NFL Week 1

On this Labor Day, "summertime has come and gone" and the lyrics in Billy Joel's "Famous Last Words" say.  There will be other words I have to say about politics in the near future, but that can wait for now. This Thursday, the NFL kicks off again. 

 

Fanbases of many teams are optimistic that their team just may be a championship contender. I am certainly hopeful the Chicago Bears could some how win their first Super Bowl in 40 years, but am realistic enough to know that significant improvement from last season's 5-12 record is what really matters. If that can be achieved, deep playoff runs may not be too far off in the future. This autumn, I will likely be paying more attention to post-season baseball than in the past few years, and of course, hoping for the best, while likely expecting the worst.

 

As always these are NOT PREDICTIONS. These are merely a listing of the games, with the teams highlighted  being who I want to win. In games featuring NFC teams, I have a simple rule, and that is whatever best benefits the mathematical chances of the Bears being the number one conference seed, as unlikely as that may be. Once the time comes when such a hope is no longer possible, I can loosen up my rules a bit more. When records are tied, such as in Week 1, I just go based on who I want to win, and that will never be the Packers. For games between two AFC teams, I also just pick a personal preference. For decades, I used to pick the Pittsburgh Steelers a lot (perhaps due to wasted years listening to Rush Limbaugh) but not this season. Not with Aaron Rodgers on their team. No way.

 

Opening record: 0-0 (100%) 

 

1. Cowboys (0-0) at Eagles (0-0)

 

2.  Chiefs (0-0) vs Chargers (0-0) in Sao Paulo Brazil

 

 

3.  Buccaneers (0-0) at Falcons (0-0)

4.  Bengals (0-0) at Browns (0-0)

5.  Dolphins (0-0) at Colts (0-0)

6.  Panthers (0-0) at Jaguars (0-0)

7.  Raiders (0-0) at Patriots (0-0)

8.  Cardinals (0-0) at Saints (0-0)

9.  Steelers (0-0) at Jets (0-0)

10.  Giants (0-0) at Commanders (0-0)

11.  Titans (0-0) at Broncos (0-0)

12.  49ers (0-0) at Seahawks (0-0)

13.  Lions (0-0) at Packers (0-0)

14.  Texans (0-0) at Rams (0-0)

15.  Ravens (0-0) at Bills (0-0)

 

16.  Vikings (0-0) at Bears (0-0)