren’t expecting this, and the Browns defense, who were second in the league for interceptions last season (21), will be ready to jump on his mistakes.

Spencer Davies

NE over PIT
IND over BUF
GB over CHI
KC over HOU
CAR over JAX
SEA over STL
MIA over WAS
ARI over NO
DET over SD
DEN over BAL
OAK over CIN
TB over TEN
DAL over NYG
PHI over ATL
MIN over SF

CLE over New York Jets – The Browns enter MetLife stadium with a suspended front office member, a suspended assistant coach and a suspended player each. They also just cut one of their most intriguing additions only four days after he made the 53-man roster in Terrelle Pryor.

But if anyone loses to Cleveland while they’re sorting out their issues, it’s going to be the Jets at home. New York and the Browns are very similar teams, but the edge goes to Mike Pettine over rookie head coach Todd Bowles.

Vince Miller

Pats over Steelers
Green Bay over Chicago
Houston over KC
Buffalo over Indy
Miami over Washington
Carolina over Jacksonville
Seattle over St. Louis
Arizona over New Orleans
San Diego over Detroit
Tampa Bay over Tennessee
Cincinnati over Oakland
Dallas over New York Giants
Philadelphia over Atlanta
San Francisco over Minnesota

Cleveland over New York Jets – Low-scoring, defensive battle that will see the Browns come out on top. Turnovers plague the Jets offense. Andy Lee’s ability to change field position earns him the game ball.