NFL Mocks Writers Pick Games Striaght up and against N.F.L. Point Spreads

This year NFLmocks will make weekly picks and keep a running tally both straight up and vs the spread. The first few weeks will probably be pretty bad for me. I trust my eyes when I make picks and try to avoid the roster perceptions perpetuated by the media. I also do my research. With that being said I usually wait after the first few weeks to get a more genuine feel for the team’s ability, but for entertainment purposes only! We’ll be giving our picks to see how we can do for year.

(I used bodog.net’s lines)

Home team is in Bold

Saints: +4.5 vs Packers

Steelers +2 vs Ravens

Bears + 3 vs Falcons

Bengals + 7 Vs Browns

Colts Texans (No listed spread….due to Manning. Spread should be forthcoming).

Titans + 3 vs Jaguars

Bills and Kansas City (No listed spread)

Rams +5.5 vs Eagles

Lions +1 vs Buccaneers

Panthers +7 vs Cardinals

Vikings +9 vs Chargeres

Seahawks +6 vs 49ers

Redskins +3 vs Giants

Cowboys +4 vs Jets

Dolphins +7 vs Patriots

Raiders +3 vs Broncos

Will’s picks

Caden’s Picks

Reggie’s Picks

Nick Castillo’s Picks

Sayre Bedinger’s picks

Jesse Bartolis’ Picks

Quick Thoughts: I’ll give detailed analysis of my picks on Friday or Saturday, but a few quick thoughts to ponder.

Why are the Raiders getting points? They absolutely dominated the entire A.F.C. West last year. I still don’t see what the Broncos major improvement is. Who’s their new huge offensive weapons? Who is their dominant defender (maybe Von Miller, or Dumervi’s return)?

I’m still very suspect of the Broncos run defense and I know the Raiders can run the ball. Just surprised they are getting points. Not saying they won’t win, but just don’t see why they are giving points to the Raiders who beat everyone in the A.F.C. West last year.

I’m a nervous wreck as a Giants fan. At some point the Giants will HAVE to lose vs the Redskins just like at some point the Eagles will HAVE to lose to the Giants, the same wayes  the Patriots MAY lose to the Bills at some point. Giants have a ton of injuries will they be able to fire out of the gate? I’m going wih history on this one. The Giants start strong every year. It just  happens even in 2004 when they were pretty bad, they still started 5-2.

Chargers on the other hand always start slow I’m going to take the points there. The Chargers are a much better team, but they take awhile to hit their stride so I think Minnesota can stay within 9.

I know the Bengals are bad, but come on. The Brow7 points by 7! I’m not even sure the Browns will average much more than 7 points per game. They don’t have any good WR. On the other side of the ball, their defense is undergoing a huge transition to the 43. The Browns shouldn’t be favored by 7 vs anyone. Even the lowly Bengals.

Upset

Panthers vs Cardinals

The Cardinals still don’t have anyone who can consistently pressure the quarterback and I’m unimpressed with their offensive line. I could be way off on this one, but I don’t think the Panthers are THAT bad.
Lock of the week (vs the spread)

Patriots over the Dolphins

I know that’s a lot of points to give (7) for a lock, but I just think the Patriots are going to want to come out on fire after the terrible showing they had vs the Giants in preseason. On top of that, I still maintain that the Dolphins are going to be awful this year.

My second option was the Bengals vs the Browns.

A 7 point spread should be teams that should dominate another team (Patriots vs Dolphins, Chargers vs the Vikings), but what about the Browns screams dominant? The Browns are a better team than the Bengals, but they are not dominant. 7 points is way too many points for me to give up with the Browns, for an offense I’m not sure is going to be that good and a defense I’m pretty sure is going to struggle.

Survivor pick of the week:

I would hate to use the Patriots this week already, but there are a number of matchups I can see going either way. I don’t have to have my survivor pick in yet, but that’s one I think I’ll take. Without having a really good feel for the teams yet, I’m going to stick with a team I know wins every week.

I can’t see the Texans losing to the Colts either sans Peyton Manning, but Kubiak is a coach I’ll never put my faith into for my “survivor life. All in all a great weekend of games, there are no easy picks this week, I don’t think.

Conclusion of the week

The N.F.L. did a really good job of  making up the first week of the schedule.

Leave your thoughts.

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