Of course, it is too early to judge any team based on their first week performance. Or is it? Here are my safe conclusion and overreactions from Week 1: Chiefs VS Patriots: 42-27Safe Picks: 1. Chiefs are a force to reckon with. 2. The Chiefs secondary will miss Eric Berry. 3. Tyreek Hill will return with an explosive year. 4. Patriots will feel the absence of Julian Edelman. 5. The Patriots backfield will be used creatively. Overreactions: 1. Tom Brady finally realized he's 40 2. Pat Mahomes didn't need to be drafted. 3. Kareem Hunt will win Offensive Rookie of the Year. 4. Belichick has lost it. 5. The Patriots defense is unorganized. Summary: I think the Chiefs shocked the Patriots and the defense was sub-par. Tom Brady wasn't himself but the offense did put up 27 points which isn't horrible. I think the Chiefs have a very good season and the Patriots bounce back hard versus New Orleans' poor defense. Bills vs Jets: 21-16Safe Picks: 1. The Jets are not good. 2. LeSean McCoy still has it. 3. Tyrod Taylor is not the issue. 4. Jordan Matthews has potential on the Bills. 5. Both offensive-lines can't play. Overreactions: 1. Bills can go 9-7. 2. Jets will go 0-16. 3. Josh McCown cannot start. 4. Jordan Matthews will have a 1,200+ yard season. 5. The Jets o-line is not an issue. Summary: This one of the Jets only shots at a win in their division. While it was a one-score game the Bills felt like the better team throughout the game. Expect the Bills to lead the league in rushing yards with the combination of LeSean McCoy, Tyrod Taylor, and Mike Tolbert. Jaguars vs Texans: 29-7Safe Picks: 1. Tom Savage is not the answer. 2. Bortles is not the answer. 3. Leonard Fournette is solid. 4. The Texans need offensive line help. Badly. 5. DeAndre Hopkins is not being utilized. Overreactions: 1. The Jaguars defense will be a top-2 defense this year. 2. Bortles' job is safe. 3. The Jaguars are making the playoffs. 4. The Texans will be a easy team to beat. 5. Texans don't have a quality running back. Summary: In a tale of two poor quarterbacks with talented defenses, Bortles looked better than Savage but was mainly carried by a Jaguars defense that tore apart a pathetic Texans offensive line that let Savage get sacked 6 times. Don't get too high on Jacksonville, they're still lead by Blake Bortles. Don't get too low on the Texans, Deshaun Watson looked much better than Savage. Steelers vs Browns: 21-18 Safe Picks: 1. Browns will be closer to 9-7 than 0-16. 2. Antonio Brown is in for a big year. 3. Big Ben doesn't need to retire just yet. 4. Steelers' defense has playmakers. 5. DeShone Kizer is playable. Overreactions: 1. Browns will make the playoffs. 2. Mike Tomlin should be on the hot seat. 3. The Steelers' secondary is fine. 4. Steelers offense isn't what it was last year. 5. Le'Veon Bell is in for a bad year. Summary: Many were surprised at how well Cleveland played. The Steelers defense and special teams made some key plays and defensive rookies like Jabrill Peppers and T.J. Watt looked good. DeShone Kizer had some ups and downs but I liked what I saw. Steelers fans shouldn't be worried about their offense and the Browns played well for the most part. Cardinals vs Lions: 35-23Safe Picks: 1. Matthew Stafford was worth it. 2. Lions defense is going to be solid. 3. The Cardinals have missed their window. Between All or Nothing, it was nothing. 4. Lions are a fringe-playoffs team. 5. Arizona is not making the playoffs. Overreactions: 1. No David Johnson, no wins. 2. Arizona is too old. 3. Lions will win the NFC North. 4. Arizona will finish 4th in the NFC West. 5. Arizona need to draft a quarterback high this year. Summary: Matthew Stafford looked like he was worth it out there. Disregarding a bad pick-6 he looked fresh and played well. Carson Palmer was horrendous and thoughts of securing a better backup is needed. Both defenses played well and the absence of David Johnson will finish the Cardinals off. Falcons vs Bears: 23-17Safe Picks: 1. The Bears will be better than expected. 2. Falcons need to be pick up their game. 3. Mike Glennon was better than I thought he would be. 4. Matt Ryan is still the Matt Ryan before he was MVP. 5. Bears defense needs to help the offense more. Overreactions: 1. Tarik Cohen should start over Jordan Howard. 2. Austin Hooper is a franchise tight end. 3. Falcons are not playoff-contenders. 4. Mike Glennon is a franchise-quarterback. 5. There was no need to draft Mitchell Trubisky. Summary: This game was closer than it should have been. Falcons did escape with the win but I would have liked them to win by much more in order to believe they can make the Super Bowl. The Bears are better than I thought they would be. Glennon seems to be holding off Trubisky. Ravens vs Bengals: 20-0Safe Picks: 1. A.J. Green's talent is being wasted with a poor quarterback. 2. Baltimore's defense is being slept on. 3. Hill, Mixon, and Bernard need to be used more. 4. Andy Dalton is below average. 5. Flacco is manageable. Overreactions: 1. Andy Dalton needs to be benched, 2. Bengals will finish bottom of AFC North. 3. The Ravens will win the AFC North. 4. Ravens defense has returned to its former glory. 5. Marvin Lewis will be fired. Summary: The Bengals season is over. Honestly, there was no good I saw out there. Getting blown out is never good. The defense gave a Ravens offense with no receivers 20 points. I had Bengals bouncing back...I'm not so sure. I want to see 2 more games out of Dalton before I give my final opinion. It's not looking good right now though. Raiders vs Titans: 26-16Safe Picks: 1. Raiders' offense is what we thought it would be. 2. Derek Carr doesn't look like he got carr-ted off last year (see what I did there...) 3. Titans fans shouldn't be worried 4. Titans are a fringe playoff team. 5. Jankowski might be losing his job. Overreactions: 1. Titans can't compete with the AFC's top dogs. 2. The Titans will win the AFC South. 3. The Raiders will top the AFC. 4. Oakland's secondary is a mess 5. BEASTMODE is back. Summary: Going in I thought this was going to be a good fight but the Raiders would pull away because I feel they are a more mature version of Tennessee. Carr is more polished than Mariota and has more weapons however both are similar in terms of having a future star quarterback, solid offensive lines, big playmakers on d-line, and secondary flaws. Carr looked good and Cooper was solid as usual. Both teams have playoff shots, with Raiders being a little bit stronger. Eagles vs Redskins: 30-17Safe Picks: 1. Carson Wentz is the answer for the Eagles. 2. Kirk Cousins needs more help. 3. With Darby gone, cornerback needs help. Badly. 4. Redskins defense needs to be better on 3rd down. 5. Redskins need to convert in the redzone. Overreactions: 1. Agholor is what the Eagles drafted. 2. Cousins isn't worth the cash. 3. Wentz will carry the Eagles to the NFC East title. 4. Redskins can't compete in the NFC East. 5. Pryor had one good year and he's a bust. Summary: I'm very high on Carson Wentz and his ability. On the huge play to Agholor he kept his eyes downfield and was always looking to make a play. I think he could use his legs more but he's progressing nicely. I want to see more of Cousins before I judge him. He does still have Jamison Crowder, Jordan Reed, and Terrelle Pryor who can make plays. However the loss of Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson, and Sean McVay will hurt. I think the NFC East is a more mature version of the AFC South but the division is completely up for grabs and will come down to the last two weeks. I'm very excited to see what happens. Rams vs colts: 46-9Safe Picks: 1. Colts are BAD without Luck. 2. Tolzien cannot play and Brissett is only slightly better. 3. The entire Colts organization is dysfunctional. 4. Goff looked good. 5. When given an opportunity, the Rams defense can play, Overreactions: 1. This game proved that Andrew Luck is truly the Most Valuable Player in the NFL. 2. Goff will bounce back hard. 3. Rams will compete with the Seahawks for the top spot in the NFC West. 4. The Colts will not win a game without Andrew Luck. 5. The Colts should sign Colin Kaepernick. Summary: Andrew Luck was the duct tape holding the Colts together and the Colts decided to start pulling and ripping at the tape. Now they've fallen apart and are trying to glue themselves together but it isn't working. If a team like the Rams can pick apart the Colts, I'm scared for a team like Seattle. However, three of their next four games are winnable. I think they can escape with wins against Arizona, Cleveland, and San Francisco, if Colts can piece themselves together or get Luck back. Rams looked strong but it was men against boys this last week. They will play the Redskins next week and Cowboys then Seahawks soon after. Panthers vs 49ers: 23-3Safe Picks: 1. The 49ers have a long way to go 2. Cam is still rusty from his shoulder surgery. 3. The Panthers run attack seems to have returned. 4. Shanahan and Lynch need time. 5. The answer for quarterback is not on the 49ers roster right now. Overreactions: 1. The Panthers will return to their dominance 2. The 49ers will have a top 3 pick in the draft. 3. Cam will be a MVP again. 4. Falcons are guaranteed the NFC South. 5. McCaffrey will be a consistent playmaker. Summary: The Panthers looked good but Newton needs to get back into throwing and using his legs. He's not a pocket passer and that's not a bad thing. 49ers need to rely more on Carlos Hyde and build around him. Panthers need work in the secondary but they look like a solid playoff team if Cam gets off to a good start. Packers vs Seahawks: 17-9Safe Picks: 1. Packers are still the Packers. 2. The Seahawks offensive line got worse. 3. Seahawks don't have a single dependable running back. 4. Aaron Rodgers has a shot at MVP. 5. Green Bay tends to be very good at home. Overreactions: 1. Packers defense is legit. 2. Seahawks offense is a problem. 3. Seahawks not scoring a touchdown is a serious issue. 4. Seahawks cannot compete in the NFC. 5. Seahawks will face competition in the NFC West. Summary: This was a hard fought out game in Lambeau. In September, Pete Caroll has been perfect at home and abysmal at away. Seahawks will bounce back hard against the 49ers. The Packers defensive line tore up a horrible offensive line making them look a lot better than they are. Referees had an impact in the game and so did the atmosphere. Look for both teams to make deep runs in the playoffs and potentially play each other. Cowboys Vs Giants: 19-3Safe Picks: 1. New York needs Odell. 2. Dallas is still Dallas. 3. Dallas with Zeke is a different team. 4. Eli Manning is average at best. 5. Dak and Zeke are back. Overreactions: 1. Dallas' defense is for real. 2. Dez is not needed. 3. New York cannot win without Odell. 4. Brandon Marshall and Evan Engram are not useful. 5. New York's defense is overrated. Summary: Say what you will about Odell but he is integral to New York's success. Without him, Eli Manning looks straight up bad. With all the questions surrounding if Ezekiel Elliott would be suspended, New York's defense had less time to prepare for him. Dak looked fresh and New York's defense did well to hold a confident Dallas team to only 19 points. Saints vs Vikings: 19-29Safe Picks: 1. Minnesota can challenge for a playoff spot. 2. New Orleans needs Drew Brees to be Drew Brees or they don't have a shot in the NFC South. 3. Dalvin Cook looked good. 4. Adrian Peterson is not being utilized whatsoever. 5. Latavius Murray is done in Minnesota. Overreactions: 1. Drew Brees is too old. 2. Bradford is in for a big year. 3. Peterson should be released. 4. Vikings can take the NFC North from the Packers. 5. The Saints don't have a chance in the NFC South. Summary: The Vikings had good quarterback play from Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook was a pleasant surprise. Both teams have running back controversy with Latavius Murray getting 2 touches and Adrian Peterson getting 9 snaps. I don't think either quarterback played their game and Brees will be good against New England while Bradford shrinks against Pittsburgh. Broncos vs Chargers: 24-21Safe Picks:
1. Trevor Siemian is not the problem. 2. Paxton Lynch isn't fighting hard enough for his job. 3. Chargers' offensive line is really bad. 4. Chargers can compete in a very compact AFC West. 5. Philip Rivers doesn't have enough time in the backfield. Overreactions: 1. Broncos will not make the playoffs. 2. Philip Rivers is too old. 3. Siemian is not the answer. 4. Chargers should have taken Hooker instead of Williams. 5. Denver needs a better run game. Summary: Usually shadowed by the powerhouses in their division, the Chargers have slowly made a solid team. Rivers had at least four solid receivers, Melvin Gordon is picking up where he left off, and the defense is playing well enough. Denver's defense, despite missing players like Sylvester Williams and T.J. Ward, only let in a couple big plays. Overall, it was a close game but I think both teams could do well.
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