The 2016 NFL season kicks off this weekend. Here’s a quick thought on each game on this week’s schedule.

1:00 pm Kickoffs

Green Bay Packers At Jacksonville Jaguars: This will be a tougher game for the Packers than people think. It’ll be a nip and tuck affair well into the fourth quarter but I don’t see the Packers losing to the new and improved Jags. Green Bay will survive a scare and get off to a good start. 

Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens: I think Baltimore is the second best team in the AFC behind the Patriots. They are healthy on both sides of the ball and looking to redeem themselves after a disastrous 2015 season. For the Bills, they’ll move the ball offensively but they’ll struggle defensively with three starters missing from their front seven.I think this will be a slugfest but I like the Ravens. 

Chicago Bears at Houston Texans: Interesting match-up for week one. I think Chicago will surprise some people this season. John Fox’s teams have shown marked improvement in year two. I don’t think Chicago is a playoff team but they’ll be better. Expectations are high in Houston and I’m not sure the Texans can meet them. That being said, I do think the Horns will get off to a good start this week by beating the Bears. 

Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles: I have a feeling the Eagles will blow out the Browns and instill a sense of false hope within their fan base. Both teams are rebuilding, especially the Browns. These are the type of games that are usually fun. Don’t be surprised if a shootout broke out. I like Philly at home. 

Tampa Bay Bucs at Atlanta Falcons: It’ll be interesting to see if Atlanta teases us again like they did at the start of last season. There’s excitement in the ATL about the offense but the defense is still a question mark. The Bucs got better this off-season and the expectation is that Jameis Winston will take the next step under new coach and former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. These two teams always play tight games and this will be no different. I’m actually going to take the Buccos in what should be a close game.

Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans: The Vikings needed a “winnable” game to start the season now that they are trying to break in a new quarterback in Sam Bradford. The Titans aren’t the Titans of two years ago, they are better. This will be a game for three quarters but in the end, the Vikings will pull away in the fourth quarter. I am still going to maintain that I think the Vikings are a better team with Sam Bradford under center than Teddy Bridgewater.    

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets: This is the start of a brutal six game stretch to open the season for the Jets. New York will have its hands full in the coming, including this week. Despite some key defections this off-season, the Bengals are still a pretty good football team. They still have one of the best rosters in the league. I like the quarterback match up of Andy Dalton vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick in this one. Which ever quarterback ends up with the ball last, will win it for his team. That’s right, that’s my prediction.

Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints: I like New Orleans in this game. I know, I know. I’ve been tongue bathing the Raiders all off-season but I think they start the season off 0-1. The Saints have surrounded Drew Brees with some quality skill again. New Orleans will score plenty of points but I still don’t see them stopping anyone consistently. By the way, Dennis Allen locks horns with his former team. 

San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs: I don’t see San Diegans getting up for a 10 am start. The Chargers on the other hand, they’ll be jazzed up because traditionally, they have played well at Arrowhead. I don’t think San Diego is a playoff but I kind of feel the same way about the Chiefs. I’m not quite sure I buy them again this season. I buy them in this game however. I think the Chiefs will get off to a good start with a win but big picture, they have too many question marks. 

Miami Dolphins at Seattle Seahawks: Adam Gase, congrats on being named the new coach of the Miami Dolphins. Now spread your legs so you could get kicked in the nads in your season opener. Talk about drawing the shortest straw. I don’t think the rebuilt Dolphins have a chance in this game. I think Seattle will have a bounce back season and it’ll start off with them trouncing the Fish.

Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts: The Colts redemption tour begins at home against the Calvin Johnsonless Lions. I don’t know what to make of Detroit. I feel they are on their way to another 7-9, 8-8 type season. The Colts on the other hands are trying to prove that they are contenders in the AFC but in order to do that, Andrew Luck needs to play well and they need to get off to a good start. I think both of those things can happen this week against a Lions defense that went from dominant two years ago, to dormant last season.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys: Ahh yes. The annual Giants, Cowboys season opener. I would like Dallas’ chances a lot better if Tony Romo were playing. Instead. Dak Prescott is getting his first career start and it could be an adventure. Opening the season against the new and improved Giants defense is tough. I’m buying the G-Men in 2016. The offense will play better but more importantly, the defense will be better. I think the Giants are the best team in the NFC East and they’ll proving by winning this game.

New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals: I think this will be a closer game than people think. Yes, we are all aware that Jimmy G is not Tom Brady. However, if offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels plays to Garoppolo’s strengths and the Patriots run the football effectively, they’ll score points. New England’s defense is good enough to keep them in this game but the offense has to do their part. Despite that sentiment, I like Arizona in this game.   

Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins: The short handed Steelers will travel to our nations capital to battle a Redskins team that’s trying to prove last season wasn’t a fluke. The national media still loves the Steelers despite their issues with suspensions. I guess they think Big Ben and what’s left is good enough to carry this team. I don’t. I think Pittsburgh will struggle early on until Bell gets back. The Skins are not a good match up for Pittsburgh. Kirk Cousins could have a big night against a front seven that struggles to generate base pressure. I like the Skins in this one. 

Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers: This will be a boring game. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited that football is back but this game will not be worth staying up for. The Rams are well on their way to an 8-8 season again and the Niners are a train wreck.