Welcome Back To Football

Hello everyone! What's up!? I hope you all had a great spring and summer, but now it's time to get back to football. This year I will be deploying a slightly different format. For each game, I will have a matchup to watch, a bold prediction (something realistic but maybe not expected or usual), and, of course, my pick. I may add more sections as the season goes along. We'll see. Remember, I am not a prophet (or am I?), so I will get some things wrong and be way off on some picks (like way, way off), but I am educated about football and the NFL (at least I think I am), and I am here to educate others about players and teams this year in the NFL and provide reading material. My material this year may consist of love affairs, colorful words (literally), lots of parenthesis, and silly wordplay. Stay with me.
Now, without further adieu, here is Grantosaurus Rex's Week 1 preview (excluding the Thursday night Packers-Seahawks game):

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers (CBS, 1:00)
Matchup To Watch: Steelers WR Antonio Brown vs. Browns CB Joe Haden
Both of these players are young Pro Bowlers and key contributors. With number two receiver Emmanuel Sanders gone, Brown may be counted on more in the passing game, although Pittsburgh has electric rookie running back Dri Archer (out of Kent State) and the Steelers may target rookie corner Justin Gilbert on the other side. However, Brown is still the Steelers' best playmaker and they will go after Haden, who allowed 87 yards on nine receptions last time he shadowed Brown.
Bold Prediction: Ben Tate will run for at least 100 yards.
After a fruitless pit of running backs last year, the Browns signed Ben Tate, Arian Foster's former backup in Houston, in the offseason. They also drafted rookie Terrance West (out of Towson), who at one point was projected to take Tate's job by the start of the season. But Tate had a good preseason, while West didn't really produce. Now West isn't even the third down back. Tate's been given all three keys to the running game. He'll also get tons of carries with the Browns' shaky situation at quarterback and Josh Gordon-less receiving corps. Plus, this isn't your father's Steelers defense.
Pick: Steelers 24, Browns 16
As always, I want to think the Browns can win, and they can, but Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has only lost once (he's 17-1) against the Browns in his career. There are many variables with the Browns. Brian Hoyer. Ben Tate. Receivers. Defense. Alas, the smart money is on the Steelers.

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons (FOX, 1:00)
Matchup To Watch: Falcons LT Jake Matthews vs. Saints DE Cam Jordan
The Falcons drafted Matthews (out of Texas A&M) with the 6th overall pick in this year's draft, and he will start right away due to a season-ending injury to Sam Baker. The Falcons ranked last in rushing last year, so they hope Matthews will help improve that against a much-improved Saints defensive front that includes Jordan, who had 12.5 sacks last year.
Bold Prediction: Pierre Thomas will have at least 80 yards rushing and 60 yards receiving.
Saints Running/receiving back Darron Sproles left for Philly in the offseason, so backup Pierre Thomas will take over as the feature back. He produced last year as a versatile running/receiving threat when Sproles was hurt. Mark Ingram (yes, he's still there) and Khiry Robinson are also on the running back depth chart, but they aren't the receiving threats Thomas is. Thomas could have a big season, and it'll start Sunday against a below-average Falcons defense without veteran linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.
Pick: Saints 34, Falcons 24
The Saints are dangerous on offense, as always, and the Falcons don't have a good enough defense to stop all of New Orleans' offensive weapons. It may be a shootout.

Minnesota Vikings @ St. Louis Rams (FOX, 1:00)
Matchup To Watch: Vikings RB Adrian Peterson vs. Rams Defensive Line
A.P., of course, is one of the best, if not the best, running backs in the NFL. But Sunday he'll go up against the formidable trio of Chris Long, Michael Brockers, and Robert Quinn. Their defensive line depth is so good that they cut the 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year (Michael Sam, heard of him?).  It will be a battle up front between one of the best running teams and one of the best run-stopping teams.
Bold Prediction: Shaun Hill will throw for over 200 yards.
Yet again, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is out for the season (torn ACL), and yet again, veteran backup Shaun Hill will take over. Hill was solid last year replacing Bradford, and will probably be solid again this year. He has young weapons like speedster Tavon Austin and tight end Jared Cook, and although they'll run a lot with Zac Stacy, they'll also have to throw some.
Pick: Vikings 24, Rams 17
I love Vikings second-year receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (out of Tennessee), and I think he'll produce some big plays against the ground-and-pound Rams, just enough to put the Vikings on top.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Philadelphia Eagles (CBS, 1:00)
Matchup To Watch: Jaguars RB Toby Gerhart vs. Eagles Defense
Uh oh. The Jaguars' leading receiver, Cecil Shorts III, is out this week (hamstring), and they don't really have any other playmakers right now. So the Jags may lean heavily on former A.P. backup Toby Gerhart, who they signed in the offseason. I'm not overly impressed by Gerhart, but he is a big, tough back going up against a below-average defense.
Bold Prediction: The Jaguars will score at least 17 points.
When I say at least 17 points, I basically mean 17 points. I originally put 13 points, but that wouldn't be very bold. The Jaguars scored at least 17 points seven times last year. The Jaguars still aren't scary on offense, but they're improving, with Gerhart at running back and veteran Chad Henne back at quarterback (although rookie Blake Bortles looked better in the preseason). And the Eagles defense isn't great (although it's better, and I'm playing the Eagles' D in fantasy football this week).
Pick: Eagles 35, Jaguars 17
I said in my bold prediction that the Jags will score 17 points, so I have to stick to that. The Eagles have a break-neck offense with a variety of weapons, and the Jaguars aren't there yet.

Oakland Raiders @ New York Jets (CBS, 1:00)
Matchup To Watch: Raiders QB Derek Carr (And His Receivers) vs. Jets Corners
Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr (out of Fresno State) will make his first start on the road against the Jets, but the good news is, he'll be going against a severely stripped-down secondary (at least at corner). Dee Miliner (Jets' 2013 first-round pick) is out with a high ankle sprain, and Dimitri Patterson was cut after he went AWOL during the final preseason game. So the Jets will most likely be starting Darrin Walls and Antonio Allen at cornerback.
Bold Prediction: Derek Carr will throw for at least 200 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Carr beat out veteran Matt Schaub (whose career has gone downhill fast) to start the first game. Carr isn't the best quarterback in the 2014 draft class, but he's decent, and I think he may suprise in his first start, against a depleted Jets secondary.
Pick: Raiders 28, Jets 24
I'm going with the underdogs on the road here, because the Raiders have improved with some (potential) playmakers on offense (MJD, James Jones) and defense (Justin Tuck, LaMarr Woodley) and will be at least a little better this year, while I have worries about the Jets, although quarterback Geno Smith will be better.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (CBS, 1:00)
Matchup To Watch: Ravens RB Bernard Pierce vs. Bengals Defense
In order to win this game, the Ravens are going to need to establish something on the ground. It'll be hard to do that for a team that averaged 3.1 yards per carry last season (last in NFL), that's without Ray Rice (he's suspended the first two games for domestic assault), and that's up against a Bengals defense that was seventh in total defense last season.
Bold Prediction: Gio Bernard will have at least 200 total yards.
The recent release of The Law Firm (Benjarvus Green-Ellis) by the Bengals leaves electrifying second-year running back Giovanni Bernard with more oppurtunities and only rookie Jeremy Hill (LSU) as a threat to take meaningful snaps from him. Bernard is versatile out of the backfield and could be very productive in Week 1.
Pick: Bengals 28, Ravens 17
I'm not impressed by the Ravens. They have hardly any run game (and Ray Rice is out) and they've got some aging players and young, inexperienced players. I do like the Bengals, who have a good defense and young talents on offense (A.J. Green, Gio Bernard).

Buffalo Bills @ Chicago Bears (FOX, 1:00)
Matchup To Watch: Bears QB Jay Cutler vs. Bills Pass Rush
Jay Cutler is projected by many to have a big season with talented weapons Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, and his first test will be in Week 1 against a Bills pass rush that set a franchise record with 57 sacks last year.
Bold Prediction: Sammy Watkins will catch 3 passes or less.
Watkins, the wide receiver out of Clemson whom the Bills picked with the fifth overall pick in this year's draft after trading up with Cleveland, is a physical beast who could be very productive, but he's banged up (bruised ribs) and playing with a shaky second-year quarterback (E.J. Manuel).
Pick: Bears 31, Bills 17
The talented Bears offense at home against a young, mostly one-dimensional Bills offense? I'll take Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, and the Bears.

Washington Redskins @ Houston Texans (FOX, 1:00)
Matchup To Watch: Redskins QB Robert Griffin III vs. Texans Pass Rush
RG3 has endured much criticism this preseason after finally removing his knee brace from last season, with some even questioning whether he should start, or new head coach Jay Gruden should start backup Kirk Cousins. The Texans, meanwhile, have some dangerous pass rushers in J. J. Watt (arguably the best defensive player in the league and just got paid), Jedeveon Clowney (first overall pick out of South Carolina), and Brian Cushing (coming back from injury last season), among others.
Bold Prediction: Robert Griffin III will throw at least two interceptions.
As I said above, RG has been shaky this preseason, and the Texans bring pressure. He could prove me wrong and be the RG3 of 2012, but that'd be fine, because this is supposed to be a bold prediction.
Pick: Texans 17, Redskins 13
Yes, the Texan's quarterback situation is unsettled, but they have playmaking receivers (Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins) and a talented, albeit injury-prone, running back (Arian Foster). They'll take this one at home.

Tennessee Titans @ Kansas City Chiefs (CBS, 1:00)
Matchup To Watch: Titans kicker Ryan Succop vs. Chiefs Kicker Cairo Santos
Yes, those are kickers. But there's a little storyline involving Succop. He was released by Kansas City last Saturday, then signed by Tennessee Monday. Now he's playing his former team in Week 1. The reason the Chiefs released Succop is because Santos beat him out for the job. Will Succop have extra motivation to retaliate against his old team? Will Santos have extra motivation to show the Chiefs made the right choice? Will it really matter?
Bold Prediction: Jake Locker will throw for over 300 yards.
"300 yards!? Jake Locker!? Now you're getting bold, Grant." Well, actually, Jake Locker has some talent and some weapons (rookie running back Bishop Sankey {Washington}, number one receiver Kendall Wright, underrated receiver Justin Hunter {or so I've heard}, and running back/receiver Dexter McCluster {another ex-Chief!}), and his new head coach is Ken Wisenhunt, who brought Phillip Rivers back to prominence last season as San Diego's offensive coordinator.
Pick: Titans 31, Chiefs 28
The Titans are playing at Arrowhead Stadium (a tough place to play) against a tough defense, but the Titans are an improved team, and that Chiefs defense has a depleted secondary.

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins (CBS, 1:00)
Matchup To Watch: Dolphins Offensive Line vs. Patriots Defensive Line
The Dolphins retooled their offensive line after it gave up a league-leading 58 sacks last year by signing Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert in free agency and drafting right tackle Ju'Waun James (Tennessee) in the first round. The Patriots defensive line, including veteran tackle Vince Wilfork and rookie tackle Dominique Easley (Florida), could challenge the Fins' interior lineman, who are the weak link (especially with starting center Mike Pouncey out a couple of weeks recovering from an injury).
Bold Prediction: Mike Williams will have at least 100 receiving yards.
This is partly due to my belief that Ryan Tannehill, behind a better line (if it is better), could breakout in his third season, or at least be an above-average quarterback. Williams was a disappointment after signing with Miami last year, but he's a speedy deep threat who could torch New England's suspect secondary.
Pick: Patriots 28, Dolphins 27
The Pats should win, because they still have Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, but they could make it close, as they did a few times last year, including Week 1, when they beat the Bills on a last-second field goal.

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4:25, FOX)
Matchup To Watch: Buccaneers Offensive Line vs. Panthers Front Seven
Like the Dolphins, the Bucs added to their offensive line after a poor 2013. They traded tight end Tim Wright to the Patriots for Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins, but their line will be tested against the talented Panther defense, led by tackling machine Luke Kuechly, the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year.
Bold Prediction: Josh McCown will throw at least 3 touchdown passes.
The NBA team they're assembling in the Tampa Bay receiver corps has really grown on me. Veteran receiver Vincent Jackson is 6'5", rookie receiver Mike Evans (Texas A&M) is 6'5", and rookie tight end Austin Sefarian-Jenkins (Washington) is 6'5". With size like that, quarterback Josh McCown can throw for three touchdowns if his line gives him time.
Pick: Buccaneers 31, Panthers 17
I had the Panthers winning, but hearing Panthers quarterback Cam Newton may not play (due to a hairline fracture in his ribs) scared me, and if Cam's not playing, the easy choice is the talented and underrated Bucs.

San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys (4:25, FOX)
Matchup To Watch: 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick vs. Cowboys QB Tony Romo
This game is most likely going to be a shootout, as Dallas' defense is like Swiss cheese and the Niners are without linebacker Aldon Smith (nine game suspension due to substance abuse and linebacker Navarro Bowman (recovering from a torn ACL). So this will be up to which of these gunslingers plays best.
Bold Prediction: A kicker will miss a field goal.
I don't know what to say. I'm not going to get really crazy and say something like the Cowboys defense will do well or it won't be a barn-burner. So I'll just say either Niners kicker Phil Dawson or Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey will miss a makeable field goal, possibly a big one.
Pick: 49ers 41, Cowboys 38
The Cowboys always seem to be in close shootouts with good teams that normaly seem to go the other team's way. It may not be this high-scoring, but there will be plenty of offense.

Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos (8:30, NBC)
Matchup To Watch: Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck vs. Broncos QB Peyton Manning
Easy one, duh. Two of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League, in the Mile High City, in primetime. Peyton vs. his predecessor (actually, the year before Peyton left and Andrew Luck was picked first overall, Manning missed the entire season, so technically, Kerry Collins was Manning's predecessor).
Bold Prediction: Andrew Luck will throw for more yards than Peyton Manning. 
I have the Broncos winning this game, but that doesn't mean Luck won't out-throw Manning. What will be the difference is the running game. Broncos second-year back Montee Ball has a much better chance of being a breakout than Colts starter Trent Richardson, and honestly, I think Ball is much better than Richardson. Trent Richardson is not good.
Pick: Broncos 35, Colts 27
This, like 49ers-Cowboys, will most likely be a shootout. Aside from the running backs, Denver's defense could be a deciding factor as well, as the Broncos' defense is far superior to the Colts'.

New York Giants @ Detroit Lions (7:10 Mon, ESPN)
Matchup To Watch: Giants Offensive Line vs. Lions Defensive Line
The Giants' offensive line has been a weakness, and the one free agent they signed to help the line, guard Geoff Schwartz, is out seven weeks with a dislocated toe. As for the Lions' defensive line, well, there's Ndamukong Suh, along with Nick Fairley and Ziggy Ansah. Those three are going to be hard for the Giants to stop.
Bold Prediction: Eli Manning throws zero interceptions.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning led the NFL in interceptions last year with 27, but he has a new offensive coordinator (Ben McAdoo), and although he went through growing pains in the preseason learning the new offense, it should pay off in the end, and he can't be as bad as he was last year. Right?
Pick: Lions 34, Giants 28
This will be a closely-contested game, but Detroit has more offensive fire power (Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush/Joique Bell, Matthew Stafford). They could blow this game, though, as they have done before, but I think they come out on top.

San Diego Chargers @ Arizona Cardinals (10:20 Mon, ESPN)
Matchup To Watch: Chargers WR Keenan Allen vs. Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson
Allen had a big rookie season last year with 1,046 yards receiving and eight touchdowns, but he'll be going up against one of the best cornerbacks and playmakers in the league (or in his own opinion, the best), who also just got a huge payday.
Bold Prediction: Michael Floyd leads all receivers in yards and touchdowns.
This isn't that out of the box, as Allen will be covered by Peterson and Floyd is surpassing Larry Fitzgerald as the Cardinals' number one receiver. He's primed for a breakout season with underrated (seriously) quarterback Carson Palmer.
Pick: Chargers 27, Cardinals 21
I might have picked the Cards if running back Andre Ellington wasn't questionable to play. The Chargers have a great quarterback in Phillip Rivers and I think they take this one.