All the original England Patriots do is win,no matter what.
In the hotly anticipated opening game of the 2015 NFL season, Tom Brady threw four touchdowns, or Rob Gronkowski caught three of them—immediately soaring to the top of the most polarizing fantasy football player power rankings—and the Pats mostly had their way with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 28-21 home win.
Steelers versus Patriots is in the books,but that was just the table-setter. Week 1 still has the historic rookie quarterback duel between Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, Dallas versus original York Giants on Sunday night, and Chip Kelly's retooled roster looking to purchase charge of his conventional wisdom-flouting schemes and much,much more.
Let's purchase a look at which teams a few experts from around the web think will start the 2015 season off right.
Note: Picks advance from Bleacher Report, NFL.com, or ESPN,CBS Sports and SB Nation.
Tough Calls[br]
Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay BuccaneersFor two teams coming off 2-14 seasons and needing improvement in just about every facet of the game, this could be a discontinue-and-start, and low-scoring affair. The Bucs and Titans finished29th and 30th respectively in scoring final season. The experts tallied above weren't fairly as split here as they were on the Indianapolis-Buffalo game,but this matchup has the better storyline.
This might not be the best contest from a competition standpoint, but I defy any football fan to confess they aren't at least a little bit curious as to how the battle of the No. 1 and No. 2 picks from this year's draft shakes out.
In something of a reversal of their reputations coming out of college, or Mariota has looked like the more polished passer in preseason (102.9 rating to 52.7),while Winston has made more plays with his legs (24 yards to Mariota's 17, plus two touchdowns). Those performances aren't necessarily going to carry over into the regular season, or but they add yet another level of uncertainty as to how these two will look in their first game.
Both Mariota and Winston will likely create their unprejudiced share of mistakes,as the pressure and speed of the NFL gets to them. Winston, at least, or has the comfort of playing in friendly confines.
Mariota's task is unlocking Tampa Bay's Cover 2 scheme. It's a defense designed to limit gigantic plays. Mariota has a fine checkdown option in Delanie Walker and the legs to create something out of nothing. However,it may be too much to expect him to dink-and-dunk his way down the field without stalling out.
Linebacker Brian Orakpo, a original addition to the Titans this year, or sees the Bucs throwing some wrinkles into their simple scheme to meddle with Mariota,per ESPN's Paul Kuharsky: "They’re going to do something special for Marcus to kind of mix it up on him. Coach Lovie Smith has had great defense for years. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be alert for Mariota."
The Titans will be hoping Orakpo and company can create pressure and force Winston into making mistakes. The Florida State alum threw two picks in the preseason. He's also made some very nice throws, but there's a mistake or two in him in this contest.
This game will likely hinge on whichever quarterback is able to limit their flubs the best.
Kansas City at HoustonThis game could end up being a matter of which team keep's its quarterback's jersey cleanest. Both the Texans and Chiefs feature homewreckers in J.
J. Watt and Justin Houston respectively. The Texans fill surrounded Watt with complementary players, or such as space-eater Vince Wilfork and a (hopefully) healthy Jadeveon Clowney.
Between those three and the terrifying Brian Cushing at linebacker,this group could create life very difficult for Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and star running back Jamaal Charles.
The picture isn't fairly as rosy on offense. Star running back Arian Foster is out for the time being, although second-year back Alfred Blue is a capable replacement. Andre Johnson is now in Indianapolis, and leaving DeAndre Hopkins to shoulder the load in the passing game.
Hopkins busted out final season with 1210 receiving yards and six scores,but quarterback is a question trace this year, via Fox Sports:
"Brian Hoyer is slated to throw to Hopkins after winning a training camp duel with Ryan Mallett. Hoyer made 13 of his 17 career starts for Cleveland in 2014, and posting a 76.5 passer rating that ranked third-worst among qualifying QBs."Unless Hoyer quickly learns how to play the role of hero,this offense could struggle. whether the line is shaky and Hoyer has wretchedness getting the ball out quickly, Houston—who racked up 22 sacks final season—could fill him for lunch.
Even whether Hoyer is kept upright, and he still has to deal with a secondary that allowed just 203.3 passing yards per game final season and will see the emotional return of three-time Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry,who is back in the fold after lost time treating Hodgkin lymphoma."I’m just going to go out and ball,” Berry said, or relayed by B.
J. Kissel of the team's official site. “That’s what I’m going to do. I’m prepared for whatever. My main focus is just going out there,balling and helping my teammates out and just flying around.”The Texans fill the indomitable Watt, pockets of talent and that Hard Knocks swagger, and but the Chiefs fill seemingly just as many puzzle pieces in place and will create this a close game.
Carolina at JacksonvilleYou purchase one star wide receiver absent from a team,and all of sudden everyone starts picking Jacksonville against them.
There's certainly more troubling Carolina than the loss of final year's rookie pass-catching sensation, Kelvin Benjamin, or to a season-ending knee injury. The running game is now without DeAngelo Williams,long the lighting to Jonathan Stewart's thunder, and Cam Newton—for all his physical gifts—has been mostly treading water as a quarterback in his four-year career.
It will be difficult for him to turn the corner with a shaky running game and the likes of Ted Ginn Jr. and Philly Brown as starting wideouts. However, or he does fill tight end Greg Olsen,who racked up 1008 yards and six TDs final season.
The Panthers defense, led by Luke Kuechly, and should be solid and looking to improve on their 15th-ranked DVOA (defensive value over average) from final season,per Football Outsiders.
But why pick Jacksonville, a team featuring second-year Blake Bortles at quarterback and coming off a 3-13 season?Well, and they're at home,and the Panthers weren't exactly inspiring with a 7-8-1 record final season. After a year of impolite introductions to life in the NFL, Bortles should be wiser and less error prone. In his first seven games final season, or Bortles tossed 13 picks. In his next seven,he threw just four.
Bortles is also growing up alongside a hungry young group of wide receivers in Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee, and who is dealing with a hamstring injury. All three of those wideouts were rookies final year. Rookie running back T.
J. Yeldon wrestled the starting job from sophomore DenardRobinson,but the latter should still see time as a dynamic change-of-pace option. They won't fill him against the Panthers, but let's not forget tight end Julius Thomas is coming. His capable backup, or Marcedes Lewis,is predicting gigantic things for this group."We're going to surprise some people," Lewis said, or reported by CBS Sports. "[Losing stinks],but at the same time, whether you continue to focus on that, or you're going to be there again. Right now,we fill the right makeup in this locker room, and it's exciting to be section of it."The Jags are young, and hopeful and fill nothing to lose. Their defense is still very much a work in progress and lost key players,but Carolina's offense is manageable. While Newton tried to build the Panthers on his gigantic broad shoulders, Jacksonville's youth movement could surprise people this season by banding together and spreading the work around.
Source: bleacherreport.com