Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans: 2017 Week 1 NFL Pick

September 9, 2017 stevenlourie 2017 NFL Picks, 2017 Week 1 NFL Picks, Jaguars, NFL Picks, Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0) at Houston Texans (0-0)

The Jaguars went just 3-13 last season, but could take a big leap forward this season. Their record last season was largely the result of a -16 turnover margin (3rd worst in the NFL) and a 2-8 record in games decided by 7 points or fewer. They got better defensively this off-season with free agent additions Calais Campbell and AJ Bouye and they have several young defenders who could take a leap forward in 2017. They also used their 4th overall pick on running back Leonard Fournette, which significantly improves this running game.

A team’s turnover margin and record in close games tend to be inconsistent on a year-to-year basis, so the Jaguars would have likely taken a step forward even without the added talent. They still have major issues at quarterback with Blake Bortles, but he won’t have as many chances to throw interceptions this season if the Jaguars play strong defense and run the ball frequently and they’ll probably also do a better job recovering fumbles, after recovering just 2 of 15 offensive fumbles last season. That should lead to them winning some of those close games and then some, in spite of their issues at quarterback.

Their opponents this week are an example of how teams can still be a threat for the playoffs even without competent quarterback play, as the Texans won the AFC South last season with Brock Osweiler starting most of the season. Houston starts this season with Tom Savage under center, who is only an upgrade over Osweiler by default. He isn’t much better than Bortles either, if he is at all. The Texans also have a less talented supporting cast around him than the Jaguars do around Bortles, despite winning the division last season.

The Texans went 9-7 last season, but that was largely as a result of a 8-2 record in games decided by 7 points or fewer. They finished the season 26th in point differential at -49 and 26th in first down rate differential at -1.48%. Arguably the worst offense in the league, the Texans managed a league low 23 offensive touchdowns they allowed 10 more offensive touchdowns than they scored. The Jaguars, despite being 6 games worse in the standings, were just -5 in offensive touchdown margin. Jacksonville has a better receiving corps, better running backs, and a better offensive line with Houston left tackle Duane Brown still holding out. With right tackle Derek Newton out for the season for injury, the Texans have arguably the worst offensive line in the league right now without Brown.

The Texans obviously get JJ Watt back from injury after he missed almost all of last season and he makes a tough trio with Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney, but the Jaguars duo of Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson is impressive as well and they also have young defensive ends Dante Fowler and Yannick Ngakoue providing rush off the edge. In addition, the Jaguars also have a significantly better back 7, with Houston losing top defensive backs Quintin Demps and AJ Bouye in free agency, the latter of whom is now on the Jaguars.

In spite of that, the Texans are favored here by 4.5 points, suggesting they are significantly better than the Jaguars. I think it’s the other way around and that we’re getting significant line value with the Jaguars. The Texans are also in a tough spot because have to turn around and play another game in 4 days when they go to Cincinnati for Thursday Night Football. Favorites are just 58-84 ATS before Thursday Night games since 2008, including 2-4 ATS in week 1. Even if the Texans win here, I think it’s unlikely to be by more than 4 points, considering how many close games these teams play. About 30% of games are decided by 4 points or fewer, so 4.5 is a more sizeable line than you’d think. This is my Pick of the Week.

Jacksonville Jaguars 17 Houston Texans 16 Upset Pick +190

Pick against the spread: Jacksonville +4.5

Confidence: Pick of the Week

Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers: 2017 Week 1 NFL Pick

September 9, 2017 stevenlourie 2017 NFL Picks, 2017 Week 1 NFL Picks, NFL Picks, Packers, Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks (0-0) at Green Bay Packers (0-0)

This line is at 3 in favor of the hometown Green Bay Packers, suggesting these two teams are about even. I have these teams apart by 2 wins in my season previews, with the Seahawks winning 12 games and the Packers winning 10, so we’re getting good value with the visitors here. The Packers will always be competitive with Aaron Rodgers, but they’ve lost a talented guard in each of the past two off-seasons with Josh Sitton going to the Bears and TJ Lang going to the Lions and still have issues on defense and at running back. This is far from the best supporting cast Rodgers has had.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks still have issues on the offensive line and uncertainty at running back, but they should have fewer key injuries this season and should once again be one of the best teams in the league, after a slight down year in 2016 (10-5-1). Russell Wilson is healthy with good weapons and the defense is arguably as good as it’s ever been, with Sheldon Richardson coming in via trade from the Jets and Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and Michael Bennett all ready to go after missing time last season.

The Seahawks are also in a good spot here, as they get the lowly 49ers next week, while the Packers have to turn around and play another tough game in Atlanta, where they figure to be underdogs against the reigning NFC Champs. Underdogs are 97-63 ATS since 2012 before being favorites when their opponents will next be underdogs, including 5-0 ATS before being double digit favorites, which the Seahawks figure to be. The Seahawks should cover this spread and they have a good chance to win the game outright.

Seattle Seahawks 24 Green Bay Packers 23 Upset Pick +145

Pick against the spread: Seattle +3

Confidence: High

Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers: 2017 Week 1 NFL Pick

September 9, 2017September 16, 2017 stevenlourie 2017 NFL Picks, 2017 Week 1 NFL Picks, 49ers, NFL Picks, Panthers

Carolina Panthers (0-0) at San Francisco 49ers (0-0)

The Panthers had the best record in the league in 2015, but then they had the biggest dropoff in the league in terms of win total in 2016, falling 9 games from 15-1 to 6-10. There are a number of reasons why they dropped off, but a big one was their inability to win close games. With 6 losses by a 3 points or fewer, they could have easily been 9-7 or 10-6 if a few plays had gone their way. They also lost cornerback Josh Norman in free agency the previous off-season and Cam Newton did not live up to his career best 2015 season. In addition, middle linebacker Luke Kuechly and center Ryan Kalil missed significant time with injury.

Norman isn’t coming back and Newton’s is unlikely to live up to 2015, but Kuechly and Kalil are healthy, their young secondary could take a step forward, they added two much needed offensive playmakers in the first two rounds of the draft in Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel, and they should get better offensive line play, with Matt Kalil upgrading the left tackle spot and right guard Trai Turner likely to bounce back from a down 2016 season. This team probably won’t reach their 2015 level, but should still be one of the better teams in the NFC and compete with the Falcons for the NFC South title.

Given that, this line is too low. The 49ers are one of the worst teams in football and are missing top defensive back Jimmie Ward with injury. They are also in a tough spot given that they have to turn around and face the Seahawks in Seattle next week. The 49ers will almost definitely be double digit underdogs in that games and teams are 43-68 ATS since 2012 before being underdogs of 10+ points. I’d confidently lay the 5 points with the Panthers. This line should be higher than the touchdown the Falcons are favored by in Chicago.

Carolina Panthers 27 San Francisco 49ers 16

Pick against the spread: Carolina -5

Confidence: High

Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams: 2017 Week 1 NFL Pick

September 9, 2017 stevenlourie 2017 NFL Picks, 2017 Week 1 NFL Picks, Colts, NFL Picks, Rams

Indianapolis Colts (0-0) at Los Angeles Rams (0-0)

I thought about taking the Rams as 3.5 point home underdogs in this game in early August because I was concerned about Andrew Luck’s early season availability and I am kicking myself that I didn’t, now that Luck has been ruled out for at least the first week of the season, as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. Luck’s injury shifted this line in a big way, as the Rams are now favored by 4.5 points at home. That’s more points than they’re projected to be favored by all season, suggesting the oddsmakers see the Colts without Andrew Luck as being even worse than the 49ers, who are projected as 3.5 point underdogs in their week 17 trip to Los Angeles.

The Colts are certainly up there (or down there) with the worst teams in the league without Luck, not just because they have a weak supporting cast, but because the dropoff from Luck to journeyman backup Scott Tolzien is one of the biggest starter to backup quarterback dropoffs in the league. The Colts also aren’t just missing Luck, as they also start the season without center Ryan Kelly, top cornerback Vontae Davis, and safety/linebacker Clayton Geathers. However, the Rams have a huge absence that doesn’t seem to be getting enough attention, as defensive tackle Aaron Donald, arguably the best defensive player in the league, is still holding out for a better contract and will not play this week, significantly hurting this defense.

Even with a new offensive coaching staff, a new #1 wide receiver (Sammy Watkins), and a new left tackle (Andrew Whitworth), the Rams’ offense should still struggle this season, unless Jared Goff can take a huge leap forward from last season, so the Rams need Donald on that defensive line if they are going to be competitive this season. Maybe outside of the Jets, it’s hard to justify the Rams without Donald being favored by 4.5 points over anyone, especially considering about 30% of games are decided by 4 points or fewer. I wouldn’t be confident in Indianapolis at all, but they’re the better choice here in against the spread pick ‘em leagues.

Los Angeles Rams 17 Indianapolis Colts 13

Pick against the spread: Indianapolis +4.5

Confidence: None

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals: 2017 Week 1 NFL Pick

September 9, 2017September 9, 2017 stevenlourie 2017 NFL Picks, 2017 Week 1 NFL Picks, Bengals, NFL Picks, Ravens

Baltimore Ravens (0-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)

This line is at 3 in favor of the hometown Cincinnati Bengals, which suggests these two teams are more or less even, but I have the Bengals with 3 more wins than the Ravens in my season preview. The Ravens finished with the better record last season, finishing 8-8, while the Bengals finished 6-9-1, but the Bengals had the advantage in first down rate differential, finishing 12th (1.03%), while the Ravens finished 25th (-1.37%). The Bengals’ record was largely the result of going 1-5-1 in games decided by a touchdown. They finished the season with one more offensive touchdown than they allowed, while the Ravens finished -8 in that category.

The Bengals lost their top two offensive linemen in free agency, with left Andrew Whitworth signing with the Rams and right guard Kevin Zeitler signing with the Browns, which obviously hurts, but they have both AJ Green and Tyler Eifert back healthy at the same time, which was a rarity last season. Add in their top-2 draft picks, wide receiver John Ross and running back Joe Mixon, and the Bengals have considerably more offensive talent around Dalton than they did last season. They have some issues, but could easily compete for their 6th trip to the playoffs in 7 seasons in a weak AFC.

The Ravens, on the other hand, lost 3 starters on the offensive line this off-season, including right tackle Ricky Wagner, who was one of the best in the game at his position. They also are without 2 of 3 their top-3 receivers from last season and lost their most promising running back, Kenneth Dixon, for the season with injury. Jeremy Maclin and Danny Woodhead were added in free agency, but both are veterans coming off serious injuries and injuries have already thinned their depth on both sides of the ball significantly, with 11 players already on injured reserve.

Their offense finished last season 27th in first down rate and figures to be one of the worst in the league again in 2017, while their defense is unlikely to be as good as we are used to from them. Their secondary is strong, with Tony Jefferson and Brandon Carr coming in as free agents and Marlon Humphrey being added in the draft, but they lost their best cornerback from 2016, Tavon Young, to injury and have very little experience in the front 7, after losing 3 starters upfront this off-season. This looks like a down year for the Ravens.

Despite that, I am not jumping on Cincinnati -3 for a couple reasons. For one, Cincinnati is missing a few starters on defense to start the season, with top linebacker Vontaze Burfict suspended for 3 weeks, cornerback Adam Jones suspended for 1 week, and safety Shawn Williams nursing an arm injury. On top of that, the Bengals have to turn around and play another game in 4 days when they host the Texans on Thursday Night Football. Favorites are just 58-84 ATS before Thursday Night games since 2008, including 2-4 ATS in week 1. The Bengals may have split their focus a little bit this week with two games coming up in 5 days, which could hurt them in this game. They’re a risky pick this week, even if they still do have a slight edge in talent.

Cincinnati Bengals 20 Baltimore Ravens 16

Pick against the spread: Cincinnati -3

Confidence: None

Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears: 2017 Week 1 NFL Pick

September 9, 2017September 9, 2017 stevenlourie 2017 NFL Picks, 2017 Week 1 NFL Picks, Bears, Falcons, NFL Picks

Atlanta Falcons (0-0) at Chicago Bears (0-0)

Despite losing last season’s Super Bowl in heartbreaking fashion, the Falcons still have a lot of reason to be hopeful. They enter the season with their core intact, with little off-season roster turnover, and are among the most talented teams in the league. Their offense might not be quite as efficient as they were last season, when they finished with a first down rate of 43.94%, 3.20% higher than any other team in the league, but their young defense stepped it up in the second half of last season and should finish better than last season’s 27th in first down rate allowed, especially with top cornerback Desmond Trufant returning from a pectoral injury that ended his season after 9 games in 2016.

Unfortunately for them, the track record of Super Bowl losers is not great. A Super Bowl loser hasn’t made it back to the Super Bowl since the 1994 Bills and a Super Bowl loser hasn’t won the Super Bowl since the 1973 Dolphins. On top of that, Super Bowl losers are just 2-15 ATS in week 1 games since 2000. Whether it’s mental or physical or a little bit of both, there seems to be some sort of hangover effect of going that far, playing all those games, and coming up just short. The Falcons should still have a strong season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they came out of the gates a little slow.

Their opponent this week is no pushover either, despite being touchdown underdogs. The Bears went 3-13 in 2016, but are a prime candidate to make a leap forward in wins. Their record last season was largely the result of a poor record in close games (1-6 in games decided by a touchdown or less), a league worst -20 turnover margin, and the most adjusted games lost to injury in the league. Turnover margins, records in close games, and injuries tend to be inconsistent on a year-to-year basis and if the Bears can stay healthier, pull out a couple more close victories, and play more turnover neutral football, they could easily make a significant jump in wins. They finished last season 13th in first down rate differential. Their passing offense and secondary leave a lot to be desired, but they have a strong run game and front 7. They could easily make this a much closer game than people are expecting, especially if the Falcons come out flat. It’s worth taking the touchdown with the Bears.

Atlanta Falcons 24 Chicago Bears 20

Pick against the spread: Chicago +7

Confidence: Medium

NFL Top-200 of 2017

September 6, 2017September 6, 2017 stevenlourie Top-200 2017

1	DE Khalil Mack (Oakland)
2	DE/DT Aaron Donald (LA Rams)
3	OLB/DE Von Miller (Denver)
4	OT Joe Thomas (Cleveland)
5	WR Julio Jones (Atlanta)
6	C Travis Frederick (Dallas)
7	WR Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh)
8	CB Chris Harris (Denver)
9	RB Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh)
10	DE/DT JJ Watt (Houston)
11	G Zack Martin (Dallas)
12	MLB Luke Kuechly (Carolina)
13	S Eric Weddle (Baltimore)
14	RB David Johnson (Arizona)
15	G Marshal Yanda (Baltimore)
16	TE Rob Gronkowski (New England)
17	DT Ndamukong Suh (Miami)
18	S Devin McCourty (New England)
19	QB Tom Brady (New England)
20	DT Geno Atkins (Cincinnati)
21	OT Trent Williams (Washington)
22	WR Mike Evans (Tampa Bay)
23	DE/DT Calais Campbell (Jacksonville)
24	S Harrison Smith (Minnesota)
25	QB Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay)
26	DE Brandon Graham (Philadelphia)
27	TE Greg Olsen (Carolina)
28	OLB KJ Wright (Seattle)
29	DE/DT Jurrell Casey (Tennessee)
30	MLB Bobby Wagner (Seattle)
31	TE Travis Kelce (Kansas City)
32	DE/DT Michael Bennett (Seattle)
33	DT Kawann Short (Carolina)
34	WR Odell Beckham (NY Giants)
35	OLB Sean Lee (Dallas)
36	DT Fletcher Cox (Philadelphia)
37	CB Richard Sherman (Seattle)
38	WR AJ Green (Cincinnati)
39	DT Gerald McCoy (Tampa Bay)
40	DE Olivier Vernon (NY Giants)
41	CB Patrick Peterson (Arizona)
42	WR TY Hilton (Indianapolis)
43	OLB/DE Justin Houston (Kansas City)
44	G Kelechi Osemele (Oakland)
45	DE/DT Mike Daniels (Green Bay)
46	S Eric Berry (Kansas City)
47	RB Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas)
48	DE/DT Carlos Dunlap (Cincinnati)
49	G TJ Lang (Detroit)
50	S Landon Collins (NY Giants)
51	C Rodney Hudson (Oakland)
52	DE/DT Cameron Jordan (New Orleans)
53	S Tony Jefferson (Baltimore)
54	QB Matt Ryan (Atlanta)
55	WR Doug Baldwin (Seattle)
56	G Josh Sitton (Chicago)
57	MLB CJ Mosley (Baltimore)
58	OT David Bakhtiari (Green Bay)
59	CB Casey Hayward (LA Chargers)
60	DT Damon Harrison (NY Giants)
61	CB Malcolm Butler (New England)
62	OT Andrew Whitworth (LA Rams)
63	S Earl Thomas (Seattle)
64	OLB/DE/DT Jadeveon Clowney (Houston)
65	MLB Dont’a Hightower (New England)
66	OLB/DE Whitney Mercilus (Houston)
67	DE/DT Leonard Williams (NY Jets)
68	WR Jordy Nelson (Green Bay)
69	OT Tyron Smith (Dallas)
70	CB Darius Slay (Detroit)
71	OLB/DE Chandler Jones (Arizona)
72	G Kevin Zeitler (Cleveland)
73	MLB Jordan Hicks (Philadelphia)
74	G Andrew Norwell (Carolina)
75	DE/DT Joey Bosa (LA Chargers)
76	CB Aqib Talib (Denver)
77	OT Jack Conklin (Tennessee)
78	C Matt Paradis (Denver)
79	QB Russell Wilson (Seattle)
80	G David DeCastro (Pittsburgh)
81	S Kam Chancellor (Seattle)
82	DE/DT Malik Jackson (Jacksonville)
83	WR Michael Thomas (New Orleans)
84	G Ramon Foster (Pittsburgh)
85	OT Taylor Lewan (Tennessee)
86	DE Cameron Wake (Miami)
87	DT Marcell Dareus (Buffalo)
88	DE Jason Pierre-Paul (NY Giants)
89	CB Janoris Jenkins (NY Giants)
90	QB Drew Brees (New Orleans)
91	OT Lane Johnson (Philadelphia)
92	WR Jarvis Landry (Miami)
93	C Alex Mack (Atlanta)
94	CB Brent Grimes (Tampa Bay)
95	DE/DT Chris Jones (Kansas City)
96	S Reshad Jones (Miami)
97	TE Jordan Reed (Washington)
98	WR Amari Cooper (Oakland)
99	G Richie Incognito (Buffalo)
100	DE Melvin Ingram (LA Chargers)
101	WR Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona)
102	OLB Vontaze Burfict (Cincinnati)
103	DT Linval Joseph (Minnesota)
104	G Brandon Brooks (Philadelphia)
105	WR DeAndre Hopkins (Houston)
106	DT Sheldon Richardson (Seattle)
107	OLB Nigel Bradham (Philadelphia)
108	CB/S Tyrann Mathieu (Arizona)
109	OT Jason Peters (Philadelphia)
110	C Cody Whitehair (Chicago)
111	CB Marcus Peters (Kansas City)
112	MLB Jerrell Freeman (Chicago)
113	RB Devonta Freeman (Atlanta)
114	WR Keenan Allen (LA Chargers)
115	OT Ryan Schraeder (Atlanta)
116	G Jack Mewhort (Indianapolis)
117	CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (NY Giants)
118	S Morgan Burnett (Green Bay)
119	CB Desmond Trufant (Atlanta)
120	OT Cordy Glenn (Buffalo)
121	CB Jalen Ramsey (Jacksonville)
122	S HaHa Clinton-Dix (Green Bay)
123	RB Jay Ajayi (Miami)
124	G Gabe Jackson (Oakland)
125	QB Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh)
126	C Brandon Linder (Jacksonville)
127	G Justin Pugh (NY Giants)
128	OLB/DE Ryan Kerrigan (Washington)
129	MLB Jamie Collins (Cleveland)
130	TE Jimmy Graham (Seattle)
131	WR Brandin Cooks (New England)
132	CB Josh Norman (Washington)
133	QB Cam Newton (Carolina)
134	RB Jordan Howard (Chicago)
135	OT Donald Penn (Oakland)
136	G Larry Warford (New Orleans)
137	DE/DT Stephon Tuitt (Pittsburgh)
138	OT Marcus Cannon (New England)
139	S Byron Jones (Dallas)
140	DE Frank Clark (Seattle)
141	G Joel Bitonio (Cleveland)
142	CB AJ Bouye (Jacksonville)
143	OT Joe Staley (San Francisco)
144	RB LeSean McCoy (Buffalo)
145	OLB/DE Markus Golden (Arizona)
146	DT Brandon Williams (Baltimore)
147	TE Delanie Walker (Tennessee)
148	WR Stefon Diggs (Minnesota)
149	MLB Paul Posluszny (Jacksonville)
150	CB Jason Verrett (LA Chargers)
151	C Ali Marpet (Tampa Bay)
152	QB Matt Stafford (Detroit)
153	DT Chris Baker (Tampa Bay)
154	WR Alshon Jeffery (Philadelphia)
155	OT Mitchell Schwartz (Kansas City)
156	MLB Brandon Marshall (Denver)
157	WR Emmanuel Sanders (Denver)
158	DE/DT DeForest Buckner (San Francisco)
159	S Jonathan Cyprien (Tennessee)
160	TE Zach Ertz (Philadelphia)
161	WR Demaryius Thomas (Denver)
162	QB Andrew Luck (Indianapolis)
163	DE/DT Akiem Hicks (Chicago)
164	QB Derek Carr (Oakland)
165	CB Logan Ryan (Tennessee)
166	TE Martellus Bennett (Green Bay)
167	RB DeMarco Murray (Tennessee)
168	OT Anthony Castonzo (Indianapolis)
169	G Mike Iupati (Arizona)
170	OLB/DE Derrick Morgan (Tennessee)
171	OT Morgan Moses (Washington)
172	WR Dez Bryant (Dallas)
173	DE/DT Derek Wolfe (Denver)
174	OT Zach Strief (New Orleans)
175	DE Everson Griffen (Minnesota)
176	DT Kyle Williams (Buffalo)
177	S Malcolm Jenkins (Philadelphia)
178	TE Tyler Eifert (Cincinnati)
179	G James Carpenter (NY Jets)
180	CB Trumaine Johnson (LA Rams)
181	G Terron Armstead (New Orleans)
182	OLB/DE Brian Orakpo (Tennessee)
183	DE/DT Cameron Heyward (Pittsburgh)
184	S Rodney McLeod (Philadelphia)
185	OLB Lavonte David (Tampa Bay)
186	CB Ronald Darby (Philadelphia)
187	OT Ricky Wagner (Baltimore)
188	WR Allen Robinson (Jacksonville)
189	WR Terrelle Pryor (Washington)
190	OT Marcus Gilbert (Pittsburgh)
191	RB Melvin Gordon (LA Chargers)
192	OLB/DE Vic Beasley (Atlanta)
193	G Brandon Schreff (Washington)
194	OT Nate Solder (New England)
195	OLB/DE Bruce Irvin (Oakland)
196	WR Pierre Garcon (San Francisco)
197	TE Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota)
198	G Shaq Mason (New England)
199	OLB Christian Kirksey (Cleveland)
200	DE DaQuan Jones (Tennessee)

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots: 2017 Week 1 NFL Pick

September 6, 2017September 6, 2017 stevenlourie 2017 NFL Picks, 2017 Week 1 NFL Picks, Chiefs, NFL Picks, Patriots

Kansas City Chiefs (0-0) at New England Patriots (0-0)

These teams finished with the two best records in the AFC last season and earned the AFC’s top-2 seeds, but the Chiefs were not as good as their 12-4 record suggested. Six of their 12 wins came by 8 points or fewer and many of them were decided by a turnover or a return touchdown going in the Chiefs’ favor. They finished last season with a +7 return touchdown margin and a +16 turnover margin, both best in the NFL. Unfortunately, turnover margin tends to be very inconsistent on a year-to-year basis. On average, a team that has a +15 turnover margin or better posts a turnover margin on average 12 points worse the following season and wins an average of 3 fewer games. If they don’t win the turnover battle as much, it’ll be tough for them to match the 5 defensive touchdowns they had last season.

If the Chiefs want to match or come close to last year’s 12 wins, they’ll have to win the first down battle more consistently because they won’t be able to rely on takeaways and return touchdowns as much. Unfortunately, the Chiefs had 37 fewer first downs than their opponents last season, scored just one more offensive touchdown than their opponents, and finished 24th in first down rate differential. Their opponents picked up first downs at a 1.04% higher rate than they did. There’s a reason why the Steelers were able to come into Kansas City and beat them in their first playoff game after the bye.

The Patriots, meanwhile, had 57 more first downs and 24 more offensive touchdowns than their opponents last season and finished 2nd in first down rate differential, en route to winning their 5th Super Bowl. Many believe the Patriots will repeat this season, as they were able to win last year without Rob Gronkowski, who returns from injury, and they add wide receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore this off-season. The Patriots took a hit when they lost #2 receiver Julian Edelman for the season and have also lost Rob Ninkovich (retirement), Shea McClellin, Cyrus Jones, and Derek Rivers over the past few weeks, leaving them thin at the slot cornerback and edge rusher positions.

The Patriots are still one of the best teams in the league though and the Chiefs enter this game with their own injury issues, losing running back Spencer Ware for the season and edge rusher Tamba Hali for at least the first half of the season. New England has the obvious talent edge and defending Super Bowl champs have had a good week 1 track record in recent years (8-1-1 ATS at home on Thursday night over the last 10 instances). This line is pretty steep at 9, so I can’t take the Patriots with confidence, but they should be able to open the season with a double digit victory.

New England Patriots 31 Kansas City Chiefs 20

Pick against the spread: New England -9

Confidence: Low