***SWAMPZILLA WEEK 1 - MUCK 5***
OHHHHHH HELL YEAHHHHH IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK BABY! Sunday Funday is finally here, and all is right in the world again. Looking forward to another great season ladies and gents. GET THOSE FANTASY LINEUPS AND SURVIVOR POOLS IN LINE!!! This weekend has quite a lot of dawgie dawgs on the board and you know SwampMan's peeper are poppin! HEREEE WEEE GOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
***INDIANAPOLIS COLTS @ BUFFALO BILLS***
There is a new regime in Buffalo and love or hate Rex Ryan, the guy really has a way of changing his team's identity. I already feel like their attitude has already changed during the course of the offseason. These guys seem to be building this bad boy/bully type of swagger, just waiting to unleash it upon the NFL. Bill's QB Tyrod Taylor AKA Willie Beamen will be making his first NFL start and I am pumped for this kid. I always liked him in college and thought he was incredibly athletic and exciting to watch play, kind of like a young Michael Vick. I had a feeling Rex would choose him as the starter to open up the season and as soon as he did, I instantly LOVED the Bills at home week 1. The mighty mighty Colts will come stampeding into town with their revamped offense. They added veterans Andre Johnson and Frank Gore as well as what seems to be a clone of their stud WR T.Y. Hilton in rookie Phillip Dorsett. While this offense will surely be amazing throughout the season with the phenom Andrew Luck at the helm, I think it may take some time to gel a bit. That being said, trying to start building some team chemistry in Buffalo against their defense could be a rough way to start. Unfortunately for the Colts I don't think they made any improvements where they needed it the most, the offensive line and entire defense. Besides CB Vontae Davis, the Colts have a ton of weaknesses that can be capitilized on. I feel like the Colts will be very vulnerabe on defense while facing the unknown factor that the Bills will have on their side with Taylor and his ability to run. Not to mention the plethora of weapons he will have at his disposal in RB LeSean McCoy out of the backfield, and WRs Watkins, Harvin, Woods, and TE Charles Clay. I know Bills DT Dareus is suspended for this game, but I think the Bills have more than enough pass rush to reach Luck and will do just that. Plus I don't think the weather will be too clear, which will add to the Colt's passing woes. In a nutshell I think the Bills could really be a force to be wreckoned with this season and like them to win straight up here. Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo BIlls!!!!! (whatever that means, I'm not sure but I have always like the sound of it!) BIlls +2.5!
***CAROLINA PANTHERS @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS***
Ahhhh nice, battle of the pussycats! I am expecting big things out of the Jaguars this season. I have had my eye on them the last couple of years and the quiet moves they have been making just waiting for them to become relevant again. I think this season could be one in which they take that next step and are not just a league pushover. Their coach Gus Bradley has them going in the right direction and I really like the looks of Jag's QB Blake Bortles, AKA baby Rothlisberger. He is in his second year and a little more comfortable in the offense, knows what to expect and playing more confident judging by his preaseason form. They will be hosting a Carolina Panthers team who I feel like is headed in the opposite direction. The perception of this team is higher than it should be. They were only in the playoffs last year because somebody out of that pitiful division had to win it, it is important to remember that. Yes, they have a good defense led by ProBowl MLB Keuchly who is unbelievable yes, but can't do it all. I am by no means high on Panther's QB Cam Newton and especially not now since his go-to man tore his ACL this offseason. He will struggle against what I anticipate to be a pretty stout Jaguar defense. I honestly feel like the Jags are a more well-rounded team here. With the opportunity to open up the season at home, with a clean slate, there will be some optimism in the air with the Jacksonville fans and if they start to get a whiff of victory with this team showing up and handling the Panthers, this place should be rocking. The J-Cats will be ready here, and I'm diggin' em. JAGS +3
***MIAMI DOLPHINS @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS***
I'm really feeling the Skinnies here and I know, yikes! To me the spread says it all in this one. The Dolphins have all this hype behind them with acquiring top DT Suh from Detroit to add to their already solid defensive line. I am simply thinking outside the box here. When looking at Washington and all the offseason turmoil revolving around all the RG3 drama, why would I ever want to back this team? Their head coach in Jay Gruden doesn't seem to have control of the situation and according to the media, the lockeroom is a mess. I beg to differ and kind of like Jay Gruden, afterall he is Chucky's bro, who is my favorite person related to the NFL, man. In all seriousness though, I think Gruden knows exactly what he is doing and never wanted RG3 in the first place. Now that they have made the decision to go with Kirk Cousins under center, I think that offense will be uplifted knowing they don't have to be led by the walking reality show that is RG3. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that they rally behind Couins and suprise some people at home against an overated Miami team. They still have RB Alfred Morris and WRs Desean Jackson and Pierre Garcon who can produce some numbers. On defense, I like the Skins front seven against the fairly new offensive line for Miami. The Dolphins are still not really set in their RB situation and QB Tannehill cannot throw the deep ball. He either literally can't do it or he doesn't like to do so. It is the main reason Mike Wallace wasn't a fit there, that is his whole game. It puzzled me last year and I couldn't believe how everything he threw was underneath, kind of like Alex Smith. That being said I don't see their passing game as much of a threat to a jacked up Skin's defense despite the new look WR Core which is also another reason to not like the Phins here. This new group could take a few games to get their legs underneath them. Skins as a home dog to pull off the upset! REDSKINS +3
***SEATTLE SEAHAWKS @ ST. LOUIS RAMS***
The Seahawks left last season with a terrible taste in their mouths with the way they blew a chance at getting back to back Super Bowl rings. They were literally right there, I still can't believe what happened even when I think about it today. They will head into the home of their divison rival, the St. Louis Rams. The Rams seem to always play the Hawks very tough, especially at home. They are just the type of team to give the Hawks lots of trouble with their insanely good defensive line who really get after Hawk's QB Russel WIlson. However, I really like the Seahawks in this one. Faked ya out there didn't I?! You would think that Swampy would be all about the Rams in this spot, and you're right- maybe if it was later in the season I would be all over it. The fact that it is week 1 changes a lot of things in this matchup for me. For starters the Rams have a new QB in Nick Foles, who I like. The kid has proven to be really tough and a solid NFL starting QB.......buttttttt I think he will struggle tomorrow with the pressure to perform in his new home against one of the league's best teams. Now I know that Seahawk safety Cam Chancellor is still a no show due to some contract disputes, and I don't really feel like it will matter much in this game. I'm pretty confident that the Hawks will get after Foles and force him into some costly mistakes. The Rams are also thin at RB with injuries to Mason and Pead, the loss of Zach Stacy, and first round rookie Todd Gurley not fully cleared to play yet. So while I do think the Rams will be a really good team this season, I don't believe it show in this game. This will be more of the Russel Wilson show with 'ol reliable Marshawn Lynch pounding the rock and oh yea, the Hawks also got this guy named Jimmy Graham who will inevitably have a big time debut. I got a feeling Wilson and Graham will be pretty much unstoppable in the redzone. Also a small hunch is rookie WR Tyler Lockett will become a big time player for Seattle after watching him in college and what he has done so far in preseason, this kid is the real deal and head coach Pete Carroll will use him wisely I have no doubt. So basically what I'm saying is...Seattle big! SEAHAWKS -4
***BALTIMORE RAVENS @ DENVER BRONCOS***
Ok enough of that chalk, let's get back to SwampO favorites, the dawgies! I am loving this game. I think Peyton may have lost a step or two and is in for a long year. It may be sad to watch such a great HOF QB struggle as he battles with age. Maybe not, but just a gut feel I have on that and in this game anyways. The Ravens defense will surely get to Manning here and I think after a couple hits from Suggs & Co., and he won't be himself. The loss of TE julius Thomas is big and allows the defense to put more focus on WRs Thomas and Sanders. Baltimore standout CB Jimmy Smith will be back and healthy and able to elimate one of those two every down. It is also important to mention here that the Broncos have a new coach and are in a new system while the Raven's return one of the league's best in John Harbaugh. With all this time to prepare, John will have a solid gameplan for Denver. For Baltimore, veteran WR Steve Smith vows to go out with a bang in his last season and will begin his rampage in this one. Denver will also need some time to find their new identity. Call me crazy but I think eventually they will be relying on their defense rather than the offense to win games. This change of an offensive attack to a more running approach could take a little while to get used to and find a groove. The Ravens will have a balanced attack with big Joe Flacco slinging the rock at Mile High like hes had lots of success doing in the past. I am feeling the Black Birds to upset here. RAVENS +4
Alrighty then folks that about does it for the first Muck 5 of the season! I am currently in San Diego and headed to the Lions/Chargers game which I think could be the best one of the day. Needless to say I am pretty JACKED UP to check it out, ahhhh GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! WOOOOOOOO!!!!!
