Hello to everyone out here on the RX. Hopefully everybody is ready for the start to a new football season.
Dallas +4.5 vs San Francisco- Many ESPN guys like Mark Schelereth have been ripping this Cowboys team to maybe be the worst team in the NFL this year. They may not be great but this is a super spot for them. 49ers are really team disseray right now. Their defense is really beat up right now. Injuries to Bowman and a beat up Willis really hurt run defense. Secondary is unproven as they have gotten rid of their starting corners from last year. Defensive line suffering from suspensions to Aldon Smith and potentially McDonald and they were already this with lack of depth/Dorsey injury. Special teams is just as unproven as they go into this game having cut their 3 best special team players from last year and will be going with rookies. Offensively just as bad on offensive line as Boone held out of training camp and just reported, cut Snyder, so line's continuity early season is in question. Sure they picked up a lot of talent at WR along with getting a full year healthy of Crabtree but I am still not sold on Kaepernick throwing the football if he has no time to do so. With that said I think they will be better offensively this year but I really question if they can stop anybody at this point. What Dallas will do well and strength of team has become their offensive line. I expect gaudy numbers out of Romo to Bryant. Dallas has played top opponents well at home last year as it is road they have struggled at times. San Francisco really didn't look great in preseason to boot. I am loving the home doggie Cowboys in this one as the hype both ways (positive for SF and negative for Dallas) imo is exaggerated. Dallas I believe have great chance to win su here as SF looks ahead to opening up new stadium.
Atlanta +3 vs New Orleans- This game opening week seems like Groundhog Day only with both teams reversing roles. Ly it was the Saints coming off of a tough year with all the bounty suspensions playing the Falcons coming off division title and a Super Bowl Favorite. This year it is the Falcons at home coming off of a horrible season vs the Saints that made the playoffs and being hyped as a potential SB champion. As I liked the Saints ly I love the Falcons in this spot. Saints have won 3 of last 4 in Atlanta but believe they may run into a buzzsaw in this one. Key to this game will be can Falcons offensive line and rookie LT Jake Matthews stand up to Ryan's blitzing defense. Atlanta should be much improved defensively and with them being healthy again, I expect to see 2012 version of Falcons. Really believe Falcons will be amped up and motivated to get season started in this one.
Carolina +2 at Tampa Bay- Lovie Smith will be making his return to coaching after a year hiatus. The underlying value in this game to me is that while Lovie was still coaching Bears, he fired defensive coordinator Ron Rivera who had successfully instrumented one of the best defenses in the NFL. When it happened, Rivera was very bitter towards Smith as didn't believe firing was legitimate while moving on to San Diego. This will be the first time these teams meet with both men head coaching vs one another. Key to this game is an interior offensive line of Tampa able to hold up against a stout front 7 of the Panthers. On other side of the ball is can new receiving corps get enough space for Cam to get them the ball. Though I think Tampa will be improved this year I don't think this is a great spot for them as Carolina even coming off a very successful season but getting no respect in the media for what they accomplished. I look for a better than expected Panthers team to handle the Bucs in this one.
St. Louis -3.5 vs Minnesota- Line has been dropping like a nuke but I believe this is over the unsettled qb situation for the Rams. I believe this is a gift for us. Shawn Hill when given a chance in this league is a .500 quarterback over his career while Bradford has been well under .500. He is much better than given credit for. Fact is Rams are built to run and play defense and only really need a caretaker who can throw the ball 20-25 times at a 65% clip. Hill fits the bill. Offensive line of the Rams is going to be tremendously improved with a healthy Long, the rookie Robinson, and free agent Joseph cut by Tampa. Defensively Rams can be elite if young secondary can hold up. Their front 7 can be as good and may eventually be best in football. Vikings Cassel may very well be running for his life in this one. AP always seems to have a great day vs Rams as well as season opener. Fact is Rams are being undersold after Bradford went down which is going to truly benefit us as they can be as good as anybody if they mature and dont' turnover the football. Rams will win handily in this one.
One total for opening week.
Raiders/Jets over 39.5.....Really impressed with what D. Carr did vs starting defense of Seattle. Funny thing is Jets secondary is the worst right now in the NFL with Milliner injured and cutting Patterson who was signed as a free agent to replace Cromartie. Raiders have a healthy McFadden and added Jones-Drew so expect a much improved and potentially quick strike offense this year. Jets on the other hand have to go up against the Raiders who also struggle to stop anyone. Geno Smith/Vick will create matchup problems, running game on paper looks improved with CJ, and passing game adding Decker could be also much improved. Last year I would have said for sure under but this line looks off by over a td as both teams will reach the 20's in this one.
Final Card (May have some plays for MNF)
Dallas +4.5
Atlanta +3
Carolina + 2
St. Louis -3.5
Raiders/Jets over 39.5
Best of luck to all in Wk. 1!
Dallas +4.5 vs San Francisco- Many ESPN guys like Mark Schelereth have been ripping this Cowboys team to maybe be the worst team in the NFL this year. They may not be great but this is a super spot for them. 49ers are really team disseray right now. Their defense is really beat up right now. Injuries to Bowman and a beat up Willis really hurt run defense. Secondary is unproven as they have gotten rid of their starting corners from last year. Defensive line suffering from suspensions to Aldon Smith and potentially McDonald and they were already this with lack of depth/Dorsey injury. Special teams is just as unproven as they go into this game having cut their 3 best special team players from last year and will be going with rookies. Offensively just as bad on offensive line as Boone held out of training camp and just reported, cut Snyder, so line's continuity early season is in question. Sure they picked up a lot of talent at WR along with getting a full year healthy of Crabtree but I am still not sold on Kaepernick throwing the football if he has no time to do so. With that said I think they will be better offensively this year but I really question if they can stop anybody at this point. What Dallas will do well and strength of team has become their offensive line. I expect gaudy numbers out of Romo to Bryant. Dallas has played top opponents well at home last year as it is road they have struggled at times. San Francisco really didn't look great in preseason to boot. I am loving the home doggie Cowboys in this one as the hype both ways (positive for SF and negative for Dallas) imo is exaggerated. Dallas I believe have great chance to win su here as SF looks ahead to opening up new stadium.
Atlanta +3 vs New Orleans- This game opening week seems like Groundhog Day only with both teams reversing roles. Ly it was the Saints coming off of a tough year with all the bounty suspensions playing the Falcons coming off division title and a Super Bowl Favorite. This year it is the Falcons at home coming off of a horrible season vs the Saints that made the playoffs and being hyped as a potential SB champion. As I liked the Saints ly I love the Falcons in this spot. Saints have won 3 of last 4 in Atlanta but believe they may run into a buzzsaw in this one. Key to this game will be can Falcons offensive line and rookie LT Jake Matthews stand up to Ryan's blitzing defense. Atlanta should be much improved defensively and with them being healthy again, I expect to see 2012 version of Falcons. Really believe Falcons will be amped up and motivated to get season started in this one.
Carolina +2 at Tampa Bay- Lovie Smith will be making his return to coaching after a year hiatus. The underlying value in this game to me is that while Lovie was still coaching Bears, he fired defensive coordinator Ron Rivera who had successfully instrumented one of the best defenses in the NFL. When it happened, Rivera was very bitter towards Smith as didn't believe firing was legitimate while moving on to San Diego. This will be the first time these teams meet with both men head coaching vs one another. Key to this game is an interior offensive line of Tampa able to hold up against a stout front 7 of the Panthers. On other side of the ball is can new receiving corps get enough space for Cam to get them the ball. Though I think Tampa will be improved this year I don't think this is a great spot for them as Carolina even coming off a very successful season but getting no respect in the media for what they accomplished. I look for a better than expected Panthers team to handle the Bucs in this one.
St. Louis -3.5 vs Minnesota- Line has been dropping like a nuke but I believe this is over the unsettled qb situation for the Rams. I believe this is a gift for us. Shawn Hill when given a chance in this league is a .500 quarterback over his career while Bradford has been well under .500. He is much better than given credit for. Fact is Rams are built to run and play defense and only really need a caretaker who can throw the ball 20-25 times at a 65% clip. Hill fits the bill. Offensive line of the Rams is going to be tremendously improved with a healthy Long, the rookie Robinson, and free agent Joseph cut by Tampa. Defensively Rams can be elite if young secondary can hold up. Their front 7 can be as good and may eventually be best in football. Vikings Cassel may very well be running for his life in this one. AP always seems to have a great day vs Rams as well as season opener. Fact is Rams are being undersold after Bradford went down which is going to truly benefit us as they can be as good as anybody if they mature and dont' turnover the football. Rams will win handily in this one.
One total for opening week.
Raiders/Jets over 39.5.....Really impressed with what D. Carr did vs starting defense of Seattle. Funny thing is Jets secondary is the worst right now in the NFL with Milliner injured and cutting Patterson who was signed as a free agent to replace Cromartie. Raiders have a healthy McFadden and added Jones-Drew so expect a much improved and potentially quick strike offense this year. Jets on the other hand have to go up against the Raiders who also struggle to stop anyone. Geno Smith/Vick will create matchup problems, running game on paper looks improved with CJ, and passing game adding Decker could be also much improved. Last year I would have said for sure under but this line looks off by over a td as both teams will reach the 20's in this one.
Final Card (May have some plays for MNF)
Dallas +4.5
Atlanta +3
Carolina + 2
St. Louis -3.5
Raiders/Jets over 39.5
Best of luck to all in Wk. 1!
