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NFL Week 1: Trends which will decide each game

By Russell S. Baxter

TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 02: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers handles the ball during training camp at AdventHealth Training Center on September 02, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 02: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers handles the ball during training camp at AdventHealth Training Center on September 02, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins shakes hands with head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots after a Dolphins victory at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins shakes hands with head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots after a Dolphins victory at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 pm

Packers: A year ago, Matt LaFleur’s went a perfect 6-0 versus their divisional rivals and obviously, that included a sweep of the Vikings. In the wins, the Pack limited Mike Zimmer’s team to 16 and 10 points, respectively. They sacked Kirk Cousins a combined six times and forced him into four turnovers. Will that continue on Sunday?

Vikings: General manager Rick Spielman selected 15 players in April – a new NFL record for a seven-round draft. The majority of those picks were on the defensive side of the ball, where the team dropped off a bit from previous years. Over the past two seasons, Minnesota was a mediocre 15th and 13th, respectively, in the NFL vs. the run.

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots, 1:00 pm

Dolphins: Ryan Fitzpatrick is the starting quarterback for now. Regardless of who’s lining up behind center, Miami’s ground attack looks to improve from 2019 when it managed an NFL-low 72.3 yards per game and Fitzpatrick led the team in rushing. Jordan Howard and Matt Breida may exploit a shaky New England run defense.

Patriots: Bill Belichick’s team allowed the fewest total yards and fewest points in the league this past season and came up with 36 takeaways, second-most in the NFL. But the club was exposed vs. the run in the middle of the season. That may continue this year with linebackers Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy leaving via free agency.

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