Best Game: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Analysis: The New York Giants are coming into Dallas extremely banged up and without one of their best offensive weapons. Victor Cruz will miss the game due to a nagging calf injury and the Giants will need the rest of the wide receiving core to step up.
With Cruz out expect the Cowboys to double cover Odell Beckham and put pressure on Manning. The Giants offensive line has been devastated by injury so keeping the Cowboys revamped defensive line at bay will be a struggle.
On the other side of the ball the Giants have no safeties that they wanted to start this season with the possible exception of Landon Collins and even during the offseason Giants coaches stated Collins was not close to ready to be a starting safety. The lack of safety depth is notable because even at full strength Dez Bryant has managed to routinely go off against this secondary.
The Cowboys on the other hand will try to settle into their running game on Sunday as they will most likely ride the hot hand. McFadden, Dunbar, and Randle should all get significant touches. The Cowboys defense is vastly different than it has been in recent memory. The addition of a lot of depth players as well as Byron Jones and Randy Gregory will be more than enough to help put this defense back on track. Giants-Cowboys is always a big game but after last year it can only get bigger.
Prediction: Cowboys 31- Giants 17
Biggest Upset: Seattle Seahawks at St Louis Rams
Analysis: The Seahawks traded away their best offensive lineman for Jimmy Graham. Graham is a decent blocker and a superstar tight end but in terms of how the Seahawks team functions he really was not a priority. The addition was likely spurred on by the lack of any true goal line options but losing Max Unger will affect the Seahawks all season long.
This may not seem like a lot but the Seahawks have struggled beating the Rams with a dominant ground game which is a testament to the St. Louis defensive line. St. Louis won on a fluky special teams play and had a backup quarterback in. With Nick Foles it will be easier to make plays in the passing game as well as open up some holes for the run which will be critical considering Benny Cunningham is the projected starter. The Seahawks Super Bowl hangover seems destined to continue.
Prediction: Seahawks 21-Rams 27
Least entertaining game: Cleveland Browns at New York Jets
Analysis: The Browns cut the most interesting offensive weapon in Terrell Pryor so it will be up to the team of Andrew Hawkins and Brian Hartline to lead the passing game. The Jets actually have looked pretty good this preseason and will take on a Browns team that lacks weapons in both the passing and running game. This game is the Jets to lose and may be the lowest scoring affair of the entire afternoon.
Prediction: Browns 10-Jets 17
Week 1 Picks:
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills: Colts 28-Bills 17
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears: Packers 35-Bears 21
Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans: Chiefs 21-Texans 14
Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars: Panthers 24-Jaguars 21
Miami Dolphins at Washington Redskins: Dolphins 28-Redskins 14
New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals: Saints 28-Cardinals 21
Detroit Lions at San Diego Chargers: Lions 31-Chargers 24
Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos: Ravens 14-Broncos 28
Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders: Bengals 14-Raiders 24
Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Titans 16-Buccaneers 27
Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons: Eagles 21-Falcons 28
Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers: Vikings 21- 49ers 10
