Week One Discussion (Other Teams)

[JO_75]

Going to go ahead and make this now as Thursday Night kicks off the 2015 season with the New England Patriots hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. Br*dy is back, Steelers are going to be without Bell, and the Steelers defense has been horrible all preseason. For Br*dy this may just feel like playing against the Colts defense.

 

Key Games

 

Colts @ Bills: Rex Ryan starts his tenure with Buffalo facing Andrew Luck and the Colts offense. Colts defense doesn't look any better than it has been, meanwhile Tyrod Taylor gets his first official start as a NFL starting QB. This is my week one upset, Bills over Colts.

 

Seahawks @ Rams: Many seem to like the Rams as a sleeper pick in 2015 since acquiring Nick Foles. I just don't see them beating the Seahawks, can very well see a house cleaning done as the Rams will want a new staff and new GM for their move to LA.

 

Chiefs @ Texans: Two teams that if they had a legit franchise QB would be serious AFC playoff contenders. So with Alex Smith and Brian Hoyer leading the way, this game could help decide the wild card battle at the end of the year.

 

Saints @ Cardinals: Another game that could help determine seeding at the end of the year in terms of the wild card or the division seeding. Can Palmer stay healthy to finish what they started last year?

 

Giants @ Cowboys: NBC's obsession with the NFC East has got to stop. First Sunday Night Football game is between Giants and Cowboys. Seems to me the Cowboys & Eagles will be battling for the division while the Giants will again miss the playoffs.

 

Eagles @ Falcons: Chip Kelly's bold moves over the offseason has led to what will be a very interesting first MNF game of the year. Dan Quinn meanwhile looks like he has Atlanta on track in what was the weakest division in football last year.

 

AFC North: 

 

Bengals @ Raiders: BONUS Upset Pick! Bengals are going to be the favorite but I think the Bengals are going to be shocked. Derek Carr leads Oakland to a victory over the Bengals to begin 2015. 

 

Browns @ Jets: Josh McCown is the starting QB for the Browns. Guessing the Browns think McCown can lead them to the first overall pick in 2016 the same way he led Tampa to the first pick in 2015.

Edited September 6, 2015 by JO_75

[1/28/01]

Let's go New England!!! (taking a shower now)

[Pats]

Lovely way to start the season by stepping on the steelers heads. I concur about the bills upset of indy too, i think the cards beat the saints too and the bengals barely beat oakland.

[The Mom Gene]

True J.O.  Br*dy may have his way with the scoreboard... I just hope the Steelers knock the snot out of Br*dy.  Everybody hates a cheater.

 

I was looking at the matchup for week 1.  I was pretty impressed with them.  They all seemed really well put together.  We should see some upsets, and some great games this weekend.

[playlikeawhat]

Fingers crossed for Pats winning week 1 then Tom getting suspended in the thick of the season.  A man can dream.

[JO_75]

Time to adjust your fantasy roster if you have Todd Gurley or CJ Spiller on your teams. Todd Gurley is unlikely to play until October and CJ Spiller will miss this week's game against the Cardinals but will be back in week 2 according to Ian Rapport.

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/317083/report-cj-spiller-will-not-play-in-week-1

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/317084/report-gurley-unlikely-to-play-before-week-4

[RaineV1]

For once I'll be rooting for the Steelers. They can lose every other game of the season, but I want to see Big Ben play like he did during his Super Bowl appearances in this game.

[K-Dog]

Not even gonna watch.

I hate both teams.

[Moderator 3]

Not even gonna watch.

I hate both teams.

Might check in on the score once in a while, but definitely not watching the pregame show. Puke fest.

[berad]

Does James Harrison have one more dominant game in him?

 

I'd even give him a cheer if he makes Br*dy cry.

 

edit - Supposed to be nice and rainy in Foxborough tomorrow night. Hopefully it's miserable for all involved!

 

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Foxborough&state=MA&site=BOX&textField1=42.0652&textField2=-71.2484&e=0#.VfBEOZegWjw

Edited September 9, 2015 by berad

[DomMcRaven]

Apparently, the 49ers will be debuting their new black and red jerseys on MNF against the Vikings. They look pretty cool. Haven't seen them before? Well, hopefully this link works:

 

 

http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-to-Wear-Black-Alternate-Uniforms-vs-Minnesota-Vikings/316f57fb-78b9-4413-8da7-6f993b66db4c#7e27a299-65fa-4c4b-b3ce-24cf77b0c79d

[GrimCoconut]

Apparently, the 49ers will be debuting their new black and red jerseys on MNF against the Vikings. They look pretty cool. Haven't seen them before? Well, hopefully this link works:

http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-to-Wear-Black-Alternate-Uniforms-vs-Minnesota-Vikings/316f57fb-78b9-4413-8da7-6f993b66db4c#7e27a299-65fa-4c4b-b3ce-24cf77b0c79d

I gotta admit they do look good but the blackout movement is a bit tiring. Every team is practically doing it.

[DomMcRaven]

I gotta admit they do look good but the blackout movement is a bit tiring. Every team is practically doing it.

I know right. No wonder why Niners fans kept on talking about blackout on Monday Night Football.

[BrownsFan]

The Cleveland Browns.  Some things change, some things always stay the same.  =]

[Ravens4Real]

Patriots starting C put on IR to return. Man is the interior of their O line ugly. Brady is going to get killed.

[beanfigger]

I'll be surprised if the Browns score over 13 points. Doesn't mean they won't win, just sayin'.

[1/28/01]

For once I'll be rooting for the Steelers. They can lose every other game of the season, but I want to see Big Ben play like he did during his Super Bowl appearances in this game.

He better play better than that if your hope is for a Steelers win (yuck).

[Cville-Raven]

I've got NE winning tomorrow. I agree with the Bills pick. Not sure I buy the Raiders beating the Bengals though.  

[JO_75]

He better play better than that if your hope is for a Steelers win (yuck).

 

I would say we can hope for a tie but as we saw last year with the Bengals and their tie with the Panthers, a tie doesn't do us any good either. I'm rooting for NE in this one as the very first thing teams want to win is the division. Any loss by a divisional opponent helps. 

[berad]

Looks like the temp could dip into the frigid 60s tonight for the Pats/Steelers!

 

Hope all the air doesn't just mysteriously slip out of those darned footballs again!

[redlobster]

I think game will be closer than many analysts anticipate, Brady has quite a few people out, most noticeably his starting center.

While Steelers are missing bell and Bryant.

Steelers defense stinks though

Edited September 10, 2015 by redlobster

[A Fish Called Yanda]

I think game will be closer than many analysts anticipate, Brady has quite a few people out, most noticeably his starting center.

While Steelers are missing bell and Bryant.

Steelers defense stinks though

 

Helen Keller could throw 7 TDs against this Steelers defense.

 

42 - 35 Pats.

[TheRavenouseD2008]

Steelers are missing a slew of players not just bryant ...... its like a whos who including their starting center and running back ..... 

[Ravens4Real]

Steelers are missing a slew of players not just bryant ...... its like a whos who including their starting center and running back .....

They are missing Bryant, Bell and Pouncey. All three very good players that will be back later in the year. I'm not sure I would say 3 guys is a slew of people.

Patriots are missing their starting C. They now are starting a couple rookies and career backups at both G spots and C. They don't have Blount and LaFell is on the DL.

This game will basically be who can take advantage of the other deficiencies. Pittsburgh has an unproven secondary and NE has all new guys in theirs. This game comes down to who has a better connection, Brady and Gronk or Ben and Brown. Neither team has anyone who can guard the other.

Rain or shine, I believe this is going to be a high scoring affair.

Side note: Brady really suffers when pressure gets in his face. If the Steelers can take advantage of the Patriots having no one in the interior of their line, Brady could have a long night.

Edited September 10, 2015 by Ravens4Real

[cobrajet]

I just don't see the Steelers beating the Patriots tonight with their defense, unless their offense has a really big game. The Steelers have got off to slow starts the last few years.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

They are missing Bryant, Bell and Pouncey. All three very good players that will be back later in the year. I'm not sure I would say 3 guys is a slew of people.

Patriots are missing their starting C. They now are starting a couple rookies and career backups at both G spots and C. They don't have Blount and LaFell is on the DL.

This game will basically be who can take advantage of the other deficiencies. Pittsburgh has an unproven secondary and NE has all new guys in theirs. This game comes down to who has a better connection, Brady and Gronk or Ben and Brown. Neither team has anyone who can guard the other.

Rain or shine, I believe this is going to be a high scoring affair.

Side note: Brady really suffers when pressure gets in his face. If the Steelers can take advantage of the Patriots having no one in the interior of their line, Brady could have a long night.

 

I posted this the other day - the Steelers 11 offensive starters missed a collective 7 games last year.  They were ridiculously lucky when it came to being healthy last year, and we all saw what happened when they were missing a key piece in the playoffs.  When their starters are all on the field, the Steelers have one of the best offenses in the league...but with more than one of those players gone they have major weaknesses because of their lack of depth at almost every position.

[ravensdan]

I posted this the other day - the Steelers 11 offensive starters missed a collective 7 games last year. They were ridiculously lucky when it came to being healthy last year, and we all saw what happened when they were missing a key piece in the playoffs. When their starters are all on the field, the Steelers have one of the best offenses in the league...but with more than one of those players gone they have major weaknesses because of their lack of depth at almost every position.

This is a tough game to call. I am kind of leaning Steelers. I don't think Bryant is that big of a loss. He's highly overrated. A third receiver. Pouncey always misses time. The rest of their oline is in tact. Meanwhile the patriots line is highly questionable. If the Steelers can generate any pressure it could be against these guys. Especially game one. All new guys working together while the steelers group mostly in tact. The steelers could get off to an early lead and shock the patriots. They have actually out game planned the patriots the last several times they've met.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

This is a tough game to call. I am kind of leaning Steelers. I don't think Bryant is that big of a loss. He's highly overrated. A third receiver. Pouncey always misses time. The rest of their oline is in tact. Meanwhile the patriots line is highly questionable. If the Steelers can generate any pressure it could be against these guys. Especially game one. All new guys working together while the steelers group mostly in tact. The steelers could get off to an early lead and shock the patriots. They have actually out game planned the patriots the last several times they've met.

 

I'm the opposite, I think Brady is going to have his way with the Pittsburgh secondary and the Steelers won't be able to keep up with the Pats offense without some of their key pieces.  I just want to see Brady thrown around like a rag doll by James Harrison though.

[Inqui]

I've got the Patriots winning. But all the same

 

[A Fish Called Yanda]

What the heck is up with Antonio Brown's hair.  He looks like he was on the losing end of a fight with a weedwacker.