NFL picks Week 1: Packers-Seahawks and every other game

Will the Green Bay Packers kickoff the season with a victory over the Seattle Seahawks?

Here we go. The NFL is back, baby. It’s time to attempt to predict the unpredictable.

The schedule makers have prepared an intriguing menu of Week 1 matchups for us to enjoy, none more exciting than Seattle’s trip to Lambeau Field. Any time two NFC heavyweights get together it makes for a great game.

Super Bowl champions New England host Kansas City in what should be a close contest, and Dallas take on the NY Giants.

Who will emerge victorious in Week 1?

Seattle at Green Bay

The home team has gotten the better of this rivalry in recent seasons, the Packers beating the Seahawks in consecutive years at Lambeau. This will be a tough early-season test for Mike McCarthy’s team, but as they did in similar fashion in a Week 2 meeting in 2015, I expect the Pack to come through in the end and win a close one.

Pick: Green Bay

Kansas City at New England

Kansas City can cause the Super Bowl champs some problems, but it’s tough to look past New England at home. Despite losing Julian Edelman for the season, Rob Gronkowski is fully healthy and that’s bad news for the Chiefs.

Pick: New England

NY Jets at Buffalo

Will the Jets win a single game in 2017? That question will be asked for at least one more week. Buffalo wins it comfortably at home.

Pick: Buffalo

Jacksonville at Houston

Can rookie running back Leonard Fournette get going up against Houston’s dominant front seven? Much will depend on Jacksonville’s offensive line play. If the Jaguars can run the ball with success they have a chance, but I expect the Texans to edge a battle of the defenses.

Pick: Houston

Philadelphia at Washington

This is a tough one to predict as is often the case when divisional foes meet early in the season. Washington gets the advantage as the home team.

Pick: Washington

Oakland at Tennessee

The Raiders have been tipped by many as outside Super Bowl contenders, but they will suffer an early setback in what should be one of the games of the week. Tennessee’s ability to run the ball with DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry will prove too much for Oakland’s defense, despite the Raiders’ own offensive weapons.

Pick: Tennessee

Arizona at Detroit

Arizona’s defense is set to rebound this year, and I expect the Cardinals to have no trouble moving the ball. In a close one, the Cardinals steal a road win.

Pick: Arizona

Atlanta at Chicago

Mike Glennon could be in for a long afternoon against Dan Quinn’s fast young defense. Quinn puts an emphasis on taking the ball away, and it will come as no surprise if multiple turnovers doom the Bears in the opener. A perfect post-Super Bowl start for the Dirty Birds.

Pick: Atlanta

Baltimore at Cincinnati

Joe Flacco‘s injury puts the Ravens behind the eight ball even if he does play. The Bengals are a potential bounce-back team to watch out for. These games are always unpredictable, but Cincinnati takes the W.