2014 NFL Week 11 Preview

Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
Thursday November 13, 2014 8:25pm
NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL

Both teams sit at 5-4 and are coming off of tough losses. The matchup between the two teams hasn't really been interesting since Dan Marino and Jim Kelly were the quarterbacks. Both teams have shown a good amount of positives so far, but that can all change beginning with this game. I'll trust the Dolphins to win this game because they're at home. However, I trust the Bills' quarterback more than the Dolphins' quarterback. Expect this to be a grind-out game.

Buffalo Bills 17 Miami Dolphins 20

San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants
Sunday November 16, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The 49ers got an impressive road victory last week to salvage their season. Their offense had been struggling, and they were coming off a loss to the Rams at home before going into last week's game. A key conversion on fourth and 10 kept the game alive for the 49ers, and aided them to a big road victory against the Saints, a team that rarely loses at home. The Giants, on the other hand, can take positives out of the first half of football they played. However, the second half was awful, keyed by the defense's inability to stop the run, and Eli Manning's interception. The 49ers like to run the ball, so expect them to stay committed to it in this game.

San Francisco 49ers 27 New York Giants 23

Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
Sunday November 16, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

The Vikings should be refreshed and well-rested after their bye week, while the Bears are demoralized by last week's drubbing at the hands of the Packers in Lambeau Field. Jay Cutler has a nice long-term deal, but many in the city of Chicago and in the organization are most likely questioning if Cutler can be the starter much longer. It was a huge question mark and head-scratcher when they gave Cutler the contract. It is full-blown panic mode in Chicago now with a quarterback situation they once thought would never be an issue. Luckily for the Bears, a division game against a rather easy opponent at home awaits them. They should take care of business.

Minnesota Vikings 13 Chicago Bears 23

Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns
Sunday November 16, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH

Ben Tate has complained about the lack of carries he has received in the past two games. Tate was brought in to be the feature back, but the Browns went with a three-back system that thoroughly dominated the Bengals last week. As Tate prepares to face his former team, he knows he has more questions than answers. As for the Browns, they need to continue winning home games like this in order to allow for losses against difficult teams. The Browns currently sit atop the division, but in this league nothing last long.

Houston Texans 10 Cleveland Browns 24

The Chiefs' defense will be looking to keep Russell Wilson and the
Seahawks' running game contained.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday November 16, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

The Seahawks have not exactly shown they have gotten out of their midseason funk and Super Bowl hangover they seem to be in the middle of. They did rack up an impressive 350 rushing yards against the Giants' defense, but the way the Giants' defense have been playing lately, even the Jaguars were probably capable of that had they played the Giants last week. In this atmosphere, this will be a difficult draw for the defending champions. In their last road win,  they struggled to score points against the Panthers. Teams have been taking turns destroying the Panthers' defense. It isn't pretty for the Seahawks at the moment, so I'll take the home team and better team at the moment.

Seattle Seahawks 13 Kansas City Chiefs 23

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers
Sunday November 16, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, David Diehl
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

These are the last two division winners of the NFC South. In fact, both teams were good enough to receive first-round byes in the playoffs due to their outstanding play in those respective seasons. This year, they have been two sorry teams. For the Falcons, at least they're coming off a road win in the division. I'm unsure what positives the Panthers have to look at after being handled in Philadelphia a couple days ago. Both teams are in trouble, and it's because their defense have failed them. It's hard to make a choice between these two teams for this game, because both teams aren't good. I'll go with the home team.

Atlanta Falcons 13 Carolina Panthers 17

Denver Broncos vs. St. Louis Rams
Sunday November 16, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO

The Rams made a surprising move and removed Austin Davis as the starting quarterback. Jeff Fisher has decided to go back to Shaun Hill. I'm unsure why they would elect to do that, since Hill has been a career backup. Davis has upside, and by getting experience, he can be a surprisingly good quarterback in a couple of years. This move does not help the Rams win this game in any way. The Rams' defense hit or miss, but they'll most likely be miss with Peyton Manning coming to the dome.

Denver Broncos 34 St. Louis Rams 14

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Redskins
Sunday November 16, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Dick Stockton, Kirk Morrison
FedEx Field, Landover, MD

It is hard to believe the lone win for the Buccaneers came in Pittsburgh. Then, if you saw the Steelers against the Jets this past week, it isn't so surprising for Steelers' fans. For the Redskins, they are tied with the Giants at the bottom of the NFC East. However, many can make the case they've played a lot worse than the Giants. A surprising win in Cowboys Stadium provided hope for the team, but the return of Robert Griffin III has yet to yield a win. If the Redskins don't get a win in this one, it'll be embarrassing. They've been embarrassed a lot over the years. I'm not expecting that to happen here.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14 Washington Redskins 24

Andy Dalton cannot have a worse game than he did last Thursday.
He'll have to have a complete turnaround for a win.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday November 16, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

Some, including me, still wasn't under the belief that Andy Dalton was the long-term solution and franchise quarterback for the Bengals. The Bengals rewarded him with a contract that makes him that, but Dalton has really been pedestrian since entering the league. In a league where finding a quarterback who won't screw things up is hard, the Bengals probably did the right thing by locking him up long term. However, many have to be concerned after what they saw at home last week against the division-rival Browns. Asking the Bengals to come into New Orleans and win is absurd to me. It's more absurd when the Saints just lost at home for the first time in forever this past week.

Cincinnati Bengals 20 New Orleans Saints 31

Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers
Sunday November 16, 2014 4:05pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

The Raiders almost beat the Chargers in Oakland earlier this season. After a solid start to the season, the Chargers have fallen on some down times, including getting shut out by the Dolphins in their last game. This is a game the Chargers need desperately to get back to their winning ways. They're also looking to keep pace with the Chiefs, who started the season slowly but have picked things up and sit just a game behind the Broncos for first place in the AFC West. As for the Raiders' chances of winning a game this season, it just isn't looking good. Week 13 in St. Louis and Week 16 at home against the Bills are their best chances at a win. Good luck.

Oakland Raiders 7 San Diego Chargers 31

Calvin Johnson will look to have individual success yet again
against Patrick Peterson. 

Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals
Sunday November 16, 2014 4:25pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ

Both teams have been surprising, owning a combined record of 15-3 so far. However, I'm still not convinced by either team this will result in playoff success. While the defenses of both teams are outstanding, the quarterback situation for both teams remain an issue. Even before Carson Palmer was lost for the season due to a tore ACL, he didn't exactly give you confidence he'll lead his team to victory. The same can be said for Matthew Stafford, who needed a last minute drive to beat the Dolphins at home this past week. The Cardinals will get the win here, but I will not be surprised if the Lions win. The Cardinals have not seen a defense like the Lions yet. They'll probably struggle a little scoring points.

Detroit Lions 13 Arizona Cardinals 16

The real test for Mark Sanchez and the Eagles' offense will come
in Lambeau Field this Sunday.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers
Sunday November 16, 2014 4:25pm
FOX -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

The Eagles have been on fire, and as I predicted, things wouldn't matter even if Nick Foles had gone down. The Eagles are flying high because of great play from their offense that has resulted from their uptempo style. However, the Eagles really haven't had many challenges, so this road game here against Aaron Rodgers is a huge challenge. The Eagles' defense don't exactly inspire confidence, especially the big plays Cary Williams is always giving up. Look for Rodgers to look his direction often, and whoever Williams has to guard will have a field day. The Packers will take this at home.

Philadelphia Eagles 24 Green Bay Packers 34

Tom Brady ended Andrew Luck's season last year. Luck will be
seeking a little bit of revenge.

New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday November 16, 2014 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

The last time these two teams played on Sunday night in Lucas Oil Stadium, Peyton Manning was engineering a comeback for the ages. This time, Manning is long gone, and Andrew Luck will be in the position to do so if it turns out that way. The Colts haven't really been consistent, displaying great levels of play last week against the Giants but getting lit up for 51 points against the Steelers the week before. Let's see which teams comes to play in this one. They'll need their best effort.

New England Patriots 23 Indianapolis Colts 24

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans
Monday November 17, 2014 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
LP Field, Nashville, TN

The Steelers have a bad habit of losing to awful teams. The Titans are an awful team, so for that reason alone, I will pick the Titans to shock the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers 13 Tennessee Titans 14

2014 NFL Week 10 Preview

Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Thursday November 6, 2014 8:25pm
NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

The Browns and Bengals both have five wins, and the winner of this game can be on top of the other in the AFC North standings. It is shocking to some the Browns are sitting at 5-3 at the moment, but don't expect that to last long. Brian Hoyer hasn't exactly been playing that well, as he's been supported by a solid run game and a solid defense. Jordan Cameron, who seemed to have sort of a breakout campaign last season, has not performed anywhere near the same as he did last season. The Bengals are at home, so I expect them to get a win on this short week for both teams.

Cleveland Browns 14 Cincinnati Bengals 28

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills
Sunday November 9, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo, NY

Both teams are playing much better football, but this isn't good for E.J. Manuel. Manuel was drafted in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, to the surprise of many. He has not lived up to the billing of a first-round draft pick, but not many people saw him as a first-round talent. Doug Marrone made the decision to bench Manuel after their loss to the Texans in their final game in the month of September. Since backup Kyle Orton has taken over, the Bills have won three out of four and are tied for second place with the Dolphins in the AFC East. While this is great for Bills' fans, the Chiefs are surging now also, and they are the better team. I'll take the Chiefs in a narrow victory.

Kansas City Chiefs 24 Buffalo Bills 20

Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday November 9, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, David Diehl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

The Buccaneers have the worst record in the NFC with a 1-7 record, and that one win came against the 6-3 Steelers in Pittsburgh. Obviously the Steelers have played much better as of late, but the Buccaneers have confused many. They were thoroughly dominated and embarrassed in losses to the Falcons and Ravens, yet they competed and played hard against quality teams like the Steelers and Saints. Lovie Smith has decided to bench Mike Glennon, thinking Josh McCown can lead a resurgence and improved play. McCown started the season, but injured his finger early in the season. Glennon took over and was up and down, but it's up to McCown to salvage the season and bring them to mediocrity at best. They'll get a win here against the struggling Falcons. The Falcons got issues of their own.

Atlanta Falcons 23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24

Dallas Cowboys vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday November 9, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom

It isn't known whether Tony Romo will play in this game or not. He made the flight to London, so he'll be a game-time decision. However, I don't believe it even matters, as the Jaguars are can be beat pretty decisively by Brandon Weeden also. For Blake Bortles, this is just another experience as starter in the NFL. The opportunity to play in London in front of an international crowd is quite an experience, but it'll be an experience he'll have to learn from as they'll lose this game.

Dallas Cowboys 27 Jacksonville Jaguars 10

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets 
Sunday November 9, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

Be prepared for a shocker here. The Steelers have figured things out, as they blasted right through the Colts and Ravens in their last two games, putting up over 40 points in each game. It wasn't too long ago people were calling for the firing of Todd Haley. Those people are silent for the moment, until the offense struggles again. Simply put, the Jets need better protection on the offensive line. The lack of protection for the quarterback has resulted in a lot of bad plays. The Steelers don't have a dominant pass rusher, but Jason Worilds and James Harrison are still solid. Look for the upset here though. Things will work out well for the Jets, for once.

Pittsburgh Steelers 17 New York Jets 20

It appears the Lions will have Calvin Johnson back for their home
tilt against the Dolphins.

Miami Dolphins vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday November 9, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
Ford Field, Detroit, MI

Both teams are playing good football right now, and both teams are coming off of solid victories. The Lions are coming off a bye week, but in their last game, they came back from a 21-0 deficit against the Falcons in London to win the game. For the Dolphins, they steamrolled the Chargers at home, blanking them 37-0. It was the Chargers that was responsible for the first shutout of this season, when they blanked the Jets earlier this season. Defenses from both teams are playing well, and both teams have quarterbacks you can't exactly trust. Just because the Lions are at home doesn't mean they'll automatically win. They lost to the Bills at home earlier this season, which happened to be their last loss so far. This should be a turnover-riddled game, and I think the Lions will come out on top.

Miami Dolphins 20 Detroit Lions 23

Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday November 9, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

The Titans have turned to Zach Mettenberger, but that didn't exactly work out last week against the Texans. Playing in Baltimore is much worse. The Ravens are surprisingly last in the AFC North, but they have a winning record at 5-4. The AFC North is the best division so far, so the Ravens need to win these kind of games to keep pace. They'll definitely win this one.

Tennessee Titans 7 Baltimore Ravens 23

Ahmad Brooks will be looking to lower his target a little bit if he
gets to Drew Brees in this one.

San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday November 9, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

Last year, it was a 15-yard roughing the quarterback penalty on Ahmad Brooks that helped the Saints beat the 49ers in the Superdome last season. Many people, including ESPN analyst Ray Lewis, were outraged at the call and subsequent fine. Brooks has been the subject of trade rumors, one the 49ers have dismissed outright. The 49ers have been used to dismissing rumors this season, as they've dealt with rumors of an uneasy and unhappy locker room so far throughout the season. The Saints keep winning at home, but they just got their first road win of the season last Thursday, so they'll look to keep winning. The 49ers aren't playing good football, just losing to the Rams at home last week, so I'll go with the Saints.

San Francisco 49ers 21 New Orleans Saints 31

Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders
Sunday November 9, 2014 4:05pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
O.co Coliseum, Oakland, CA

I'd be shocked if the Raiders got their first win of the season against the Broncos. This is coming after the Broncos were embarrassed by the Patriots this past week. I do not see another embarrassment for the Broncos.

Denver Broncos 34 Oakland Raiders 6

St. Louis Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
Sunday November 9, 2014 4:25pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ

The Rams must be feeling good about their road victory against the 49ers. Austin Davis is playing solid football, so Sam Bradford may be looking for another job when he finally gets healthy. The Cardinals, though, are no laughing matter, and they are prepared to keep winning. This is a game they should easily take. They know it, and they'll look to pounce on that opportunity. All of the parts on this team are very good, except Carson Palmer. Palmer hasn't screwed up yet, but he's the reason I don't expect the Cardinals to do much come playoffs time.

St. Louis Rams 13 Arizona Cardinals 24

Eli Manning was intercepted five times the last
time he faced the Seahawks. 

New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday November 9, 2014 4:25pm
FOX -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA

Eli Manning was once a guy who could carry a team that didn't exactly have a lot of talent, and win games. He's won two Super Bowls, and has won the MVP in both championships. Manning is playing good football this season, completing a good percentage of his passes. He also has not been intercepted since the Thursday night game against the Redskins, and that was in September. This is the same guy who threw 27 interceptions last season. However, the talent surrounding Manning is dire, as evidenced by the loss to the Colts a couple of days ago. The Seahawks aren't necessarily playing well, but they're much better than the Giants. They should win this one.

New York Giants 20 Seattle Seahawks 30

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers
Sunday November 9, 2014 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

The Bears are sitting at the bottom of the division, and many have blamed Jay Cutler. It was last season when Josh McCown took over for an injured Cutler and led the Bears to great wins. Brandon Marshall, however, kept riding the train of Cutler, saying he's the starter of this football team. Many Bears' fans probably want Cutler out, but McCown isn't there anymore. Simply put, Cutler has never been better than an average quarterback, so unless Marc Trestman gets creative the next couple of seasons, the Bears will be stuck in mediocrity at best.

Chicago Bears 17 Green Bay Packers 31

Carolina Panthers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Monday November 10, 2014 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

These two teams were division winners last season, and both were expected to be NFC title contenders this season. The Eagles have played up to that, but the Panthers have come nowhere close. This season is solid evidence the Panthers' defense was the reason for the success last season. They were right there with the Seahawks in how dominant they were. Who knows what has happened this season, but they have replaced two young members of their secondary (Mike Mitchell and Captain Munnerlyn) with two veterans who weren't even good before they arrived in Carolina (Thomas DeCoud and Roman Harper). Cam Newton is average at best, even when the Panthers were winning a lot last season. Now, the Panthers may fire Ron Rivera at the end of the season. What a dramatic fall from grace.

Carolina Panthers 10 Philadelphia Eagles 38

2014 NFL Week 8 Preview

Emmanuel Sanders had one hell of a game last night, reeling in
three touchdown catches in the win.

San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
Thursday October 23, 2014 8:25pm
CBS, NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

This is definitely the best Thursday night game this season. This game was most likely scheduled for Thursday night this year because the same game appeared last year on Thursday night. Those who remember well remember the Chargers giving the Broncos their first and only home loss of the season in that Thursday night game. The numbers show Philip Rivers loves playing in Denver. This was brought up last year, but many people dismissed it because this was now a Peyton Manning-led team. No one will be dismissing it this year. The Chargers, who were surprisingly rated #1 in the NBC Pro Football Talk power rankings after their win against the winless Raiders, are coming off a home division loss. Now they'll just get a road division loss.

San Diego Chargers 17 Denver Broncos 27

Update: San Diego Chargers 21 Denver Broncos 35

That was an impressive performance from Emmanuel Sanders, who has become a reliable target for Peyton Manning. Manning was upset as the crowd was loud when the offense was on the field towards the end of the game, resulting in a false start penalty. Nevertheless, the Broncos are rolling.

Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sunday October 26, 2014 9:30am
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman
Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom

This is the second and much better game that will take place in Wembley Stadium this season. The Raiders played the Dolphins several weeks ago in a game here in London, and we hope the fans out there in the United Kingdom were aware those weren't two good teams. The Falcons aren't that good either, but at least they can score points and entertain those who may not entirely understand football. In years past, the playing surface hasn't been all that friendly. Still, it'll be a disappointment if the Lions lose despite the poor playing surface. The Lions have a tendency to lose a lot of games they probably should win. Their loss against the Bills is a prime example. By the way, this game is at 9:30 in the morning Eastern time. If you're on the West Coast, forget about watching this game. Just catch the highlights.

Detroit Lions 23 Atlanta Falcons 20

A.J. Green's touchdown in the season opener helped the Bengals
topple the Ravens. He'll most likely miss this one.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday October 26, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

The Bengals won the first meeting, a game that took place in Baltimore on the opening weekend of the season. The Bengals were looking good then. Their defense was impressive and it appeared Andy Dalton could have another season where he could manage the game and not make mistakes. It appeared the Bengals were on their way to a rather easy division crown. Not so fast! The Ravens have been cruising since that home loss, and they currently stand at 5-2 and atop the AFC North. Joe Flacco has developed a great rapport with newcomer Steve Smith, and it has resulted in a lot of explosive plays and touchdowns. Smith already has four touchdowns and is averaging over 16 yards a catch. It looks like the Ravens will return the favor and beat the Bengals on their home turf.

Baltimore Ravens 24 Cincinnati Bengals 21

Minnesota Vikings vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday October 26, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Justin Kutcher, David Diehl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

I'm not really sure what to make of this game, or this Buccaneers team. The Buccaneers have had impressive performances against the Steelers and Saints, while they have laid complete eggs against the Falcons and Ravens. The Buccaneers lone win of the season came on the road against the Steelers, and this is a prime opportunity for them to get their second win. Mike Glennon has to prove to the organization that he can be their franchise quarterback. There has been no talk of that being the case by the team or media, but he's probably a guy who can impress over time. Teddy Bridgewater is getting his crash course on life as a starter in the league now, and while things haven't gone that bad, they haven't gone well.

Minnesota Vikings 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13

St. Louis Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday October 26, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Dick Stockton, Donovan McNabb
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

If the St. Louis Cardinals would've advanced to the World Series, Game 5 would've been in Busch Stadium in St. Louis. That would've meant one matchup of Missouri teams taking place in Kansas City, while the other matchup of Missouri teams would've been taking place in St. Louis. When the Phillies and the Yankees were in the World Series in 2009, Game 4 of that series took place on the same day the Eagles and Giants faced off, making it a Philadelphia vs. New York day. Better yet, both games took place in stadiums right next to each other in Philadelphia. I digress. The Chiefs are starting to get things going with an important road division win last week. The Rams shocked people by getting an important division win as well against the defending champions. I still believe the Chiefs are much better than the Rams.

St. Louis Rams 13 Kansas City Chiefs 23

Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday October 26, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker
EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL

This is easily the worst game of Week 8, but things are looking up for the Jaguars after they got their first win of the season against the Browns. Another home game against a weak team this week should mean another victory for the Jaguars.

Miami Dolphins 6 Jacksonville Jaguars 17

Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets
Sunday October 26, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The Bills have played rather well since inserting Kyle Orton as the starter. They will certainly ride that until the end of the season. I fully believe the reports that said Jimbo Fisher told NFL executives and scouts E.J. Manuel wouldn't amount to a starter in the league. Fisher is obviously going to deny it, but many people saw Manuel at Florida State and he didn't exactly do a whole lot to suggest he can be a starter in this league. This will be the debut for Percy Harvin in a Jets' uniform. This shall be interesting. The Jets should win this. For the first time since Week 1, they don't have to face an above-average quarterback.

Buffalo Bills 14 New York Jets 23

Russell Wilson will look to elude Luke Kuechly and the Panthers
and get a much-needed victory.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers
Sunday October 26, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

It's odd this game is coming on CBS. Anyway, these two teams both won their divisions and received first round byes in the playoffs last season. Now, they're struggling, and just looking for a win. I would put my money on the Seahawks because the Panthers' defense, a tremendous strength last season, looks horrible this year. The Seahawks' defense has been exposed as well, but Cam Newton isn't good enough to continue exposing the Seahawks' defense.

Seattle Seahawks 27 Carolina Panthers 10

Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots
Sunday October 26, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Sam Rosen, John Lynch
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

If the Bears can't beat the Bills or the Dolphins at home, what makes you think they can beat the Patriots on the road? I'm not going to try to convince the Bears will win this game. Jay Cutler is simply who he is, and will never amount to a better quarterback the Bears probably expect he can be. The Patriots are also coming off of extra rest from their Thursday night game last week. That could mean they're a little rusty, or they're very prepared. I think they're very prepared.

Chicago Bears 17 New England Patriots 34

Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday October 26, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
LP Field, Nashville, TN

Just like the Patriots/Bills game that was on FOX a couple of weeks ago, this AFC matchup will also take place on FOX. It should be noted that an NFC matchup between the Seahawks and Panthers this day also will be on CBS. I'm not entirely sure what the reasons are for the league and the networks doing this, but let's just hope it doesn't confuse Texans and Titans' fans looking for the game. It really doesn't matter, because both teams aren't must-see TV anyway. The Titans will roll with Zach Mettenberger as their starter now, so the days of Jake Locker could be over even when he gets healthy. I think Mettenberger has an impressive debut and a win.

Houston Texans 17 Tennessee Titans 23

Last year's game in Philadelphia ended in a little controversy. Both
teams, sitting at 5-1, hope that isn't the case this time around.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Arizona Cardinals
Sunday October 26, 2014 4:05pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ

This is a great game between two teams who currently sit at 5-1. The Cardinals' defense shouldn't have many problems with this offense. The Eagles' offense is a potent offense because they run plays at an amazing pace. Still, it didn't work against a 49ers' team that isn't exactly playing that well defensively. Outside of the loss to the Broncos, the Cardinals are playing very good defense. I expect this game to be close, but the Cardinals should come away with the victory.

Philadelphia Eagles 20 Arizona Cardinals 24

Oakland Raiders vs. Cleveland Browns
Sunday October 26, 2014 4:25pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH

The Browns had people believing they could continue their solid play. However, with a snoozer and disappointing loss to the Jaguars, it's the same old Browns. Despite the fact the Browns have been around average, Brian Hoyer's job isn't safe and it shouldn't be safe. Hoyer hasn't been playing too well, and he was disappointing in that loss to the Jaguars. It is great they are playing the Raiders. The Raiders will be coming in from the West Coast. The start time of the game is suitable for the Raiders, but they're simply not good enough for a road win right now.

Oakland Raiders 14 Cleveland Browns 31

Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday October 26, 2014 4:25pm
CBS -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

This is the game of the week, and it isn't that much of a good contest. However, it should be close because the Colts still don't have that ability to go on the road and get wins. It'll still be very hard for them to get a win in Pittsburgh, but they're very capable of doing so, especially after dispatching the Bengals easily. The Steelers were lucky to beat the Texans on Monday night, but they won't be so lucky here.

Indianapolis Colts 23 Pittsburgh Steelers 20

These two quarterbacks, arguably the best in the game, will do battle
in the Superdome on Sunday night.

Green Bay Packers vs New Orleans Saints
Sunday October 26, 2014 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

The Saints have a night game, and then have to play on Thursday next week. That wasn't a good job scheduling, but it wouldn't be much of a difference if they had an afternoon game. The Saints need a win here because they simply can't win any road games. At 0-4 on the road, it has become a challenge for them to contend. The best part of their struggles is the fact the entire division is struggling. This keeps the Saints in the driver's seat in the division despite their 2-4 record. It'll be impressive if the Packers can get a win in the Superdome. The Saints will put up a lot of points because they are comfortable in the dome. The Packers are capable of matching them, but I think the Saints will get a much-needed win.

Green Bay Packers 31 New Orleans Saints 38

Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys
Monday October 27, 2014 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

Colt McCoy will start this one, but we all know McCoy isn't the long term answer for the Redskins. That is, unless, he has a complete turnaround and has been able to understand what it takes to be a starting quarterback in this league. Kirk Cousins has proved us wrong. He is not capable as a starter for a long period of time, making too many mistakes that have cost his team. He once told reporters he just wants to hand a solid team back to Robert Griffin III. He wasn't able to do that either. The Cowboys are rolling now, winners of six straight after dropping the season opener. I believe the Cowboys are the best team in the league currently, but they can't buy into the hype. They must continue running the ball and they will, even if DeMarco Murray were to eventually end up getting hurt.

Washington Redskins 10 Dallas Cowboys 31

2014 NFL Week 7 Preview

New York Jets vs. New England Patriots
Thursday October 16, 2014 8:25pm
CBS, NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

The Jets will not be getting a win here, but the matchup between these two teams have always generated interest in the past. The Jets had a solid game plan against the Broncos, one that Peyton Manning couldn't figure out until close to the second half. The Jets should probably implement that game plan against the Patriots as well. It was similar to the game plan Rex Ryan implemented in the win against the Patriots in the 2010 postseason. They rushed three while dropping eight the majority of the game, and Brady found it difficult to find open guys. That's the Jets' only hopes of keeping things close.

New York Jets 10 New England Patriots 24

Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears
Sunday October 19, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

The Dolphins came very close to beating the Packers, and really had an opportunity to close the door on that game when the Packers faced fourth down on their final offensive possession. They didn't but they should be positive about the loss and bring it into Soldier Field. The Bears did lose to the Bills at home in the opening week, so it's not impossible to beat the Bears there. However, their offense has clicked the majority of the time, as Jay Cutler loves his weapons. Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett are all tall, athletic targets, which any quarterback wants to have. I expect the Bears to not have a letdown again at Soldier Field and take this game.

Miami Dolphins 14 Chicago Bears 27

Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills
Sunday October 19, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Tim Brando, Brendan Ayanbadejo
Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo, NY

I don't think Teddy Bridgewater has been figured out yet, despite the poor performance he had this past Sunday against the Lions. He threw three interceptions and was sacked eight times, but that's more of a result of the Lions' much improved defense this season. The Bills should be able to win this game because they are at home and they aren't playing an offense as formidable as the offense they saw last week. Also, if the Bills can beat the Lions in Detroit, there should be zero reason why can't beat a Vikings' team much worse than the Lions.

Minnesota Vikings 13 Buffalo Bills 23

Both quarterbacks won their division last year and appears to be
on pace to do the same this season.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday October 19, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

This is definitely one of the best games of Week 7, as two division winners from last season square off in what could be a playoff matchup in January. The Bengals started off very well at 3-0, but a blowout loss to the Patriots, followed by a tie against the mediocre Panthers has brought the Bengals back a bit. The absence of A.J. Green could be a major issue, as he's a receiver Andy Dalton leans heavily on to make plays. I cannot see the Bengals coming into Indianapolis and getting a win, especially when the Colts are rolling after losing the first two games of the season.

Cincinnati Bengals 20 Indianapolis Colts 27

Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday October 19, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL

Blake Bortles still doesn't have a win, but he isn't playing horribly. They're just not putting up enough points on the board, and they probably won't change against the improved Browns either. The Browns' confidence has soared, after demolishing the Steelers last week. When was the last time the Browns easily handled the Steelers? It probably wasn't in my lifetime, so the Browns and their fans are feeling good. They'll bring that confidence with them into Jacksonville and come away with a victory.

Cleveland Browns 21 Jacksonville Jaguars 10

The Saints barely beat a bad Buccaneers team in their last game. They'll
be looking to right their road woes.

New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday October 19, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
Ford Field, Detroit, MI

The Saints are coming off a bye week that was much needed, but things don't get easy as they go into Detroit and play against this much improved defense. This is the same defense that held Aaron Rodgers to just seven points. The key to the improvement was consistent play from the secondary. Also, Tahir Whitehead has filled in nicely for the injured Stephen Tulloch. They have their worries on offense, as Calvin Johnson may be out an extended period of time. That may doom them in this game as I look for the Saints to pull out a narrow victory.

New Orleans Saints 23 Detroit Lions 20

Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers
Sunday October 19, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Sam Rosen, John Lynch
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

The Packers have gotten it together offensively, but they still aren't a dominant team. They struggled in toppling the Dolphins last week, as it took a fourth down conversion and a touchdown with just two seconds remaining for the victory. Before last week, I would've said I don't trust the Panthers to come into Lambeau Field and pull out a win. After tying with the Bengals, they are certainly capable of doing so. However, playing against Andy Dalton and Aaron Rodgers are two different things. Expect Rodgers to keep the Packers' offense on the field and coast.

Carolina Panthers 20 Green Bay Packers 38

Seattle Seahawks vs. St. Louis Rams
Sunday October 19, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO

The Seahawks looked very shaky in their home loss to the Cowboys last week, but the Rams don't appear to be a team that can beat the Seahawks in this one. The Rams got off to a great start against the 49ers, but couldn't sustain it and got ran out of the dome. Doug Baldwin is one angry man, but as ESPN analyst and former football player Cris Carter put it, Baldwin is just an appetizer. Part of the reason why the offense has struggled is because Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse lack the ability to separate from decent cornerbacks. Russell Wilson does a great job of extending plays, but he can only do that for so long before he's figured out. Look for Percy Harvin to be more involved.

Seattle Seahawks 27 St. Louis Rams 17

Atlanta Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday October 19, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Justin Kutcher, David Diehl
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

This win should automatically go to the Ravens, because trusting the Falcons to go anywhere and get a win is asking a lot. The Falcons have the offensive weapons, but their defense is so bad. Joe Flacco and Steve Smith will pick them apart all day long, and it wouldn't even be fair honestly.

Atlanta Falcons 17 Baltimore Ravens 31

Tennessee Titans vs. Washington Redskins
Sunday October 19, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
FedEx Field, Landover, MD

After Kirk Cousins dominated against the Jaguars and engaged in a shootout against the Eagles, there were calls for Cousins to permanently take the place of Robert Griffin III. I was one of those folks, but after several dismal performances in a row, many people have jumped off the bandwagon. Cousins threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter against the Cardinals last week. He also threw three interceptions in the third quarter against the Giants several weeks ago, so he's turning the ball over in bunches. They get a break in their schedule, but I'll still pick the Titans in this one.

Tennessee Titans 13 Washington Redskins 10

This missed kick and subsequent no-penalty call kept the Chargers'
season alive last season.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers
Sunday October 19, 2014 4:05pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

This is one of the best games of Week 7 as well, and I am going with the upset here. The Chiefs are still a good team with a good defense. The Chargers have the same as well, as I believe these teams are very even. NBC's Pro Football Talk had the Chargers at #1 in power rankings this week. I am not going that far, especially after they almost lost to the Raiders this past week. But the Chargers are better than last season. They just won't be better this Sunday.

Kansas City Chiefs 24 San Diego Chargers 21

Arizona Cardinals vs. Oakland Raiders
Sunday October 19, 2014 4:25pm
FOX -- Dick Stockton, Brady Quinn
O.co Coliseum, Oakland, CA

Carson Palmer returns to play in Oakland, not that it matters. His performance in both places aren't much different from each other anyway. Derek Carr played much better against the Chargers, but the Raiders still need a win. The signings of Lamarr Woodley and Justin Tuck have done absolutely nothing to make that team better. The Cardinals should continue to roll, especially now that they're seeing the Seahawks behind them in the NFC West race.

Arizona Cardinals 24 Oakland Raiders 10

New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday October 19, 2014 4:25pm
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

Eli Manning was spot on when he told reporters the team has a little growing up to do. Antrel Rolle and Jason Pierre-Paul specifically have a lot of growing up to do. Everytime a big division game comes around for the Giants, those two specifically start running their mouths. They should try keeping their mouths shut for a change and just playing the game. After being blanked on Sunday Night Football, they're doing exactly that. Expect the Giants to play much better. Still, it won't be enough for a win.

New York Giants 21 Dallas Cowboys 24

Peyton Manning is just two touchdowns away from tying Brett Favre
for most touchdown passes in league history.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos
Sunday October 19, 2014 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Peyton Manning has a chance to make history here, but he's going up against a solid defense. One of the surprises this year has been the play of Perrish Cox, who was nearly ousted out of the league because of rape allegations while he was a member of the Broncos. The departures of Tarell Brown and Carlos Rogers left people wondering where the 49ers would go to fill the void. Cox has done a good job. Still, the Broncos will get the win, and Manning will definitely tie, needing only two to tie.

San Francisco 49ers 17 Denver Broncos 24

Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Monday October 20, 2014 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

The Texans get one of the biggest breaks between games, as they played the Thursday night game in Week 6. Now playing on Monday night, they've had plenty of time to get over their disappointing loss to the Colts. Playing in Pittsburgh isn't as hard as it once was, as the Steelers have been very disappointing. Todd Haley is most likely on the way out, but how much longer can the team last with Mike Tomlin simply being a cheerleader? Tomlin should be on the hot seat if the poor play continues. I believe the poor play will continue, but not this game.

Houston Texans 10 Pittsburgh Steelers 17

NFL Week 5 Preview

Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
Thursday October 2, 2014 8:25pm
CBS, NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

The Vikings are waiting to see if Teddy Bridgewater can suit up for this game. He's currently questionable with an ankle injury suffered Sunday against the Falcons. When Bridgewater got hurt, I thought for a moment the Vikings don't have another quarterback on the bench. Then Christian Ponder trots out, and the guy who was once billed as the franchise quarterback for the team is now the third quarterback on the depth chart. He's fallen far. The Packers got themselves back on the right foot with their easy win over the Bears in Soldier Field. I look for another Thursday night blowout in this one.

Minnesota Vikings 10 Green Bay Packers 31

Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers
Sunday October 5, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, David Diehl
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

Despite the team's success last year, Cam Newton has been a game manager through most of his career, and the team was finally able to enjoy success when the defense began to play better. Last year, the Panthers' defense was very physical, and it was hard to score points against them. This year, the Steelers, who are average at best, was able to score at will against the Panthers in their stadium. This Panthers team is going right back to where it used to be, a sub-.500 team, unless their defense straightens out. Trusting Jay Cutler on the road is a hard thing for me to do. So I'll go with the home team in this one.

Chicago Bears 20 Carolina Panthers 24

Cleveland Browns vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday October 5, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker
LP Field, Nashville, TN

In what could easily be the most uninteresting game of Week 5, the Browns come off their bye week and face the Titans in Tennessee. Since their Week 1 impressive road win over the Chiefs, the Titans have been handled easily in the next three games. This is their opportunity for a win, but Jake Locker is dealing with a wrist injury. It appears he will play, but he's injury-prone so we'll see on Sunday. Even though the Titans have fallen on hard times, their three losses have come to good teams. I think they'll get a home win this week.

Cleveland Browns 17 Tennessee Titans 23

St. Louis Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday October 5, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

The Eagles finally suffered a loss, but here's a game where they can get back on the winning track. The Rams did announce Austin Davis will make another start, so Jeff Fisher is impressed with his play. Chip Kelly shouldn't be impressed with his team's offensive play this past Sunday against the 49ers. They scored 21 points, with 14 points coming off of special teams and the other seven was from a defensive touchdown. Their offense didn't generate anything until the final drive, in which they failed to score a touchdown and take the lead for the win. Look for the offense to explode.

St. Louis Rams 17 Philadelphia Eagles 34

In what seems to be the week of reunions, Osi
Umenyiora returns to MetLife Stadium.

Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants
Sunday October 5, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The Giants have been on fire offensively the past two games, so it appears they finally understand what to do in Ben McAdoo's West Coast offense. The Falcons lost a number of players to injury this past week, including their offensive line. You have to feel sorry for Matt Ryan in this one. His protection will most likely be an issue. Osi Umenyiora wishes he was with Big Blue rushing the quarterback in this one. Instead, he'll be making his return to MetLife Stadium with the Falcons.

Atlanta Falcons 16 New York Giants 30

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday October 5, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Dick Stockton, Kirk Morrison
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

The Saints only have five more road games coming up, so that's the great thing. At 0-3 on the road, things look troubling in New Orleans. They didn't even exactly dominate at home against the Vikings two weeks ago. If the Saints struggle in this one, then the defensive improvements they thought they were making from last season may be a wash, and the heat may be on Rob Ryan by the end of October. I can't fathom the Buccaneers getting another impressive road win like they just did against the Steelers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13 New Orleans Saints 27

Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday October 5, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

The Texans have had easy games en route to a 3-1 record, so look for them to come crashing down in this game against the red-hot Cowboys. The Cowboys entered the season with low expectations as Tony Romo was coming off of back surgery and they lost Sean Lee (injury) and DeMarcus Ware (free agency) on defense. It appears the Cowboys do very well with little to no expectations as they look like a very good football team dedicated to the run. I expect for that to continue for the Cowboys in this one.

Houston Texans 13 Dallas Cowboys 28

Bills' defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz returns to Ford Field
to coach against his former team.

Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday October 5, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Sam Rosen, Ronde Barber
Ford Field, Detroit, MI

Bills' defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz makes his return to the city of Detroit, where he was the head coach of the Lions for the past four seasons before being fired this past offseason. Who knows how the Lions will end up this season, but they're off to a good start and their defense is much more disciplined than what they were in the Schwartz era. Matthew Stafford is also more disciplined, not forcing throws to Calvin Johnson like he used to. It's still a small sample size for the Lions, but Schwartz would probably still have his head coaching job if the team did this for him.

Buffalo Bills 10 Detroit Lions 27

Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday October 5, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

This is a pretty good matchup, and I can't believe they assigned Harlan and Gannon to this game. Sure, #1 team is covering Alex Smith's return to San Francisco, but they have put the Texans/Cowboys matchup ahead of this game. This game has the potential to be Game of the Week, as the Ravens are playing well since losing the season opener to the Bengals. The Colts have been thoroughly dominant against two weak division opponents, so this game is a better assessment of where the Colts are.

Baltimore Ravens 20 Indianapolis Colts 23

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday October 5, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL

It would be very troubling if the Steelers lost this game. The Jaguars is one of the worst teams in the league still, and the Steelers just lost to one of the worst teams in the league last week when they lost to the Buccaneers. Not only did they lose to the Buccaneers, but they lost to them at home, which is very embarrassing. I don't think an embarrassing loss will happen in consecutive weeks for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers 24 Jacksonville Jaguars 17

Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos
Sunday October 5, 2014 4:05pm
FOX -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

The Cardinals come in at 3-0, but that should change after this game. The Cardinals sit at 3-0, but they could very easily be 0-3 right now. Quarterback play has been decent, but the Cardinals' defense has played spectacular, yet these games have been close. The offense hasn't done enough in order to compliment the defense, and they'll need offensive help to match wits with the Broncos' offense. The Chiefs and Seahawks did a good job against the Broncos in the past couple of weeks, so the offense for the Broncos is due.

Arizona Cardinals 17 Denver Broncos 31

New York Jets vs. San Diego Chargers
Sunday October 5, 2014 4:25pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

The Jets are in the fourth game of a six-game stretch in which it almost seems impossible for them to get a win. They lost the first three games, all to NFC North opponents. The Chargers are up this week and flying out to the West Coast and trying to get a win there seems impossible for a struggling offense. They have the Broncos and Patriots in the next two weeks. The Patriots are struggling, so there's a chance there for the Jets. The Jets also beat them in MetLife Stadium last year. However, things just don't look good for the Jets in this game or the next couple of games.

New York Jets 13 San Diego Chargers 23

The most anticipated reunion of Week 5 is Alex Smith's return
to the Bay Area.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday October 5, 2014 4:25pm
CBS -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

Alex Smith plays against the 49ers for the first time in his career. Smith was a member of the 49ers for eight seasons before being traded to the Chiefs. He lost his starting job in the 2012 season, despite completing 70% of his passes. This game is very similar to the 1994 game the Chiefs had with the 49ers. That game was in Arrowhead Stadium, and Joe Montana got his revenge against the 49ers by beating Steve Young. This time, the game is in the Bay Area. Can Alex Smith prove Jim Harbaugh wrong with a victory? I believe he will.

Kansas City Chiefs 24 San Francisco 49ers 20

Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots
Sunday October 5, 2014 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

The Bengals are riding high, coming into Foxborough at 3-0 with three convincing wins. On the other hand, the Patriots just got smoked by the Chiefs on Monday night, and Tom Brady was benched in the fourth quarter. Brady wasn't benched because he was ineffective. He was benched because they were down 41-7 at that point. There will be no comeback there. The Patriots are glad to be at home. They've only played one home game so far, so sitting at 2-2 is reasonable. People who are worried about the Patriots and their playoff hopes should not be worried. Despite the Patriots' struggles, the Jets, Bills and Dolphins are worse.

Cincinnati Bengals 16 New England Patriots 21

Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Redskins
Monday October 6, 2014 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
FedEx Field, Landover, MD

Kirk Cousins was riding after great performances against the Jaguars and Eagles. That came to a quick stop after the Giants harassed him routinely last Thursday. So Cousins will now have to face an even tougher defense in the Seahawks. Expect a score much like the score last Thursday in FedEx Field.

Seattle Seahawks 45 Washington Redskins 10

NFL Week 4 Preview

New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins
Thursday September 25, 2014 8:25pm
CBS, NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
FedEx Field, Landover, MD

Both teams are 1-2, but they haven't looked as bad as their record may indicate. Eli Manning and Kirk Cousins are playing solid football currently, so this should be an exciting game that may see good offense from one of these teams. Even though the Redskins have two good pass rushers in Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo, and a solid corner in David Amerson, the Redskins' defense still does not seem to be a threat. That should be the difference in this game.

New York Giants 27 Washington Redskins 20

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
Sunday September 28, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

The Bears have two solid road wins against the 49ers and Jets but have a home loss against the Bills, so we're not quite sure what to think about them yet. The Packers must win this game to avoid going 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in the division. The Packers have one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Aaron Rodgers, so for that reason alone, I'll go with the Packers in this one.

Green Bay Packers 27 Chicago Bears 24

Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Texans
Sunday September 28, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

Both teams come into this one at 2-1, but neither team is that inspiring. To the Bills' credit, they have an impressive road victory against the Bears. The Texans' victories have come against teams that were not good. The one test they had, against the Giants, did not go well. The Texans should get to 3-1 though. They have a decent defense and trusting E.J. Manuel on the road consistently is asking too much of the second-year player from Florida State.

Buffalo Bills 12 Houston Texans 20

Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday September 28, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

The Titans looked impressive in their season-opening win against the Chiefs, but they have looked bad ever since. Bad losses to the Cowboys and Bengals have the Titans in desperate need of a win. Jake Locker's status for this game is uncertain as well due to a wrist injury, and his inability to stay healthy is the reason why the Titans have not looked to extend him. The Colts should be 2-1, but they're not, so they can get to 2-2 with another division win that should be easy.

Tennessee Titans 10 Indianapolis Colts 30

WR Steve Smith plays his former team for
the first time in his career.

Carolina Panthers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday September 28, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

The Ravens started their season with three familiar opponents, playing in three consecutive division games. They came away at 2-1, so they are on solid footing going into this game against the Panthers. This game would've had more intrigue if it were in Charlotte, as it would've been the first game there for Steve Smith since the Panthers got rid of him. The Panthers didn't look good in Charlotte last week against the Steelers, and you shouldn't expect much in this game either.

Carolina Panthers 17 Baltimore Ravens 24

Detroit Lions vs. New York Jets
Sunday September 28, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The Lions have looked dominant defensively in two home games, but what can they do on the road? Well they're playing Geno Smith, so DeAndre Levy, a linebacker with a knack for interceptions, will be looking to secure one here. Matthew Stafford continues to hold this team back with his errant passes sometimes, but the Lions should be able to get this victory.

Detroit Lions 21 New York Jets 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday September 28, 2014 1:00pm
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, David Diehl
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

The Buccaneers were embarrassed in Atlanta, and it doesn't get easier against the Steelers. James Harrison just re-signed with the team after retiring weeks ago, and it looks like he'll be ready to go in this one. Lovie Smith did also say Mike Glennon will most likely be the starter. Josh McCown was hurt in the Georgia Dome, but Glennon seems like a younger, better option. Still, it will not be enough for the win.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13 Pittsburgh Steelers 28

Miami Dolphins vs. Oakland Raiders
Sunday September 28, 2014 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
Wembley Stadium, London, UK

The flight from Oakland, CA to London is probably 14 hours long or more. That is cruel for a team currently sitting at 0-3. The Dolphins aren't doing much better either, and Ryan Tannehill wasn't happy with his head coach not publicly endorsing him after the loss to the Chiefs. If the folks in London want to see a good game, they should wait till next month when the Falcons play the Lions.

Miami Dolphins 23 Oakland Raiders 17

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. San Diego Chargers
Sunday September 28, 2014 4:05pm
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

Blake Bortles will get his first start of his career, so this shall be interesting. It is incredibly difficult to predict the Chargers losing at home to this team, especially after convincingly beating the defending Super Bowl champions two weeks ago. Let's just keep our eyes on Bortles.

Jacksonville Jaguars 10 San Diego Chargers 35

Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sunday September 28, 2014 4:25pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

The Vikings looked like a good team, especially after beating the Rams in St. Louis in the season opener. They haven't looked good since, and without Adrian Peterson, they need to find a way offensively. Teddy Bridgewater will be playing in place of an injured Matt Cassel, so let's see if Bridgewater can be a spark at the quarterback position. The Falcons are clearly not as bad as they were last year, but they still struggle on the road. What gives?

Atlanta Falcons 20 Minnesota Vikings 17

These former Pac-12 rival head coaches will coach against each
other for the first time in the NFL.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday September 28, 2014 4:25pm
FOX -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

We would've thought this would be a very hard game for the Eagles once the schedule came out, but the 49ers are sitting at 1-2 and are not looking good offensively. The Eagles' defense is nothing to rave about, so the 49ers should be able to put up some points. How effective will Chip Kelly's offense be in this one? Kelly and Jim Harbaugh have coached against one another in the Pac 12 conference, when Harbaugh was Stanford's head coach and Kelly was Oregon's head coach. Anyway, since the 49ers are at home and should be playing with frustration and urgency, I'll look for them to hand the Eagles their first loss.

Philadelphia Eagles 27 San Francisco 49ers 31

New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday September 28, 2014 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

The Saints put a thorough beating on the Cowboys last year, trashing their paltry defense in a 49-17 drubbing. The Cowboys have bounced back well after looking miserable and awful against the 49ers in Week 1. That was the last time the Cowboys were at home, so they're hoping for a better outcome. Even though the Cowboys aren't as bad as what they showed in the Superdome last year, the Saints should still be able to win this game.

New Orleans Saints 27 Dallas Cowboys 21

It was six long years ago Tom Brady tore his ACL against the
Chiefs in the season opener.

New England Patriots vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Monday September 29, 2014 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

After losing pretty easily to the Titans in Week 1, the Chiefs have looked solid since. However, the Patriots haven't looked good offensively at all this season, and the defense has had to play better in order for the Patriots to be sitting at 2-1. Going into Arrowhead Stadium on a Monday night isn't a tall order for Tom Brady, but the way the offense is playing, it may be a tall order this time around.

New England Patriots 20 Kansas City Chiefs 23

2014 NFL Week 1 Preview

The "Fail Mary" game was the last time these two teams
met.

Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Thursday September 4, 2014 8:30pm
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth

This is a great game to start off the 2014 season, as a healthy Aaron Rodgers will look to get past a Seahawks' defense that was dominant last season and looked very dominant in the preseason. The Seahawks as a whole looked dominant in the preseason, so they definitely look like a team capable of repeating as world champions. It's too early to talk about a perfect season, but the defense and offense are capable of dominating simultaneously, thus making it very possible for them to have a perfect regular season.

The last time the Packers visited CenturyLink Field was in Week 3 of the 2012 season, when the replacement referees were handling games. This turned out to be the final game for the replacement referees, and it was eventful. The Packers thought they'd won the game on an interception from M.D. Jennings, but the referees ruled it a touchdown catch by Golden Tate, giving the Seahawks the win with no time remaining. T.J. Lang had some pointed comments after the game, and the calls to get rid of the replacement referees were loud and clear at the point.

This time around, replacement referees will not be to blame. The Seahawks will be facing two of the best offenses in their first three games before their bye week, so their stout defense will be tested. Winning in Seattle will prove to be too difficult.

Green Bay Packers 17 Seattle Seahawks 27

Jimmy Graham will not be able to do this anymore.

New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sunday September 7, 2014 1:00pm
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
FOX -- Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch

The Falcons were a disappointment last season, just one season removed from hosting an NFC Championship Game. If Julio Jones and Roddy White can stay healthy throughout the season, the Falcons should be able to bounce back. With the Panthers losing a lot of receiving weapons, the Falcons can definitely get back to potentially winning the division or having a 10-win season. These two division rivals, who can't stand each other, seem to always open the season against each other.

The Saints looked much better in the 2013 season than they did in the 2012 season, and credit goes to Rob Ryan for fixing the defense that was atrocious in 2012. The Saints also dealt with suspensions, with the most critical suspension being the year-long suspension to their head coach Sean Payton. With continuity, and the addition of rookie Brandin Cooks, the Saints should be able to win the division this year. However, I believe the Falcons will deal them a loss.

New Orleans Saints 24 Atlanta Falcons 27

Minnesota Vikings vs. St. Louis Rams
Sunday September 7, 2014 1:00pm
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO
FOX -- Dick Stockton, Kirk Morrison

Both teams look to be much improved this year, but this game will probably prove to be a challenge for Matt Cassel as he goes up against a Rams' defense that is improving yearly. It starts with the pass-rushing tandem of Chris Long and Robert Quinn. The Vikings could be a surprising team this year depending on what they get from their defense. Their defense was solid in the 2012 season, when they surprisingly made a playoff appearance.

However, their defense let them down last year, and the addition of Linval Joseph and a host of other moves could vastly improve their defense. Still, the opening game will probably prove to be too much for them.

Minnesota Vikings 14 St. Louis Rams 24

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday September 7, 2014 1:00pm
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

Jim Nantz and Phil Simms aren't calling this game because Johnny Manziel isn't the starting quarterback for the Browns. So they slide in the newly anointed #2 team of Eagle and Fouts to cover this game. It has been a long time since the Browns have won a season opener. They haven't won a season opener since the 2004 season when they beat the Ravens at home.

Brian Hoyer played well for two games before tearing his ACL in a Thursday night game against the Bills last season. It was the safe choice for Mike Pettine to go with Hoyer over Manziel for now, but there has been talk of the Browns using both quarterbacks to do different things offensively. Not many people agree with that philosophy, and I'll be surprised if the Browns chose to do that this week.

The Steelers are looking to rebound from two consecutive seasons of missing the postseason, and the Steelers have a new explosive weapon in Dri Archer. It's easy to see Archer will fill the slot role in addition to other roles that can put him in space to where he can use his speed. The Steelers are definitely capable of winning the AFC North again, so we'll see what happens. A win here will be a good start.

Cleveland Browns 13 Pittsburgh Steelers 20

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday September 7, 2014 1:00pm
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein

The Jaguars have decided to go with Chad Henne as the starter, but there's no doubt rookie Blake Bortles was the better quarterback in the preseason. We'll see if Gus Bradley has a quick hook if the Eagles defense are having their way with Henne. Many are baffled as to why Bortles won't start right away. The Jaguars even want Bortles to sit out the year to learn from the bench, much like what Carson Palmer did after being drafted by the Bengals.

The Eagles will look to continue on the success of their offense under Chip Kelly in Year 2. Nick Foles only threw two interceptions last year, so the fast paced offense has defenses tired. The Jaguars have improved their defense, getting Chris Clemons and Red Bryant from the defending champion Seahawks. However, two guys will not be able to do it alone.

Jacksonville Jaguars 10 Philadelphia Eagles 27

Rookie Derek Carr will get his first start
of his career on Sunday.

Oakland Raiders vs. New York Jets
Sunday September 7, 2014 1:00pm
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
CBS -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

The Raiders made a lot of moves to improve defensively, and that included getting Justin Tuck from the Giants. Tuck will be making his return to MetLife Stadium, so he may get comfortable in his house in New Jersey with his family as opposed to being in the team hotel, if the team allows that. The Raiders will also be starting Derek Carr over Matt Schaub. Remember, it was Schaub who replaced David Carr with the Texans. David is Derek's older brother, so this is quite ironic.

Schaub's arm strength is just non-existent at this point, so it was better for the Raiders to go with the rookie. Going up against this Jets defense will be a challenge, as the front four can dominate games. The Jets will also be looking for improved play from Geno Smith. The addition of Chris Johnson and Eric Decker is supposed to help Smith improve in Year 2 of his career. The Jets appear to believe they are a playoff team. They have the talent to be one.

Oakland Raiders 17 New York Jets 24

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday September 7, 2014 1:00pm
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots

Both teams are capable of winning the AFC North, and both quarterbacks now have huge contracts to be their respective teams' franchise quarterback. Andy Dalton received his amid a lot of criticism, as he has been unable to win a playoff game for the team. When Joe Flacco received his, he was coming off a championship, so his was warranted in some eyes. However, these quarterbacks have to prove a lot this year.

The Bengals have the same weapons, so they should be a force defensively, while getting better offensively with A.J. Green and Giovani Bernard. The Ravens will be without Ray Rice, as he is serving the first of his two-game suspension for his domestic violence situation with his wife. Last year, the Bengals tied the game up and sent it into overtime with a successful Hail Mary pass. The Ravens still won in overtime, but that is in the back of the minds of both teams.

Cincinnati Bengals 14 Baltimore Ravens 21

Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears
Sunday September 7, 2014 1:00pm
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa

E.J. Manuel goes into Year 2 with the Bills, and even though they lost Stevie Johnson in the offseason, they picked up Sammy Watkins in the draft. The offensive weapons are there for Manuel. However, they didn't look good offensively in preseason. They signed Kyle Orton as well recently, so if Manuel isn't showing any progress from last year, they may go to Orton.

The Bears lost Julius Peppers but gained Jared Allen, so we'll see if that is an improvement or a downgrade. Both players have been great pass rushers throughout their careers, but both are on the downside of their careers. Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall are one of the top receiving duos in the league, but Jay Cutler has to get the ball to them. Josh McCown had more success getting the ball to Jeffery than Cutler did, how will that play out for Jeffery?

Buffalo Bills 13 Chicago Bears 27

Washington Redskins vs. Houston Texans
Sunday September 7, 2014 1:00pm
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, David Diehl

J.J. Watt did get paid like the best defensive player in the league, and they have arguably the best defensive rookie in the league in Jadeveon Clowney opposite Watt. This means the Texans defense should be outright nasty this season, with a healthy Brian Cushing at linebacker. However, they didn't look that good in preseason, even though they played well at moments. The Texans didn't do anything to solve their quarterback problems from a year ago, so they're keeping their fingers crossed Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't just blindly throwing into coverage.

There have been two main attractions coming from the Redskins this offseason. The first and most obvious one was their name, as they have seen increased pressure to change their name. Owner Daniel Snyder doesn't seem intent on doing so, so the calls to change the name will continue. The second main attraction has been the mouth of Robert Griffin III. Here's a guy who just hasn't learned when to say "no comment" and has now come across as a guy who complains about what people think of him. With a demoralizing season for the team last year after winning the NFC East the season before, if the Redskins falter, after acquiring speed threat DeSean Jackson, calls for Griffin III to be replaced in favor of Kirk Cousins will be loud in the DMV area.

Washington Redskins 17 Houston Texans 20

Tennessee Titans vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday September 7, 2014 1:00pm
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

The Chiefs are coming off a devastating loss in the playoffs last year, when they blew a 28-point lead to the Colts. The Chiefs will have a tougher schedule than they did last year as they will play the NFC West. Alex Smith got paid, so he's a happy man. He should also be playing with a chip on his shoulder, as many people still believe he's a game manager. The Chiefs have what it takes offensively and defensively to get back to 11-5.

For the Titans, this is essentially the most important season in Jake Locker's career. If he cannot prove he can be a franchise quarterback or a healthy one, Locker's time in Tennessee could be done. The Titans have a chance in the AFC South, as the clear cut favorite are the Colts. However, the Titans should be better than the Jaguars and Texans, thus giving them a chance to obtain a postseason berth. Rookie Bishop Sankey is impressing the coaches, so he looks like the future running back, replacing Chris Johnson.

Tennessee Titans 10 Kansas City Chiefs 23

New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday September 7, 2014 1:00pm
Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green

It's pretty much a forgone conclusion the Patriots will win the AFC East this year, so for the rest of the teams, it will be about who comes in second. The Dolphins had high hopes after acquiring Mike Wallace in free agency, and they expected improvement from Ryan Tannehill. A year later, and there's zero hype surrounding this team. All the hype has gone to the Jets and Bills, and the bullying scandal is probably the reason for that.

It'll be interesting to see how much patience the Dolphins have with Tannehill. He has to show improvement for the organization to believe he can be that guy. In order for that to happen, he has to get on the same page with Wallace, which he was unable to do last season. The Patriots look like they can be the best in the AFC after acquiring two solid corners in Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. However, the trade of Logan Mankins means the pressure is on the offensive line to keep Tom Brady out of harms way.

New England Patriots 28 Miami Dolphins 17

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday September 7, 2014 4:25pm
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber

The Panthers won the NFC South last year, but they lost their top four receiving targets in the offseason. They replaced them with first-round draft pick Kelvin Benjamin, Jason Avant and Jerricho Cotchery. It'll be interesting to see how Cam Newton develops chemistry with the new players, especially Benjamin, who is a big play threat. They did lose Mike Mitchell and Captain Munnerlyn in free agency, but their defense should remain dominant or close to dominant with their front seven.

The success of the Buccaneers will depend on the play of the quarterback. Josh McCown only got the job because of the good performance he had with the Bears. That doesn't necessarily mean McCown will be good here, but they're essentially doing what the Browns are doing with Brian Hoyer. Mike Glennon is the backup for now, but he played well at times last season, including helping the Buccaneers jump out to a big lead in Seattle last season. Glennon holds the ball too long at times, but doesn't force passes. I think they should've stayed with Glennon and let him grow, but a new coaching regime wants results now with the veteran.

Carolina Panthers 13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10

San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday September 7, 2014 4:25pm
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
FOX -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

Alex Boone is back, so that is a plus for the 49ers. Their offense looked horrible in the preseason, and the offensive line could not keep Colin Kaepernick protected. The great thing for the 49ers is they get to play the Cowboys. The Cowboys will be without DeMarcus Ware, Sean Lee and Orlando Scandrick, who were the three best defensive players last year. Ware of course is now with the Broncos. Lee is recovering after tearing his ACL this summer. Scandrick is sitting out the first four games with the drug suspension. It could get ugly for the Cowboys' defense. They plan on starting Rolando McClain, who was retired and disinterested in football just last season.

The 49ers' defense are going through their own problems, with the departures of Tarell Brown and Donte Whitner. They'll also be missing Navorro Bowman for several weeks as he still recovers from the torn ACL he suffered in last year's NFC Championship Game. You can never be too sure if Tony Romo is fully healed from offseason back surgery. The last time these two teams played, the Cowboys handed the 49ers their only loss in Candlestick Park in the 2011 season. Romo played with a cracked rib for most of the game.

San Francisco 49ers 31 Dallas Cowboys 24

Former Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning and current Colts'
quarterback Andrew Luck will square off in the opener.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos
Sunday September 7, 2014 8:30pm
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth

Peyton Manning will play his former team again, but it doesn't have as much flair this time because the game isn't in Indianapolis. However, it should still be an entertaining game as both teams were division winners last season. The Broncos got better, improving their defense by acquiring DeMarcus Ware, T.J. Ward and Aqib Talib. Their defense did not play well against the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, so they made it a priority. The loss of Eric Decker doesn't hurt them much, but they will be without Wes Welker for the first four games. They have tough games early in the season, including a Super Bowl rematch. Manning will look at this game to see who can step up in Welker's absence. Also, Manning doesn't have to worry about the rush of Robert Mathis, who'll be serving a drug suspension as well.

Andrew Luck is getting Reggie Wayne back, and new acquisition Hakeem Nicks will look to prove doubters wrong and have a productive season worthy of getting a long-term deal. T.Y. Hilton is still the speed threat that can take the top off the cover of the defense, so the Colts' offense should be prolific this season. They'll be put to the test against the Broncos' improved defense.

Indianapolis Colts 27 Denver Broncos 31

New York Giants vs. Detroit Lions
Monday September 8, 2014 7:10pm
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden

The big question mark is when will the Giants' offense figure out the newly implemented West Coast offense. They certainly didn't figure it out in the preseason, and it doesn't get any easier playing the defensive line of the Lions. For the Giants to have a chance at any offensive success, they must quicken the tempo, as Eli Manning has historically thrived in no-huddle situations. First-round draft pick Odell Beckham Jr. missed almost all of training camp practices and all preseason games, and he is still expected to be out a couple of weeks with a hamstring issue. It isn't looking good for the Giants.

The Lions acquired Golden Tate in a nice offseason move, and if Reggie Bush can stay healthy and provide a formidable punch with Joique Bell, the Lions' offense can be dangerous. However, their offense still depends on the decision-making of Matthew Stafford. He'll throw for a lot of yards, but makes mistakes in moments where they need clutch performances from him. The Giants' defense, on paper, looks pretty tough as well, especially their secondary. This could be a game where offense is lacking.

New York Giants 13 Detroit Lions 16

San Diego Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Monday September 8, 2014 10:20pm
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
ESPN -- Chris Berman, Trent Dilfer

Both teams are coming off of winning seasons, while the Chargers were able to enjoy mild postseason success by advancing to the AFC Divisional Round. The Cardinals, despite being 10-6 and the only team to beat the defending champion Seahawks in their building last season, were unable to qualify for the playoffs. The improved play of Carson Palmer had a lot to do with that. However, as we've seen before, we know Palmer can have a good season and follow it up with a terrible season. It was his lack of consistency that plagued the Bengals and hampered their ability to make the postseason in back to back seasons.

The Chargers are looking to build off the resurgence of Philip Rivers. The Chargers can very well improve upon last season, but it wasn't as if it was a complete success. The Chargers had to have a spotless December and luck in the final weekend just to make the postseason. They have a team capable of doing so. We'll see if they can improve upon last season.

San Diego Chargers 17 Arizona Cardinals 20