NFL Week 1: Picks and predictions

It’s a new NFL season, and our NFL expert Matt Verderame makes all his picks both straight up and against the spread for the Week 1 slate.

Well, we finally made it. Week 1 of the NFL season begins tonight, with the New England Patriots raising their Super Bowl LI banner before hosting the Kansas City Chiefs. It could be a preview of the AFC Championship Game come January, with two perennial playoff teams getting after it.

So who is going to win that game and the other 14 over the opening weekend? I run each and every one of them down.

All lines are courtesy of our partner, SportsBook Review.

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots (-9)

New England is the best team in football. Kansas City is either the second or third-best team in the AFC. In other words, the Chiefs are a damn good team, but the Patriots are a superior one. Tom Brady doesn’t lose at home, and while Kansas City will cover, it won’t win.

Pick: New England 27, Kansas City 19

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (-10)

I’ve been trying to point out the positive in teams recently. There is no such thing as that adjective being attached to either of these teams. The ushers should apologize to the fans who come and then show them to seats adorned with televisions showing other games.

Pick: Buffalo 13, New York 9

Atlanta Falcons (-7) at Chicago Bears

The Falcons might be suffering from a Super Bowl hangover, but the Bears could be the perfect tonic. Atlanta just can’t get caught looking ahead to their Week 2 contest against the Packers in primetime. Chicago has some players, but not enough to deal with the Falcons’ machine.

Pick: Atlanta 30, Chicago 17