WEEK 1 - MUCK 5 IN THE SWAMP!

**Pressed for time as I will be on Sunday's this season. Therefore will be making these write-ups more into short blurbs. Enjoy the new season everyone!

***OAKLAND RAIDERS @ TENNESSEE TITANS***

A ton of hype around both these teams and their up and coming young QBs and rightfully so. Last year they faced off in a game that went right down to the wire in Tennessee in which Oakland was able to steal a W at the end. I anticipate another back and forth battle in what might be the best game of the afternoon as these two slug it out. The high octane passing game for Oakland should find success but I am not sure how much as the Titans secondary is stout, and will be a true test for Rookie CB Adoree Jackson who will most likely be tasked with covering the great WR Amari Cooper. However things should even out on the other side of the ball as the Titans ground and pound run game should be able to control the clock and dictate the pace in this one against a weak Raiders defense. I think the Titans lull the Oakland secondary to sleep a bit by running the ball so consistently and then QB Mariota will take a shot over the top when they least expect it to open things up for the Titans. It was Titan Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau's 80th birthday yesterday which marks him as the oldest coach in the game. I think the Titans are in high spirits and full of hope and will get a big W at home today to start the season off on the right foot. I don't expect the Raiders to really have their breakout game until week 2 when they host the lowly Jets. TITANS-3

***NEW YORK JETS @ BUFFALO BILLS***

Did somebody say Jets? Good lord this team is going to be horrendous, that is no secret. However, what many fail to realize is that so are the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are so loaded with draft picks and now under new leadership and judging by some of the moves they have made, I think are planning to completely rip this thing a part and have already started the process. This is the "suck for Sam Darnold" battle, and I think if the Jets aren't careful this season, the Bills may actually tank worse than them and steal their coveted future savior right from under them! I think NYJ & BUFF split their games this year, but the Jets have heard nothing other than how bad they are all offseason, I like them to possibly even win outright here. JETS+7

***BALTIMORE RAVENS @ CINCINNATI BENGALS***

I believe the Ravens haven't won in Cincy since 2011. That being said why would they today when their QB Joe Flacco has missed all of the preseason with a back injury? I'll tell ya why, for Flacco and Harbaugh, the preseason is irrelevant. These guys know what they're doing, I can assure you the man is fine. This was just their way of bubble wrapping him so that he is fresh for today. The Baltimore defense is big, mean, and healthy. I think they could have somewhat of a resurgence this year. The Raven actually have a sneaky solid WR core in Wallace, Perriman and now with the addition of Jeremy Maclin to name a few. All of these guys match well with Flacco and his game, they are all capable of going deep. The Bengals I believe will be back this year, I just feel like they will get off to a slow start. They still have a lot of moving pieces with injuries, guys coming back from injury, suspensions, etc. One thing is for sure, their controversial rookie RB Joe Mixon is a stud. I think this offense will struggle until they let him take over and utilize him as a 3 down back. First I'm sure they will stubbornly make him go out and prove/earn his carries by outshining Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard, which I think is a waste of time but that's none of my business. Ravens finally break the ice in Cincy here today to start the new season. RAVENS+3

***PHILADELPHIA EAGLES @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS***

Another Divisional rivalry here when the Birds swoop into the Nation's Capital to take on the Redskins who have beaten them the last 5 times! While I am very high on Eagles QB Carson Wentz and think he is the truth, I think they go down once a gain here today. I do love how Philadelphia did right by their young QB and went out this past offseason and got him some dang weapons. Last season as a Rookie the poor guy had absolutely NOBODY to throw too. Now with the addition of WRs Alshon Jefferey & Torrey Smith along with RB LaGarrette Blount, that this offense will take a HUGE step forward. However, it is the first game of the season, and the Redskins have some new weapons of their own in WR Terrell Pryor, and I just see this guy having a huge day today alongside TE Jordan Reed. I think QB Kirk Cousins will play with a chip on his shoulder and set out to prove that he is indeed a NFL starting QB. Just going with the home squad here catching a point in what I think will go down to the wire. REDSKINS+1

***SEATTLE SEAHAWKS @ GREEN BAY PACKERS***

Classic matchup to headline the late games here. Both dominate at home in the series historically, however I like the newly enforced pass rush of the Seahawks with the addition of Sheldon Richardson to get after Rodgers in this one. I still am not a believer in Green Bay's defense and I believe that the Hawks will feed Fat Eddy Lacy to eat against his old team. So for at least today, I think Lacy will be effective, other than that I eventually believe Rawls will be the guy in Seattle but that's a convo for another day. Long story short here, defense beats offense. Hawks beat Pack today. SEAHAWKS+2.5